Devotional – Page 33 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Good Fruit of Righteousness

The Good Fruit of Righteousness Devotional Reading September 3, 2023

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32

Studying the Scriptures not only gives us knowledge of God’s Righteous Standards but also teaches us the guidelines for possessing a Christ-like Character. Prayer is the lifeline to Jesus, our Source of life. Pray often during your waking hours, prayer changes us, and we receive spiritual insight and wisdom.

God has given us a Spiritual Team, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to empower us with the ability to change and resist temptation. Our angels protect us physically and from spiritual warfare. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and gives us guidance and the spiritual strength to discard sinful behaviors and to have a righteous character.

Our earthly lives are the only opportunity we have to strive for spiritual change. When Jesus comes, we will be physically changed and receive immortality if we have a righteous character. Because Jesus created us to be free moral agents, we must surrender and ask every day for the Holy Spirit to change our character. Then we put forth the human effort to live righteously.

An individual who failed to experience the spiritual transformation of their unholy character traits in their earthly lives will possess the same character on the day of Jesus’ coming. Eternal life is a reward [Revelation 22:12]. We have the opportunity to become loving, faithful, obedient disciples of Christ who worship Him every day as we will in heaven.

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” —1 Corinthians 3:1-3, NIV

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church because of the ongoing conflict between the members. Strife, complaining, anger, jealousy, and judging others are matters of the heart, which reveal a heart that is not spiritually transformed by the Holy Spirit. All disunity between Christian believers is sinful! Can you imagine heaven filled with strife and negative human emotions?

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…” —James 1:19

In today’s Christian community, there are arguments on social media platforms over the Biblical truth. Strife exists between pastors of thousands of Protestant denominations who rely on their human understanding to interpret the Scriptures. Church members judge others and criticize departmental leaders of the church’s internal ministries. In the family homes, bitter words are spoken between husbands and wives, and as a result, unhealthy sibling rivalry arises.

“…aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” —1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Yesterday, I watched a sermon entitled, “Follow Jesus and Mind Your Own Business.” God appointed the Apostle Paul to minister to the Gentiles and start the early Christian church. Although the new members possessed various character traits that caused chaos in the church, Paul remained anchored in Christ.

Paul’s traits of being loving, yet straightforward, and steadfast allowed him to boldly address the many issues regarding their duty of developing a Christian character. And God has the same expectation for today’s Christian believers.

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” —1 Thessalonians 5:15

Minding our own business has its spiritual limits. Believers are to help and encourage other believers! Have you considered that most new Christians do not know the Bible? If you know someone who is living contrary to the Scriptures then it is easy to ask, “Have you read this chapter in the book of ________? It is very interesting. Let me know what you think about it.” We always have the opportunity to witness and uplift others who are in a spiritual struggle.

Reflection: Do others recognize that we are followers of Christ by our smiles and kind words?

In 2023, it is difficult to determine who is a Christian believer! But spoken words and outward behaviors always reveal the status of our righteousness.

“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits, you will know them.” —Matthew 7:17-20

Although Jesus gave these traits for recognition of false prophets, we can use these spiritual guidelines to measure ourselves by the traits of the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23]. We are reminded that Christians are to be like trees that possess good fruits.

Carnal characters, minds, personalities, and habits will prevent many from receiving the reward of eternal life. Eliminate slang expressions, secular music that incites sexual desires, and programs with profanity. Self-control prevents speaking emotionally charged words that are delivered in haste and often contain bitter, sarcastic, and angry tones. And who hasn’t been surprised by the profane words that slip out of the mouths of believers in an angry moment?

Our thoughts may never surface as spoken words, but remaining silent does not equate to having righteous thoughts. Deep hatred toward others who have wronged us is often a hidden emotion to everyone else, but we know that hate and unforgiveness are in our hearts and so does God. Remain silent to avoid conflict, but immediately pray and forgive to avoid a hardened heart.

Thankfully, our Loving God knew that we could never determine or define His thoughts for righteous behaviors, so He gave us the Bible with real-life examples of those who fell into sin and repented [the Israelites, David, Zacchaeus…], those who lived righteously [Enoch, Daniel, Job…], and Jesus our Ultimate Righteous example who never sinned.

