The Bible – Don’t Just Visit It, Live in It
I love to read. I used to easily read 4-5 books a week. Most of which were filled with mindless escape, passion, and puzzling ‘who done it’ plots. There’s a wonder and mystery contained in books that have the ability to take us to different places, meet different people and go on a journey all between page one til “the end”. I don’t read that many books in a week any longer and while I’ve become more selective in my reading material, I still love a good adventure and engulfing plot. To date, I haven’t found a book that offers all of it quite like the Bible. While the Bible reads like a well-written novel with adventure, love, war, betrayal, forgiveness, and a hero with an enemy, ultimately, it is a true account of the fall of man, how evil came to be, and the Savior who overcomes it. The wonder and beauty of it is that Scripture takes us on a journey. It is meant to be read in its entirety, enjoyed, studied, learned from, and applied to our lives. It tells us how Eve and Adam didn’t trust God completely, how they fell for temptation, how in the very beginning of time, even with clear instruction, humans chose poorly. It tells us how Satan started his reign on earth, and how even though this would be allowed for a period of time, it does not go on forever. It tells us how God offers to save us, in spite of ourselves and because of His deep love for us, through the life, death, and resurrection of his only son. If only we turn away (repent) from our poor choices (sin). It tells us we have a choice in choosing to follow Jesus or not, this is free will. God wants us to choose Him but as a gentleman won’t force us to do so. This wonderful book is filled with instruction and wisdom that He provided. It tells us how the chaos of this world and the fickleness and failings of humans is temporary and the end, heaven, is better than we can fathom. A non-fiction book that offers us hope. Where we get ourselves into trouble is by not applying what we read, not believing the Bible is real or that only parts of it matter. Our biggest challenges in living the beautiful book of the Bible… We read scripture and discard the ones that make us uncomfortable with our behavior or our actions. Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” Revelation 22:18-19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this scroll.” We allow current culture to dictate our point of view. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound teaching but having itching ears will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” We don’t trust God. Revelation 22:6 “The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” Psalm 118:8 “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” We mislead ourselves into thinking we know best or know all the facts (the big picture). Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” We ignore who God is and His promises. James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” Romans 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Dear God, thank you for the Bible, for leaving all the generations a book of instruction and wisdom. Lord, if I am passionate about anything let it be my faith in You and my loyalty to You. You always know every person’s heart and motive, may I constantly remember You see me and know me, that I am accountable to You. Lord when doubt comes, help me trust that You have a strategic, best timed out plan that benefits those who chose You for you are trustworthy. Lord, thank you for knowing exactly how the book ends and giving us a glimpse of it. In Jesus Name. Amen. This weeks playlist: Bryan & Katie Torwalt – Prophesy Your Promise (Acoustic Video) – YouTube Prophesy Your Promise Bryan & Katie Torwalt Dante Bowe – joyful ft. Dante Bowe – YouTube Joyful Dante Bowe Michael W. Smith – Surrounded (Fight My Battles) – YouTube Surrounded Michael W. Smith
Four Good Reasons You Can Believe the Bible is the Real Deal
What we believe about the Bible is paramount to our Christian faith and how we view God. As Christians, we must grapple with questions like these: Is the Bible really the inspired word of God? And if so, was the Bible passed down from generation to generation accurately? The answer to these and related questions are important because, as Christ-followers, we are called to base our entire lives on what is recorded in a book written over 2,000 years ago. For that reason, we need to be sure we understand what we believe about the Bible and why we believe it. We need to settle in our hearts this question once and for all: Is the Bible the real deal? Here, we will look reasons we can believe the Bible. Changed Lives One of the biggest witnesses that the Bible is true is its power to dramatically change a person’s life. The Bible is not just any ordinary book. Its message has caused people from all generations, all walks of life, and all nationalities to radically change the direction of their lives. I know the Gospel message transformed me. I was one way and now I am another. Written words on their own do not have this kind of power. The Bible is living and active and its words are powerful. They get deep inside of you and rewire you. They change you from the inside out. You become a new creation. You are born again! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Archaelogy The more we dig the more we discover that archaeology supports what the Bible says. Excavations bring to the surface evidence of places and events mentioned in the Bible showing that what the Bible says can be believed. Dr. Joseph Free, late chairman of archaeology at Wheaton College stated in his book Archaeology and Bible History: “Archaeology has confirmed countless passages which have been rejected by critics as unhistorical or contradictory to known facts……Yet archaeological discoveries have shown that these critical charges…..are wrong and that the Bible is trustworthy in the very statements which have been set aside as untrustworthy…..We do not know of any cases where the Bible has been proved wrong.” If you want to know more about the Bible and its archaeology check out this slide show. Science A mantra we hear a lot is that Science and the Bible don’t like each other. They can’t mix. That is simply not true. The more science “progresses,” the more we can see that the Bible was right all along! This chart is floating around the internet. Look the verses up, do some research, see what you think. Prophecy Fulfilled The Bible is full of prophecies that predict future events. Prophecies in the Old Testament were written hundreds, if not thousands of years before they came to pass. According to “The Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy” by J. Barton Payne, there are 1,239 prophecies in the Old Testament and 578 in the New Testament. There are around 333 prophecies about Christ. Out of these 333 prophecies, 109 were fulfilled at Christ’s first coming, and 224 will be fulfilled at His second coming. Here are a few prophecies that were recorded about Christ and fulfilled in the New Testament. But the Bible doesn’t only predict the future Christ, it also foretells other future events. Daniel predicted the rise and fall of 5 kingdoms (Daniel 7:6, 8:5-8, 11:2-4), Ezekiel predicted the fall of Tyre (Ezekiel 26), and Isaiah predicted the rise of the Persian King, Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28, Isaiah 45). God’s intent has never been to leave us in the dark but to reveal His plans through His chosen messengers, the prophets (Amos 3:7). God knows that when we see His Word come to pass, our faith increases and we trust Him more. Prophecy is a gift from God. All four of these reasons are good reasons to believe that the Bible is the real deal, but they are not enough on their own. Next time we will look at what the Bible says about itself and why we can trust it. Then we will explore what Jesus said about the Bible. If He believes its true, then so should we.
