Read: Genesis 41:33-36 33 "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine." Also Read: Psalms 119:11 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. We are living in a time where are nation is crumbling before the eyes of the church. The problem is that most of the church don't even know that the church is in need of the sound word of God. We have a lot of television minister's that minister the word of God, but with a mixture of greed and pride. The only thing this does is bring forth a deception that we are totally alright with no need of repentance as the body of Christ. I believe we are living in a time where a great famine of the word of God is going to come stronger upon our nation, yet the candy coated messages from many preachers will become stronger as well. The messages will be mixed with more humanistic teachings and the sheep of God will become so thirsty for the pure word of God like never before. Joseph had two sons. One was named Manasseh, meaning God has caused me to forget, and the other is Ephraim, meaning God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. I want us today to realize that God wants us to store the word of God in our hearts for the famine that will get stronger in the years to come. The bible says to hide the word of God in our hearts that we may not sin against God, and we see many sinning today by lack of sound doctrine. Joseph told Pharaoh to put a wise man and overseers over the land of Egypt and store up food for the famine that will come upon the land. I believe that God has raised up true teachers in the past few years to speak to the body of Christ as a whole through Internet ministry and other means. I believe that the message from true minister's of God has touched many, and there will be some that will repent during the famine of the word of God in our nation. I want to encourage you today to listen to the greatest wise man who ever lived who is Jesus Christ, and listen to the voices of true teachers who are speaking and storing fresh words from heaven for the days we are living in and the days to come. Prayer: Lord, we need you today like never before in the famine of the word of God that has been with us, and is going to get greater in the years to come. Help us Lord to follow sound doctrine, and help us to discern between what is right and what is wrong. We desire to store the word of God in our hearts today Lord, and we long to be fruitful during the land of affliction, Amen.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Friday, January 3, 2014
The Jonah Generation 8/28th Weeklyl Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
Jonah 1:3
But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Have you ever wondered about what was going on in Jonah's adventure on his way to Tarshish. God called him as a prophet to the city of Ninevah, and Jonah knew that this wicked city would eventually destroy Jerusalem. Jonah didn't want them to receive God's love and forgiveness in a way. If you look at the book of Nahum, you can see how wicked and evil this city was. They were very warlike and brutal. They were like the Nazis of there day. Ninevah was the city that Isaiah, Hoseah, and Amos prophesied the destruction by the Assyrians ,which is Ninevah, and Jonah knew that this great city of Ninevah would one day destroy Israel. Jonah believed the prophets' that foretold Israel being destroyed and taken captive by the Assyrians, and God knew that his prophet would disobey Him and prepared a big fish to swallow him. God knows when we are going to disobey him as well and he makes a reservation at the fish hotel, and after staying at the fish hotel for about three days we will be ready to go back and serve God with a whole heart. I want us to see something though. God used Jonah to touch the lives of Gentiles on that ship to Tarshish. The men were so afraid of that storm, that they made vows to the God that Jonah believed in. God can still use us if we messed up. You may be at that place today where you may even have to stay a little longer in a place that God didn't want you in to begin with, but God will still use you to touch those around you. We see this in Jonah's life here as a prophet of God. Sometimes the most evil people around you will try and awaken the God inside of you, and you find yourself being tossed back and forth asleep at the bottom of the ship of life. If Ninevah can repent then anyone can repent. I remember doing prison ministry with someone years back who was once in the mopheo. We'll just call him John doe. He turned his life over to Christ, and repented of his sins. He was very powerful in ministry. I would go with him to the prison and do some ministry in music while he preached to all of those prisoners. You wouldn't believe the altar call. Many would run to the altar, murderers, rapists etc. and I would pray with them. If John Doe can come to Christ then anyone can. I would just be touched when I talked with John. He was about four hundred pounds, and solid as a brick wall, but tears would begin to fall down his face when he talked about the Lord. I couldn't believe that someone as evil as John once was could fall on his face and repent of his sins. This is what Ninevah did. you never know who that person will be that you win to the Lord, and you never know who is watching you. Never take it for granted who God will send to you. Do you find yourself today on a trip to Tarshish so to speak? You find yourself in a storm that you might have brought upon yourself maybe through some wrong choices or maybe some disobedience in some areas, or maybe God has called you to witness to someone and you don't think they deserve God's love. You can turn your eyes upon Jesus today and ask Him to help you in whatever you are facing. He may prepare a big fish or whale to swallow us for a while, but it's for preservation and pruning. We may find ourselves wrapped in seaweed of life, but god is merciful and forgiving to bring us to a place of His spirit. Let's obey God today in making disciples, advancing God's Kingdom, and doing the works of Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord we pray today that you would help us to repent in some areas where maybe we haven't been pure. Maybe we fled from a calling or something that you want us to do, and you have been trying to show us the right way to go but we have been dull of hearing your voice. Show us how to persevere the storms and trials that come our way, by even the choices we might have made that brought those particular storms in our life, and help us to open our eyes to the right path down that ocean of life. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Jonah 1:3
But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Have you ever wondered about what was going on in Jonah's adventure on his way to Tarshish. God called him as a prophet to the city of Ninevah, and Jonah knew that this wicked city would eventually destroy Jerusalem. Jonah didn't want them to receive God's love and forgiveness in a way. If you look at the book of Nahum, you can see how wicked and evil this city was. They were very warlike and brutal. They were like the Nazis of there day. Ninevah was the city that Isaiah, Hoseah, and Amos prophesied the destruction by the Assyrians ,which is Ninevah, and Jonah knew that this great city of Ninevah would one day destroy Israel. Jonah believed the prophets' that foretold Israel being destroyed and taken captive by the Assyrians, and God knew that his prophet would disobey Him and prepared a big fish to swallow him. God knows when we are going to disobey him as well and he makes a reservation at the fish hotel, and after staying at the fish hotel for about three days we will be ready to go back and serve God with a whole heart. I want us to see something though. God used Jonah to touch the lives of Gentiles on that ship to Tarshish. The men were so afraid of that storm, that they made vows to the God that Jonah believed in. God can still use us if we messed up. You may be at that place today where you may even have to stay a little longer in a place that God didn't want you in to begin with, but God will still use you to touch those around you. We see this in Jonah's life here as a prophet of God. Sometimes the most evil people around you will try and awaken the God inside of you, and you find yourself being tossed back and forth asleep at the bottom of the ship of life. If Ninevah can repent then anyone can repent. I remember doing prison ministry with someone years back who was once in the mopheo. We'll just call him John doe. He turned his life over to Christ, and repented of his sins. He was very powerful in ministry. I would go with him to the prison and do some ministry in music while he preached to all of those prisoners. You wouldn't believe the altar call. Many would run to the altar, murderers, rapists etc. and I would pray with them. If John Doe can come to Christ then anyone can. I would just be touched when I talked with John. He was about four hundred pounds, and solid as a brick wall, but tears would begin to fall down his face when he talked about the Lord. I couldn't believe that someone as evil as John once was could fall on his face and repent of his sins. This is what Ninevah did. you never know who that person will be that you win to the Lord, and you never know who is watching you. Never take it for granted who God will send to you. Do you find yourself today on a trip to Tarshish so to speak? You find yourself in a storm that you might have brought upon yourself maybe through some wrong choices or maybe some disobedience in some areas, or maybe God has called you to witness to someone and you don't think they deserve God's love. You can turn your eyes upon Jesus today and ask Him to help you in whatever you are facing. He may prepare a big fish or whale to swallow us for a while, but it's for preservation and pruning. We may find ourselves wrapped in seaweed of life, but god is merciful and forgiving to bring us to a place of His spirit. Let's obey God today in making disciples, advancing God's Kingdom, and doing the works of Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord we pray today that you would help us to repent in some areas where maybe we haven't been pure. Maybe we fled from a calling or something that you want us to do, and you have been trying to show us the right way to go but we have been dull of hearing your voice. Show us how to persevere the storms and trials that come our way, by even the choices we might have made that brought those particular storms in our life, and help us to open our eyes to the right path down that ocean of life. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Alone With A Stone? September 4th Weekly Devotional
Read:
Joshua 4:1-18
1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight." 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."
8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been [a] in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, 11 and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. 12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. 13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.
14 That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.
15 Then the LORD said to Joshua, 16 "Command the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan."
17 So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."
18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.
