Bring it Home!

What are the “devil’s schemes”? They are vast! His arsenal seems unlimited. He knows our weaknesses from observing us, and he knows, too, just where to strike us to make the biggest impact. Sometimes, he knows us better than we know ourselves, because we can often get blinded to our own weaknesses and vulnerabilities, if we are not watchful, and if we are not ready to act. He has watched us very patiently, waiting for just the right moments to strike his mighty blows against us, and then down we come, and we don’t even know, sometimes, what hit us, or where it came from.

The Devil’s Schemes

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Eph. 6:10 NIV

Our foe is relentless, too. He “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” So, we must be sober-minded and alert (watchful). And, we must “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1Pet. 5:8-9 NIV).

So, we must be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. So, how do we do this? We can’t do it in our own strength and power, for sure. We can’t do it if we are giving him a foothold in our lives, too. We cannot be on seesaw, going back and forth in our faith and trust in the Lord, and be strong in the Lord, too. We cannot be strong in the Lord, as well, if we are continually giving in to the weaknesses of our flesh, and leaving doors wide open for temptation in our lives by refusing to take the necessary steps to avoid such temptation. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?

We have to be serious-minded about this or we will continue to make ourselves vulnerable to Satan’s evil schemes against us. We can’t play with fire and expect not to get burned. Wisdom says to stop tempting fate.

There is no way we can put on the armor of God if we are still walking in the flesh, or if we are continually yielding to our flesh through willful disobedience to God. We leave ourselves wide open for the enemy to attack us and to trip us up and to lead us to fall. We also cannot put on the armor of God if daily we are putting on what is opposed to God via the things we allow into our minds. If daily we are consuming the filth of the world, this is what we are putting on instead of the armor of God.

Our Struggle

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Eph. 6:11-13 NIV

That word “struggle” has taken on a completely new meaning these days. So many people will say they are “struggling” with pornography addiction, as though that makes it acceptable, or as though it says they are “working on it,” and so it is alright to maintain that status. But, what this word really means in today’s usage of it, is that they are regularly and consistently giving in to the lusts of their flesh, and they are not taking the necessary steps to cut this out of their lives, once and for all. They are playing with fire, so they keep getting burned, and then they seem surprised by it.

What this word “struggle” really means, though, in this biblical context, is a “wrestling bout, a fight, a conflict, a contest” (biblehub.com). It is hand-to-hand combat. Our enemy throws his punches, and not only do we put up our defenses, but we hit (strike) back. And, we don’t give up and give in. We put on our boxing gloves and our protective garments so that we can win the battle against our foe, and we don’t leave ourselves unprotected and expect not to get hit. We study and we prepare and we practice so that when we go into that arena we are prepared to win this contest.

And, this is what it means to put on the armor of God so that we can stand our ground against the devil’s schemes against us. And, the only way we are going to be able to stand is if we are prepared and fully dressed for this battle. We have to be determined. We have to hate sin. And, we have to set our faces like flint so that when temptation comes our way we immediately put up our shield of faith and we draw out that sword of the Spirit and we use it against our enemy, who is Satan and his evil spirits.

But, our armor is not just our determination, or it will fail. Our armor is our faith and trust in the Lord and in his Word. It is daily spending time with the Lord in prayer, in his Word, in listening to what the Lord says, and then in obeying it, i.e. obedience is when we put it on. If we don’t obey, then our armor is just hanging in the closet. It looks good, but it serves no valuable purpose if we don’t put it on through obedience. If we continue to give in to the flesh, willfully, and knowingly, we open ourselves wide for Satan to draw us deeper and deeper into sin and to sear our consciences.

Stand Firm

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph. 6:14-17 NIV

Again, if we are going to stand firm and put on the armor of God, we have to, by the Spirit, be putting off the deeds of the flesh. We have to get rid of our TVs or our internet or our smart phones or tablets (IPads), etc., if they are what continually trip us up. We have to stop going to where we know we are going to be tempted to sin. And, we have to walk in the opposite direction. We can’t just meander throughout life with no plan in place, no protection against the enemy, and then keep claiming we are “struggling.”

I don’t have a TV, and for good reason. I don’t watch movies, either, because even Christian films are often filled with compromises of the flesh and sensuality. I don’t go places where I know I might give in to sin. I don’t have private conversations with men, either, unless it is quick and to the point, and it is done with. Most of the time I am conscious to make certain my husband is always copied on any communications I must have with a man. I make it a practice not to talk with men about my emotions, either. And, I avoid even Christian gatherings if they are promoting the flesh.

