GET THEE OUT

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 31, 2012

GET THEE OUT

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  Genesis 12:1-3

 Abram had to have the willingness to follow God’s commands in order to be blessed of God.  God instructed Abram to leave the land and the people of his natural birth so that he could be established as a Father of a great nation.  Why did he have to leave?  First, his family’s country was an idolatrous country unwilling to submit to the laws of God, or to acknowledge the Almighty.  Secondly, Abram ‘s identity had to be rebuilt and recreated.  Abram had to become Abraham as is recorded in Genesis 17:

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.  And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. Genesis 17:1-5

When God wants to establish you in Him, He has to remove you from what could hold you back.  He sometimes has to uproot you altogether—to replant you in good soil.  Remember, unfruitfulness is the very real danger in living amongst thorns:

 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mark 4:19

Today, let us heed God’s instruction and get out from the destructive thorns!

GET THEE BEHIND ME

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY,  JULY 30, 2012

GET THEE BEHIND ME

 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. Mark 8:33

Jesus told one of his disciples to get behind him….and called him Satan.  But it was not the person of Peter that Jesus was rebuking, but the spirit in Peter.  Peter’s heart and mind and mouth were feeling, thinking and speaking the things of the world.  Peter had not yet had the needed revelation that would allow him to see the full purpose of God.   As Christians we must be careful to distance ourselves from a worldly mindset: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).   

Today, tell Satan to get behind you!

THE GARDEN OF THE LORD

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL  FOR TODAY, July 27, 2012

THE GARDEN OF THE LORD

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.  Isaiah 51:3  

The church of Jesus Christ  is the Garden of the Lord.  He cares for you who have given your life to Christ and received God's gift of salvation.  He treasures you who are the true branches and you who have been graffed in to the olive tree called Israel. “He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit” (Isaiah 27:6).  God sees His Garden as a vineyard that is kept with great care:  “I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day”  (Isaiah 27:3).  Yes, the Lord’s garden is blossoming in preparation for Christ’s return.  Many great works are being sown, taking root and bearing fruit.  The gates of hell shall not prevail against us.

“ Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all” (Jeremiah 31:12).

GOD DID IT!

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 24, 2012

GOD DID IT!
  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Psalms 46:5

It is God's desire to establish his kingdom in the midst of you so that there is no instability in you. God wants to bring you to His fountains of blessings, His treasures of wisdom, and set you upon His solid foundations.  You shall not be moved.   For just as Jerusalem is established, protected and cared for in an everlasting covenant, so shall you be as you call upon the name of the Lord-- choosing to be the chosen. Jesus will make his abode within you and His Holy Spirit will guide you and teach you, warn you and renew you so that you will know--God is in the midst.

Has God come into the midst of you yet?  Have you trusted Him to take out everything inside of you that is fleshly and old and unstable.  Have you witnessed as He has set up a new heart, a new mind and a new soul?  Have you felt the Rock of salvation upholding you when storms have tried to take you down?  Have you allowed Him to set up His standard within you so that flood from the enemy has no power to wipe you out?  God did it for me...let Him do it for you.

Today, trust God to do it! 

KISS THE SON

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 23, 2012

KISS THE SON


  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psalm 2:12

We affirm our trust in God by kissing the Son.  This is an act of devotion, submission, reverence and  allegiance. A kiss can be a very private act of devotion--a  bow of the head in prayer when  life begins to shift and quake underneath your feet.  When you kiss the Son in prayer you are acknowledging that Jesus can handle any adversity, foe, sickness, confusion, weakness or fear.

A kiss can be a public declaration of your stand for holiness, righteousness and Scripture.  Have you ever taken a public stand for Jesus?  Have you ever put your fear aside to proclaim Him and His ways?  Have you ever stood for righteousness, or contended for the faith?  

A kiss can also be that beautiful act of service for the Lord's glory, like giving  a cold drink, or refreshment, to the servant of God. Or, perhaps you have sacrificed your substance for the poor, or loved the unlovely, or  fed the hungry, or sheltered  the dispossessed, or visited the imprisoned?  Every sincere act of service can be a kiss for the Son.