Have you ever faced a trial or trouble in your life that you didn't know how in the world you were ever going to come through? We'll I have and still face things in my christian walk that can be challenging. One thing that we need to do when we enter into prayer and worship is to remember how God brought us out of certain situations. we need to look at the story of Joshua and see how God dried up the river of Jordan for them to walk on dry land to the other side. One thing that we need to do though is to remember our first love with the Lord in the new birth with Him. In this story of Joshua, as soon as the ark of the covenant touched the water, the water dried up for them to cross over. I can see this as God making a path for you today as you try and cross over to your promise land. So many times we try and cross over to the other side of our destiny and certain situations alone. We struggle to the other side to find that there was no help with the situation. God never attended for you to fulfill your destiny and dreams alone. You can actually try and fulfill something in your life that God may have actually called you to, but you do it by yourself with the wrong timing. You can't look back at the river and say, "There is a stone of remembrance to prove that Gods' fingerprints were all in this situation. Another thing I see as a life application for us in this story is that there have been ministers' from the past who have stood sound in doctrine and remained true to God in there ministry. We can look back and see that we to can walk in truth and character just as they did. The last thing I want us to look at is when they got to the other side with the ark, the rivers came back to it's original state. Alot of times we look back at where we missed it and not look at where God pulled us through. We can't dwell on the past mistakes and failures of the past when we enter the presence, but we can dwell on a remembrance stone of Jesus shedding His blood for us on the cross. We can look at a remembrance stone of our born again experience with Christ through repentance, and we can look at a remembrance stone of how God brought us to the other side many times in our life. Never look back and dwell on that which is forgotten. The bible tells us that He has thrown our sins as far as the east is to the west. He has thrown them in the sea of forgetfulness. Yesterday is in the tomb but tomorrow is in our womb, and birthed within us are memories of great things God has done for us. Are you alone with a stone today? Have you carried your stone in the wrong place today and found yourself in a world of mess? Let's place our troubles, pains, and sins upon the altar today. We can place our life in the hands of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, just as they placed the stones in a place that was instructed to them, and we can look back at not where we missed it, but where God was with us.
prayer:
Lord we need you today to show us again the times you were there for us upon our own river of Jordan. Help us Lord to not place our stone in places that we shouldn't place them, but help us to obey your instruction and be obedient today in our worship, devotion, and prayer. We place our lives in your hands today and ask that as we praise and worship you the rivers dry up so we can walk to the othe side of our destiny and calling that you have called us to. We ask in your precious name. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Joshua 4:1-18
1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight." 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."
8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been [a] in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, 11 and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. 12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. 13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.
14 That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.
15 Then the LORD said to Joshua, 16 "Command the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan."
17 So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."
18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.
Have you ever faced a trial or trouble in your life that you didn't know how in the world you were ever going to come through? We'll I have and still face things in my christian walk that can be challenging. One thing that we need to do when we enter into prayer and worship is to remember how God brought us out of certain situations. we need to look at the story of Joshua and see how God dried up the river of Jordan for them to walk on dry land to the other side. One thing that we need to do though is to remember our first love with the Lord in the new birth with Him. In this story of Joshua, as soon as the ark of the covenant touched the water, the water dried up for them to cross over. I can see this as God making a path for you today as you try and cross over to your promise land. So many times we try and cross over to the other side of our destiny and certain situations alone. We struggle to the other side to find that there was no help with the situation. God never attended for you to fulfill your destiny and dreams alone. You can actually try and fulfill something in your life that God may have actually called you to, but you do it by yourself with the wrong timing. You can't look back at the river and say, "There is a stone of remembrance to prove that Gods' fingerprints were all in this situation. Another thing I see as a life application for us in this story is that there have been ministers' from the past who have stood sound in doctrine and remained true to God in there ministry. We can look back and see that we to can walk in truth and character just as they did. The last thing I want us to look at is when they got to the other side with the ark, the rivers came back to it's original state. Alot of times we look back at where we missed it and not look at where God pulled us through. We can't dwell on the past mistakes and failures of the past when we enter the presence, but we can dwell on a remembrance stone of Jesus shedding His blood for us on the cross. We can look at a remembrance stone of our born again experience with Christ through repentance, and we can look at a remembrance stone of how God brought us to the other side many times in our life. Never look back and dwell on that which is forgotten. The bible tells us that He has thrown our sins as far as the east is to the west. He has thrown them in the sea of forgetfulness. Yesterday is in the tomb but tomorrow is in our womb, and birthed within us are memories of great things God has done for us. Are you alone with a stone today? Have you carried your stone in the wrong place today and found yourself in a world of mess? Let's place our troubles, pains, and sins upon the altar today. We can place our life in the hands of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, just as they placed the stones in a place that was instructed to them, and we can look back at not where we missed it, but where God was with us.
prayer:
Lord we need you today to show us again the times you were there for us upon our own river of Jordan. Help us Lord to not place our stone in places that we shouldn't place them, but help us to obey your instruction and be obedient today in our worship, devotion, and prayer. We place our lives in your hands today and ask that as we praise and worship you the rivers dry up so we can walk to the othe side of our destiny and calling that you have called us to. We ask in your precious name. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
The functioning Temple As The Church
DAY 1
Read:
Ephesians 2:19-21
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
The church As The Temple
a Good picture 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. There is opportunity waiting for you. You can make a difference as being part of the church.
There are 3 things that I want us to reflect on as we go forward with the Functioning Temple series.
1. Connection- We need to connect greater than ever with our home church. The church should be teaching God's truth of course, but it's time as the temple that we connect in a healthy way. There is such a power in connecting a the church.
2. Motivation- We need to be motivated to go out of the church and hit our community. We shouldn't stay within the 4 walls of the building and expect to see a change in our community and nation. We can each make a difference. We need to be motivated by God's spirit and the 5-fold ministry in the church to feed the poor, help the widows, orphanages, and win lost souls for the Lord Jesus.
3. Revelation- We need a fresh revelation of how God builds. God builds generationally, relationally, and by revelation. When we get fresh revelation of how God builds, then we can enter that placement that God has got for us as part of the body of Christ.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you give us a new perspective outlook on where we all fit in as the church. Give us that revelation to plug in to the church in a healthy way, and allow our gifts and talents that you have given us unfold before us as we connect to the body of Christ the right way, amen.
by Keith Edwards
Ephesians 2:19-21
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
The church As The Temple
a Good picture 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. There is opportunity waiting for you. You can make a difference as being part of the church.
There are 3 things that I want us to reflect on as we go forward with the Functioning Temple series.
1. Connection- We need to connect greater than ever with our home church. The church should be teaching God's truth of course, but it's time as the temple that we connect in a healthy way. There is such a power in connecting a the church.
2. Motivation- We need to be motivated to go out of the church and hit our community. We shouldn't stay within the 4 walls of the building and expect to see a change in our community and nation. We can each make a difference. We need to be motivated by God's spirit and the 5-fold ministry in the church to feed the poor, help the widows, orphanages, and win lost souls for the Lord Jesus.
3. Revelation- We need a fresh revelation of how God builds. God builds generationally, relationally, and by revelation. When we get fresh revelation of how God builds, then we can enter that placement that God has got for us as part of the body of Christ.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you give us a new perspective outlook on where we all fit in as the church. Give us that revelation to plug in to the church in a healthy way, and allow our gifts and talents that you have given us unfold before us as we connect to the body of Christ the right way, amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
God Strengthen My Hands Febuary 6th Weekly Devotional by Keith Edward
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 ever make anything of yourself. I want to encourage you today to keep building. Ask God to strenghthen 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.
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 ever make anything of yourself. I want to encourage you today to keep building. Ask God to strenghthen 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.
Threshing Floor Febuary 13th Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
2 Samuel 24:24,25
24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Have you ever felt like King David? Sometimes you find yourself counting all of the great things you have done to enter into God's presence, or to be accepted by God. I know that I do at times, and I have to fall at the threshing floor of God's grace in time of need and find that revelation that it's all about Jesus and not all about me. We look to the law to be made right at times, and the law is a good positive guide to go by, but it doesn't produce fruit by God's grace. Grace is knowing God and having that personal fellowship with him through our relationship that we have been given through His blood covenant. Now we have a covenant that is beyond any covenant ever made. There are times where we produce other type of covenants that were never attended for us to be a part of. David knew his covenant with God almighty, and David found God's grace in the middle of his failure. We must decrease so He can increase. Here we see that David had Joab count the fighting men of Jerusalem. This was not trusting God, and Joab didn't want to do this thing. He knew that this was not trusting the Lord. God sent prophet Gad to David and gave him a prophetic choice of what he wanted done to him for this sin. However, God withheld the judgement upon David. David fell on his face at the threshing floor, and God was very pleased with David's heart. God told the angel to stop the judgement. It is enough. If you are struggling today with counting your good deeds, then fall at the threshing floor today. This threshing floor is your heart. God wants your heart and not your deeds alone. When our heart is right we will show forth good fruit, and we will walk in the spirit. Lets fall at the threshing floor today.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to that threshing floor today with our hands lifted high and our mouth filled with praise. We ask that you will forgive us for counting all of the good things we do to make us right with you. We are made right because of our faith in your blood, Amen.
