Faith Love Trust Obedience – Page 37 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

God Reveals His Omnipotence to Job

God Reveals His Omnipotence to Job – Today’s Devotional – December 5, 2023

Most companies receive hundreds of CVs and resumes for a given position, but the use of software based on keywords eliminates the unqualified applicants. Still, human eyes must read the remaining submissions to determine the applicant’s competency, stability, and potential to develop or embrace the innovative strategies required to propel the company forward into a highly competitive business arena.

Imagine being asked to provide three character references and responding with “I can validate my own character.” What would the hiring manager think?

Job Defends His Integrity

Most are familiar with Job’s story—the profound loss of his wealth, and children, and the awful condition of painful boils. As if that was not enough to contend with, “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die?’ ” (Job 2:9).

Although many believers have experienced suffering none usually compares to the profound loss and suffering of Job. Yes, Job lived a sinless life, even God considered him to be upright. Yet Job needed to learn a couple of lessons—God’s Omniscience [knowledge] and Omnipotence [power] are perfect and one’s integrity and righteousness do not prevent extreme suffering.

The misconception that suffering only results from a person’s disobedience to God or from hidden wicked behaviors was a prevailing thought in biblical times which explains why his friends blamed Job for his adversity.

Adversity presents itself in two time periods, short-term and long-term. We usually have enough faith in God to endure trials and tribulations that God quickly resolves, but the challenges that seem to last forever reveal whether or not our faith will fail or flourish.

In chapter two, Job rebukes his wife for telling him to curse God and die, “But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10). Job’s three friends came to mourn and comfort him for seven days and nights, yet “…no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great” (Job 2:13).

“After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth” (Job 3:1). At this point, Job’s friend Eliphaz tells him that he is being chastened [disciplined, punished] by God. “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty” (Job 5:17).

In chapter six, Job’s human weakness is exposed as his attention turns from God to himself. Job’s response, “What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?” (Job 6:11). Job represents you and me and the weakness of the human heart when our emotions override God’s love. When our hardships continue, we feel that God has abandoned us in our greatest crucibles of suffering.

“My friends scorn me; My eyes pour our tears to God” (Job 16:20). “My spirit is broken, My days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me.” (Job 17:1)

As time progresses, and Job is still suffering, his three friends accuse him of hidden sins, folly, and wickedness. They urge him to repent so God will redeem and rescue him from a well-deserved punishment. “Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has struck me! Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?” (Job 19:21-22).

Despite the misjudgment from his friends, Job proclaims hope in God, ” For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27).

As we forward to the 23rd chapter, the passing of time reveals that Job is experiencing the full run of human emotions. Now he desires to contend or assert his position in a discussion with God.

“Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.” —Job 23:2-5

Normal human behavior is predictable! When our intense sufferings do not cease according to our expectations or the death of a family member occurs, not only do we begin to doubt God’s love but we also desire to contend with God through negotiation to end the suffering.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10

Although God reveals His love by continually sustaining our lives through suffering, our focus remains on ourselves. We begin to lose hope, boldly questioning God, How long? Why did God allow this to happen? or, God, tell me what I need to do?

“Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!” —Job 31:35

Jobs suffering continues and in chapter 31, he becomes impatient and is ready for God to answer his prayers for relief. Still, we cannot rush God! Will we become angry with God or despondent because He is silent? Only the steadfast who hold onto their faith by relying on the power of God and trusting His perfect will and plans never lose hope.

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…’ ” —2 Corinthians 12:9

Through continuous prayers, we receive strength and the ability to go forward from the Holy Spirit who reminds us of God’s faithfulness. In our personal times of tears and worship, God reveals His love by giving us spiritual comfort. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” We must remain faithful to God.

Although we do not have an exact timeframe for Job’s suffering, we can safely conclude that from Chapter 1 to Chapter 38 when God answered Job that he suffered for a long time. Yet nowhere do we read that Job and his wife were destitute, hungry, or homeless.

In chapters 38-41, the Lord God reveals His Omnipotence and begins questioning Job like the Prosecutor he addressed God to be in chapter 31.

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” —Joshua 38:1-3

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!” —Joshua 38:4-5

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak. I will question you, and you shall inform Me.’ My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I retract my words, and I repent in dust and ashes…” —Job 42:4-6

Reflection: Believers, who do we think we are? Many of us have a sense of entitlement leading us to believe that we deserve God’s blessings just because we say, Lord, Lord. Angels bow and cover their faces with their wings when worshiping our Heavenly Father. We must learn to serve God in humility, surrender, and reverence.

