“Just forget about yourself, concentrate on Him, and worship, Christ, the Lord, Worship Him, Christ, the Lord.”
The separation of oneself from all routine activities on the Sabbath invites the Holy Spirit to impart Jesus’ Divine gift of peace which provides a spiritual calm and assurance deep within our hearts and souls.
The Sabbath is a time of reflection on God’s love, faithfulness, goodness, and mercies. It is a time to express gratitude for His Love gift of Jesus Christ. We place our faith and trust in His promises because we are confident that our Father’s plans always work for the good of those who love the Lord.
The Sabbath is 24 hours of focused attention on worshiping God and receiving the shower of blessings of spiritual knowledge, wisdom, guidance, and strength. To commune with God in spirit and truth provides overwhelming joy and happiness.
Thank You God for providing a time of spiritual recovery and restoration from the vicissitudes of life. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Heavenly Father Cares Sabbath Devotional – March 21, 2025
“Yahweh Shammah,” a name for God found in Ezekiel 48:35, means “The Lord is there,” God promises His continuous presence and to be with His people [righteous believers] at all times. Yes and Amen.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’ ” —Genesis 1:26, NLT
When God, the Father had the conversation with Jesus, God, the Son regarding the creation of humanity, they knew the intense daily struggles we would suffer from being dedicated followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In God’s infinite wisdom, we were perfectly created with intellect, the ability to learn, mental acuity, the power to reason, and a heart filled with love.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” —Genesis 2:7
We were not spoken into existence, with Agape love, Jesus bent down and picked up clay in His hands, formed Adam into His likeness, and breathed the Ruach breath into him, and the man was alive. Recognizing our significance to God allows us to transcend worldly perspectives and societal judgments on the hierarchy of importance according to wealth.
The human body’s anatomy and physiology cannot be cloned by scientific means. Our soul is connected to God. Our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health are interconnected dimensions of well-being. The body systems are intertwined and interdependent on each other to maintain a healthy mind-body equilibrium. Because we love God, we strive to live the healthiest lifestyle.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own…” —1 Corinthians 6:19, NIV
Still, it gets better! By accepting Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, giving us spiritual strength and guidance, and directing us through our thoughts and conscience [Yes, it’s a mystery]. All of creation reveals that God loves beauty and diversity, we have received various innate and spiritual gifts to be used for His glory and honor.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [discipline, self-control].” —2 Timothy 1:7
We were gifted with the power to choose right over wrong and Truth over error as defined by God’s Holy Standards. Not only did we receive free will of choice, but we can accept or reject the gift of Salvation and live righteously or not.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13
God to the rescue! In protecting us, God has left no stone unturned. Although we fight Satan’s temptations every day, and our circumstances make us feel that we do not have a choice, we are not helpless!
We always have a choice even when it is not in plain sight. Despite the temptation, when we are grounded in Christ, we cannot be coerced into choosing sin. We use our sound minds and prayer to disregard every manipulative tactic designed to persuade us to sin against God.
The Onset of the Spirit of Defeat and Its Bitter Fruits
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” —Proverbs 3:5-6
Yes, we have followed our thoughts, inclinations, and strategies that may or may not have produced successful outcomes, even so, our exclusion of God has resulted in the displacement of our gift of faith. Using our limited human wisdom and strategies not only excludes God but challenges and dishonors His Infinite knowledge and wisdom.
God’s plan includes active participation in our spiritual journey which produces the growth, maturity, and mind-character transformation necessary to receive Eternal life. Self-reliance displaces our faith from God to ourselves. When we detour from the Path of Righteousness, our Father God allows us to experience hardships that human effort can never resolve.
Focusing on our problems instead of God’s unlimited power is the Red Flag that reveals lost faith. The habit of using our knowledge, prior experience, and strategies to resolve our challenges excluded God. Now we face the reality of our human limitations and our emotions of fear, doubt, anxiety, and discouragement have overpowered us. Yet, the root of the problem is that we do not know who God is and the attributes of His Righteous Character.
“My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). In the Christian Community, not enough emphasis is placed on the life-saving, faith-building importance of studying the Bible. The Bible contains the Holy Scriptures and is our Spiritual Guide to living righteously. In great detail, God defines the attributes of His Righteous Character so we will know the difference between Him speaking to us and Satan’s attempts to mislead us.