2 Samuel 24:24,25
24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Have you ever felt like King David? Sometimes you find yourself counting all of the great things you have done to enter into God's presence, or to be accepted by God. I know that I do at times, and I have to fall at the threshing floor of God's grace in time of need and find that revelation that it's all about Jesus and not all about me. We look to the law to be made right at times, and the law is a good positive guide to go by, but it doesn't produce fruit by God's grace. Grace is knowing God and having that personal fellowship with him through our relationship that we have been given through His blood covenant. Now we have a covenant that is beyond any covenant ever made. There are times where we produce other type of covenants that were never attended for us to be a part of. David knew his covenant with God almighty, and David found God's grace in the middle of his failure. We must decrease so He can increase. Here we see that David had Joab count the fighting men of Jerusalem. This was not trusting God, and Joab didn't want to do this thing. He knew that this was not trusting the Lord. God sent prophet Gad to David and gave him a prophetic choice of what he wanted done to him for this sin. However, God withheld the judgement upon David. David fell on his face at the threshing floor, and God was very pleased with David's heart. God told the angel to stop the judgement. It is enough. If you are struggling today with counting your good deeds, then fall at the threshing floor today. This threshing floor is your heart. God wants your heart and not your deeds alone. When our heart is right we will show forth good fruit, and we will walk in the spirit. Lets fall at the threshing floor today.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to that threshing floor today with our hands lifted high and our mouth filled with praise. We ask that you will forgive us for counting all of the good things we do to make us right with you. We are made right because of our faith in your blood, Amen.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Where's The Proof Febuary 20th Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
Hebrews 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
I can remember back about six years ago playing racquetball, and played some tournaments getting a chance to meet different people from doctors, lawyers, Police officers etc. One particular day I went to work out and hit some ball a little at the gym and an attorney was there wanting to hit. We call it "hit" as a racquetball term. We played for an hour or so and came out of the court to sit down and shoot the breeze. On his shirt was written in big letters, "EVOLUTION" and thought this would be a good chance to witness. I asked the opening rhetorical question, "So, do you believe in God?" "No! I believe in evolution." I asked him if he thinks that evolution is science. His response was, "Oh yes, without a doubt!" and then asked him to tell me a time that scientists proved by observation and repeatable experimentation that evolution really exists, and I mentioned to him that there is an evolution that does exist and that's to change from one species to another species of the "same" kind. There is micro evolution and then there is macro evolution, but the other type of evolution has not and cannot exist as of today. Scientists have even tried to do it and it became mutated and fizzled out to destroy their conclusion. We talked for probably an hour, and my last statement to him was, "Id rather tell my kids that there are angels and there is a God then to tuck them in at night with no hope whatsoever after this life. I don't know exactly what my message to him did, but I'm sure it made him think just a little. How many times do we just accept something because we think that it is real. One day my little girl asked me the question, "Daddy! if evolution does exist, then why didn't the monkey's stop being monkeys?" That's a good question. In bible college we studied a little theology, and I can remember studying about God. The word for how God was always there and was not created is a word that means, "God Needs Nothing To Exist" and even though we can't necessarily prove that evolution or God exists by science doesn't mean that God doesn't exist. It is by faith that many believe in evolution, and it is by faith that we believe in Christ Jesus as our Lord. All throughout the old testament there are prophecies after prophecies about Jesus. It talks about where Jesus would be born, how Jesus would be crucified, the manner of Jesus' death, and God speaks in Genesis 3:15 about Jesus destroying the power of the devil by the seed. Even historians from the past that didn't necessarily believe in God documents that the words spoke about Jesus did come to past to the letter. Scientists can prove that there were earthquakes and other things that did happen according to the bible. I encourage you today to not just accept something because someone else says it, but accept the word of God that He is the only true and living God of our universe.
prayer:
Lord, even though we can't put you in a glass tube and study you, we know that you exist by faith. Help us Lord to walk this walk with your hand in our hand, and help us to increase in faith of your Son Jesus. We ask that you would give us the words to say to those that don't believe in you, and help us to continue on in what we believe. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Hebrews 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
I can remember back about six years ago playing racquetball, and played some tournaments getting a chance to meet different people from doctors, lawyers, Police officers etc. One particular day I went to work out and hit some ball a little at the gym and an attorney was there wanting to hit. We call it "hit" as a racquetball term. We played for an hour or so and came out of the court to sit down and shoot the breeze. On his shirt was written in big letters, "EVOLUTION" and thought this would be a good chance to witness. I asked the opening rhetorical question, "So, do you believe in God?" "No! I believe in evolution." I asked him if he thinks that evolution is science. His response was, "Oh yes, without a doubt!" and then asked him to tell me a time that scientists proved by observation and repeatable experimentation that evolution really exists, and I mentioned to him that there is an evolution that does exist and that's to change from one species to another species of the "same" kind. There is micro evolution and then there is macro evolution, but the other type of evolution has not and cannot exist as of today. Scientists have even tried to do it and it became mutated and fizzled out to destroy their conclusion. We talked for probably an hour, and my last statement to him was, "Id rather tell my kids that there are angels and there is a God then to tuck them in at night with no hope whatsoever after this life. I don't know exactly what my message to him did, but I'm sure it made him think just a little. How many times do we just accept something because we think that it is real. One day my little girl asked me the question, "Daddy! if evolution does exist, then why didn't the monkey's stop being monkeys?" That's a good question. In bible college we studied a little theology, and I can remember studying about God. The word for how God was always there and was not created is a word that means, "God Needs Nothing To Exist" and even though we can't necessarily prove that evolution or God exists by science doesn't mean that God doesn't exist. It is by faith that many believe in evolution, and it is by faith that we believe in Christ Jesus as our Lord. All throughout the old testament there are prophecies after prophecies about Jesus. It talks about where Jesus would be born, how Jesus would be crucified, the manner of Jesus' death, and God speaks in Genesis 3:15 about Jesus destroying the power of the devil by the seed. Even historians from the past that didn't necessarily believe in God documents that the words spoke about Jesus did come to past to the letter. Scientists can prove that there were earthquakes and other things that did happen according to the bible. I encourage you today to not just accept something because someone else says it, but accept the word of God that He is the only true and living God of our universe.
prayer:
Lord, even though we can't put you in a glass tube and study you, we know that you exist by faith. Help us Lord to walk this walk with your hand in our hand, and help us to increase in faith of your Son Jesus. We ask that you would give us the words to say to those that don't believe in you, and help us to continue on in what we believe. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Friday, September 9, 2011
God In America 9/11 Weekly Devotional
DAY 2
As I was meditating on the powerful words from great leaders of our United States of America, I couldn't help to feel a great great pain within me. I began to shed tears from reading the words I believe was straight from the heart of our Father God. Today I want us to read about the leaders of our country who had some guts to stand up for America. I think we need the voice of Abraham Lincoln screaming out to our nation today, "Keep The National Day Of Prayer!" I don't know how long God is going to tolerate this nation under whatever it is under, but I don't believe that God wants us to give up just yet. Lets not put away our bible in hoplessness, and just look up to the heavens alone and wait on the Lord to return. We need to have a desire for Christ to come back for His church, but we still have a bit of work to do yet. I believe that God is wanting us to reflect today on great men who couldn't have spoken prophetically any clearer for what we need today. I feel the pain in me as I am writing this devotion. I beg you church to kneel with me right now in prayer for our nation, and after this prayer I'm about to write below this devotion, I want you to look and reflect on some great words our leaders have spoken for America. Let's pray.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you in your precious name for America. Forgive us Lord. Forgive us Lord for not be concerned for our next generation. Forgive us Lord for being complacent in the church and not reaching out to the community as a whole. We repent Father God for where we have gotten to, and ask that if there is any glimmer of hope left for this nation to reach down with your mighty hand and touch this nation. Help us to have a backbone to speak truth in your mighty name. We do pray for our president of the United States, and we ask that you plot new Christian leaders in Congress to stand up for God in America. Amen
From George Washington's "Inaugural Speech to Both Houses of Congress," April 30, 1789:
"Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes....No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency. . . . We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained and since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps finally, staked on the experiment, not to mention Abraham Lincoln honoring the national day of prayer, Warren Harding speaking of his conviction that the fundamental trouble with the people of the United States is they have gotten too far AWAY FROM GOD. Dewight D. Eisenhower spoke that the purpose of the United people was set forth in the pages of the BIBLE, and the bible continues to inspire us.Thomas Jefferson, one of the writers of the Declaration said: "Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath?"
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you in your precious name for America. Forgive us Lord. Forgive us Lord for not be concerned for our next generation. Forgive us Lord for being complacent in the church and not reaching out to the community as a whole. We repent Father God for where we have gotten to, and ask that if there is any glimmer of hope left for this nation to reach down with your mighty hand and touch this nation. Help us to have a backbone to speak truth in your mighty name. We do pray for our president of the United States, and we ask that you plot new Christian leaders in Congress to stand up for God in America. Amen
From George Washington's "Inaugural Speech to Both Houses of Congress," April 30, 1789:
"Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes....No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency. . . . We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained and since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps finally, staked on the experiment, not to mention Abraham Lincoln honoring the national day of prayer, Warren Harding speaking of his conviction that the fundamental trouble with the people of the United States is they have gotten too far AWAY FROM GOD. Dewight D. Eisenhower spoke that the purpose of the United people was set forth in the pages of the BIBLE, and the bible continues to inspire us.Thomas Jefferson, one of the writers of the Declaration said: "Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath?"
Sunday, January 30, 2011
He'll Meet Our Needs January 30th Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
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.
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.
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Judges And Prophets Removed From The Land by Darren Smith with Streetscape Ministries comment by Keith Edwards January 2011 Word
In Isaiah 3:1-2 God is warning his people that judgment is coming to the land and one of the things He said is that He was about to remove the prophets and the judges. God starts by saying that He will take away the stock and the store as well as the whole supply of bread and water in verse 1. It's hard to imagine that we could ever face such difficult times in our country but I imagine it was just as hard for Jerusalem and Judah to believe, in fact, with them as well it wasn’t a message that they wanted to hear either but it didn’t stop it from coming.
I want to look at taking away the Judge for just a moment before we move onto the Prophet. The Judge is a symbol for justice, which is very hard to find in our modern culture. We have turned away from Gods law unto the rule of man and sadly for the most part we have let this happen. As the foundational beliefs of our country have been stripped away by liberal humanistic judges and lawmakers vowed to take us into a godless nation, the church has slept. Could this be the reason for the successes of the enemy? I think so. But what I want you to consider, have the Godly Judges been taken from the land already? I think it's worth thinking about and praying over, could we be this close to judgment? I think the case can be made, look at Isaiah 1:2-4 and Isaiah 2:5-8 do you see anything that resembles our culture? Let's look at another, Isaiah 3:13-15 another comparison that rings true. We have devastated the vineyard and plundered the poor. Idolatry is rampant in our land and we are blind to it even in our own house. Our land is full of gold and silver and it has replaced the fear of the Lord in our life, there truly is no end to our treasure. Could this be why the judges have been removed that will rule with justice?
