ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 30, 2013

ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH

The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. genesis 47:6

In order for our faith to actually work, it must be activated by activity.  We must be willing to endure and engage in the daily work that God sets before us. Remember, faith without works is dead being alone (see James 2:20).

THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 30, 2013

THE FEAR OF THE LORD


 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28


Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Psalm 33:8

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; Psalm 33:18

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Psalm 34:7


 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Psalm 34:11

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; Psalm 103:17

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Psalm 111:10

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Isaiah 11:1-3

We have nothing if we do not have the fear of the Lord.  This is so essential to all knowledge and understanding.  Let us learn it and let us be sure to teach the fear of the Lord to our children!

THE PERFECT SETUP

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 28, 2013

THE PERFECT SETUP

 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

In Matthew 5:48, Jesus gives a tough command for us humans:  be perfect like God (paraphrase mine)!  This command seems to be impossible and quite troublesome.  But actually, this command is the perfect setup for Grace.  We can only achieve perfection when God's perfection makes up for our imperfections.  Actually, God has to wipe out this imperfect flesh of ours and just take over.  No wonder Christianity is a life of Grace.  We are done attempting to be like God through perfect obedience to the Law.  No, now our Savior has come in his divine perfection to live in and through us, and we achieve perfection by the GRACE,GRACE of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.


...Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelations 22:20).

LET THE LORD BUILD YOUR HOUSE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 26, 2013

LET THE LORD BUILD YOUR HOUSE


Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  Psalm 127:1

STEWARDING OVER THE LORD'S HOUSE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 25, 2013

STEWARDING OVER THE LORD'S HOUSE

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. Luke 12: 42-44

A PEOPLE OF PRAYER

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 19, 2013

A PEOPLE OF PRAYER

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalm 18:1-6

In times of distress, we call upon the Lord.  When we see the floods of ungodly men in the earth, we call upon the Lord.  When we think of the goodness of Jesus, we call upon the Lord.  Our Lord hears our cries and delivers us.

Today, we pray!

A PEOPLE OF FAITH

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 19, 2013

A PEOPLE OF FAITH

I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.  I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.  Psalm 3:4,5

We are a people of faith.  As Christians, we know that in all situations, our Lord will sustain us.  We can go through any situation in this life knowing that the Lord is near, ready and able to save.  We have no reason to fear, but we can rest in faith in our God.

Today, have faith in God.

JOY OF HEART: SING YOUR SONG

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 17, 2013

JOY OF HEART

 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. 

   For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 

 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 

  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. Isaiah 65:14,17-19

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Zephaniah 3:14

The song of songs, which is Solomon's. 

 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. 

 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. 

  Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. 

  I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 

  Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. 

  Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? 

  If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. 

 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. 

  Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. 

  We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. 

  While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. 

  A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. 

  My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. 

  Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes. 

  Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. 

  The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir. Song of Songs 1

God's desire is to give you the desire of your heart.  He will give you the joy of your heart and give you rejoicing of heart.  As we can see, joy is what He gave His Son:."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"( Hebrews 12:12)   Yes, we have to wait for joy and endure the cross first, but, it will surely come!

Today,Wait for it!

REPENTANCE IS NOT A REVOLVING DOOR

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 11, 2013

REPENTANCE IS NOT A REVOLVING DOOR

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6

Let us not be fooled by the man or woman who chooses to sin over and over again.  Once you have been enlightened, you can't keep going back to the dark.  Once you have come to understand the Way of the Lord, you can't play dumb.  Once you've been lifted, you can't willfully fall.  For it is impossible for Christ to renew you again to repentance.  After Christ paid the price for your salvation, how can you take His sacrifice as some common thing?  No! " Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18, 19).

Our God is a God of forgiveness, indeed.  But remember when Jesus forgave he said  "go and sin no more."   "Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14). "When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" (John 8:10,11). 

Today, God is not playing!

THOU ART ALL FAIR

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 10, 2013

THOU ART ALL FAIR


Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. Song of Solomon 4:7

When we think of Jesus on the cross we see the utter and profound love He has for His beloved.  In fact, that is what Christianity is all about:  divine love poured out.  The Song of Solomon is the perfect illustration of love and loveliness.  Yes, the Song is a picture of earthy love, taking place in a idyllic countryside, but it shows us how to love with grace, and we must first love our brothers and sisters down here before we can really possess the power to  love God.  "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen" ( I John 4:20)?