I take sin very seriously, because I know, from experience, that sin destroys us. It takes us down and it ruins our lives if we continue to give in. If we don’t take this battle seriously, we will fail, and we will fall. It is a given.

God has given us the way out. We just have to take it. We have to do what he says, for if we do not, then all bets are off. We have chosen the way of our flesh, and we will reap what we sow. That is just the reality of it all. And, if we think differently, then we are only fooling ourselves.

We have to stop lying, and we have to put on the truth, and tell the truth, and not withhold what is necessary to our freedom and deliverance. We have to put off the flesh and walk in the Spirit and in Christ’s righteousness and holiness. Instead of living for ourselves and our own pleasure, we need to care about other people and especially about those who are dying and going to hell, and we need to be sharing with them the gospel of our salvation, but the whole gospel, which preaches repentance and obedience. And, we definitely have to fight off Satan’s lies with the truth of God’s Word.

And Pray

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Eph. 6:18-20 NIV

We have to be in continual communion with our Lord. But, if we are walking in disobedience, regularly and consistently and knowingly giving in to the lusts of our flesh, then we can’t expect God to hear us, or for us to hear him when he speaks, because we break that fellowship with him by our sins.

So, we have to first of all repent of (turn from) our sins, humble ourselves before God, and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives, then follow him in obedience and in surrender to his will, daily putting sin to death, by the Spirit.

When we walk according to the Spirit, and we are led by the Spirit, and we no longer live to satisfy the cravings of our sinful flesh, then we will hear God speaking his truths to our hearts throughout the day and even in the night. We will be in a continual attitude of prayer to where he can speak, we hear, we respond, we speak, he listens, and he responds. He will make us aware of what we need to pray for and he will make us sensitive to people’s needs, too. And, if we are open and are listening, he will lead us to pray for those who are in need of prayer, especially for his saints who are suffering persecution for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We do need to pray for one another, because we are all in this spiritual battle together, and we need to encourage one another, too, so that we can together fight this enemy with the armor of God, in the power of God.

Cornerstone

Hillsong

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus' name

When Darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI

Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 10:36 a.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for this teaching from your Word. Bring it home to our hearts, I pray. Amen!

Don't Be a Slacker!

As I was praying about what the Lord Jesus would have me write this evening, for I knew he was giving me another devotional to write, he put in my mind this passage of scripture found in Proverbs 6:6 (KJV):

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.”

“A sluggard is a habitually lazy person; a slacker, loafer; a person who shirks work or obligation” (M-W Dict.).

But, this is not speaking merely of being lazy about work on a job or at home or at school. This is speaking, too, of being lazy about our relationships with Jesus Christ; being slothful, apathetic, and unconcerned about holiness, righteousness and purity.

So many people who call themselves followers of Christ are living not much different from the world, adopting worldly attitudes and behaviors, and seemingly caring little about how their actions impact the world around them. They are focused on self and on doing what pleases self. And, many of them are consumed with entertainment and the media to the point of addiction to it. They are sold out to these idols as slaves, and most of them don’t even realize it, because they have become so desensitized to the things of God, because they are so consumed with the world.

Speak Truthfully

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Eph. 4:25-28 NIV

But, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to holiness, purity, truthfulness, integrity, and loving others with Jesus love. We are called to walk in the Spirit and no longer according to our sinful flesh. Not one of us should be among those who make sin our practice, for Jesus Christ set us free from sin and death. He delivered us out of slavery to sin, and he gave us new lives in Christ to be lived to his righteousness.

Nonetheless, many who profess the name of Jesus Christ have forgotten this, that Jesus gave his life up for them so that they could go free from their addictions to sin. So, they continue to walk in them while using God’s grace as a cover-up for continuing in willful sin against God. They have gotten lazy about their spiritual walks and have slipped back into sin, and many of them have lost all sense of conscience, too, about their sin.

A Foothold

We give the devil a foothold in our lives when we are negligent about our walks of faith with Christ and we begin to make compromises with the world, one at a time, until pretty soon we are living like we were never saved from our sins at all. This should never be! Jesus did not save us from our sins just so we escape hell and go to heaven when we die. He died that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us.

So, we need to humble ourselves before God, repent of our sins, and turn (or return) to walk in humble obedience to our Lord. We need to follow the example of the ant in her diligence, perseverance and hard work. We need to be laborers for our Lord Jesus, in his service, under his command, doing what he says to do, day in and day out, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We must spend much time in His Word, listening to him speak, and then doing what he says.