Let's move on to the Prophets, where have they gone? Where are the men of God that speak truth without compromise or the fear of consequence? Where are the men with faces set like flint to the cause of Christ? They are gone and have been replaced by humanistic people pleasers without any fear of God. Today we have the most educated well-equipped preachers that we have ever had in history and the greatest lack of truth and faith than ever before. I ask again where are the Prophets of God that fear God? I know that God has a remnant that has not bowed their knee. I believe that we must rise and join together setting aside any motives other than the cause of Christ. As for myself I must confess that I have failed to do my part and have taken several trips around Mt Sinai that I didn’t need to take. The distractions of this world are overwhelming but not an excuse for being sidetracked from the purpose of God.
We must identify the faults within our self and ask for forgiveness from the Lord and healing so we can fight the good fight without fear. A lot of what holds me back is the release of all that I am or all that I could ever hope for to Jesus, sounds silly but I still struggle. I have had a lot of shortcomings and failures along my journey and if not careful they can keep me from pressing forward. This must be put behind and left there to advance in the Kingdom. We are already in this season of judgment and must understand this is not a future event but a present reality! Look at Isaiah 3;4-5 the Word says I will make youths their leaders and the unstable will govern them. Can you see this reflected in our country’s leadership, it's already here and still we sleep. Don’t get me wrong this is not political, I know the only answer for this land is Jesus but for Him to manifest His bride must get clean. I believe that God will give us signs in current events to warn us where we are in time and they are shouting at us now to repent and stand for Christ.
Again I ask where are the Prophets who are willing to risk all to gain Christ? Many are comfortable and afraid to rock the boat, but I believe that God is about to awaken us to repent! Look at Isaiah 1:16-18 as the Lord shouts to us Wash yourselves, cleanse yourselves, remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop sowing evil, learn to do what is good. Seek justice, correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
It's time for us to wash ourselves and cleanse ourselves, I’m asking God to tear out everything in me that is not godly. I’m at the point that I would rather die than go on living half-halfheartedly. I'm doing inventory of my life with the Holy spirit to find every evil deed so I can put it out of my life once and for all. I cannot go another minute without the power and peace of God ruling my life. This has caused me to dig deep into my heart to the place that only God and I can go and although very painful it’s also refreshing. We must learn to do good in all things all the time! I am reading the Sermon on the Mount everyday and comparing my life to what Jesus said to do and after 10 straight days I’m undone and desperately lacking. The brokenness is overwhelming but still is bringing me peace. Jesus meant those things He said in the Sermon on the Mount and expects us to live them, no more excuses!
Seek justice! This causes you to go against the grain and causes very hard reaction from the enemy. Injustice is all around us friends and as a matter of fact we have grown accustomed to it, in fact it is the norm. When you see justice you will find a fight.
Correct the oppressor! This also comes with a price, in fact, many of us will be jailed for the truth and not in the distant future but now. Are we willing? Can we correct all the oppression around us? The Lord instructs us too and we must act without fear of retribution.
Defend the rights of the fatherless and plead the widow’s cause! This should be second nature to us but sadly we have also neglected the importance that Jesus puts on this subject. We do a lot of work in these areas already but not what the Lord expects. I repent of all the works that I have done that are self-directed instead of God ordained and ask the Lord to direct my paths.
I believe that we are in the days of judgment, they have come upon us while we slept just as our Lord said they would but it is not to late to awake and become the spotless bride.
Isaiah 1:19 gives us the promise that if we are willing and obedient we will eat the good things of the land.
I’ve been willing and not obedient as well as obedient and not willing nether will bring about the favor of God, we must be both. Are you willing and obedient? If not are you ready to be? I ask you to pray and seek the Lord for your answers and I would also like to hear from you guys, as I believe that we must unite the fight. I want to connect to others in this land and abroad that are willing to forsake all to live for Christ. The harvest is truly white but the laborers are few.
I also would like to ask for anyone that I have wronged in anyway to let me know. I don’t want spot nor blemish left unclean. I will close with this, Isaiah 1:18 Come let us discuss this says the Lord, though your sins are scarlet they will be white as snow: though they are red as crimson they will be as wool.
Isaiah 1:20 But if you refuse and rebel you will be devoured by the sword
Friends there is no other way than Jesus!
In Him alone I stand,
Darren Smith
comment by Keith Edwards:
This couldn't be more of a serious word for us as the bride of Christ. In 2009 I wrote a blog word about the shaking that would take place in the stock market, Kings and leaders who lead us, and influenial people of this world. One thing that was written in this blog about the shaking was that "Many will cry tears upon the mighty dollar but that's as far as those tears will go. But some will cry tears that are real and repent. We see the mighty dollar taking place of family values, ethical leadership, and even the church. This is 2011 and God is going to increase the shaking for the next move of God. I believe that we can see some purity in congress and whitehouse in 2012 if we will humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and seek His face for our nation. It's all in God's hand and it's up to us as the church to pray for the next president and congress. Let the rich pure words of Darren so penetrate our hearts today to repent and let Christ clean us and make us more like Him to be a spotless bride for the next move of God.
by Darren Smith and Keith Edwards
I want to look at taking away the Judge for just a moment before we move onto the Prophet. The Judge is a symbol for justice, which is very hard to find in our modern culture. We have turned away from Gods law unto the rule of man and sadly for the most part we have let this happen. As the foundational beliefs of our country have been stripped away by liberal humanistic judges and lawmakers vowed to take us into a godless nation, the church has slept. Could this be the reason for the successes of the enemy? I think so. But what I want you to consider, have the Godly Judges been taken from the land already? I think it's worth thinking about and praying over, could we be this close to judgment? I think the case can be made, look at Isaiah 1:2-4 and Isaiah 2:5-8 do you see anything that resembles our culture? Let's look at another, Isaiah 3:13-15 another comparison that rings true. We have devastated the vineyard and plundered the poor. Idolatry is rampant in our land and we are blind to it even in our own house. Our land is full of gold and silver and it has replaced the fear of the Lord in our life, there truly is no end to our treasure. Could this be why the judges have been removed that will rule with justice?
Let's move on to the Prophets, where have they gone? Where are the men of God that speak truth without compromise or the fear of consequence? Where are the men with faces set like flint to the cause of Christ? They are gone and have been replaced by humanistic people pleasers without any fear of God. Today we have the most educated well-equipped preachers that we have ever had in history and the greatest lack of truth and faith than ever before. I ask again where are the Prophets of God that fear God? I know that God has a remnant that has not bowed their knee. I believe that we must rise and join together setting aside any motives other than the cause of Christ. As for myself I must confess that I have failed to do my part and have taken several trips around Mt Sinai that I didn’t need to take. The distractions of this world are overwhelming but not an excuse for being sidetracked from the purpose of God.
We must identify the faults within our self and ask for forgiveness from the Lord and healing so we can fight the good fight without fear. A lot of what holds me back is the release of all that I am or all that I could ever hope for to Jesus, sounds silly but I still struggle. I have had a lot of shortcomings and failures along my journey and if not careful they can keep me from pressing forward. This must be put behind and left there to advance in the Kingdom. We are already in this season of judgment and must understand this is not a future event but a present reality! Look at Isaiah 3;4-5 the Word says I will make youths their leaders and the unstable will govern them. Can you see this reflected in our country’s leadership, it's already here and still we sleep. Don’t get me wrong this is not political, I know the only answer for this land is Jesus but for Him to manifest His bride must get clean. I believe that God will give us signs in current events to warn us where we are in time and they are shouting at us now to repent and stand for Christ.
Again I ask where are the Prophets who are willing to risk all to gain Christ? Many are comfortable and afraid to rock the boat, but I believe that God is about to awaken us to repent! Look at Isaiah 1:16-18 as the Lord shouts to us Wash yourselves, cleanse yourselves, remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop sowing evil, learn to do what is good. Seek justice, correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
It's time for us to wash ourselves and cleanse ourselves, I’m asking God to tear out everything in me that is not godly. I’m at the point that I would rather die than go on living half-halfheartedly. I'm doing inventory of my life with the Holy spirit to find every evil deed so I can put it out of my life once and for all. I cannot go another minute without the power and peace of God ruling my life. This has caused me to dig deep into my heart to the place that only God and I can go and although very painful it’s also refreshing. We must learn to do good in all things all the time! I am reading the Sermon on the Mount everyday and comparing my life to what Jesus said to do and after 10 straight days I’m undone and desperately lacking. The brokenness is overwhelming but still is bringing me peace. Jesus meant those things He said in the Sermon on the Mount and expects us to live them, no more excuses!
Seek justice! This causes you to go against the grain and causes very hard reaction from the enemy. Injustice is all around us friends and as a matter of fact we have grown accustomed to it, in fact it is the norm. When you see justice you will find a fight.
Correct the oppressor! This also comes with a price, in fact, many of us will be jailed for the truth and not in the distant future but now. Are we willing? Can we correct all the oppression around us? The Lord instructs us too and we must act without fear of retribution.
Defend the rights of the fatherless and plead the widow’s cause! This should be second nature to us but sadly we have also neglected the importance that Jesus puts on this subject. We do a lot of work in these areas already but not what the Lord expects. I repent of all the works that I have done that are self-directed instead of God ordained and ask the Lord to direct my paths.