Studying the Bible is a crucial part of maintaining our relationship with Christ. Without diligently searching the Scriptures, it is impossible to experience spiritual growth and character transformation. Consistent prayer allows the Holy Spirit to teach and speak to us through the Scriptures and in our conscience. Worship places us in the presence of God which we desperately need in these perilous times.

Characteristics that Determine Our Commitment to Christ: Love, Surrender, Faith, Humility, and Obedience

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 2:3-4

Transformation Means Changing Our Mindset and Lifestyle

“But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” —1 Thessalonians 4:9, 11

Continual Change is Always Required in the Believer’s Life

We cannot change ourselves! “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil. — Jeremiah 13:23

God can change us! “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

Spiritual Transformation Requires Daily Surrender and the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit

When the Holy Spirit is absent in your life and the Living Water of Christ is not being poured into your life every day then you cannot live a life that is holy and acceptable to God. You will not have the desire to pray and study the Bible. You will lack self-control. You will not have the strength to resist temptation. You will not have the desire to obey God. And you will mistreat others because the love of God is not in your heart.

Spiritual Meditation is a vital part of worship that is often overlooked. We pray and study the Bible, but fail to allow additional quiet time for the Holy Spirit to speak to us. We will not hear the Voice of God when we do not allow adequate time to receive the Holy Spirit’s response of spiritual enrichment for our souls.

The Fruit of the Spirit Defines the Christian Character

“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

We are forever students of Christ! Learning and growing will always be a part of our earthly walk with Christ. With certainty, there are times we will fail, but our love for Jesus causes us to be convicted of our sins and drives us to pray a prayer of genuine repentance.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

The Love of God is beyond our finite understanding. We never have to feel ashamed or guilty when confessing our sins to God. Who else but those who are created in the image of God can boldly approach the Throne of Grace where we receive love and forgiveness from Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor, Savior, and Redeemer?

Repentance is not regret. Repentance is godly—intense sorrow with the mindset to never repeat the same sinful behavior. Repentance is our response to the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our wrongdoing and empowers us with the Spiritual strength for change.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10

The Holy Spirit empowers us to live righteously! Still, we must put forth the effort to be holy. Yes, Sanctification takes a lifetime of countless petitions of prayer, endurance, and perseverance to be transformed into the likeness of Christ and to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Yet, we can do it! We strive to have the good fruit of righteousness. And this is why we persevere, “We love Him because He first loved us” —1 John 4:19

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 25, David, Nabal and Abigail

Prayer: God, we come to You with repentant hearts for the many sins we have committed. We ask for forgiveness. And pray for the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. Please reveal every character trait and habit that is sinful in our lives. Jesus, You are the one we love and adore, You are the One we are living for. We dedicate ourselves to You. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Commandments of Love

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself’ “. Matthew 22:37-39

Love God, Love Yourself, and Love Others ❤❤❤

Facing Internal and External Opposition? God Always Wins!

Facing Internal and External Opposition? God Always Wins! Devotional Reading August 31, 2023

Who can control the internal battle of a sinful heart or win the external battles of strife without praying for Divine power?

Living in perilous times [2 Timothy 3] has led many believers to become distracted. We are trying to fight battles—internal and external that originate from spiritual warfare [that we cannot possibly win] without God. Human wisdom and strategies are extremely limited in fighting against the temptations and deceptions of Satan—never forget that he is a fallen angel.

Jesus’ Human Status on Earth: “You made him a little lower than the angels…” —Hebrews 2:7-8

Jesus, the Commander of Angel Armies and the Son of God was born as a human baby and was required to be tempted and suffer just like us. God also required Jesus to learn obedience to human parents and earthly laws. For Jesus to live and think as a human being, He had to give up part of His Omnipotence—Divine Power while living on this earth.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” —Hebrews 4:15

When Jesus was in heaven, His mind and will were connected and in perfect harmony with God, His Father. Once He was born as a human, Jesus had to pray constantly to seek the will of God. Obedience to God was His highest priority! Humanity always requires an Intercessor! The Holy Spirit also interceded for Jesus when He was living on this earth.

Yes, Jesus was human and divine, but in humility and surrender, He accepted and acknowledged the limitations of becoming a human being—to be tempted along with struggle to obey the will of God. Constantly seeking His Father in prayer empowered Jesus to live in total obedience to God. Even at the time of His betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus gave reverence to God, His Father.

“Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” —Matthew 26:53-54, NIV

If Jesus the Son of God openly acknowledged that He always needed to call on His Father [in His earthly life] how much more do we need God in every aspect of our lives? Throughout the Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] we have Scriptural proof that Jesus was in constant communication with God, His Father.

“It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.” —Luke 6:12

The Apostle Paul describes Jesus’ prayer life: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Though He was a Son, yet, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” — Hebrews 5:7-8, NIV, NKJV

From Jesus, we have a Role Model who demonstrates how we must place our faith and trust in God, the Father. It is a privilege to have unlimited access to God the Father through praying.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

We are told to come boldly before the throne of grace in prayer. Prayer is so important to the believer’s life that the Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayer of misguided words and presenting them to Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor with reverence and deeper meaning.

Spiritual warfare will exist until Jesus’ Second Coming. Yes, we face temptations, but Satan is using two methods to attack our relationship with God.

Doubt: The method he used with Eve to create doubt in her mind is the same method he is using with us. Satan desires that we believe God is withholding the best from us. Without faithfully trusting in God, we will pursue our desires for success, wealth, and marriage and never pray for God’s guidance or blessings.

Division and Strife: He uses people [most often spouses, family members, friends, dating partners, and coworkers] to draw us into debates that result in division and strife. Yet, Satan has increased his game of warfare by luring many into the web of debating the Scriptures on social media.

We live in the time of a Spiritual War Zone and our minds are the battlefield! Those who fulfill the carnal desires of their hearts do not love God with all of their hearts, souls, and minds. They would rather compromise and accept Satan’s poor choices of people and tangible wealth [which always produce consequences] rather than wait for God’s perfect blessings.

The people in our lives who cause strife and incite our emotions of anger are being used by Satan. A believer who insists on having relationships with unbelievers [“Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord will enter in…” Matthew 7:21] whether they are husbands, wives, family, friends, or dating partners, sadly will lose their relationship with Christ. The believer is always the one who compromises!

Without praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit, we chase our carnal desires, make the wrong decisions, and do not have the power to control our emotions, and spoken words. A believer with a sinful spirit of disobedience or strife is in a lose-lose situation. Their focus is no longer on God, it is on self.

The Solution: In Ephesians chapter 6, we are told to put on the Whole Armor of God. We are defeated unless we stay in the presence of God through prayer and study of the Scriptures. To combat spiritual warfare, we must pray and rely on the Holy Spirit. When we surrender and ask for the Divine Strength of the Holy Spirit, we receive the wisdom and power to overcome all situations.

Praying throughout our waking hours is the key to victory. Talk to God. Not only does our relationship with Christ strengthen, but we begin to view life through spiritual eyes. Prayer enables us to receive wisdom and the Fruit of self-control. The Holy Spirit empowers us to place God’s will over our heart’s desires and amid strife either we remain silent or quote the Scriptures and walk away.

The impossible remains impossible without God. We must double or triple our prayers and begin searching, studying, and obeying the Scriptures. The spiritual battles we face can only be won when we put forth the human effort of faith, surrender, and obedience to God. We prepare ourselves to receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer indicating our desire for Divine Help.

God always requires us to surrender and obey first before He intervenes. When we fulfill our responsibilities to God then our Mighty Warrior God will demonstrate His Divine power and defeat every enemy we face, even our internal battles with the enemy of our carnal hearts!

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 14

Prayer: “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name, we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Lord God, in faith, we pray the prayer of King Asa and we pray for deliverance from Satan and our earthly enemies. And we also ask for spiritual discernment and the power to fight our carnal desires. Thank You for the victory over our enemies. In Jesus’ Mighty name, we pray. Amen and Amen!

Our Father is Love

Doxology: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

“Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.” —Psalm 40:5

For the past two days, I have deeply reflected on the blessings given to me by God. As I praised and prayed words of gratitude for the two most recent supernatural miraculous gifts, I know that our Father is Love. Not from an intellectual perspective, but from the depths of my heart, I understand that God is Love.

We pray for many things, yet, we must pray in faith that His will be done. God’s plans always give us victorious outcomes. But something usually happens when we receive His blessings, we focus on the blessing instead of the Giver of the blessing.

Reflection: Do we praise God every day with spoken words of adoration and appreciation for our lives? Even if we have not made thankfulness a habit, we can begin today. Our blessings are too numerous to count. Our breath of life is enough to make us shout out loud words of gratitude to our Loving, Heavenly Father!