But, if we are to walk in holiness and righteousness, then we also need to cut out of our lives that which is sinful, and that which hinders our walks of faith. This involves getting rid of those things which lead us into sin, and that which puts within our minds the wrong values, morals, attitudes and behaviors, and all that is evil, wicked, impure and unholy. We should not be entertained by such things as these. And, then we need to fill our minds with what is of God – what is pure, good, kind, decent and honorable.

Grieving the Spirit

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph. 4:29-32 NIV

I have learned that we cannot do these things in our own flesh. We can’t just make a list of those things to put off and those things to put on, and then make a concerted effort to train ourselves to change our old habits. At the root of most of these things which we must forsake, and replace with what is godly, are heart issues. The Bible speaks about how out of our hearts our mouths speak. So, we need the Holy Spirit to clean out of our hearts those things which are contributors to sinful behaviors.

If we have unwholesome things coming out of our mouths, it is most likely because we are taking unwholesome things into our minds and we are adopting them into our hearts. Or, it could be because we have not forgiven someone and so a bitter root has developed, and so what comes out is hateful and angry because we need to first forgive and let go of the pain, and trust the Lord with the people in our lives and with our circumstances.

And, a lot of these sinful habits, too, could be the result of grieving the Holy Spirit of God through continual refusal to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit and choosing to go our own way, instead. And, so we need to repent of our sins, and turn to follow the Lord again, and start listening to him and doing what he says and yielding to the Lord and allowing the Holy Spirit to live the life of Christ through us.

When we are yielded to God, daily dying to sin and self, and by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, and we are walking according the Spirit, and we are being led by the Spirit, then the character of God will begin to naturally flow out through us and we will love people with God’s love, and we will be compassionate towards those who are hurting, because Jesus Christ is living in us, and his life is being lived out through us.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph. 5:1-2 NIV

The Solid Rock  

Edward Mote / William Bradbury

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 9:32 p.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for this teaching from your Word. May we all take this to heart and follow you in all ways.

Teeter-Tottering

Do you know your body part? Do you know what gifts of the Spirit God has given to you? Do you know your specific assignment, your role within the body which God has given you to fulfill, to accomplish for his purposes?

These things of which I speak here are not necessarily to be equated with specific functions within the institutional church, which may or may not be spiritual roles within the body of Christ, as assigned by God himself. These spiritual assignments and gifts, too, cannot be done in the flesh of humans, for they are of God and are supernatural, and are not natural roles, responsibilities, or talents. So, we need to ask God what he has for us.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:11-13 NIV

No matter your theological position on whether or not there are people within the body of Christ today who are apostles (sent out ones) or prophets (God’s messengers), God is still sending out his people as his representatives, and he is still using us, his servants, as his messengers. All of these people (or offices) mentioned here are the Lord’s servants, called of God to fulfill their specific assignments (roles) within the body of Christ.

And, each of us who are part of His body have also been given gifts and assignments within the body of Christ which we, too, are to fulfill, for the encouragement, strengthening, and maturity of the body of Christ. So, it is essential, for the body to operate as it ought, that we seek God’s face regarding which gifts and assignments he has for us so that we don’t miss out on doing our part, and so that the body is not deprived of our part, too.

These assignments of God, too, may not fit well within the confines of institutional Christianity, because some of them may be “outside the box” of what are considered normal church functions. But, they are not outside God’s box nor are they outside of his Word, his character, or his will and purposes for his church or for our individual lives. We cannot box God in and confine him within the borders of human thinking and reasoning, in other words, for God is not bound by human borders and traditions.

For example, the Lord has me posting my devotions on the internet for people to read. And, one of the avenues he uses for that is blogs, of which I now have three. Now, recently I have learned of blog etiquette or rules or standards or whatever you call them, i.e. the recommended manner in which blogs should operate. These guidelines suggest how many postings a week are considered the standard; the norm. But, God is not held to that standard. He is not bound by human thinking and reasoning.

But, since learning of this, I admit I have struggled with this, not wanting to cross any recognized boundaries, while still having the desire to submit to my Lord in all things. And, I finally had to come to the conclusion that God is absolutely sovereign over all, and that he is the one directing my path, and it is my job just to write what he gives me and to post it on the internet, and then he takes it from there. So, I am to surrender to him in this and not worry about the number of posts he gives me or what people think of me.

No Seesaws

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Eph. 4:14 NIV

When I was a child, we played much on playgrounds with seesaws:

“A seesaw (also known as a teeter-totter or teeterboard) is a long, narrow board supported by a single pivot point, most commonly located at the midpoint between both ends; as one end goes up, the other goes down” (Wikipedia).