Unshakable
Who is ready for an uncomfortable question? Here is where my mind pictures a room full of people and no one raises their hand. Fortunately, you can read the question in the privacy of your own home and percolate on your answer. That’s where I found myself, at home in my prayer chair, when I felt this being asked of me and, in turn, pondered my answer. Is my faith UNSHAKABLE, that no matter how uncomfortable life may become, no matter the cost, will my trust in Jesus remain? All of us want our answer to be “Yes!” to that question. Yet, we find ourselves in uncertain times where what should be a simple answer doesn’t feel so easy. Even more so if we read through a variety of social media posts from people we know and those we don’t, or watch news outlets, or read articles and see what’s happening in the world. For me, this is where it got personal; there has been a slow yet steady thought that’s been building in me and has made me uncomfortable. I need to be prepared for the possibility of losing relationships. I need to be prepared to be unfollowed, unfriended, no longer invited, included, or called friend. Dare I say disliked, disregarded, even hated, or accused of being a someone I know I am not. While scripture supports this being a possibility, I still find myself feeling frustrated or even angry at times. There is an underlying message designed by the enemy to shake me, to shake you. A message in the world today that says I am supposed to feel shame, labeled a danger, or a hater for not agreeing or supporting things in the world. But God…despite the chaos, deception, and unstable world we see around us, we should ultimately be seeking the only unshakable truth there is: a foundational truth for every sincere believer. Jesus is worth everything. Which leads me back to the question we asked ourselves earlier: Is my faith UNSHAKABLE, that no matter how UNCOMFORTABLE life may become, no matter the cost, will my trust in Jesus remain? Will it be easy? Doubtful. Will I tremble and cry? Likely. Will I be alone? No. There are many today standing firm in faith and remaining unshakable to God’s Word. There were many throughout the Bible that set the example for us. They followed Christ regardless of their loss, suffering, or sacrifice. The Scriptures remind us that to be like them, we may have to be uncomfortable while we serve our God who is unshakable, and pray for the courage to be the same. Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” 1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” Bottom line, I don’t want to be uncomfortable. Who really does? I do, however, want to be unshakable. And based on the Bible, it’s rare to have one without the other. Lord, thank You for all the guidance and wisdom you offer. Thank you that in a changing world, Your word does not. Help me share truth with people I disagree with despite being uncomfortable, help me be courageous and kind while doing so. May I be bold and not conform to the world, help me be unshakable in representing You. Let me be so uncomfortable with the idea of Your wrath and live my life accordingly. Let me be unshakable in my identity in You no matter how many false labels the world tries to apply. May I be willing to be uncomfortable in speaking Your truth, even at the risk of loss. Let me be unshakable in remembering who the real enemy is, knowing that just because the world approves of something does not mean You do. Let me be unshakable in my obedience to You above all else. In Jesus Name. Amen. This weeks playlist: Natalie Grant – More Than Anything (Official Lyric Video) – YouTube More Than Anything Natalie Grant Kim Walker-Smith – I Say Yes | Live (Lyrics) – YouTube I Say Yes Kim Walker-Smith So Will I (100 Billion X) Lyric Video – Hillsong Worship – YouTube So Will I Hillsong Worship
Imperfectly Perfect
The photo at the beginning of this devotional is in one of my journals. There was a time in my life when that photo served as a regular reminder that life could be enjoyed and wonderful without being perfect. Let’s be honest though sometimes we just want perfect, not imperfectly perfect. In conversation with someone I love deeply we were discussing life’s imperfections. As we were chatting, I could see the hurt in their eyes and hear the hurt in their voice. The more we talked however they began to use “always and never” statements. In that moment I felt the Holy Spirit say, “that’s not truth. All the good is not void because of some bad. There are sweet perfect moments amidst the imperfection of life.” I shared this confirming word with my loved one. Guess what happened? Silence and a frustrated stare. The truth affirming word wasn’t received. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if when a word from the Lord came it could be like “Boom, mic drop!”