We are truly loved! The Bible gives us the history of God’s Loving Intervention in fighting the enemies threatening to overtake the righteous and the continuous forgiveness of our intentional rebellion of sinning against Him.
“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them (Genesis 3:21).” Even when Adam and Eve chose to disobey which resulted in the loss of their home in the Garden of Eden, Christ had to shed blood by killing animals to clothe them. Sadly, even when forgiven, sin always creates a heart-wrenching payment.
God’s Original Plan for humanity included immortality. Adam and Eve were not created to die. Although many individuals blame God for the death of their loved ones, death is the result of sin and sin originated in Lucifer’s heart. God tells us “The last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). When Christ comes again, God’s Holy Name will be vindicated! Yes and Amen!
For many years, my Christian journey did not include Bible Study. The spirit of self-reliance produced a roller-coaster of spiritual and emotional highs and lows. If all was well, I was overjoyed. Eventually, a major life event caused me to stand at the Crossroads of Faith. The Holy Spirit spoke to me in many ways to study the Scriptures. Much prayer and daily Bible study have strengthened my faith in God and enabled me to live a Faith-based life dependent on God. The Spirit of Defeat was replaced with a Spirit of Gratitude.
Faith Building Activities
Praise and Worship is our greatest defense against the spirit of defeat. God’s decision to create humanity included 24/7 access to heaven. Praying once or twice a day is not enough to remain focused on the love and power of God. We are living in the last days [2 Timothy 3] and desperately need Divine wisdom and strength to overcome.
When King Jehoshaphat prayed for God’s help when the three pagan armies came against him this was God’s answer:
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” —2 Chronicles 20:17
“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” —Isaiah 65:24
Including God in life’s routine duties builds our faith, trust, and dependency on our Heavenly Father. When unexpected adversity enters our lives, we will immediately fall to our knees and seek God. Pray for God to reveal His perfect will and ask for the strength to persevere through the trial. God is never in a hurry. His Divine help requires that we maintain our faith while waiting on His perfect timing.
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” —Psalm 27:14, NLT
In the season of waiting, pray prayers of gratitude thanking Him for the victory. We do not have to plead and beg our Heavenly Father to help us. God never forgets our prayers for help. Stand still [do not attempt to help God by using human strategies], all God asks of us is to honor and reverence Him with our unwavering faith.
Study 2 Chronicles chapter 20. The Bible reinforces our faith in God. To remain faithful and steadfast in our relationship with Christ requires Biblical knowledge. The spiritual understanding we receive converts our hearts and we willingly desire to serve God because we love Him.
Establish consistent study by dedicating alone time with God every day. Use 15 minutes of your lunchtime to pray and memorize at least one Scripture. Develop a 4-6 month schedule to study and learn Genesis 1-3 [The Beginning], the Four Gospels [The Life of Christ—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John], and Revelation chapters 21-22 [Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth].
The Spiritual Journey of living a victorious Christ-centered life is dependent on daily surrender, faithful obedience, much prayer, and focused study of the Holy Scriptures. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and a deeper understanding of the word of God. You will lose the Spirit of Defeat and enjoy the courage, peace, and happiness that God desires us to possess and your perception and desires will change as you begin to see life through spiritual eyes.
“Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].” —Isaiah 41:10, Amplified Bible
The journey of Faith will never be easy. Still, Yahweh Shammah promises to always be there. By embracing God’s love, we can live by faith and rely on God which gives us peace, hope, and a mindset of victory!
“Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you…” Isaiah 43:4
Lord God, we ask for forgiveness for the sin of embracing self-reliance instead of totally depending on Your promises to give us victory. We commit to using our faith to believe that You are always here and will deliver us despite our circumstances. Thank you for your love and steadfast commitment to humanity. We pray for showers of blessings on this Holy Sabbath and ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.” —Romans 8:18
One aspect of life that every Christian believer experiences is disappointment. Yet, with tears and words of gratitude, we thank God for His ever-loving care. Our struggles encourage us to seek comfort through Christ and prepare us for an eternal life filled with love, peace, joy, and happiness.
Jesus says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” which is our Heavenly Father’s encouragement to remind us that He is always with us.