God deserves first place in our lives. He deserves our full attention, love, faith, obedience, and loyalty. The book of Job is an invitation to surrender and come to Jesus by recognizing that He is Omnipotent, He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Like Job, our faith will be severely tested! The time will arise in every believer’s life as if we feel that God is crushing us. We will feel as if we cannot endure another day of suffering. Yet God is always faithful! Through our suffering, God is drawing us nearer to Him. We must come to understand the magnitude of His Righteousness and Holiness.

“…Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.” —Job 41:10-11

Prayer: God, we repent for the sins of presumption and irreverence. We ask You to give us the spiritual insight to understand Your love and Righteousness. Teach us to be holy. We thank You for hearing and answering this prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Worthy Name, Amen.

Surrendering to God Saves Our Lives

Surrendering to God Saves Our Lives – Today’s Devotional – December 4, 2023

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’ ” —Matthew 16:24, NLT

Taking up our cross is defined by surrendering our will to God and trusting His thoughts, ways, and plans for our lives. It is not a middle-of-the-road life filled with compromises based on our heart’s desires. As Christ prayed daily to receive the revelation of God’s will for His life, we also pray a daily prayer of surrender asking God to reveal His will through the Holy Spirit.

Surrender is a righteous character trait that requires a sacrificial love for God and the humility of a little child. Surrender determines whether or not you are in the right standing with God. Our willingness to surrender and obey God is demonstrated through the type of prayers we pray and the lifestyle we live.

Never Underrate the Importance of Surrender! Anything outside of relinquishing our desires to God breaches one’s relationship with Christ. Disobedience always separates us from God.

Reflection: How do your character, habits, and lifestyles compare with God’s great moral standard of righteousness?

“Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous.” —1 John 3:7, ESV

The inheritance of a carnal heart places us at a disadvantage—we cannot judge ourselves. There must be diligent searching of the Scriptures which identify our sins that have been offensive to God, which have dishonored His name, quenched the power of the Holy Spirit, and separated us from our first love for Christ.

We rate our sins on a scale of little to big to great. Yet, to God, all sin is the transgression of His laws of righteousness and disobedience against Him. Yes, God takes it personally when we sin against Him. And rightfully so, God gave us His only Son, Jesus Christ to fulfill the Plan of Salvation. Jesus surrendered fully to the will of His Father by sacrificing His life and suffering an agonizing death on Calvary’s cross to redeem us from the second death which is the penalty of sin.

Our refusal to surrender has its roots in the sin of unbelief—we do not trust God. The heart void of love and trust can never surrender. The internal conflict we face results in contempt for God’s Truth, succumbing to the temptations of worldliness, self-reliance, over-indulgence, pride, selfishness, false doctrines, and immorality. Our lifestyles reveal the true status of our faith in God.

We cannot save ourselves. The work of overcoming is the work of a lifetime which requires human effort and Divine Intervention. Victory is assured through our love, humility, surrender, faith, and obedience. We must put forth the effort to cooperate with the Power of the Holy Spirit to receive the conviction and Divine instructions needed for a daily spiritual transformation.

Our appreciation of Christ’s gift is demonstrated by giving Him our love and loyalty as we strive to live holy and acceptable lives. We separate ourselves from the worldviews by studying the Scriptures and embracing God’s Biblical views. Through daily surrender, we are preparing our earthly lives for the promise of eternal life.

How will we stand before God, the Righteous Judge? The choice is ours to make. God has given us the free will to decide our final destiny. Yes, God indeed is a Loving, Fair, and Righteous Judge.

Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for our failure to surrender. We admit that we have an issue with our hearts, we do not love You as we should. We make a covenant from this day forward to surrender all to You. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

The Woman Who Reverences God

The Woman Who Reverences God – Devotional Reading – December 3, 2023

“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ” (Matthew 22:37)

Hannah, Ruth, Esther, Rahab, Mary, Dorcas, and Lydia were women who loved, reverenced, and obeyed God by surrendering their hearts to Him. These women did not have conflict in their hearts when they decided to follow God. In studying their stories, we find that they possessed love, loyalty, and dedication demonstrated by their faithful obedience.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” —1 John 5:4

The reverent woman always puts God first by seeking His will. Loving God is reflected in her healthy lifestyle, modest clothing, and loving, compassionate, and patient temperament. Emulating the Character of Christ, her smile lights up the room and her words are as sweet as honey. She possesses a gentle and soothing voice that makes you feel at ease in her presence because her heart is filled with the joy of the Lord.

“Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” —Colossians 3:2

The woman who reverences God appreciates His blessings by practicing the frugal habits of stewardship. She does not follow the fashion trends or seek to purchase material goods, no, this dedicated woman is content with God-given blessings. She is a daughter of the Most-High God who worships Him by obeying His commandments to love others and uses her financial abundance to help those in need.

“Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!” —Psalm 47:6

Most importantly, she sends up prayers and songs of praise to God thanking Him for His never-ending love, grace, and mercies. The reverent woman prays for God to extend His mercies to the brokenhearted and the displaced members of society. She accepts her calling as a disciple always ready to witness to others. “Have a blessed day” and “Jesus loves you” are easily spoken by her to everyone she comes into contact with because her heart fully belongs to Jesus.

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” —Matthew 6:6

As a devout woman of God, she seeks His will through personal worship, inviting the Holy Spirit to breathe the anointing of wisdom and strength into her mind, body, and soul. Her desire to seek righteousness is reflected in the time she spends studying the Scriptures. She embraces the word of God as the Light that guides her to stay safely on the Path of Righteousness.

“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

Although this woman lives courageously she also faces the challenges of temptation and the feelings of discouragement. Yes, the righteous woman has suffered many losses, disappointments, and sorrows, but still, she faithfully clings to Christ’s promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Because her trust is in Christ she readily accepts His invitation to come boldly before the Throne of Grace knowing that she will receive Divine Help in the time of need. The reverent woman seeks guidance and supernatural strength from the Holy Spirit to live righteously.

This inspiring woman is determined to lead a life of holiness. She puts her unwavering faith, trust, and hope in Christ, and strives to be intentional in all her actions. Every day, she aligns herself with the will of God revealing her desire to receive the heavenly reward of Eternal life.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10

Yet, the reverent woman holds fast to Christ for her strength is not found in her husband, children, family, or friends. Because this woman remains steadfast in the storms of life she has found favor with God. Christ knows this daughter has a fragile, caring heart often leaving her weary while doing good for others.

“…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” —Jeremiah 31:3

From her fervent prayers, she receives comfort and strength from the Holy Spirit. As she performs her earthly duties she is waiting in joyful expectation for Jesus’ promise to come to fruition. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

“In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people… —Isaiah 28:5

The reverent woman is part of God’s faithful remnant who keeps their lamps filled with oil [the Holy Spirit] and she will be ready to enter the marriage feast when the Bridegroom comes. Yes, she has prepared herself for a heavenly life to worship at the feet of Jesus forevermore. Hallelujah! Amen.

The qualities of a reverent woman are found throughout the Scriptures in the stories of godly women who persevered in harsh times—in times when they were not independent but were owned by husbands or masters. Yet, these faithful daughters of God were strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit to obey the will of God.

Today’s women can receive the same empowerment from the Holy Spirit to excel in their walk with Christ. As we draw closer to the Second Coming of Christ, it is time for us to become reverent women of God!

Prayer: God, we pray for the strength to become a dedicated reverent woman of God. We realize that our lives our not our own. And we ask You to order our steps according to Your Divine will and plan for our lives. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

One Day (When We All Get to Heaven) – Baptist Choir and Orchestra – Music Video

Live As One Who is Forgiven

Live As One Who is Forgiven – Today’s Devotional – November 30, 2023

“A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” —Proverbs 16:9

This journey called “life” is challenging. Yet, we do not have to manage our lives without God’s Divine Intervention. Are we willing to surrender and put forth the human effort to faithfully obey God?

Created with the free will of moral choice, like Adam and Eve, we do not have to obey God’s Righteous precepts. If we choose to travel on the broad path, we live our best lives on this earth and openly declare our refusal to serve God [through surrender and obedience].

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” —Psalm 121:1-2

If we make the intentional decision to live as one who is forgiven then we readily submit to God’s will. We establish a spiritual connection with God through fervent prayer and study of the Scriptures. Our faith and obedience are rewarded as the Spirit of Truth leads us in our earthly journey on the narrow Path of Righteousness.