God’s Declaration of Love: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you [I have been faithful and shown you mercy].” —Jeremiah 31:3

God’s Promise: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Our Response: “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.” —Psalm 34:1,3

Prayer: God, we thank You for being a loving, gracious, and merciful Heavenly Father. We give You the honor, the praise, and the glory for sustaining our lives. Forgive us for the many times that we resembled the nine lepers who never thanked Jesus for their healing. Lord, we know that You have covered our lives with Your Unconditional love. We love and thank You! In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we ask this prayer. Amen.

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

Devotional Reading–August 24, 2023

“I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

At some point in our lives, we will reach a crossroads from a dilemma that only God’s Supernatural power can resolve. Our response to tribulations is dependent upon our relationship with Christ. If we live with the mindset of, I can do nothing without Christ, then our steadfast faith will automatically flood our mind with the utmost confidence in God.

Living courageously is possible! We can have peaceful, happy, and healthy lives when surrender and daily worship is a lifestyle. Strive for spiritual growth and development by faithfully trusting in God in all circumstances. Seek Him in prayer several times a day and you will receive Divine strength and victory. Yes, trusting in God brings happiness to our lives.

Scripture: ” Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good, Blessed is the man who trusts in him.” Psalm 34:8

Prayer: Lord God, we are so thankful for the privilege of being able to approach you through prayer 24/7. Help us to remember that You love us with an everlasting love. We thank you for Your Divine intervention, love, grace, and mercy. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

Staying Courageous In the Stormy Seasons

Staying Courageous in the Stormy Seasons—Devotional Reading, August 23, 2023

Perceiving oneself as blessed should prevent the onset of discouragement and depression when the stormy seasons enter and escalate in our lives. But our human hearts are fragile. When the rains of distress pour on us, often, we share our dilemmas with friends and family who cannot provide the answers or actions to resolve our circumstances.

Yes, we can seek emotional support during the storms [trials], but we need to bring our prayerful petitions for help to God first.

“…But those who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.” —Psalm 34:10

Trending Social media posts state, “God is silent, He never answered my prayers.” There is a disconnect between our comprehension of seeking God and God’s definition of seeking Him. We desire a God-on-Demand who rescues us immediately from our tribulations. With little time devoted to worshipping God, we do not understand His ways, nor do we possess the willingness to suffer. So we pray once or twice and give up on God because we desire immediate cessation of the storms.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

Jesus gave us many warnings that we would suffer hardships throughout our earthly journey. Without a firm foundation in the strength of Christ, we easily succumb to the tribulations which bring stormy waves of sorrow and hopelessness. Yet, it is the stormy seasons that build our faith and give us courage.

Not every storm is a trial allowed by God to change our character. Depending solely on our judgment and distrusting others can lead to detrimental choices and substantial adverse consequences in our lives. We agree that busyness impacts most people. With little time left, we are too busy to pray for God’s wisdom and study the Scriptures for guidance.

The Bible is our Guidebook that we use to find out, “What decisions should I make based on the Scriptures?” So instead of feeling blessed, we are overwhelmed from attempting to navigate through life without Divine Help. Excluding God from one’s life produces spiritual unrest, and disconnects us from the Source of life.

Still, we are not in a hopeless predicament. In humility, we acknowledge our disobedience and repent if we caused the storm. Even if we are the cause of our storm, God never forsakes us. We must have steadfast courage and undoubting faith to believe in God and His promises. God is our Source, He gives us the spiritual strength to endure every storm.

Character-changing storms usually have a longer duration and feel as if they will never end. Pray and ask God to reveal the unrighteous behaviors that He is using the stormy season to purge from your character. There are four Chapters—1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5, Ephesians 5, and James 3—that God expects for every believer to study and measure their characters against. With a prayer of surrender pray for the Divine strength to persevere and endure.

Some storms are the result of spiritual warfare, especially conflict with others. Even so, Christ gives His permission before any trials from Satan are brought into our lives. God will never allow Satan to crush the righteous! Read Job Chapter 1.

During the Stormy Seasons, Pray Often for Divine Help!

David had many troubles but wrote the steps we need to take during the seasons of hardships and also gave us wonderful words of encouragement, God always delivers the righteous!