Praying for comfort and peace is a prayer that is immediately answered by our Savior and Intercessor, Jesus Christ. Thanking God for His amazing love always soothes our emotions. Words of gratitude invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen us with Jesus’ healing power, and our hopelessness transitions to hope. God will not allow our circumstances to remain unresolved. Yes and Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for never leaving us or forsaking us. We ask for the blessings of comfort, peace, and strength in our times of suffering and distress. Thank You for our Spiritual Respite of the Sabbath. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray in faith, Amen.
Our Heavenly Father Cares – Sabbath Devotional – February 28, 2025
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” —Matthew 5:17
The Ten Commandments [Exodus 20], God’s Moral Law not only gives us the attributes of a righteous character but also reveals God’s boundaries for our behaviors and lifestyles. The Fruit of the Spirit is the Character of Christ: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Although our nation’s laws were originally developed from the Ten Commandments, compromised values have introduced plea bargaining, and loopholes, yet, God’s Commandments and Righteous Precepts are valid [only the ceremonial sacrificial law of animals has been abolished]. With love, God reminds us, “I do not change” so we are not deceived by false teachings that His Law was done away with or nailed to the cross.
“You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.” —1 Corinthians 6: 20
“This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” —1 John 4:9-10
Many Christians do not understand the relentless love required of God to give His Only Son, Jesus, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead to become human and suffer on this earth to save our souls. And we certainly do not understand our active role in our salvation, or we would faithfully seek and obey God’s will and plans every day.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1, NIV). With our cooperation, the Holy Spirit gradually transforms our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). Living sacrificial lives is revealed through the spoken words, Lord, I surrender myself to You, I ask You to reveal your plans for today. And then we actively work on our salvation by obeying God instead of fulfilling our desires.
“Abraham said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’ ” —Genesis 22:5
Abraham teaches us that faithful obedience is our highest worship to God. Putting God first is essential for living a life of faith-driven obedience. Our response to the mercies of a new day in a morning prayer of consecration reveals that we love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
” ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” —Luke 22: 42-44
Although Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice Isaac, his only son [whom he loved with all of his heart] is perceived as the most difficult test of faith, Jesus gives us the ultimate example of faithful obedience when He died on Calvary’s Cross to fulfill the Plan of Redemption.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV
Saved by grace is a privilege, graciously gifted to us by God. Our salvation is based on faith in Christ and obedience to God. “If you love me keep my Commandments.” Disobedience has devastating consequences on our character. Living outside of God’s will changes our mindset, we lose our spiritual perception and easily choose sinful compromise over righteousness.
“…Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16
Throughout the Bible, we have evidence that God has always required the human effort of faith and obedience. Living holy is impossible without Christ’s strength. We need help to overcome our thoughts, choices, and lifestyles that reflect the carnal desires of our hearts. Think of your life as a Spiritual Journey with Jesus Christ. Pray for help! “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” —2 Timothy 1:7
God developed the battle plan to overcome our sinful tendencies. We are not helpless in the fight between good and evil. Satan cannot coerce or force us to disobey God. From the moment we are tempted, the Holy Spirit alerts us through our thoughts we are facing a sinful situation. We begin to feel uneasy within our spirit. At that moment, we pray for strength and use our self-control by proclaiming, I will not sin against God, or we ignore the warning and choose to sin.
God’s Love is Relentless! Loving God produces appreciation for His faithfulness and propels us to consecrate ourselves daily to live holy, obedient, and sacrificial lives. From our willingness to obey, Jesus empowers us with His supernatural strength. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the guidance to live as Victorious Overcomers preparing for the Second Coming of our Triumphant King.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:1-3
Lord God, we thank You for Your relentless love and ask for the strength to overcome our internal desires and fight against the external opposition to separate us from You. We love You and consecrate ourselves to strive for righteousness as we prepare daily for Jesus’ Second Coming. In Jesus’Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – December 27, 2024
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” —John 3:16-17
“For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will…” —Ephesians 1:4-5
The Plan to Redeem humanity was in place before the world was created—God’s Sovereign Plan of Redemption was not an afterthought of Divine Rescue! The Triune God knew that Adam and Eve would fall, but Agape love committed to creating humanity and carrying out the Plan to save our souls. Although God’s Original Plan for humanity was thwarted, Jesus remained steadfast and fulfilled His Father’s requisite of giving His life so we can escape the penalty of sin.