Today, Love!

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR TODAY, APRIL 8, 2013

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Our fleshly man is dead in Christ; and we are alive, and new, and regenerated by His Spirit.  Yes, Christ lives in us and through us.  He has taken control of our earthly vessel.

Today, let God move in and through you and let Him have His way!

THE PERFECT SON

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 7, 2013

THE PERFECT SON


And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:29

Jesus is the perfect Son. He is the perfect Son because He always does those things that are pleasing to His heavenly Father: "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29).

Jesus is the perfect Son because when it was time to work for His Father, he was willing and ready and said: "... How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"

Jesus is the perfect Son because when he saw that His Father's will would be very hard to accomplish, he submitted his will to the Father's and found the strength to go forth:  Saying, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

Jesus is the perfect Son because when God gives Him rule of the Kingdom, He governs the kingdom for the glory of the Father, and then puts all things in subjection to the Father:

"And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all"(I Corinthians 15:28).

Today, we worship God!

IT IS FINISHED

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 4, 2013

IT IS FINISHED


 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30

What is finished on the cross?  Obviously, the earthly, human life of Christ was finished when he bowed his head  and died, but much more was accomplished than meets the eye.  For example, the power of death and the grave is finished on the cross; for we now have abundant and eternal life through Christ Jesus. Furthermore, the bondage of the Law  "touch not; taste not; handle not;" is finished on the cross; for we now live in Christ's new promise of  all sufficient, saving grace.  Amazingly, the separateness of God is finished on the cross; for God's family can now draw near unto Him with eternal fellowship by faith in Jesus Christ. Blessedly, the rule of sin is finished on the cross; for Christ died for the forgiveness of sin to all who believe so sin can no longer control us or damn us. Additionally, the curse of poverty is finished on the cross ; for Christ became poor so that we could be rich.  Triumphantly, the power of darkness is finished on the cross; for King Jesus died to turn us from darkness to Light.



Today, it is finished!

THE CROSS AND THE SWORD

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, APRIL 2, 2013

THE CROSS AND THE SWORD


 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:34-38

When did the cross come down in your life? I mean, when did you decide to follow Jesus?  When did you give your heart to Him and believe unto salvation?  When was it that you believed in His death, burial and resurrection?  When did the cross become real...when did it become a sword?

The cross brings profound and utter peace to our soul, but it brings a sword to our situation.  Our families are torn apart and warring.  Jesus says in Matthew 10:35 that He came to set a man at variance against his father. A daughter will oppose her mother.  A daughter in law will be persecuted by her mother in law.  This is the nature of the cross.  Those who are worldly will despise you.  Those who are carnal will not understand you.  Those who are ungodly will hate you.  

Wouldn't it be easier if we could just get along?  I mean, if we could not make the cross a big thing...to keep the peace.  But Jesus says, if you don't take up the cross, you're "not worthy of me."  He says that if you choose the peace of family togetherness more than the love of Christ for your salvation, you can just have the family thing.  What can I say?...  Jesus is possessive!

Today, though your family may be at war, let the peace of God rule in your hearts!  

THIS SIDE OF THE CROSS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTION FOR TODAY, APRIL 1, 2013

THIS SIDE OF THE CROSS

Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. Psalm 3:8

The cross of Jesus Christ is the door to new life.  The cross is the entrance of the New Testament; for we have a new covenant because of the willing sacrifice of the Christ which is described in the book of Hebrews:


"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
  And having an high priest over the house of God;
  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water"( Hebrews 10:4-23)

Yes, Christ has forever blessed us with life in the Kingdom of God.  It is in the Kingdom of God that the believer in Jesus Christ has the assurance of salvation.  Truly, salvation is of the Lord and we freely receive salvation through Jesus Christ making us a  blessed people of God--chosen and elect.  We are to draw near unto God, getting to know Him more and more.  We are moving far away from the desires of the flesh and living life in and through the Spirit.  We are freed from the bondage of sin and washing ourselves, daily, with the Word of God.  We are escaped from Satan's traps and bearing his reproaches and persecutions joyfully.

Yes, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the one event in history that really did change everything.

Today, the blessing is upon God's people!