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” —Psalm 34:15-16

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” —Psalm 34:17-18

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:19

Choosing to surrender to God on a daily basis is a personal decision that demonstrates our love for Him. Jesus designed us to have a dependent relationship with Him, built on love, trust, and obedience. These spiritual qualities not only keep us connected to Christ, but also ensure that we are following God’s will.

David’s Petition: “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.” —Psalm 27:7

The winds of tribulations are harsh, blowing with such force that we fall. We must cry out for Help! Who can persevere through the storm without Christ’s strength? Never forget that God’s goal is to save our souls and give us eternal life.

Spiritual maturity is demonstrated through God-reliance. No one is stronger than the one who depends on God!

Reflect on your lifestyle and make drastic changes if you do not have time to put God first! Developing a lifestyle of worship is intentional and takes concerted action on our part. When our lives are peaceful and we diligently pray and study the Bible every day, our dependency on God acts as a spiritual catalyst to immediately cry out to God when our stormy trials begin.

God knows that building our faith, trust, and confidence and changing our character into the likeness of Christ is achieved in the stormy seasons. Yes, the seasons that make us wish for Jesus to say, Peace be still, are working for our good and His glory!

Even if the intensity and duration of the storm lasts longer than we anticipated, practicing God-Reliance gives us unwavering confidence fueled by our faith and trust in God’s promises of deliverance.

Pray in faith and wait. God’s promises are Yes to which we say, Amen!

Scripture: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:19

Prayer: God, we thank You for Your Divine Love. Please forgive our self-reliance and doubt. Lord, we are in a storm and need Your strength to make it through. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Our Christian Duty is to Represent the Righteousness of Christ

“…Walk as children of light in the Lord (for the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)… Ephesians 5:8-9

Praying, studying the Bible, giving tithes and offerings, and attending church demonstrates our faithfulness to God. Yet many believers do not have the Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23. Our character reveals the condition of our heart and whether or not we have asked the Holy Spirit for daily Spiritual Transformation.

Heaven is for those with loving hearts who faithfully obeyed God and represented the Character and Righteousness of Christ to others.

Prayer: God, we pray for a change in our hearts that we may have the righteous character of Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen 🙏

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Live Wisely…Because the Days Are Evil

Live Wisely…Because the Days Are Evil Devotional Reading August 21, 2023

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise…” —Ephesians 5:15, NIV

God desires that we live happy and healthy lives, but He warns us that we need godly wisdom to stay on the Righteous Path which leads to eternal life. Many people proclaim that Life is good! Yet, their perception of the good life is based on human wisdom, their accomplishments, financial stability, and tangible goods.

Not only have we incorporated self-reliance into our belief system, we readily use human-made standards to make decisions and measure success. Without wisdom, we cannot know the will of God. Nor can we discern spiritual warfare and live our best lives without the Holy Spirit’s insight and guidance. But most importantly, without godly wisdom, we cannot receive eternal life, because our thoughts and decisions will never align with God’s plans.

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” —Colossians 2:9

We live in a time of mass information. So many voices and the majority are expressing their opinions based on their thought processes. Why are we so eager to embrace empty philosophies? The exclusion of godly wisdom places us in enemy territory! Without spiritual discernment, God warns us that we will be deceived by satanic false doctrines that are gift-wrapped in the appearance of God’s Divine Truth.

When we rely on human knowledge and understanding, we place ourselves in a vulnerable position. God tells us that we are being cheated! Something about the word cheat causes our emotions to become riled up—upset or angry. The definition of the word Cheat: an act of fraud, swindling, hoax, or deception. Oxford Dictionary

We are living in dangerous, evil times. The Amplified translation of Colossians 2:8 gives us [an easily understood] insight into the methods based on human wisdom used by Satan.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.” —Colossians 2:8, Amplified Bible

Sometimes the programs or infomercials that we watch or listen to are so absurd that our only logical response is to laugh. But Satan is not shooting fiery darts at those who can be easily deceived, he knows they offer no resistance to the deceptive intellectual babble of our era. Satan is after the children of God!

Satan doesn’t present human theories that we will easily dismiss, he develops a personalized plan using spoken words that provoke us to fall into temptation. Many believers love God but rely on their knowledge, intellectual thoughts, outcomes from prior experience, and strategies. They are intermittent Bible readers who do not have a spiritual foundation based on Biblical truth. Sadly, these are the people who, upon hearing new religious concepts, quickly accept them as true, without questioning their validity.