? We instantly receive it and believed it in our hearts. Don’t get me wrong, there may be times that’s the case but when we’re hurt, when we’re grieving for what could’ve been or what we thought would’ve been “perfect” we can miss what God has to say. Transparently, I’ll share I remember praying and crying during one chapter of life that felt overwhelming imperfect. It was a time when my dream of what I thought would be perfect was shattering. At the time I was angry, so angry that I screamed at God, “Why??, Why can’t it just be Hallmark????” Its ok to giggle here. I mean Hallmark!? But, please tell me I’m not alone in grieving for and even feeling cheated by what I thought would’ve been “perfect”. Here’s the thing though, brace yourselves Hallmark lovers, Hallmark movies aren’t real nor are they perfect. These movies usually have unfulfilled or broken relationships, a parent or spouse who has died, a workaholic, a business closing, etc. These movies are imperfectly perfect. They have trials, struggles, worries and yet always have happy endings. That’s where they are as close to real life as it gets. We have trials, struggles, worries, and yet if we believe and follow Jesus we are guaranteed a happy ending, a perfect heaven. Let’s not miss what God has to say, reminding us that this is an imperfectly perfect life, where the trials and struggles grow our faith, where we’re told not to worry God’s got it all under control and best of all the promises of heaven is our perfect happy ending. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Matthew 6:27 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 Lord, thank you for having the perfect place in store for us. Thank you for being able to handle our questions and even our misplaced desire for what we think would be perfect. May we seek You more in those moments and allow You and Your word to fill us with hope in your perfect eternity knowing that anything from this imperfect world will fall short. May In Jesus Name. Amen. This week’s playlist: Riley Clemmons – Broken Prayers (Official Video) – YouTube Broken Prayers Riley Clemmons Bryan & Katie Torwalt – Praise Before My Breakthrough (Lyric Video) – YouTube Praise Before My Breakthrough Bryan & Katie Torwalt Hope Darst – Promise Keeper (Official Lyric Video) – YouTube Promise Keeper Hope Darst Written January 19, 2020 Updated August 31, 2021
Jesus’ Return!
Satan knows his fate; he won’t give up easily. But nothing will stop Christ the King’s return to earth. In this installment in our Back to the Future series, we will explore Armageddon in more detail, including Christ’s victory over the Antichrist. We will also look at what is happening in Heaven during the final part of the Tribulation. We will see God’s final fulfillment of His New Covenant to Israel: their national salvation. And finally, we will explore what happens after Christ’s victory but before His setting up of the Millennial Kingdom. Armageddon Through the Antichrist and the False Prophet, he gathers his allies for war against Israel at a place we now call Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16). Armageddon is in the valley of Megiddo, about 60 miles north of Jerusalem. The valley of Megiddo has not been a stranger to battles. “Over 200 battles have been fought in the region, from 1468 b.c. (with Pharaoh Tuthmosis III) to 1917 (with Lord Allenby of the British)”. (Enduring Word) Satan’s posturing doesn’t concern God. He has expected it and even planned it. He supernaturally cleared the Antichrist’s way to Israel by drying up the river Euphrates to gather the nations for judgment (Joel 3:2, 12). God will not be mocked. The Psalmist describes God’s reaction to an attempt to defeat God like this: “The Lord “laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain (Psalm 2:4-6). As the Antichrist gathers his troops at Armageddon, Babylon is attacked and destroyed by the Antichrist’s enemies (Revelation 18:21). At this point, the Antichrist begins to move south towards Jerusalem, intent on destroying the Jews once and for all. Jerusalem falls again under Gentile control (Zechariah 12:1-3, 14:1-2; Micah 4:11-13), but not for long, as Jesus is not far behind. Celebration in Heaven As the Tribulation’s end is near, a great celebration in Heaven occurs (Revelation 19:1-10). The heavenly hosts rejoice over the righteous judgment of Babylon and the avenging of those saints who have died at her hands. A voice from Heaven urges those in Heaven to rejoice and be glad for the marriage supper of the Lamb to His bride. The Bible applies the symbolism of marriage to Christ and the Church. Christ is the bridegroom, and the Church is the bride. God, the Father, initiated the betrothal of the Church to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2). There was a betrothal period in Jewish marriage, during which the bride and groom remained apart until the wedding ceremony. The Father decided when the son would go get his bride for her presentation and the wedding ceremony. Similarly, the Church and Christ remain apart during the Church Age. God alone decides when He will send Jesus for His Bride. This sending and Christ’s return for the Church is what we call the Rapture. This is when the Church will be presented to Jesus (John 14:3). The wedding will occur after the Rapture, probably at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The final supper is a symbolic meal that signifies the end of the ceremony. John sees Heaven celebrating the Church’s eternal wedding to Christ in Revelation 19:7-9. National Salvation of Israel John the Baptist’s message to the Israelites at Christ’s First Coming