To teeter is to waver, to wobble, to stagger, and to sway back and forth. It is to vacillate in opinion, being indecisive, and going back and forth in belief. It is much like a teeter-totter, first up on one side and then down on that side while then up on another side. And, this is child’s play. This is not for mature adults. It is not for those of us who are mature in Christ, for sure.

So, following the example I gave in the previous section of this writing, I mentioned that, once I learned the rules of etiquette of blogging, that I began to struggle with how many posts God was giving me per day. I found myself even hoping God would not give me another devotion so that my blog would not be crowded with too much for people to read. I am just being honest here, so don’t be too hard on me. I am still clay in the Potter’s hands.

And, then I had to think about whose blog it really is, and whose ministry this is, and who is the one who called me to do this, and who equips me for this ministry, and who has assigned me with this task. The answer is God. So, if he has called, and he has equipped, and he is the one directing my path, who am I to question God if he gives me more posts than the recommended amount? Really! I am God’s. I am the Lord’s servant. And, I answer only to him ultimately. So, I am to do what he says and not live to please humans, which is impossible anyway.

Truth in Love

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph. 4:15-16 NIV

The truth sometimes hurts, but we need to hear it, don’t we? We need to know when we are going astray, or when we have lost our first love, or when we are beginning to follow human logic or reasoning above the calling or wisdom or counsel of Almighty God. And, we need to be open to correction, and to discipline, and to learning and following the ways of God.

We need to be kept from having divided hearts which sway back and forth by the opinions of man, or which are being moved in the direction of being man-pleasers instead of God-pleasers. We can’t please God and man, too. It doesn’t work that way. We can’t be worried about what humans will think of us or if they will reject us, and we can’t look for human approval, either, as the measure of whether or not we are in God’s will, doing what he says.

Now, in relation to my (God’s) blog, for example, I can learn from humans as to better ways of communicating, or even in how to organize the blog better, or in how to write in a way (style) which does a better job of reaching the people, but I can never compromise or dilute the message in order to gain numbers or to please my audience. And, I cannot mess with my calling, or resist the Spirit in order to please humans, no matter how much pressure I might receive to conform to the “norm.”

God has given us each a role to fulfill within the body of Christ, and he has gifted us all uniquely for his purposes, in order to accomplish his will, and to do within his body what he desires. So, we all need to be willing vessels to be used of him in whatever way he has called and equipped us, even if it is “outside the box” of what is considered the “norm.”

If the body of Christ is to mature in Christ and to be built up in God-like love, then we all need to do our part, but not the parts assigned to us by humans, unless these are also the assignments of God. We can’t waver back and forth in opinion or in decision, either, regarding what God has called us to do, based on the thinking of humans. But, we have to stay the course, obey the Lord in doing what he says, and then leave the results to him.

More Precious Than Silver

Lynn Deshazo

Lord, You Are More Precious Than Silver

Lord, You Are More Costly Than Gold

Lord, You Are More Beautiful Than Diamonds

And Nothing I Desire Compares With You

Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 6:27 a.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for this teaching from your Word, and for what you taught me today through it. Amen!

Put Off / Put On

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Eph. 4:1-3 ESV

To what have we been called? We are:

·       Called to belong to Christ – Rom. 1:6

·       Called to be saints – Rom. 1:7

·       Called according to his purpose – Rom. 8:28

·       Called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord – 1 Co. 1:9

·       Called to freedom – Gal. 5:13

·       Not called for impurity, but in holiness – 1 Thess. 4:7

·       Called to a holy calling – 2 Tim. 1:9

·       Called out of darkness into his marvelous light – 1 Peter 2:9

·       Called to his own glory and excellence – 2 Peter 1:3

Thus, we are to walk (live), in lifestyle, in daily practice, in a manner (way) worthy (commendable) to that to which we have been called of God.

So, if we do that, we will see ourselves as belonging to Christ, and no longer our own, for we were bought back for God with Jesus’ blood. And, we will see him as Lord (owner-master) of our lives, and us as his servants, here to do his will. We will live our lives on this earth as strangers, set apart (different) from the world, because we are being made into Christ’s likeness. And, we will meet with our Lord daily to hear him speak his words to our hearts, and then we will follow him in obedience to what he says.

We will learn what his purpose is for our lives, and in the power of the Spirit within us, we will walk in that purpose. We will no longer live like we did before we trusted in Christ as Lord of our lives, but we will walk in freedom from slavery to sin, by the Spirit. The works of the flesh will no longer be what rule our hearts and lives, but now we will be Spirit-led. There will be no place in our lives for impurity of any kind. For, we have been called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light (truth, righteousness). So, now we live our lives, in the power of God’s Spirit, for God’s honor and praise.