God the Help of All Who Seek Him

“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.” —Psalm 121:7-8

Prayer: God, we trust You with our lives. We ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us and reveal the perfect will of God for our lives. We thank You for Your Divine Help. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we ask this prayer, Amen.

The Gift of Spiritual Wisdom

The Gift of Spiritual Wisdom – Today’s Devotional – November 28, 2023

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” —James 1:5

What is Wisdom? Omniscient Wisdom: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9

Wisdom is spiritual discernment, a gift from God that we receive by praying [every day] and asking the Holy Spirit to impart in us. James reminds us of the importance of asking the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s perspective, thoughts, and ways. Wisdom is possessing the godly knowledge to respond to a given situation as God would respond with His higher thoughts and ways.

Even in our routine activities of daily life, we require Divine wisdom. Wisdom is the spiritual ability to perceive the true nature of a situation and to implement the will of God in that situation. Wisdom is the practical application of God’s truth to every aspect of our lives. The Holy Spirit imparts the wisdom to empower us with knowing what God wants us to do and giving us the strength to do it.

Most of us are familiar with King Solomon who requested an understanding heart. God’s Answer: “Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” (1 Kings 3:12).

Yet there is another Bible character who possessed the “spirit of wisdom,” one that we have most likely overlooked, Joshua.

“And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the ‘spirit of wisdom’ for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.” —Deuteronomy 34:9

To be full of the spirit of wisdom, Joshua possessed the character trait of total reliance on God. Yes, Joshua’s character revealed the faith, trust, humility, and surrender required to receive godly wisdom. He was not prideful or overconfident in his abilities, Joshua was a true worshiper. Yet God revealed another spirit in his heart, the spirit of fear.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7

From reading the story of Moses whom God considered the greatest prophet in Israel, we can only imagine Joshua’s insecurities of being appointed as the next leader of the nation of Israel. He possessed the righteous characteristics to be chosen by God, yet, Joshua had a character defect that God would require him to relinquish before they entered the Promised Land.

The modern viewpoint is to embrace Joshua’s feelings as normal anxiety, but we must accept God’s perfect discernment of the spirit of fear within Joshua. The spirit of fear is from Satan. Fear manifests itself in various forms such as anxiety, worry, doubt, and trepidation, which are all bitter fruits that prevent us from doing God’s will.

We fear because we are fixated on the presenting challenge and our limited abilities instead of God’s Divine power. Confessing that we do not trust God is something that no believer desires to come to grips with, but we must.

Reflect deeply on this question: How can we possess spiritual wisdom that gives us the spiritual ability to perceive the true nature of a situation and to implement the will of God in that situation when we possess a spirit of fear?

God is aware of the fragility and fears resulting from life’s uncertainties in the human heart. The unknown future is the number one reason that fear overpowers and reigns in the hearts of unbelievers. Fear among unbelievers is justified. How can unbelieving humanity rely on their perception and abilities when this is our Father’s world?

The Believer’s Creed: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13

Since we have Three Divine Powers and guardian angels working on our behalf 24/7, God has definitive and righteous expectations of all believers: Humility, surrender, faith, trust, wisdom, confidence, courage, and perseverance are the core characteristics we must possess to serve God.

Again we must self-reflect, What is preventing us from placing our faith and trust in God? We can only have experiential knowledge of God’s character when we study the Scriptures, rely on God’s promises, pray for the manifestation of God’s power, and share our testimonies of His faithfulness in our lives.

Both the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of fear cannot reside in our hearts. Fear cancels out spiritual wisdom and prevents God from fulfilling His purpose for us which always results in His honor and glory. God has chosen us to possess and display the love, wisdom, and courage that Christ demonstrated in His earthly life. Many believers miss out on their greatest blessings because of the spirit of fear.

When God calls us, His Divine Wisdom and Providence will change a situation that would prevent bringing glory to His Holy Name. Moses dealt with people who were rebellious, and disobedient, and who loved pagan practices. But God intervened and Joshua would not experience the heartaches that Moses endured, Joshua would lead the younger generations into the Promised Land.

God’s Divine Intervention: “ ‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly’ ” (Numbers 32:11-12).

God chose Joshua to succeed Moses because he possessed the spirit of wisdom that demonstrated he would be just as faithful as his predecessor. Yes, Joshua’s character was one of total reliance on God, but his fear caused him to doubt God’s power to empower him as a spiritual leader.