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” —Revelation 14:12
It was on Calvary’s Cross, that Jesus shouted, “It is Finished!” indicating His victory over sin and death. “Through the Incarnation, Christ’s Divinity embraced our humanity, and the eternal God clothed His Divine Essence in human flesh.” Our gratitude must extend beyond spoken words, will we commit ourselves to surrender daily to God?
The spiritual criteria of surrender and faithful obedience to God have always been required to receive Eternal life. Enoch and Elijah demonstrate that with the human effort of seeking God and remaining obedient to His will and plans, we receive the undeniable power of God to live righteously in our earthly lives.
Because of one fallen angel’s rebellion, “sin has brought to this earth unimaginable pain and sorrow. Sin has wreaked indescribable torment and havoc on humanity.” Still, all of heaven remains committed to helping us win the war over sin: “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6). Yes and Amen!
Jesus, we thank You for fulfilling the Plan of Redemption. Because of You, we have been rescued from the tragedy of sin, redeemed by Your blood, and received the invitation to be restored through Your infinite righteousness. Thank You, our Triumphant King for serving as our Heavenly Intercessor and presenting us as faultless before God, the Father. In Your Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – December 21, 2024
“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.” —Matthew 9:9, NLT.
When reading this verse, we find evidence of true heart conversion by the Holy Spirit. Matthew, the rogue tax collector did not make a spontaneous decision to accept Christ and leave everything when Jesus said, “Follow me.” Day by day, while sitting at his tax table under the shade of the bountiful tree, Matthew heard countless testimonies of Jesus’ healing the sick and preaching messages of hope and salvation.
Matthew’s decision to follow Jesus occurred long before Jesus approached him. Regardless of his wealth and lavish lifestyle, Matthew got up, left everything, surrendered his heart, mind, soul, and character, and committed to the spiritual process of being transformed by Jesus Christ, the Messiah. For his dedication and commitment to Christ, God honored his obedience by granting Matthew the privilege of writing the first book of the New Testament documenting Jesus’ ministry on earth.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.” —Revelation 3:20
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…” (John 15:16). Jesus tells us, that we did not choose Him, He chose us. If we think of our initial decision to accept Jesus as our Savior, we realize that accepting Christ was a supernatural experience. To bear fruit [Galatians 5:22-23] requires that we abide in Christ through the daily human effort of prayer, surrender, faithful obedience, and study of the Scriptures.
Perhaps, we never understood that we were chosen to follow Christ and have not totally committed to discipleship. God never leaves us without the knowledge we need to come to Him in total surrender. From our desire to fulfill God’s Divine purpose, we strive to obey God’s will and plans for our lives. “Be holy, for I Am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). When we agree to let go of sinful practices and people, the Third Person of the Triune God, the Holy Spirit performs the lifelong transformation of our character and behaviors to reflect the Righteousness of Christ.
Before Christ comes again, through the Holy Spirit, every human being will receive the opportunity to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. Still, we use our God-given free will choice to accept Christ or deny him. If we say yes to Jesus’ invitation then we agree to live a life of surrender and faithful obedience to God’s will by seeking and obeying His precepts and will for our lives.
We were bought with a price, and that price was Jesus’ life. His sacrificial gift on Calvary’s Cross was to offer us an alternative to the price of sin. For the Love, Grace, and Mercies, we receive every day, certainly God deserves our faithful obedience. Today, consecrate yourself and make the covenant to relinquish your will and obey God. In Jesus’ Name, Peace and Blessings!
“This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” —1 John 4:9-10
Lord God, we thank You for choosing us to receive salvation through the gift of Your precious Son, Jesus. We choose to follow Christ and pray for the strength to live consecrated, holy, and acceptable lives. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – December 13, 2024
Pray, Have Faith, and Wait On God
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:28-31
God not only sustains our lives, but He also promises to work out every aspect of opposition and spiritual warfare. For two weeks, I prayed for God to resolve an issue with my property manager who became my enemy because I stood for the truth regarding a legal violation of the company’s lease agreement. God’s intervention never ceases to be less than phenomenal. Last week, she was given a promotion that required the identification and correction of the company’s infractions for two properties which resulted in a radical change in her perspective. Yesterday, we had a very cordial conversation. Praise God from whom all blessings are given!