A kiss can also be just pure worship.  It may be time alone with Christ, rejoicing in Him:

" Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). 

Today, let us kiss the Son!

WE ARE THE SWEET SAVOUR

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 20, 2012

WE ARE THE SWEET SAVOUR

Now thanks  unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 In the morning when you pray, and when you fill up your spirit with the Word, and when you confess your sins and receive, again, the Lord's forgiveness, and when you purpose in your heart to hold the words of eternal life and to speak them this day-- to a friend, or neighbor, or stranger--it is then that you are unto God a sweet savour of Christ.  You are pleasing in God's sight and rejoicing His heart.  To the man or woman with whom you share the Gospel,  you may be  a sweet savour of hope, and love, light, and life to them; but if they are content in their sins, and hardened in their spirit, you will be a savour of death to them.  Your presence will be repulsive.  They will desire to separate you from their company.  Nevertheless, with sincerity, we must continue to speak the knowledge of God, speaking of His will and His way.  We must speak of His plan of salvation.  We must speak of the cross... and of our Christ.

Today, let us be unto God the sweet savour of Christ.

KNOWING

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 19, 2012

KNOWING


 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 31:34

The New Covenant promises and provides a personal relationship with our LORD.  We know Him. We commune with Him.  He guides us and directs us, daily.  We have an unshakable, unwavering, sure and solid knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, we shall walk in confidence knowing that God has all things working together for our good,  according to His good pleasure.

Today, we know!

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 18, 2012

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM


And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19

As ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  Some come to us,  and we can open the doors and the gates of heaven by revealing the truth of the Scriptures. Indeed, like Jesus, we hold the words of eternal life (please read John 6:68).   For others, we see that wisdom is too high for them--they hate knowledge and do not choose the fear of the Lord.  The gates and doors are shut to such a man or woman. Scripture is clear: "And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them" (Luke 9:5).





Yes, the Lord has given us, the true Church, the keys to the Kingdom of  heaven.


Today, let us speak the words of eternal life and open up the gates for many to be saved.

YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 17, 2012

YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE


 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

OUT OF THE WORLD

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 17, 2012

OUT OF THE WORLD


If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19

As Christians, we live according to the pleasure of God.   In stark contrast to the world's way, we live to honor our Savior and LORD.  Indeed, we have been chosen out of the world to be a peculiar people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (read I Peter 2:9). It should be no surprise when the world strives with us, mocks us, and absolutely hate us. Our prayer is that we not be conformed to the manner of the world and its lusts and appetites, but that we be divinely transformed into the image of Christ Jesus.  Where are you today?  Do you find that worldly pleasures are satisfying your appetites?  Have you forsaken the assembly of believers--church attendance?  Is your bible just sitting around, unopened?  God is calling you out of the world.  God is calling you to higher ground.  Remember,  a friend of the world is an enemy of God (read James 4:4).
Today, let us resist the world through the power Christ Jesus.  

ABOVE ALL

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 15, 2012

ABOVE ALL

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observeand to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Our LORD gives us his WORD so that we might walk in his statutes, precepts, path. As we abide in him and his Word abides in us, we dwell in an unshakeable kingdom with the promise of blessing. For it is the LORD who commands the blessing.  It is the LORD who establishes his people.  It is the LORD who shall make thee the head.  It is the LORD who wills to set you on high above all nations. Yes, the promise of blessing is to you who follow his instruction:

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.  Proverbs 4:10-16

Today, the blessing of God is to you!
   

IN THE DESERT PLACE, WE BLOSSOM

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 12, 2012

IN THE DESERT PLACE, WE BLOSSOM AS THE ROSE

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Isaiah 35:1.2

Our God looks for desert places to bring forth his best blooms.  He looks for that wilderness place in your life and mine, that place where you feel lost , helpless and alone.  It is there that he begins to bring forth that promise--the expected end.  In the desert place of life God gives us hope.  Oh, how fresh, and fragrant, and amazingly wonderful are the promises of God--like summer roses.

Today, let us smell the roses!