God’s Command: “Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel” (Joshua 1:2). Although Joshua possessed leadership abilities, his fear produced cowardice instead of relying on the godly wisdom he would receive to lead Israelites to the Promised land.

God’s Promises to Joshua: “…as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5-7).

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

In verse 9, we notice a change in God’s tone when speaking to Joshua. God instructed Joshua twice to be strong and courageous. Because nothing in the human heart is hidden from God, He knew Joshua was still holding on to fear. But the third time, God confronted Joshua, “Have I not commanded you?” Because Joshua possessed a spirit of wisdom, he understood that God considered his fear as disobedience.

When studying the Bible, we become aware of God’s Character and how He instructs the righteous. God does not coddle or indulge our feelings. God did not say, “Joshua, because this is your first leadership position, I know that you are fearful and that’s to be expected.”

When God chooses us to fulfill His work, He is aware of our character strengths and weaknesses and is prepared to empower us with godly wisdom and strength when we pray to receive His Divine Help and Attributes.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” —Psalm 32:8

Throughout the Scriptures, God reminds us of His Divine Providence and Power and commands us to be strong and courageous in all situations. Hallelujah! We serve the Most-High God who proclaims, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:8).

Prayer: God, we thank You for the privilege of receiving Your Divine wisdom. We ask for the anointing, presence, power, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.

Know Why You Believe What You Believe

Know Why You Believe What You Believe – Today’s Devotional – November 25, 2023

“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

Many years ago, I became severely troubled regarding some of my religious beliefs. The life of Christ demonstrated a loving and compassionate Savior who alleviated the mental, emotional, and physical suffering of everyone who had the faith to believe. Not only was He faithfully dedicated to seeking and saving the lost, but Jesus humbled Himself in obedience to die for us on Calvary’s Cross.

I could not grasp how God, the Father who lovingly gave His only Son would allow the righteous to live a perfect life in the New Heaven and New Earth while at the same time, the wicked suffered in an eternal hell.

“You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.” —Psalm 139:2

I am so thankful that God knows what is hidden deep in our hearts. The Holy Spirit came to my rescue, and I listened to a sermon entitled “No Eternally Burning Hell.” Many Scriptures were given yet the primary focus was on Malachi chapter 4 and Revelation chapter 20.

The Great Day of God: “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.” —Malachi 4:1

In Revelation chapter 20, Verses 1-3: Satan is Bound for 1,000 years; Verses 4-6: The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 years; and Verses 7-10: The Satanic Rebellion Crushed.

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” —Revelation 20:7-10

“Why did John emphasize the idea of eternal if he didn’t mean it to be taken literally? “…the word ‘eternal’ means that the judgment will be thorough rather than lasting forever.” Some things burn up quickly, but with the day and night description, it doesn’t appear the devil will have an instant death. Yet, he knows his demise and still wreaks havoc on the people of God attempting to take us with him. But, no, no, no, we refuse to travel on his path of destruction!

The book of Jude, verse 7, “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” In Genesis 19, verse 28, “and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.”

We know that Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding plains were burned and nothing was left. The Bible explains itself. God has predetermined what we need to know to live righteously. Jesus also clarifies in Revelation chapter 21, there will be no eternally burning hell-fire.

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” —John 14:26

There are many theological debates among Bible scholars regarding the original language in which the Bible was written and its accurate interpretation. Yet, we must remember the Bible never requires updates. Any new human developed theologies should be excluded from our spiritual belief system. We have all the spiritual knowledge we need in the Bible for our calling and election to be steadfast through Christ.

Perilous times are separating many from God. Every day, we have daily distractions, voices, worldviews, temptations, and an internal battle against our carnal heart, but with unwavering faith, if we take God at His word, rely on the Holy Spirit to give us clarity and dispel any confusion regarding the Scriptures, we will receive the strength to fight the good fight of faith.

Reflection: What are your doctrinal beliefs? Can you validate your present beliefs using the Scriptures?

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” —2 Timothy 2:15

Many of us have not searched the Scriptures to check the credibility of our beliefs. Yes, the Bible contains symbolism, parables, similes, metaphors, analogies, juxtapositions, etc., but the Scriptures [if] studied under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, allows us to receive perfect spiritual wisdom and discernment of God’s Truth.