No Longer Walk

“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.” Eph. 4:17-19 ESV

So many people have a wrong conception of God’s grace to us, and of his salvation from sin he has provided for all who believe on him. God’s grace to us, and the salvation he has provided for us, are not merely forgiveness of sins, freedom from punishment, and the promise of heaven when we die. That is only half the story. That is only half the truth.

His grace and his salvation are given to us that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. They are freedom from slavery (addiction) to sin and from the power Satan once had over us. And, they are freedom to become slaves (bond-servants) of Christ’s righteousness. This is why Jesus died on a cross for our sins, that we might walk in freedom, and no longer as slaves to sin.

So, our new lives in Christ Jesus should not look like our old lives of sin. Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross DAILY and follow (obey) him. He said if we hold on to our old lives, we will lose them for eternity, but if we lose our lives (die with Christ to sin), for the sake of Jesus Christ, we will gain eternal life (Lu. 9:23-25).

Truth in Jesus

“But that is not the way you learned Christ! — assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph. 4:20-24 ESV

So, what is this truth in Jesus? What way are we to learn Christ? The truth is that coming to faith in Jesus Christ means we put off our old self, which is corrupt through deceitful desires. We don’t add Jesus on to our old lives so that we have a slightly cleaned up old life. He is to now BE our life!

Another word for this is repentance. Although it literally means to have a change of mind, it is used most often in scripture in the context of leaving one’s life of sin behind, forsaking idols, and turning to follow Jesus Christ with our lives in obedience to his will and purpose for our lives.

Faith in Jesus Christ is not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. It means that we are divinely persuaded as to God’s will for our lives, and of his righteousness and holiness, and of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. We submit to God, we repent of our sins, and we choose to follow the Lord from this moment on. Our focus is not on escaping punishment and rewards in heaven, but our focus is on Jesus Christ and on doing his will.

When we believe with that child-like faith, the Holy Spirit moves us to turn from our sin and to turn to God. He renews our minds in Christ Jesus so that our desire is now for our Lord, and not for the pleasures of this world. And, he gives us a new life in Christ Jesus, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Do we get this? Do we truly comprehend what this means in all practicality in our lives? Or, are these just words?

The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of freedom from sin, and freedom and empowerment to now live in holiness, purity and righteousness. Any other gospel is a lie! If you hear a gospel that promises you eternal life with God, but does not lead you to the cross, and to death to sin and living to righteousness, then reject it, for it is false, and the hope that it promises is a lie, which is no hope at all, but a very sick joke.

I Love to Tell the Story

Katherine Hankey / William G. Fischer

I love to tell the story

of unseen things above,

of Jesus and his glory,

of Jesus and his love. 

I love to tell the story,

because I know 'tis true;

it satisfies my longings

as nothing else can do. 

I love to tell the story;

'tis pleasant to repeat

what seems, each time I tell it,

more wonderfully sweet. 

I love to tell the story,

for some have never heard

the message of salvation

from God's own holy Word. 

I love to tell the story,

for those who know it best

seem hungering and thirsting

to hear it like the rest. 

And when, in scenes of glory,

I sing the new, new song,

'twill be the old, old story

that I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story,

'twill be my theme in glory,

to tell the old, old story

of Jesus and his love.

Monday, January 22, 2018, 4:05 p.m. – Thank you, Jesus, that because of your grace, we can truly be free from addiction to sin and walk in freedom!

On Your Behalf

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Eph. 3:1-6 ESV

All of us who are believers in Jesus Christ have been given gifts of the Holy Spirit, and we have each been given specific assignments by God, which we are to fulfill. But, we don’t all have the same gifts, and we don’t all have the same assignments.

For example, back in 2004, the Lord Jesus called me to write down what he teaches me through his word, and to place it on the internet, so that the internet (the herald) could Run With It (See: Hab. 2:2-3). He called me to be a messenger, primarily to the church here in America, I believe, to expose lies and deceptions, to teach what is biblical truth, and to confront sinful practices, idolatry, and spiritual adultery within the church, as well as to call for repentance and obedience to Christ, and to his Word (1).

And, then, in 2011, he gave me another gift, the gift of writing songs. He would put the tunes in my head, which I would then record, and then I would pray for words, and then he poured the words into my mind. Then, I recorded the words with the tunes, and I would sing the songs, too, so that people could hear what they sounded like. The last one he gave me to write was in 2016, but that does not mean he won’t give me more. And, he often uses these songs with the devotions he gives me to write each day, so they go hand-in-hand (2).