GET THE PRIZE

IN THE BEGINNING...THEWORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 11, 2012

GET THE PRIZE

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I Corinthians 9:24,25

For the meek of the earth, it is somewhat difficult to operate in a mode of competitiveness.  Yet, it is our duty to understand that we are in a competition, a race, a war against the enemies of the cross of Christ. We must be wise as we live our lives for God's glory, and we must be fearless as we proclaim the Gospel to all of mankind.  We must get the Word out while we raise our lives up as a standard against the enemies' flood.

Today, let us work, witness, and strive for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

THOU EXCELLEST THEM ALL

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 10, 2012

THOU EXCELLEST THEM ALL

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Proverbs 31:29

Filled with God's Holy Spirit, we have the power to be greater than those of the world.  Not only do we have the power to be greater, we have the responsibility.  Wow!  What a task, yet, what a wonderful privilege, to outdistance, outexcel  the masses.  We are to rise above that which is common, worldly and ordinary.  Yes, the world will be inspired by us, they will even challenge us, but they will know that "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" ( I John 4:4).  When their witty inventions give out, we've got one better.  For we are of God!

Today, excell them all!

ALTOGETHER LOVELY

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 8, 2012

ALTOGETHER LOVELY

What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. Song of Solomon 5:9-16 

We see the fine details of loveliness depicted in these scriptures in the Song of Solomon.  Loveliness is detail; it is seen in features, aspects, character, profile.  So, what do people see when they look at you?  We want to be a reflection of Christ...ALTOGETHER LOVELY and MORE than another beloved...the CHIEFEST and MOST SWEET.

Today, let us be altogether lovely and more.

HE ENDURED THE CROSS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL  FOR TODAY, JULY 6, 2012

HE ENDURED THE CROSS


Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Hebrews 12:2-8

You better be an over comer if you dare to call yourself a Christian.  For we are called by the name of Jesus Christ, and, therefore, we are called by the one who endured the cross.  And this wasn't just any old cross, this cross of Calvary.  For the cross that purchased our salvation was a cross much different than any other.  For this cross held the Lamb of God who was made a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world . When Jesus died on this cross --the sky went dark, the earth began to shake and the dead arose from their tombs.  This cross that held our Savior had the wrath of God and judgments of sin poured upon it. Yes, Jesus endured the cross and we must endure the cross which God has designed for us:

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ( Matthew 16:24).

Have you discerned the cross that has been designed by God for you?  Are there particular situations in your past or present that have caused you pain, agony, suffering? Are you tempted to give up in the midst of your storm?  You must trust God through the pain, knowing that he is the God of the cross and the God of the resurrection.  

Today, let us thank God for the cross and the power to endure like Jesus.

NO GOD BESIDE HIM

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 5, 2012

NO GOD BESIDE HIM

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me.  Isaiah 45:5

There is no other God beside the good, good LORD.  Who else could speak creation into existence with a Word? Who could think up our salvation, or give us grace that is all sufficient?  No, there is no other God beside the good, good LORD.

Today, Praise Him!

EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS.

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 3, 2012

EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Revelations 22:12-20

Jesus promises to come quickly, and we await his coming with longings.  Yes, we want to see our LORD--to be comforted by Him, to be with Him.  Yes, we want Him to wipe away every tear from our eye.  We want to see Him on His throne, and we want to serve Him.  Yes, we want to see His face and be covered in His light.

Today, let us pray: Lord Jesus, come! 

WHAT A FRIEND!

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 1. 2012

WHAT A FRIEND!

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. John 11:7-15

Jesus was a friend to a man named Lazarus; for even in the face of great danger Jesus wanted to go to Judaea to see Lazarus.  This story is told in the Gospel of John, Chapter 11.  Jesus realized that his friend had died, and he did weep.  But he loved Lazarus and desired to awake him out of his sleep, which is to say: raise him out of the dead.  How would Jesus do this?   Jesus proclaimed, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" ( John 11:25).  Yes, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead through the power of the resurrection.  For he is the resurrection.  He is the life.  Isn't it wonderful to have a friend in Jesus.  For he is always ready to bring life to us and to raise us up out of every dead situation that tries to bind us. 

Today, let us be glad that we have a friend in Jesus!