Yet, there is another group of believers who study the Bible and pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit, but they hear the new concept from a reputable pastor, speaker, or social media post, and it piques their interest. They are striving to stay on the Path of Righteousness, but sometimes get caught up by Satan’s expertly deceitful tactics. God tells us to test the spirits—search the Scriptures, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal whether or not the message is God’s Truth.

We cannot place our total confidence in the presenter. Many times personal feelings, the desire for likes, or using guesswork, results in the speaker giving inaccurate explanations of God’s Holy Word. It is imperative that we have a relationship with Christ based on our love, faith, and knowledge of the Bible which contain Holy Words breathed by God to men anointed by the Holy Spirit.

Without Exception, there is only One Truth and One Meaning to every Scripture in the Bible.

God’s expectation is that we will use the Bible to measure every sermon or doctrine. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher who always gives us a 100% accurate understanding of the Scriptures. Every believer has the opportunity to study and learn Biblical Truth. Studying God’s Truth under the guidance of the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual nourishment, feeding our minds and souls by imparting peace, power, spiritual knowledge, and godly wisdom.

Two weeks ago, I listened to a pastor who stated that Matthias was not the twelfth disciple that replaced Judas. Because the Apostles cast lots when choosing the replacement disciple, He surmised that God would not use that method to choose a disciple. He believes that God chose Paul as the twelfth apostle.

After hearing this concept, I studied Acts Chapter 1. As I thought about his opposing doctrine, I began to think deeply because my interest was piqued. But I didn’t feel right. I prayed a simple prayer, Holy Spirit, is this true? All praises to God, the Holy Spirit immediately came to my rescue by flooding my mind with answers.

The Holy Spirit reminded me of three things: 1. In our earthly lives, we will never understand God’s ways. 2. The Bible is God-breathed and does not contain any mistakes! 3. A statement I previously heard on how to avoid the acceptance of false doctrines.

In a recent question-and-answer program by a pastor, I have listened to for many years, stated, “We are living in the last days. You will hear many new concepts of God’s Truth, pray for wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit, and use this question to measure the information with, “Is this information Biblical and does it have anything to do with my salvation?’ “

Satan knows his time is running out. None of us are above hearing false doctrines that we readily accept or ponder in our minds. Our Arch-enemy is using every deceptive tactic to attempt to cheat the very elect—those who are striving to live righteously. Stay prayerful! Diligently study the Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

Because the Bible gives us God’s instructions on living righteously in these evil days, the Scriptures below provide guidance on living wisely through possessing godly wisdom.

” ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. For 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
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” —Proverbs 14:12
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” —Proverbs 26:12
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” —1 Corinthians 5:20

There is only one way for us to receive heavenly wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” —James 1:5-6

Because our hearts are carnal and our understanding does not align with God’s thoughts, the Apostle James gives us the characteristics of heavenly wisdom.

Heavenly Wisdom Verses Demonic Wisdom—James Chapter 3

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. —James 3:13-18

Prayer: God, we desperately need the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, guidance, and spiritual discernment every day. Lord, we pray for You to shelter us from the fiery darts of false doctrines and ask for a spirit of humility to permeate our minds and souls as we prepare for Your soon coming. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray, Amen.

Living in Preparation for Eternity

Living in Preparation for Eternity Devotional Reading August 20, 2023

We are living on the threshold of eternity. Are you living wisely? Does your life reflect the Righteousness of Christ?

The foundation of our relationship with Christ is based on love—His love for us is always consistent, but sadly, our love for Christ is changeable, often vacillating because of our heart’s desires and circumstances.

The love we have for God is revealed every day by our goals, plans, thoughts, spoken words, and actions which demonstrate our faithfulness to God. From our faith springs trust, obedience, and the desire to stay connected to Christ, the Source of our lives.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” —Ephesians 5:15-17

Every believer reaches a crossroads in their relationship with God which requires a declaration of who is first in their life. There is no middle ground, either God is first or we are first. For us to serve God, we must give a sacrificial offering. The things we treasure the most, money, material goods, relationships, and jobs are the object of our sacrifice.

Where do we stand when God tells us to let go? God is not punitive. The people, jobs, material goods, wealth, goals, and plans that He is asking us to let go of are preventing us from fulfilling God’s ultimate purpose for each of us. To live with the goal of self-seeking accomplishments does not align with God’s goal of the Holy Spirit guiding and preparing us [through this earthly life] to receive our reward of eternal life when Jesus comes.