Then, just a few weeks ago, he led me to write a book about my life, most specifically regarding the years I have been married to my husband, but also including a little bit of my life prior to my marriage of 45 years. It is a story of abuse, betrayal, adultery, faithfulness, a Christian walk, Christian service, obedience, and commitment, and it is also a story of hope, healing, deliverance, grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and restoration (3).

Yet, whether writing out my devotions, or writing a song, or writing a book, the gift the Lord has given me and the assignment he has given me is writing, and it is writing his messages, and these writings are for you and for me, to encourage us, to light a fire under us, to spur us on to love and good deeds, to give us hope, and so that we may know there is healing for our wounded hearts and deliverance from our sinful conditions through Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior. By his stripes we are healed. Amen!

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. Eph. 3:7-13 ESV

When I read here about Paul being the “very least” of all the saints, but yet he was given this grace to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, it brought this passage of scripture to mind:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Co. 1:26-29 ESV

I can definitely relate! I grew up in a poor family, abused by my father and emotionally neglected by my mother. I was not regarded as worth much to anyone, I don’t think. I didn’t think I was very smart or that I had the ability to learn much. I really struggled to learn much of anything. And, then I married a man much like my dad who was sexually addicted from even before I met him, although I did not know that when I married him. And, we have had a difficult marriage because of his addiction, so I have gone through much hardship, pain and suffering from my husband, too.

In the church I also was not regarded as much. One pastor was threatened by the wisdom God was giving me, and he told me, in my early 30s, to wait until I had gray hairs on my head, and then people would listen to me. And, here I am 68 years old, and I still have most of my black hair. And, then there were other church leaders who were abusive, disregarding of and dismissal of me, who were all too anxious to just throw me to the curb rather than to be bothered with me. One of them told me that he was warned against people like me – people with strong convictions – and that he was to encourage me to go someplace else where I would be a “better fit,” he said, and he even offered to help me find such a place.

Yet, God had use of me, for this calling on my life was what he had prepared for me from before the creation of the world. And, he allowed me to go through all of that abuse, rejection, and persecution throughout my life to prepare me for this ministry, for what he was going to have me write about. I can write passionately about a lot of these subjects because I have lived in these situations on one end or another. So, I can speak from experience, and from a heart that has lived it, feels it, and cares deeply about it.

Yet, I struggled with this calling, even before 2004, and this present ministry, when I knew this was God’s calling on my life, because I kept getting rejected over and over and over again, because I was a woman. But, then the Lord spoke to me through Luke 7:36-50, regarding the woman who wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. A Pharisee criticized the woman and looked down on her, but Jesus honored her with his words.

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Vv. 44-47

What the Lord said to me at that moment is that he called me, a despised woman, rejected of men, to this ministry, because the men, who were supposed to be doing this, were not doing it. And, now he is paralleling for me the three things she did for him that they did not do, but should have done, with the three assignments the Lord Jesus gave me listed above in this writing and linked to below. Wow! Glory to God! All praise to Him!

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph. 3:14-19 ESV

Amen, Amen and Amen! Oh, the riches of his grace to you and to me!

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph. 3:20-21 ESV

Abide With Me / Henry F. Lyte / William H. Monk

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;

Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Monday, January 22, 2018, 2:16 a.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for this testimony of your love and grace in my life, the life of your servant and witness Sue.

(1)       Run With It: Blog

(2)       Original Works Songs

(3)       I Married My Dad: Book

We Once Walked

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Eph. 2:1-3 ESV

Before any of us believed in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, we were dead in our sins, without God, without hope, going nowhere, having no real purpose, wandering, doing what we want, and coming up short of attaining God’s divine approval. We walked (lived, conducted our lives) according to (in agreement with) our flesh, giving in to our sinful cravings.

THIS should describe where we WERE. THIS should NOT describe where we ARE. If it does, then we need to repent of our sins, humble ourselves before God, and turn (or return) to follow (obey) Jesus Christ with our lives.

Making it Practical

THIS, too, should NOT now describe us: You get up in the morning, get yourself ready, go to work, or work at home, but without even (or barely) acknowledging God, and without spending time with him in his Word, listening to him speak his words to your heart, in order to hear what he has for you for the day, with the purpose and intent in mind to obey him.

You go about your day, operating in the flesh, thinking worldly, fleshly, and perhaps even lustful thoughts, and acting accordingly. No one would single you out as a model Christian, for they can see your lifestyle doesn’t match your profession of faith.

Continuing on with that thought… Then, you come home, or you are home, and all you can think about is eating and watching your favorite TV shows or movies, or getting on Facebook or Twitter, or playing your favorite games, or surfing the internet, or getting on pornography, or chatting with a “love interest,” when you are married to someone else.