“Be still, and know that I am God…” —Psalm 46:10
Trust God with your life. Who else can take care of us and resolve the impossible? God’s timing is not our timing. We pray and wait. During the waiting season, our faith is tested. Will we remain steadfast by patiently waiting for His promises to come to fruition? If we serve God with faithful obedience then a victorious outcome is promised. God always brings glory and honor to His Holy Name. Sabbath Peace and Blessings! Amen.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27
Lord God, we desperately need Your help. We ask You to strengthen our faith as we wait for Your perfect resolution. Thank You for working out our challenges. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – December 6-7, 2024
“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” —2 Timothy 3:2-5
After studying this important Scripture, we recognize that we are in the perilous times described by the apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy. What is the spiritual progression we can expect? Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 14-16 and 19-22 are the reference points for the prophecies of the End Times of Earth’s History.
With joyful anticipation, we prepare daily for Jesus’ soon coming. We have the Triune God which includes the Holy Spirit, and messenger/guardian angels assigned to all believers who work to prepare us spiritually. Fear should not be part of our mindset when we think of Jesus’ Second Coming.
In Revelation 22:12, Jesus reiterates, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” Most importantly, are we making the necessary spiritual changes to prepare for Jesus’ soon return?
As believers, what is our role in preparing for Jesus’ Second Coming?
Acknowledging Our Identity: We belong to God. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” —1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Establishing and Maintaining a Personal Relationship with Christ Jesus: Through daily consecration, we seek and surrender to God’s will, serving Him with faithful obedience. Spending much time in prayer and studying the Scriptures strengthens our relationship with Christ and invites the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ—the journey of Sanctification.
Dedicating Our Talents to God: Each person is blessed and gifted with unique talents and given the spiritual assignment to witness the message of Salvation—Jesus Saves! “Intellect is an entrusted talent. Sympathy and affection are talents to be sacredly guarded and improved, that we may render service to Him whose purchased possession we are…we belong to God. Education, discipline, and skill in every area should be used for God.” EGW
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” —2 Peter 1:3
The God-given gifts of faith, love, power, and self-control enable us to renounce temptation. Yet, human effort requires Jesus’ Divine wisdom, discernment, and strength to recognize and overcome Satan’s customized temptations that appeal to our heart’s desires. Because we are created with free will, every day, through prayer, we convey our desire to depend fully on Christ. Our yes to God guarantees us Divine Intervention in our time of need. And when do we not need God?
Serve God with Courage and Perseverance: “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. 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.” —Ephesians 6:10-12, NIV
The apostle Paul compares our spiritual journey to being a soldier. Jesus is the Commander of Angel Armies. Angels guard us from unseen spiritual warfare and protect us from physical harm [Psalm 37:4]. We cannot fight evil without Divine Help. Our prayer of surrender signifies our willingness to abide in Christ. And for our humility, the Holy Spirit shields us from deception and guides us continuously on the narrow Path of Righteousness.
God’s Plans Are Perfect and End in Victory: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ ” —Isaiah 55:8-9
The Believer’s Responsibility: “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Yes, love, grace, and mercies are free, yet God expects us to study the Bible for ourselves. It is not enough to hear sermons once a week to sustain our connection to Christ. Do not depend on second-hand knowledge to guide your spiritual journey.
Study the Bible under the teaching of the Holy Spirit by praying for the correct understanding of God’s Truth. We cannot use our thoughts to discern the Holy Scriptures. Knowing for ourselves the attributes of God’s Character and what He expects safeguards us from being deceived by the current practice of “What is Truth? You have your truth and I have my truth.”
Many believers can quote the Scriptures, but intellectual knowledge does not produce converted hearts. Living holy calls for the human effort of applying the word of God to our lives, and invites the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to change unrighteous habits and prepare us for life in the New Heaven and New Earth.
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Pray continuously for God’s guidance. Satan is a stealthy enemy. He does not use easily recognized temptations to compromise our right standing with God. It is the desires of our hearts that he uses to separate us from God. In these perilous times, Satan knows his time is running out, so he often uses familiar people [church members, family, and friends living double lives] who still practice worldly habits to tempt us into compromising our commitment to God.
“Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus].” —Matthew 7:15-16, AMP
The people in our inner circle can significantly influence us to compromise God’s righteous morals and values. The goal of Compromised Christianity is to pull us into accepting blended doctrines that are not Biblically sound. Studying the Bible also teaches us when to remain silent and let God fight our battle against spiritual warfare.