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?’ ” —Luke 9:23-25

Jesus tells us that we must take up our cross and follow Him. Taking up our cross is to surrender ourselves through prayer every day. Following Christ places us on the Path of Righteousness, yet, the human effort of faith and obedience along with the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit keeps us on the Narrow Path.

The Narrow Way—”Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14

Do we understand that our earthly struggle cannot end in victory if we fail to love, obey, and follow the will of God? Obedience is not a natural response when the requirement is in opposition to our desires. Whether we understand the prophecies in the book of Revelation or not, one thing is certain, we are living in the last days of Earth’s history.

Receiving our reward requires diligent earthly preparation. Our daily worship of surrendering to God changes our perspective of time. We use our time wisely to pray and stay in alignment with the will of God. Surrendering to Christ gives us an internal spiritual transformation and an external purpose. We no longer live for ourselves, our desire is to live in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Staying in Alignment with God Requires Action!

Salvation is not passive! Our goal is to love Christ and faithfully obey His commandments. We strive to live holy by avoiding wilful disobedience. The Holy Spirit will alert us if we are detouring from the Path.

We Are Christ’s Disciples—John 17:20-23

What does God expect of us? To live righteously, for our character to reflect the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23], study the Scriptures, pray continuously, use our spiritual gifts and natural talents, witness Jesus’ love and the Plan of Salvation, and help those in need.

The Great Commission—”And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ ” —Matthew 28:18-20 Amen.

The Believer’s Outreach Calling—In our walk with Christ, we are expected to witness the love of Christ to others. God has granted us advancements in technology that allow us to reach people wherever a satellite signal exists. Jesus clarifies that the reward in Revelation chapter 22, verse 12—”And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

Receiving our reward is not only based on our willingness to serve, but also to perform our spiritual assignment of witnessing and helping others every day which proves our love, loyalty, faithfulness, and obedience to God. Every believer is expected to actively complete their earthly work as determined by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Serving God requires us to follow in the footsteps of Christ in His earthly ministry.

Attending church and giving tithe and offerings are God’s expectations of our service to Him. It is our outreach efforts of witnessing and helping others that we feel are optional. The parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew chapter 25, verses 31-46, is regarding two groups of believers. Sadly, the goats never thought they were required to be active disciples.

We have arrived and live in the perilous times that the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to Timothy.

“But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come: 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 3:1-5

Satan has deceived many to have a false concept of God that He is a Punisher. And when we hear sermons or study the Bible about the destruction of the wicked and this earth, we experience feelings of “Doom and Gloom.”

If we study Revelation chapters 19 through 22 and do not get excited then our hearts are not filled with love, faith, and obedience to God. There is a better life for the faithful, righteous who surrender themselves every day and are actively working as Christ’s disciples. And our minds are focused on seeing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and living with Him forever and ever. Amen.

Scripture: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” —Revelation 22:20-21

Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for not doing Your will and fulfilling our spiritual work of telling others of the love of Christ. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to bless us with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We pray for wisdom and direction to do Your will. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Christ-Shaped Lives—Receiving Daily Spiritual Transformation

Christ-Shaped Lives, Receiving Daily Spiritual Transformation August 19, 2023

“…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” —Ephesians 4:22-24

Although we could never receive spiritual transformation by works alone, the Human Effort of surrender, faith, and obedience allows us to receive the Divine intervention of the Holy Spirit who produces an internal transformation of our minds and characters.

Our willingness to become a follower [disciple] of Christ enables the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to change the direction of our lives. Our former sinful mindsets, beliefs, and desires change. Instead of pursuing worldly success and hanging out with unbelievers, we seek goodness [righteousness] instead of greatness.

Today, I realized that we are so blessed to have a loving God who allowed His Son, Jesus, to complete the Plan of Redemption for humanity. And because of our carnal nature, we have the Holy Spirit who enables us to receive spiritual transformation by teaching and guiding us to stay on the Path of Righteousness.

Scripture: “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.” —Ephesians 4:29-32

Prayer: Lord, give us direction as we travel through this earthly journey so that we may remain faithful, and willingly obey by doing Your will. We pray for the Fruit of the Spirit as we witness to others by spreading the message of Your love, grace, and mercies through our spoken words and behaviors. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.