I believe that we are in the days of judgment, they have come upon us while we slept just as our Lord said they would but it is not to late to awake and become the spotless bride.
Isaiah 1:19 gives us the promise that if we are willing and obedient we will eat the good things of the land.
I’ve been willing and not obedient as well as obedient and not willing nether will bring about the favor of God, we must be both. Are you willing and obedient? If not are you ready to be? I ask you to pray and seek the Lord for your answers and I would also like to hear from you guys, as I believe that we must unite the fight. I want to connect to others in this land and abroad that are willing to forsake all to live for Christ. The harvest is truly white but the laborers are few.
I also would like to ask for anyone that I have wronged in anyway to let me know. I don’t want spot nor blemish left unclean. I will close with this, Isaiah 1:18 Come let us discuss this says the Lord, though your sins are scarlet they will be white as snow: though they are red as crimson they will be as wool.
Isaiah 1:20 But if you refuse and rebel you will be devoured by the sword
Friends there is no other way than Jesus!
In Him alone I stand,
Darren Smith
comment by Keith Edwards:
This couldn't be more of a serious word for us as the bride of Christ. In 2009 I wrote a blog word about the shaking that would take place in the stock market, Kings and leaders who lead us, and influenial people of this world. One thing that was written in this blog about the shaking was that "Many will cry tears upon the mighty dollar but that's as far as those tears will go. But some will cry tears that are real and repent. We see the mighty dollar taking place of family values, ethical leadership, and even the church. This is 2011 and God is going to increase the shaking for the next move of God. I believe that we can see some purity in congress and whitehouse in 2012 if we will humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and seek His face for our nation. It's all in God's hand and it's up to us as the church to pray for the next president and congress. Let the rich pure words of Darren so penetrate our hearts today to repent and let Christ clean us and make us more like Him to be a spotless bride for the next move of God.
by Darren Smith and Keith Edwards
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Time To Bind Together January 23 Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
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.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Shaking The Salt January 16th Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
Matthew 5:13-15
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
I can remember back years ago when I worked at this particular place. I was a cell leader and did some worship and teaching at my Father's church he was a pastor at. I was on fire for the things of God, and I would bring my bible and read during lunch time. They probably called me a Jesus freak. I don't know, but I really didn't care. I cared for the things of God more than life itself. There was this one guy I couldn't stand. We will call him John Doe. John had a filthy mouth and loved to drink. I told the Lord, "Lord, this guy will never come to you!" John made me so mad. I would be reading during my lunch break, and he would just cuss and carry on. Months later, John Doe sat down at the table I was at one night, and he had tears streaming down his face. He said, "I want this God you serve!" I couldn't believe it. I had to shake my head and wipe my eyes to see if this was really happening. He was in front of everyone in the lunch area, but it seemed like he didn't even care. His car was in the shop that morning, so I was able to take him home. I led him to the Lord that Sunday morning and he repented of his sins and was washed by the blood of Jesus. He began to weep and cry and you can really tell that it was a true conversion. It gets better. Years down the road, I was at my brother-in law's house, and I asked him how his job was coming along? He worked at the same grocery retail store that I worked at but a different location. He was an assistant store manager and told me that he had a pretty good crew. He said, "There is this one fellow there though that is kinda weird." I asked him about this fellow. He said his name was John Doe. He said that he brings his bible to work every night and talks about Jesus to all of us. Man! you talk about a chill running down my spine. This John Doe is the same exact John Doe that I led to Christ Jesus years past. I said all of that to let us realize that we are the salt of the earth and just remember that there is always somebody watching us. They want to see that what we believe is really real or not. Let's be the salt of this earth, and let's be the reflection of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
Prayer:
Lord we thank you today for your power and salvation. We pray that we would shine forth your light like never before to this generation. Lord we never know sometimes that there is the most unlikely prospect that is studying our every move to see if we really believe what we believe. Help us Lord to be the salt of this earth. Amen.
Matthew 5:13-15
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
I can remember back years ago when I worked at this particular place. I was a cell leader and did some worship and teaching at my Father's church he was a pastor at. I was on fire for the things of God, and I would bring my bible and read during lunch time. They probably called me a Jesus freak. I don't know, but I really didn't care. I cared for the things of God more than life itself. There was this one guy I couldn't stand. We will call him John Doe. John had a filthy mouth and loved to drink. I told the Lord, "Lord, this guy will never come to you!" John made me so mad. I would be reading during my lunch break, and he would just cuss and carry on. Months later, John Doe sat down at the table I was at one night, and he had tears streaming down his face. He said, "I want this God you serve!" I couldn't believe it. I had to shake my head and wipe my eyes to see if this was really happening. He was in front of everyone in the lunch area, but it seemed like he didn't even care. His car was in the shop that morning, so I was able to take him home. I led him to the Lord that Sunday morning and he repented of his sins and was washed by the blood of Jesus. He began to weep and cry and you can really tell that it was a true conversion. It gets better. Years down the road, I was at my brother-in law's house, and I asked him how his job was coming along? He worked at the same grocery retail store that I worked at but a different location. He was an assistant store manager and told me that he had a pretty good crew. He said, "There is this one fellow there though that is kinda weird." I asked him about this fellow. He said his name was John Doe. He said that he brings his bible to work every night and talks about Jesus to all of us. Man! you talk about a chill running down my spine. This John Doe is the same exact John Doe that I led to Christ Jesus years past. I said all of that to let us realize that we are the salt of the earth and just remember that there is always somebody watching us. They want to see that what we believe is really real or not. Let's be the salt of this earth, and let's be the reflection of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
Prayer:
Lord we thank you today for your power and salvation. We pray that we would shine forth your light like never before to this generation. Lord we never know sometimes that there is the most unlikely prospect that is studying our every move to see if we really believe what we believe. Help us Lord to be the salt of this earth. Amen.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Revelation Through Our Worship January 9th Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight
The thing we need to have during restoration is a revelation of what to do through our restoration. One, we need to understand that God still loves us even though we are facing things that we brought upon ourselves. Two, we need to have a revelation of pure worship in the middle of restoration. Three, we need to speak positive and pray against negative habits that has caused the unnecessary pain that we experience. We will begin to see all of those bad ugly habits break off of us as we build good habits driven by the word of God. We also need to have a healthy repentance through our daily devotion, for this is very important. Our worship needs to be mixed with the fact that God loves us, and He sees us righteous by the blood of His son Jesus. We can put on that revelation of our right standing with God, and we can get through anything with the help of the Holy Spirit. Three, we need to trust the Lord as we walk down that path with Him. Trust is very important, and we can trust in the fact that He is who He say's He is. He is God, and His name is on our lips to speak out our God given destiny here on earth as followers of Christ. I want to encourage you today to praise Him through the storm. Hold on through it all, and don't let go. You can make it today. Don't let your past dictate your future, but say with me, I will make it with a revelation through this restoration.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you give us extra grace today through what we are facing. Help me to get through this trial and valley. We know that we can get through it a lot faster when we let you be the Lord of our situation. We call you Lord in the very things that we face, and we lift your name as we run this race with you, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight
The thing we need to have during restoration is a revelation of what to do through our restoration. One, we need to understand that God still loves us even though we are facing things that we brought upon ourselves. Two, we need to have a revelation of pure worship in the middle of restoration. Three, we need to speak positive and pray against negative habits that has caused the unnecessary pain that we experience. We will begin to see all of those bad ugly habits break off of us as we build good habits driven by the word of God. We also need to have a healthy repentance through our daily devotion, for this is very important. Our worship needs to be mixed with the fact that God loves us, and He sees us righteous by the blood of His son Jesus. We can put on that revelation of our right standing with God, and we can get through anything with the help of the Holy Spirit. Three, we need to trust the Lord as we walk down that path with Him. Trust is very important, and we can trust in the fact that He is who He say's He is. He is God, and His name is on our lips to speak out our God given destiny here on earth as followers of Christ. I want to encourage you today to praise Him through the storm. Hold on through it all, and don't let go. You can make it today. Don't let your past dictate your future, but say with me, I will make it with a revelation through this restoration.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you give us extra grace today through what we are facing. Help me to get through this trial and valley. We know that we can get through it a lot faster when we let you be the Lord of our situation. We call you Lord in the very things that we face, and we lift your name as we run this race with you, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
We Need A Rebible August 7th Weekly 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 particular denomination. We have the baptists' that center on conversion and evangelism, eastern Orthodox 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 emphasize 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 should 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 theological 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, receive 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 particular denomination. We have the baptists' that center on conversion and evangelism, eastern Orthodox 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 emphasize 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 should 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 theological 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, receive 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
Sunday, January 2, 2011
River Of Ahava January 2nd Weekly 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 hebrew 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. We can also learn a great deal about Ezra here as we build the church of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the rock of revelation. Ezra plotted men around him. It is so important as pastor's to understand how God builds. If we don't have the revelation of how God builds, and how the church needs strong Godly leaders around them, then the church isn't being built upon that rock. There is a great deal of revelation from Ezra today that we need to understand, and we can gain that nourishment needed to carry on the great journey of spiritual growth with one another as the bride of Christ. 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. We stop to gain the nourishment needed to carry on Lord. 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 hebrew 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. We can also learn a great deal about Ezra here as we build the church of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the rock of revelation. Ezra plotted men around him. It is so important as pastor's to understand how God builds. If we don't have the revelation of how God builds, and how the church needs strong Godly leaders around them, then the church isn't being built upon that rock. There is a great deal of revelation from Ezra today that we need to understand, and we can gain that nourishment needed to carry on the great journey of spiritual growth with one another as the bride of Christ. 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. We stop to gain the nourishment needed to carry on Lord. 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