Granted, you have responsibilities, too, which you fulfill, but you are consumed largely with self, and with what is pleasing to your flesh, and God is really not important to your life, in the scheme of things, although you may profess that he is.

Then, before you go to bed, you spend your time watching TV, getting on the internet, and on social media, or playing games, or viewing porn, or chatting with a secret love interest, but again, God is not even on your radar, or if he is, it is for the purpose to perform religious exercises, perhaps to give the appearance that you are following him, when truly you are not.

Then, you go to sleep for the night, get up the next morning, and the worldly and fleshly cycle continues until Sunday. So, you go to a church service, and you may even be an elder or a deacon or a small group leader or a Bible teacher, or even the pastor. And, you raise your hands in praise to God during a worship service, and you put on the religious mask, but then as soon as church is over, it is back to business as usual.

Again, if this is what describes your life, or if you relate in some way, maybe not to these specific illustrations, but to being driven largely by your flesh, then you need to bow before God, humble yourself, repent of your sins, and turn (or return) to follow (obey) Jesus Christ with your life from now on.

Made Alive with Christ

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:4-7 ESV

For, you see, Jesus Christ did not give up his life for us on that cross merely to forgive our sins, to free us from punishment, and to give us the hope of heaven when we leave this earth. He died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15).

He died on that cross so that we would no longer be dead in our trespasses, but not just positionally, but practically, too. For, if we walk according to the flesh, we will DIE in our sins, not live with Christ for eternity, no matter what we profess to believe or to practice. For Jesus gave his life up for us to deliver us from these bodies of sin and to give us NEW lives in Christ Jesus, no longer sold as slaves to sin, but now sold out to God as servants of his righteousness (Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17; Eph. 4:17-24; Lu. 9:23-25).

God’s grace to us is not a free license to continue in sin, following after the lusts of our flesh, without guilt, and without remorse. His grace to us is for the purpose to deliver us out of bondage (addiction) to sin, and to free us to walk in his holiness, godliness, purity and righteousness. His grace, which brings us salvation, in fact, instructs (commands) us to say “NO!” to ungodliness and worldly (fleshly) passions (lusts), and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we await Christ’s return.

Saved by Grace

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:8-10 ESV

For by God’s grace (his kindness; his favor) we have been saved, both from the punishment of sin (eternal damnation), and from slavery (addiction) to sin. By grace we have been saved through faith, which is divine persuasion. In other words, even the faith to believe is not of ourselves, but it is a gift of God, lest we should boast in ourselves.

We cannot even come to faith in Jesus Christ unless the Father first draws us to Christ. In this drawing us to Christ he divinely persuades us as to God’s righteousness and holiness, his purity, his justice, and as to his mercy. He persuades us, too, as to what he did for us in dying on the cross for our sins, and of our need to humble ourselves before him, to repent of our sins, and to turn to him to walk with him in obedience, in surrender to his will for us.

All this is the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives in moving our hearts to respond to God’s salvation, so that we now say “No” to our old lives of living for sin and self, and so we say “Yes” to walking, by faith, according to the Spirit, and empowered by the Spirit, in Christ’s righteousness and holiness. We cannot do any of this apart from God, in our own flesh. Our entire transformation from that of dead in sin to alive in God is the working of God in our lives, yet we must yield to God, and submit to his will, and we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and do what God and his Word say.

When we believe in Jesus Christ, through divine persuasion, thus we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with Christ to newness of life, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. The old has gone. The new has come. We are a new creation in Christ Jesus, and since we are his creation, we were also created to do good works, but not the works of the flesh to earn our salvation, but works of the Spirit, which are evidence that we have true salvation in Christ. And, by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit of God we are to walk in these, in doing what God and his Word say, living godly and holy lives, pleasing to God, and no longer living (in practice) to please our sinful flesh.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Adelaide A. Pollard / George C. Stebbins

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Thou art the potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Search me and try me, Master, today!

Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,

As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Wounded and weary, help me I pray!

Power, all power, surely is Thine!

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Hold o'er my being absolute sway.

Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSnBbgsecD4

Sunday, January 21, 2018, 4:51 p.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for this teaching from your Word. May we take this truth to heart and apply it to our lives.

According to His Purpose

The Lord Jesus led me to read Ephesians 1 (Select vv. ESV).

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Vv. 1-2

Notice with me here to whom these words are being addressed. These things are written here to the saints of God who are faithful in Christ Jesus. This means we who are full of faith, having been persuaded by God as to his righteousness and holiness, and as to his death and resurrection, in order that we, who believe on him, might die to sin and live to righteousness.