was repentance and of the coming Kingdom (Matthew 3:2); however, the Nation of Israel rejected their Messiah and the Kingdom He offered (Acts 2:22-23). Because of this rejection, God partially hardened until all the Gentiles who will be saved are saved ( Romans 11:15, 25). Jesus was heartbroken over His rejection by His own people, and in Matthew 23:37-39, he lamented that Jerusalem will not see Him again until they accept Him as their Christ. The Old Testament also points to this eventual reconciliation but says that before Christ goes to them, they must first confess their sins, humble their hearts, and seek God’s face (Leviticus 26:39-42, Jeremiah 3:11-18, Hosea 5:15). They cry out for Messiah. At that time, forgiveness for sin and impurity will flow through the land like a fountain (Zechariah 13:1-2). God will give them a new heart and a new spirit, and they will be God’s people, and He will be their God (Ezekiel 36:24-28). At last, they will call on His name and be saved! (Zechariah 13:9). Christ’s Glorious Appearing and Return to Earth Israel sees their prayers answered with Christ’s return. When they see Him, they will mourn and weep bitterly over their rejection of Him (Zechariah 12:10-14, Zechariah 13). But just as God promised, He saves Israel supernaturally from its enemies and its sin (Jeremiah 31:34-35). The New Covenant is finally fulfilled for Israel! Jesus’s Second Coming will be spectacular. He will come back to earth in the same way He ascended to Heaven, but unlike His ascension, every eye will see His return. Jesus describes His return in Matthew 24:29-31. He says: “But immediately after the Tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Jesus’ return is also described by John in Revelation 19:11-16. “And I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe
Focus
Focus. It’s a simple word really. Focus. We all know what it means but as you may know, definitions are kinda my jam. Focus, when peeled back and defined is “a center of activity or attention; directed attention.” Does the definition resonate a little more than the word itself? One morning not too long ago, I was awake at 1:30 a.m. My activity was centered on praying and petitioning over people I love. Praying that God would pursue them. Relentlessly. That they would surrender and focus on Jesus as the only One that can fill any void they keep desperately trying to fill with other things or people. Have you ever been there? In the middle of the night praying hard for those you love. Praying that God would make a big move in their lives and get their attention. There is a constant battle for our focus to be off Jesus, to grab our attention on all that’s wrong in our own lives and the lives of those we love. How we participate in the battle is key. We must be intentional about where we place our focus and what we give our attention to. It’s ultimately up to us, no one can make us dedicate our focus or give our attention unless we allow it. And as much as we would love to control where our loved ones place their focus and direct their attention, we can’t. There are numerous stories throughout the bible of battles, distracted focus, and paying attention to the wrong things. So, how do we keep our focus where battles are won? We focus on the One who does have control, we focus on praying, unceasingly. We fight for what matters, the truth of the gospel. We focus on surrendering ourselves to trust God and his Word. We focus on remembering He loves those we pray for even more than we do. This picture is one I scrolled across in my middle of the night ponderings. It immediately clicked. Think of an army. Think about the focus they must have… They focus on a battle plan. They focus on the mission. They focus on how to accomplish it. They focus as a unit. The battle plan- pray and petition. The mission- believe God, His strength, and His Word as true and applicable. The how- trust God knows exactly the how and when to accomplish all that needs to be in their lives. The unit- ask those in our inner circle to link arms with us to pray with us and for our families. As we readjust our focus and redirect our attention, let’s take just a minute and give praise that we know who is in charge of our army, who the ultimate victor is, that we know the author of scripture is alive and who has an unwavering focus of the eternal kingdom…Glory be to God!! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing” Deuteronomy 20:4 “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” Lord, thank You for never losing focus, for always having the ultimate battle plan. Thank you for the gift of prayer. There is comfort Lord in knowing you want to hear from me. May my focus be on You Jesus. Help me keep my focus and attention on only the battles You call me to. May Your will be done in the lives of those I love, we both want them to choose you. May I focus on your word and let the truth of it help fight the battles. And if my focus falters and my attention becomes distracted gently call me back to Your truth. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen. This week’s playlist: Rescue Lauren Daigle Yes He Can CAIN Weapon Vertical Worship Written September 19, 2019 Updated August 23, 2021