Sunday, December 26, 2010
To Hear Your Heartbeat December 26th Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times as they were sitting there? If you can remember, Peter denied Jesus three times, and Jesus asked him, " Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was cut to the heart. There has to be a cutting for a healing and revelation to take place. I know in my own life that when God is dealing with me about a certain area, I feel that spiritual cutting before the healing. It's a healthy fear of God that brings such a pure and loving relationship with Him. We are not to fear God as believers concerning the wrath of God because that was taken care of on the cross. But we are to have a healthy fear of God. This generation has no fear of God today, and it's a shame for us as Christians. One thing I want us to see here in John chapter 21 is that Jesus didn't leave Peter there hurting. Peter had to have a revelation before ministry could begin as an apostle of Christ. I can remember having my devotional worship with the Lord and I felt the Holy Spirit say, "Put your guitar down for a moment!" I felt like the Lord asked me the same thing that He will ask every Christian believer at one point in their walk with the Lord, even after that initial true conversion of repentance. The Lord asked me, "Do you love me son? Do you love me more than my power?" I said yes Lord, I love you more than your sovereign power. Do you love me more than the things that I give you?" Yes Lord, I love you more than the things that you give. Do you love me more than your own family?" I hesitated for a moment, then I said, "Yes Lord, I love you more than my family. There was a cutting there that made me want God more than anything. More than the music, more than teaching, more than anything. But I need to let you in on a secret that will help you and I along our journey as true Christians. We need to always stay in check on this particular thing everyday. I know of many unbelievable ministers who lost their first love in the middle of ministry. It can happen, and that's why it is so important to have a healthy repentance everyday in our walk with Him. I'm not talking about the forgive forgive forgive me thing that brings forth condemnation instead of true heart repentance. I talking about sitting at Jesus feet in our daily devotion and learning His ways. He will show us His ways when our heart is truly towards Him. I really meant it that day, and it was a revelation to sit at Jesus' feet daily and to hear His heartbeat. Let me ask you today! Do you love Jesus more than the things that He has blessed you with?" Do you love Him more than ministry?" I know it is painful, but oh the healing and revelation that it brings to advance the Kingdom of God as believers, to make disciples, and to let God's righteousness ring across the whole earth. The last thing that I want us to understand is that we need to understand the importance of feeding the sheep as minister's. We are "all" called to advance God's kingdom, whether it is in our workplace, ministry, or wherever we are at, we are called to advance God's kingdom. We should all be making disciples. The pastor's and those called in the church as leaders are to equip all believers to go out and do the works of Christ. This is the revelation that every Pastor should have before He opens up that front door of His church. The revelation of how God builds, how He thinks, and the very rock of revelation of what the church should be doing to carry on the great commission.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you would help us to hear your heartbeat in this generation. We ask that you touch us by your spirit, and that you would lead us in the way we should go. Let us hear you heart in you precious name. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times as they were sitting there? If you can remember, Peter denied Jesus three times, and Jesus asked him, " Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was cut to the heart. There has to be a cutting for a healing and revelation to take place. I know in my own life that when God is dealing with me about a certain area, I feel that spiritual cutting before the healing. It's a healthy fear of God that brings such a pure and loving relationship with Him. We are not to fear God as believers concerning the wrath of God because that was taken care of on the cross. But we are to have a healthy fear of God. This generation has no fear of God today, and it's a shame for us as Christians. One thing I want us to see here in John chapter 21 is that Jesus didn't leave Peter there hurting. Peter had to have a revelation before ministry could begin as an apostle of Christ. I can remember having my devotional worship with the Lord and I felt the Holy Spirit say, "Put your guitar down for a moment!" I felt like the Lord asked me the same thing that He will ask every Christian believer at one point in their walk with the Lord, even after that initial true conversion of repentance. The Lord asked me, "Do you love me son? Do you love me more than my power?" I said yes Lord, I love you more than your sovereign power. Do you love me more than the things that I give you?" Yes Lord, I love you more than the things that you give. Do you love me more than your own family?" I hesitated for a moment, then I said, "Yes Lord, I love you more than my family. There was a cutting there that made me want God more than anything. More than the music, more than teaching, more than anything. But I need to let you in on a secret that will help you and I along our journey as true Christians. We need to always stay in check on this particular thing everyday. I know of many unbelievable ministers who lost their first love in the middle of ministry. It can happen, and that's why it is so important to have a healthy repentance everyday in our walk with Him. I'm not talking about the forgive forgive forgive me thing that brings forth condemnation instead of true heart repentance. I talking about sitting at Jesus feet in our daily devotion and learning His ways. He will show us His ways when our heart is truly towards Him. I really meant it that day, and it was a revelation to sit at Jesus' feet daily and to hear His heartbeat. Let me ask you today! Do you love Jesus more than the things that He has blessed you with?" Do you love Him more than ministry?" I know it is painful, but oh the healing and revelation that it brings to advance the Kingdom of God as believers, to make disciples, and to let God's righteousness ring across the whole earth. The last thing that I want us to understand is that we need to understand the importance of feeding the sheep as minister's. We are "all" called to advance God's kingdom, whether it is in our workplace, ministry, or wherever we are at, we are called to advance God's kingdom. We should all be making disciples. The pastor's and those called in the church as leaders are to equip all believers to go out and do the works of Christ. This is the revelation that every Pastor should have before He opens up that front door of His church. The revelation of how God builds, how He thinks, and the very rock of revelation of what the church should be doing to carry on the great commission.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you would help us to hear your heartbeat in this generation. We ask that you touch us by your spirit, and that you would lead us in the way we should go. Let us hear you heart in you precious name. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, December 19, 2010
God With Us December 19th Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read
Isaiah 9:6
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Also Read:
Michah 5:1,2
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
In this time of celebrating Christmas, we will have gifts, quality time with family etc. Let's remember what Christmas is all about and thank God for being Immanuel God with us. When Christ was born, this was one of the greatest prophecies that was fulfilled. There are more than 300 prophecies pertaining to the Messiah, and every last one of these prophecies came to pass to the letter. We see in Zechariah of Jesus riding on a donkey, Isaiah 53 speaks of Christ' death, and we also see in Micah 5 that Jesus would be born in a little town called Behlehem. The prohecy say's that He would be ruler over Israel. It also say's that He would be wonderful Councelor, "Mighty God" Prince of peace. Not only is God above and beyond, but He is also within all believers who have repented and made Him Lord of our lives. Unto us a child was born and now He is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us.
Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for coming down to earth and being born. We want to give you a gift today of our sacrifice, and we want you to know that we do love you and thank you for everything you have given us in this time of Christmas, amen.
by Keith Edwards
Isaiah 9:6
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Also Read:
Michah 5:1,2
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
In this time of celebrating Christmas, we will have gifts, quality time with family etc. Let's remember what Christmas is all about and thank God for being Immanuel God with us. When Christ was born, this was one of the greatest prophecies that was fulfilled. There are more than 300 prophecies pertaining to the Messiah, and every last one of these prophecies came to pass to the letter. We see in Zechariah of Jesus riding on a donkey, Isaiah 53 speaks of Christ' death, and we also see in Micah 5 that Jesus would be born in a little town called Behlehem. The prohecy say's that He would be ruler over Israel. It also say's that He would be wonderful Councelor, "Mighty God" Prince of peace. Not only is God above and beyond, but He is also within all believers who have repented and made Him Lord of our lives. Unto us a child was born and now He is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us.
Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for coming down to earth and being born. We want to give you a gift today of our sacrifice, and we want you to know that we do love you and thank you for everything you have given us in this time of Christmas, amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Thank God For His Grace December 12th Devotional by Keith Edwards worship leader/speaker
Read:
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
There was a story told one time about what the difference between the law and grace was. This story gave an example of an ole' hound dog that wanted to be a German Sheppard police dog. When the old man would come to do role check with all of the other German Sheppard's, the hound dog would sit there and act like a German Sheppard police dog, and bark like a Sheppard police dog. The old man finally got tired of him acting like a German Sheppard police dog and told him one day, "your not a German Sheppard police dog!" The ole' hound dog said, "sure I am!" I can talk, act, and walk like one. So one day the old man came with a quail behind his back. When he pulled that old quail out, that old' hound dog jerked and kicked and ran after that old quail. You see, the quail is like the law. That quail strengthened what was really inside of him. This is what the law of God does. It strengthens what is already in us before we are born again. The only way we can be changed on the inside is to repent of our sins and make Jesus Christ Lord of our life. We need a miracle, and if it were not for the grace of God that really changes us and make us new creatures, we would never really be changed on the inside. You can take an old donkey, pull his ears back, make him look like a beautiful race horse, but when you put that old donkey on the race line, he will kick and scream and act just like an old donkey. You can take a pig and call him Feefy. You can walk him, feed him dog food, and let him sit at the foot of your bed, but eventually that old pig will run right back to the mud where it was created to be at. Thank God for His grace that can change our old spirit and make us brand new in Him. The Greek word for creature in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is Ktisis and it means the act of founding, establishing. Our new spirit on the inside of us has no bad past. We still have memories in our head and emotions about our past, and that's why we need the blood of Jesus everyday to purge our "conscience" from dead works through a healthy repentance, but our spirit is brand new and unused. The Greek word for new in this scripture is Kainos and it means recently made, unused and unworn. I want to encourage you today if you don't know Christ in a true conversion to really repent and ask Him to change you on the inside. If you have accepted Christ Jesus don't try and walk this Christian walk alone. You can't change yourself before you come to Christ, and you can't grow in the Lord through the law after you have accepted Christ in your own righteousness. It's all by His grace. His grace will help you do things that you can't do. It will help you walk in the spirit, and it will guide and direct you in His ways.