And, who are the saints? They are those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, who have been persuaded by God in these matters, who have been crucified with Christ in death to sin, and have been raised with him to new lives in Christ Jesus, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. We are the set apart by God and for God (holy) who are unlike, different from the world, because we are like the Lord, being made in his likeness.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Vv. 3-6

We are also those whom God chose to be his even before he created the world. And, what did he choose us for? He chose us to be holy, set apart (different) from the world, created to be like him in true righteousness and holiness, being conformed to his likeness. He also chose us to be blameless before him. And, the only way we can be blameless before God is through the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on a cross for our sins, and by faith in him.

By faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord’s righteousness is credited to our accounts, our debt is cancelled, we are forgiven our sins, and we now have the hope of eternal life with God in glory.

But, this isn’t just so we can escape hell and just so we can go to heaven when we die. This also is not a one-time deal, we are in, and heaven is guaranteed us no matter what we do from this moment forward. The scriptures are very clear that this faith must be genuine faith, dead to sin, but alive to God, that it must be enduring faith, and that it must result in us walking according to the Spirit and no longer us living our lives to gratify the sinful cravings of our flesh (See: Rom. 8:1-17; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; Gal. 5:19-21).

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Vv. 7-10

In Christ Jesus we have redemption through his blood. This means that Jesus bought us back for God with the price of his blood shed on our cross for our sins. And, what did he buy us back for? That we might be his possession. Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Tit. 2:14).

This means that our lives are no longer our own, for we were bought with a price, therefore we are to honor God with our lives. Jesus paid the price so that we could be set free from our slavery to sin, and so that we could now become slaves (bond-servants) of his righteousness (Rom. 6:1-23).

He redeemed us from our sinful lifestyles so that we might now live for him and for his righteousness. Through this redemption he is making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose. So, what is his will and purpose for us? It is that we might say “No” to ungodliness and worldly (fleshly) passions (lusts) and that we might live self-controlled, upright and godly lives, pleasing to him, while we await his return (Tit. 2:11-14).

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Vv. 11-14

If we are in Christ Jesus, by faith in him, having been crucified with Christ in death to sin, and having been raised with him to newness of life, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, we have obtained an inheritance in God, but it is not just the hope of heaven when we die. It is the hope of changed lives, which are purified, made holy, cleansed of sin, and walking by the Spirit, and no longer according to our sinful flesh. We are no longer under the control of Satan and sin, for Jesus Christ set us free! Now we, who are being led by the Spirit of God, are the children of God.

Our lives are no longer to be lived for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us. We who believe in him are to be to the praise of his glory. And, what is his glory? It is God’s worth, his honor, his substance, his essence, and his divine character and will. In other words, our lives should reflect God’s character, his righteousness, his holiness, his morals, his values, and his virtues, such as integrity, honesty and uprightness.

This is not to say that we will never sin again (See: 1 Jn. 2:1-2), but it is to say that we should no longer be under the control of sin, and that we must now be walking (in lifestyle; in practice) according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh; no longer living to satisfy our sinful cravings. For, if we walk according to the flesh, we will DIE in our sins, not live with Christ for eternity. But, IF by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, then we will live with Christ for eternity (Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; Lu. 9:23-25).

So, if you have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and you are counting on heaven when you leave this earth, but you have never been crucified with Christ in death to sin, and you have, thus, not been raised with him to newness of life, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, then I pray you will give your hearts to Christ today while you still have today. For, heaven is not guaranteed those who only make a profession of faith in Christ. If we want to have the hope of heaven, we must die with Christ to sin and live with Christ to righteousness, empowered by the Holy Spirit now living within us. This is the essence of the gospel.

I Love to Tell the Story

Katherine Hankey / William G. Fischer

I love to tell the story

of unseen things above,

of Jesus and his glory,

of Jesus and his love. 

I love to tell the story,

because I know 'tis true;

it satisfies my longings

as nothing else can do. 

I love to tell the story;

'tis pleasant to repeat

what seems, each time I tell it,

more wonderfully sweet. 

I love to tell the story,

for some have never heard

the message of salvation

from God's own holy Word. 

I love to tell the story,

for those who know it best

seem hungering and thirsting

to hear it like the rest. 

And when, in scenes of glory,

I sing the new, new song,

'twill be the old, old story

that I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story,

'twill be my theme in glory,

to tell the old, old story

of Jesus and his love.

Sunday, January 21, 2018, 6:36 a.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for what you did for us on that cross in dying for our sins, and in being raised from the dead, so that we might, by faith in you, die to sin and live to righteousness. Amen!