When the Holy Spirit is involved in studying the Bible, He imparts wisdom and discernment even to young children. Studies have proven that children who study the Scriptures have wisdom beyond their age and excel in their studies. It is their genuine faith and trust that acts as a catalyst to receive imparted knowledge and wisdom from the Holy Spirit that would confound a professor who holds a Ph.D.

” ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and [inaccessible] mighty things, which you do not know.’ ” —Jeremiah 33:3

We are forever Bible students. Believers never reach a summit of Scriptural knowledge. Before we open our Bible, with humility, we ask for and rely on the Divine Wisdom of the Holy Spirit to discern the Scriptures. If you have never asked the Holy Spirit to reveal any false doctrines that are in your belief systems then you should because they are stumbling blocks to knowing and practicing God’s Truth in your daily life.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding…” —Proverbs 2:6

We cannot receive spiritual growth and transformation based on erroneous beliefs and doctrines. Pray for understanding! Once we know the Truth, then we must take another step, letting go of traditional or learned beliefs that are not in agreement with the Scriptures.

Be prepared, Truth always results in separation from others! No, they will not understand. Yet, our salvation and reward of eternal life require total acceptance of Biblical Truth and dependency on God. Every day pray and invite the Holy Spirit into your personal worship, you will receive deeper and deeper spiritual insight into the word of God that will produce spiritual growth and transformation.

As long as we remain a student of the Holy Spirit, we will know why we believe what we believe. Every day, we receive a greater measure of spiritual wisdom because we have faithfully called on the Lord and He has kept His promise by revealing to us great and mighty things. Amen.

Prayer: Lord, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to anoint us with the power, presence, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Reveal your precious Words of Truth and empower us to discard all other fallacies. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

The Creation Sabbath

In Genesis chapter 2, verses 2-3, God says He blessed the seventh day and made it Holy. From Genesis to Revelation, we cannot find evidence of God abolishing or changing the Fourth Commandment-Saturday Sabbath.

So I made the decision five decades ago that since God is the Righteous Judge who says not one jot or tittle of His word will change [Matthew 5:18], then all of the Ten Commandments are still valid.

Despite the fact that none of my family agrees, I decided to obey God’s declaration that Friday Sunset to Saturday sunset is the 24 hours that He blessed and made holy. Following Jesus by surrendering and faithfully obeying Him according to the Holy Scriptures usually separates us from those who keep man-made religious traditions.

Have a blessed Sabbath! Amen.

The Gift and Role of the Holy Spirit

The Gift and Role of the Holy Spirit – Today’s Devotional – November 22, 2023

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” —John 14:16-17

The questions that most believers will not ask are, “Who is the Holy Spirit? And what is the purpose of the Holy Spirit?” These are not facetious questions, the lack of knowledge regarding the identity of the Holy Spirit naturally leaves one to assume the Holy Spirit does not serve a purpose in their lives.

Who is the Holy Spirit? God, the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Triune Godhead who has always existed with God, the Father, and God, Jesus the Son. Some think the Holy Spirit did not exist until the day Jesus was baptized [refer to John 1, verses 29-34] or the Day of Pentecost [Acts 2]. Yet, we have Biblical proof that the Holy Spirit [the Spirit of God] has always existed.

Biblical proof of the Holy Spirit’s Existence

We can refer to Genesis chapter 1, verses 1-2, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

The Holy Spirit Has Many Names

From Genesis to Revelation, the Holy Spirit is referred to by various names. A few Scriptural references: Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2; 1 Corinthians 2:11; Job 33:4); Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14); Spirit of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2; Acts 5:9); Spirit of wisdom (Isaiah 11:2; Ephesians 1:17); Breath of the Almighty (Job 33:4); Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26); Teacher (John 14:26); Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26); and, Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10).

Does one have to speak in an unknown language to be anointed with the Holy Spirit?

The Day of Pentecost: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues [languages], as the Spirit gave them utterance.” —Acts 2:2-4

In Acts chapter 2, the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit referred to as the Day of Pentecost came through as a mighty rushing wind. Contrary to the belief of one not having the anointing of the Holy Spirit unless they can speak in unknown tongues aka a heavenly language, verses 5-8 of Acts the second chapter clarifies God’s definition of speaking in tongues.

“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?’ ” —Acts 2:5-8

Over the past two decades, there has been a rapid decline in the study of the Bible, and the majority of Protestant churches have failed to teach about the Holy Spirit. As a result, their members have avoided this subject. The Holy Spirit appears too mysterious and undefinable.