prayer:
Lord we come to you today and ask that you help us to totally rely upon your grace to get us through each day. Help us to realize that there is nothing we can do in our own strength that helps us to walk in your spirit. We need you Lord and we love you today. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
There was a story told one time about what the difference between the law and grace was. This story gave an example of an ole' hound dog that wanted to be a German Sheppard police dog. When the old man would come to do role check with all of the other German Sheppard's, the hound dog would sit there and act like a German Sheppard police dog, and bark like a Sheppard police dog. The old man finally got tired of him acting like a German Sheppard police dog and told him one day, "your not a German Sheppard police dog!" The ole' hound dog said, "sure I am!" I can talk, act, and walk like one. So one day the old man came with a quail behind his back. When he pulled that old quail out, that old' hound dog jerked and kicked and ran after that old quail. You see, the quail is like the law. That quail strengthened what was really inside of him. This is what the law of God does. It strengthens what is already in us before we are born again. The only way we can be changed on the inside is to repent of our sins and make Jesus Christ Lord of our life. We need a miracle, and if it were not for the grace of God that really changes us and make us new creatures, we would never really be changed on the inside. You can take an old donkey, pull his ears back, make him look like a beautiful race horse, but when you put that old donkey on the race line, he will kick and scream and act just like an old donkey. You can take a pig and call him Feefy. You can walk him, feed him dog food, and let him sit at the foot of your bed, but eventually that old pig will run right back to the mud where it was created to be at. Thank God for His grace that can change our old spirit and make us brand new in Him. The Greek word for creature in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is Ktisis and it means the act of founding, establishing. Our new spirit on the inside of us has no bad past. We still have memories in our head and emotions about our past, and that's why we need the blood of Jesus everyday to purge our "conscience" from dead works through a healthy repentance, but our spirit is brand new and unused. The Greek word for new in this scripture is Kainos and it means recently made, unused and unworn. I want to encourage you today if you don't know Christ in a true conversion to really repent and ask Him to change you on the inside. If you have accepted Christ Jesus don't try and walk this Christian walk alone. You can't change yourself before you come to Christ, and you can't grow in the Lord through the law after you have accepted Christ in your own righteousness. It's all by His grace. His grace will help you do things that you can't do. It will help you walk in the spirit, and it will guide and direct you in His ways.
prayer:
Lord we come to you today and ask that you help us to totally rely upon your grace to get us through each day. Help us to realize that there is nothing we can do in our own strength that helps us to walk in your spirit. We need you Lord and we love you today. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, December 5, 2010
We Need A Rebible December 5th 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 particular denomination. We have the baptists' that center on conversion and evangelism, eastern Orthodox 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 emphasize 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 should 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 theological 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, receive 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 particular denomination. We have the baptists' that center on conversion and evangelism, eastern Orthodox 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 emphasize 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 should 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 theological 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, receive 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
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Let It Be The Inward Man November 21st Devotional
Read:
2 Corinthians 4:16
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day
A young china man wanted to change the world. When he was twenty, he said, "I'm going to change the world." When he was thirty, he said, "I'd like to change Asia." when he was forty he said, "We'll, I'd just like to change China." When he was fifty he said, "I'd like to change my province." When he was sixty, he said, Maybe I can just change my village." When he turned seventy, he said, "I need to change myself." How many of us have such a heart to do great things for the Lord? We really have a sincere heart, but our soul hasn't been strengthened enough to do the things we want to do. We may go for a while, but ultimately we will give up and faint. Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. The bible Say's to renew our mind, and the word of God will touch our emotions and our will becomes disciplined to do those great things for the Lord. Some of us need a spiritual rebirth, but some of us need a character rebirth. When we build our house (soul) upon the rock (Christ) we will surely stand in the winds of trials and hard times, but when we build our house (soul) upon the sand (worldly principles) then we will surely fall. Our inner man has been born again, but our flesh has to be put under subjection, and our soul has to be built upon the rock of Christ. As our inner man grows our mind, will, and emotions grows as well, and will always glorify Christ Jesus. Spiritual growth is crucial for moving into the calling that God has got for us here on earth. As our devotional life and faithfulness in our home church increases, so shall the calling and gifts' begin to increase and unfold before us. I want to encourage you today to let God's word so fill your heart. It is always internal, then external.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you fill our hearts with your beautiful word. We long to trust you Lord and have patience. You will move us Lord at the right time, and you will take us where we need to go in our destiny here on earth. Touch us by your spirit. Amen
by Keith Edwards
2 Corinthians 4:16
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day
A young china man wanted to change the world. When he was twenty, he said, "I'm going to change the world." When he was thirty, he said, "I'd like to change Asia." when he was forty he said, "We'll, I'd just like to change China." When he was fifty he said, "I'd like to change my province." When he was sixty, he said, Maybe I can just change my village." When he turned seventy, he said, "I need to change myself." How many of us have such a heart to do great things for the Lord? We really have a sincere heart, but our soul hasn't been strengthened enough to do the things we want to do. We may go for a while, but ultimately we will give up and faint. Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. The bible Say's to renew our mind, and the word of God will touch our emotions and our will becomes disciplined to do those great things for the Lord. Some of us need a spiritual rebirth, but some of us need a character rebirth. When we build our house (soul) upon the rock (Christ) we will surely stand in the winds of trials and hard times, but when we build our house (soul) upon the sand (worldly principles) then we will surely fall. Our inner man has been born again, but our flesh has to be put under subjection, and our soul has to be built upon the rock of Christ. As our inner man grows our mind, will, and emotions grows as well, and will always glorify Christ Jesus. Spiritual growth is crucial for moving into the calling that God has got for us here on earth. As our devotional life and faithfulness in our home church increases, so shall the calling and gifts' begin to increase and unfold before us. I want to encourage you today to let God's word so fill your heart. It is always internal, then external.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you fill our hearts with your beautiful word. We long to trust you Lord and have patience. You will move us Lord at the right time, and you will take us where we need to go in our destiny here on earth. Touch us by your spirit. Amen
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, November 14, 2010
God Will Always Supply A Ram November 14th 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, and this is what He did with Abraham. Abraham loved His son so much, and to do this deed was absolutely crushing to him, and 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, but we 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.
by Keith Edwards
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, and this is what He did with Abraham. Abraham loved His son so much, and to do this deed was absolutely crushing to him, and 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, but we 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.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Daddy, You Still Love Me? November 7-14 Weekly 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 now 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 now 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.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Blood covenant October 31st Devotional by Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Read:
Luke 22:20
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
The seven redemptive names of Jehovah reveal the fullness of the gospel blessing. All that the New Testament provides for the believer is found in these seven covenant names, and that blessing that is represented by each name has all been provided by the shedding of Jesus' blood. This is the revelation of the Blood Covenant. The Lord is Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is present, Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd, Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our victory, Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our peace, Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness, Jehovah Tireh, the Lord our provider, and the Lord Rophe, the Lord our healer. Let us appropriate these blessings by faith, and they shall become ours in power. The seven redemptive names of Jehovah give us a special revelation of Almighty God, and they reveal the covenant. They describe for us the redemptive nature of God, and when we meditate on these facts, they will be our strength in time of need. The bible is Gods' revelation of Himself to the believer.
Comment by Keith Edwards:
Today I want us to focus on Gods' name in a deep and powerful way. The bible says that the name of the Lord is a strong tower, and the righteous run into it and they are saved. The Hebrew word for name is Shem, and it means the nature and character of God. The Hebrew word for tower is Megdawl, and it means to elevate one to a high place. We are elevated to a high place in God's name, and His name is food for our soul, and it gives us that desire to walk in His Spirit.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will elevate us to a high place in your name today. We desire Lord to get a deep revelation of who you are in us by that blood covenant, Amen.
by Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Luke 22:20
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
The seven redemptive names of Jehovah reveal the fullness of the gospel blessing. All that the New Testament provides for the believer is found in these seven covenant names, and that blessing that is represented by each name has all been provided by the shedding of Jesus' blood. This is the revelation of the Blood Covenant. The Lord is Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is present, Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd, Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our victory, Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our peace, Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness, Jehovah Tireh, the Lord our provider, and the Lord Rophe, the Lord our healer. Let us appropriate these blessings by faith, and they shall become ours in power. The seven redemptive names of Jehovah give us a special revelation of Almighty God, and they reveal the covenant. They describe for us the redemptive nature of God, and when we meditate on these facts, they will be our strength in time of need. The bible is Gods' revelation of Himself to the believer.
Comment by Keith Edwards:
Today I want us to focus on Gods' name in a deep and powerful way. The bible says that the name of the Lord is a strong tower, and the righteous run into it and they are saved. The Hebrew word for name is Shem, and it means the nature and character of God. The Hebrew word for tower is Megdawl, and it means to elevate one to a high place. We are elevated to a high place in God's name, and His name is food for our soul, and it gives us that desire to walk in His Spirit.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will elevate us to a high place in your name today. We desire Lord to get a deep revelation of who you are in us by that blood covenant, Amen.
by Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Sunday, October 24, 2010
He Will Meet Our Needs October 24th Weekly 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.