Two years ago, I was talking to a family member who has always been a devout Christian, the conversation was going well until he stated, “Did you know that…?” I was shocked by the content of his self-made theory. Not only was this a temptation to debate, but also Satan’s attempt to influence me to accept human doctrines above the Holy Scriptures. I remained silent, he changed the subject, and that was our last conversation.
“But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].” —James 1:22, Amplified Bible
“Unbelieving Believers” wholeheartedly believe God exists, but do not have the desire to fully renounce sinful habits, behaviors, and lifestyles. They will listen to the Truth, but never incorporate the Word of God into their lives. They hear weekly sermons but satisfy their curiosity by seeking human-made philosophies and the hidden mysteries of life that steer us away from God’s Truth.
Spiritual Growth and Development is Continuous: As a believer, “I can come to Jesus just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” Christ created us to reach our highest spiritual and intellectual potential under His Divine guidance. Every day, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, we can progress step by step in our Christian journey.
We should be concerned if we are still thinking and practicing the same level of Christianity as we did a year ago. It took Jesus’ disciples three years to experience spiritual transformation, yet in John 17 Jesus prayed that He completed His spiritual assignment—eleven of His disciples experienced spiritual transformation.
If we remain steadfast, we will also gain a deeper experience with Christ. When worship becomes our lifestyle, our automatic response is to honor and connect with God through praise, singing, Bible study, and prayer. Faithful obedience is the spiritual gateway to receiving spiritual growth—the Holy Spirit empowers our thoughts, and decisions, and changes our character to reflect the Fruit of the Spirit—the Character of Christ.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” —Colossians 2:8
Achieving and reaching our fullest potential is in our DNA, therefore, we have an inner drive to pursue knowledge. God’s priority in our quest for knowledge is to study the Scriptures, as spiritual growth only happens through the word of God. We can read books by Christian authors, listen to sermons, and watch social media posts, still, the Bible is the Spiritual Mirror that reveals our true spiritual status.
Believer Alert: If we fail to study, Satan will provide alternatives that separate us from God. Screen time is one of his most effective tools that few fail to resist. To satisfy our innate drive to acquire knowledge, we will embrace erroneous concepts of fantasy, immorality, and unrealistic goals of success portrayed in movies [especially children’s movies], digital animation, games, and other activities that appear to be innocent fun, but prepare our minds to embrace worldviews, demonic themes, and imaginary creatures which oppose righteousness.
Self-healing, gateways to other dimensions, maintaining a constant level of euphoria by drinking mushroom teas, and attempting to manifest blessings have infiltrated the church. We must be intentional with our efforts to avoid the trap of “intriguing minds want to know” articles, programs, and movies that are not Biblical.
Once we have exposed our senses and neural pathways to secular philosophies, our frontal lobe easily retains deceitful information over the Scriptures and then the internal war rages. In these times, Satan targets the church-goers who half-heartedly serve God. Failure to obey God is the open door that allows the enemy to enter and manipulate our minds and take over our lives. Persuasion is easily accomplished with those who hear the Truth, but their hearts remain unconverted and uncommitted.
“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” —2 Timothy 2:15
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Now is the time to rearrange our schedules to include diligent Bible study. Jesus foretold the times we are living in and gave us instructions on how to overcome them. The Sovereign Thoughts of God were given to humanity and written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Scriptures reveal the Beginning to the End according to the Omnipotent and Faithful Triune God—God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.
“Fight the good fight of faith…” (1 Timothy 6:12). “This verse encourages believers to actively stand firm in their faith, even when facing challenges.” We cannot win the spiritual battle against Satan who desires us to lose our Crown of Life. Trust and obey God by standing down temptation. In the Strength of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, we must persevere and remain committed to righteousness.
The Armor of God: “… 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.” —Ephesians 6:16-17
Stay alert! From dedicating ourselves to God’s perfect plans, the Holy Spirit performs daily spiritual growth and development. Time is quickly passing, the minutes have become months and the months have evolved into years gone by. “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
Bible Study: Ephesians 6:10-20
Lord God, we thank You for the Sword of the Spirit, Your Holy Scriptures which are the One Truth. We ask for spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment to shield us from the deception of the evil one. Bless us this Sabbath with peace, joy, and the courage to surrender and obey in these perilous times. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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