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.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Too Much For God by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards October 17th 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
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Look by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards October 10th 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
Saturday, October 9, 2010
New Testament Paradigm October 9th Devotional
Read:
Philippians 2:5
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Also Read:
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
We are living in a generation that has lost the importance and revelation of how God builds and the model of the cross that we should follow. The church has taken in paradigms that are not godly but rather humanistic and gnostic. We have lost the paradigm of the cross of Jesus Christ, and how we should follow Christ as He laid down His life. Like the Gnostic's, we have a revelation of Christ living within us, but it is more of a concept and teaching rather than knowing Him and the power of His resurrection. Within us is often a collection of teachings and our dedication to them, rather than to our risen Lord Who lives in us. The New Testament paradigm of the Cross and the risen Lord should be the focus of our devotion everyday. I find myself loving the idea of God at times, rather than keeping that pure devotion with Him, and then I have to repent and return to that first love with Him. The teachings that many minister's hold to and "defend" can be totally orthodox, but they lose the paradigm of love that Jesus portrayed, the sacrifice that He gave, and the ministry that He poured out to many. It seems to me that many minister's try and add to the gospel, and the paradigm for us to follow is so clear, yet we make it difficult. We can't build a paradigm upon a paradigm, and we can't change the gospel to make it fit our own agenda and what we think is right. Many churches have lowered the standard of what there church is to follow, and they make it an easy gospel. A paradigm is an example and model to follow, and the very foundation that was laid for us by the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone is the very foundation that we need to follow today. I have minister friends over seas that are powerful minister's of God, and I see a vast difference between some minister's here in the United States and those from overseas. I think that the biggest reason for this is that they haven't been tainted by other paradigms, but understood right off the bat that ministry is just following what Christ Jesus did. I think that one of the major errors we have gotten into, including me, is defending the gospel with the wrong approach. Sometimes we get so caught up with what we think is right, and we lose sight to what needs to be done to transform our nation, change our community, and make disciples. It is very important to defend the gospel and to flow in our gifts and callings. I'm just saying that we need to get our priorities in order as the church and understand that the new testament model for the church is to minister to our community and have outward ministry. It is extending our hands outside the four walls of the building and winning souls, feeding the poor, and making disciples, but yet done with love. It is following the paradigm of the cross. We've done all but make disciples. We have our programs, agenda's, and other things, but our focus needs to be on the Kingdom of God. I want us today to have a fresh insight as to what God has for us, and to ask God today to place us where we need to be as we play our part in following the cross.
Prayer:
Lord, we repent for any other paradigms that we have allowed in our lives, if any. Show us Lord if there is any way in us besides your way, and give us a fresh revelation of the only paradigm and foundation that we need to follow today, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Philippians 2:5
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Also Read:
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
We are living in a generation that has lost the importance and revelation of how God builds and the model of the cross that we should follow. The church has taken in paradigms that are not godly but rather humanistic and gnostic. We have lost the paradigm of the cross of Jesus Christ, and how we should follow Christ as He laid down His life. Like the Gnostic's, we have a revelation of Christ living within us, but it is more of a concept and teaching rather than knowing Him and the power of His resurrection. Within us is often a collection of teachings and our dedication to them, rather than to our risen Lord Who lives in us. The New Testament paradigm of the Cross and the risen Lord should be the focus of our devotion everyday. I find myself loving the idea of God at times, rather than keeping that pure devotion with Him, and then I have to repent and return to that first love with Him. The teachings that many minister's hold to and "defend" can be totally orthodox, but they lose the paradigm of love that Jesus portrayed, the sacrifice that He gave, and the ministry that He poured out to many. It seems to me that many minister's try and add to the gospel, and the paradigm for us to follow is so clear, yet we make it difficult. We can't build a paradigm upon a paradigm, and we can't change the gospel to make it fit our own agenda and what we think is right. Many churches have lowered the standard of what there church is to follow, and they make it an easy gospel. A paradigm is an example and model to follow, and the very foundation that was laid for us by the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone is the very foundation that we need to follow today. I have minister friends over seas that are powerful minister's of God, and I see a vast difference between some minister's here in the United States and those from overseas. I think that the biggest reason for this is that they haven't been tainted by other paradigms, but understood right off the bat that ministry is just following what Christ Jesus did. I think that one of the major errors we have gotten into, including me, is defending the gospel with the wrong approach. Sometimes we get so caught up with what we think is right, and we lose sight to what needs to be done to transform our nation, change our community, and make disciples. It is very important to defend the gospel and to flow in our gifts and callings. I'm just saying that we need to get our priorities in order as the church and understand that the new testament model for the church is to minister to our community and have outward ministry. It is extending our hands outside the four walls of the building and winning souls, feeding the poor, and making disciples, but yet done with love. It is following the paradigm of the cross. We've done all but make disciples. We have our programs, agenda's, and other things, but our focus needs to be on the Kingdom of God. I want us today to have a fresh insight as to what God has for us, and to ask God today to place us where we need to be as we play our part in following the cross.
Prayer:
Lord, we repent for any other paradigms that we have allowed in our lives, if any. Show us Lord if there is any way in us besides your way, and give us a fresh revelation of the only paradigm and foundation that we need to follow today, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Friday, October 8, 2010
Example Of A Leader October 8th Devotional
Read:
15 But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
Setting an example as a leader is very important, especially for the world today. We need to set an example for those who watch and follow us. The definition for behavior here is anastrophe, and it means conduct or manner of life. We need to set an example by doing the right thing as a leader. I was a manager for about eight years in the grocery retail, and was training a young man that I lead to the Lord. I told him that I would clean up the meat cutting room so he could cut meat. After I got through he looked down at my shoes and said, "You don't mind getting wet do you?" I told him, son, a leader will do things that no one else wants to do. I'm doing this to set an example to you by not only making you a disciple in the spiritual things, but also training you in the work place so you can be ready, and advancing God's kingdom is at our workplace as well. It is so important to lay aside our pride and lead, but sometimes leading is humbling ourselves and doing things that is inconvenient to the worlds standards. We are not of this world and leading by the example of Christ will rub against the mainstream of the typical "get to the top" motivation. This young man has learned alot so far, and I am willing to invest in this young man. I want to encourage you today to lead by example. I need to do this more myself, and sometimes it is laying down our own pride and allowing others to do what we teach them. Show them and they will know, but allow them and they will do and be ready to teach others the same way we taught them. They will understand the importance of our conduct for others, and they will also understand the example that they need to set for the new converts that they will make. Lets see this scripture in a whole new light today, whether it is setting an example as a spiritual leader, or teaching them in the workplace through on the job training.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will make us better leaders by setting a better example to others by our conduct and behavior. Help us to shine your light to others around us, especially those that we are leading.
by Keith Edwards
15 But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
Setting an example as a leader is very important, especially for the world today. We need to set an example for those who watch and follow us. The definition for behavior here is anastrophe, and it means conduct or manner of life. We need to set an example by doing the right thing as a leader. I was a manager for about eight years in the grocery retail, and was training a young man that I lead to the Lord. I told him that I would clean up the meat cutting room so he could cut meat. After I got through he looked down at my shoes and said, "You don't mind getting wet do you?" I told him, son, a leader will do things that no one else wants to do. I'm doing this to set an example to you by not only making you a disciple in the spiritual things, but also training you in the work place so you can be ready, and advancing God's kingdom is at our workplace as well. It is so important to lay aside our pride and lead, but sometimes leading is humbling ourselves and doing things that is inconvenient to the worlds standards. We are not of this world and leading by the example of Christ will rub against the mainstream of the typical "get to the top" motivation. This young man has learned alot so far, and I am willing to invest in this young man. I want to encourage you today to lead by example. I need to do this more myself, and sometimes it is laying down our own pride and allowing others to do what we teach them. Show them and they will know, but allow them and they will do and be ready to teach others the same way we taught them. They will understand the importance of our conduct for others, and they will also understand the example that they need to set for the new converts that they will make. Lets see this scripture in a whole new light today, whether it is setting an example as a spiritual leader, or teaching them in the workplace through on the job training.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will make us better leaders by setting a better example to others by our conduct and behavior. Help us to shine your light to others around us, especially those that we are leading.
by Keith Edwards
Thursday, October 7, 2010
River Of Ahava October 7th 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 hebrew 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. We can also learn a great deal about Ezra here as we build the church of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the rock of revelation. Ezra plotted men around him. It is so important as pastor's to understand how God builds. If we don't have the revelation of how God builds, and how the church needs strong Godly leaders around them, then the church isn't being built upon that rock. There is a great deal of revelation from Ezra today that we need to understand, and we can gain that nourishment needed to carry on the great journey of spiritual growth with one another as the bride of Christ. 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. We stop to gain the nourishment needed to carry on Lord. 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 hebrew 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. We can also learn a great deal about Ezra here as we build the church of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the rock of revelation. Ezra plotted men around him. It is so important as pastor's to understand how God builds. If we don't have the revelation of how God builds, and how the church needs strong Godly leaders around them, then the church isn't being built upon that rock. There is a great deal of revelation from Ezra today that we need to understand, and we can gain that nourishment needed to carry on the great journey of spiritual growth with one another as the bride of Christ. 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. We stop to gain the nourishment needed to carry on Lord. 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
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