Because the pastors, spiritual mentors, and members with experiential knowledge of the Holy Spirit have not fulfilled their responsibility to preach and teach about the Divine Helper, we have generations of discouraged believers who feel defeated because they struggle to live righteously on human effort alone.

The Mindset of Many Believers: “Well, I think I’m doing alright without the Holy Spirit.” Sadly most Christians would rather continue in their lack of knowledge of the Holy Spirit because it is more convenient to believe the Holy Spirit serves no purpose in their lives.

The Human Dilemma: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

A Call to Holiness: “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’ ” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

God’s Righteous Standards: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).

The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Divine Power that allows us to live a godly and fruitful life. The Holy Spirit enlightens our mind to understand the truth, gives us spiritual strength and the ability to live a consecrated and righteous life, empowers us to obey God, and equips us to do the work [using our spiritual gifts to witness] that we are called to do.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own…”—1 Corinthians 6:19

Every day, we must pray and surrender our will to God to align with His will and plans. Yes, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, but the Godhead is not intrusive. On the days that we feel like following our inclinations then we will not be anointed with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a Divine gift to humanity and requires the conditions of surrender and obedience. The Holy Spirit will not enter an unwilling and disobedient vessel.

At Jesus’ baptism [Matthew 3:13-17], He was anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit and then sent to the wilderness to fast for 40 days. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to withstand Satan’s temptations, to minister to those with spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical deficits and diseases, to receive the spiritual strength to endure constant rejection and hatred, teach twelve rowdy, self-centered disciples the ways of holiness, the physical strength to minister to the multitudes, and to live a life of homelessness.

If Jesus in His earthly life required the Holy Spirit, then certainly, we are in desperate need of the Divine Helper who is just a prayer away. From experience, we know that we cannot win the continuous internal battle of pursuing our desires and inclinations versus surrendering and obeying Christ on our own.

Living holy and staying on the narrow Path of Righteousness requires full cooperation with the Divine Authority of the Holy Spirit. Thank You Jesus for gifting us with the Helper, the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord, Mighty, and Strong

The Lord, Mighty, and Strong – Today’s Devotional – November 21, 2023

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!’ ” —Job 38:1, 4

Last night, I was scrolling through Instagram and paused to listen to the testimony of a young woman who is a new believer: “From studying the Bible, I finally have peace. When I found out that Jesus created the universe, parted the Red Sea, healed those with leprosy, opened blind eyes, and told the lame to take up their bed and walk, I said to myself, ‘Because you follow Jesus, the Superpower of the Universe. You will never worry or lose sleep over any problem that you face.’ Now I witness to my friends and encourage other believers who are feeling down by telling them, ‘You serve Jesus, He is the Superpower of this universe, pray, tell Him your problems, and believe that He will fix them.’ ” Yes, her enthusiasm for Christ was amazing!

Are you still excited about Christ, our loving and powerful Savior? We have Scriptural evidence that the Triune God can do anything and everything above and beyond our human imagination. Most of us have a history of receiving miraculous victories, still, do we possess unwavering faith in the mighty power of Christ?

In the book of Job, Jesus identifies His Omnipotence to suffering Job, and in Revelation to the apostle John, “I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death” (Revelation 1:18).

How well do we know the Lord who is Mighty and Strong? Is our knowledge of Christ’s Omnipotence only based on gathering information from the Scriptures?

Did you know that people study the Bible for reasons other than spiritual transformation? In college, there were many atheists in my religion classes who viewed the Bible as the only reliable history book. An atheist who studies the Bible to acquire historical knowledge is not interested in learning the attributes of God’s Character or the Plan of Salvation and Redemption. Like the atheists, some Christians tend to only seek knowledge from the Scripture when it serves their own interests.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12

From studying the Scriptures, we learn that human effort must cooperate with the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit to produce the life-long process of our spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ—Sanctification, and to keep us on the narrow Path of Righteousness.

The surrendered believer studies the Holy Scriptures to learn God’s character and His attributes of Omnibenevolence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence. We accept His commandments, and precepts that are necessary to live righteously. Our faith, trust, and obedience are the catalysts that allow us to receive the power of the Holy Spirit for spiritual growth and to maintain a faithful, steadfast relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” —Proverbs 17:3

The believer’s faith is constantly tested which gives us experiential knowledge of the power of Jesus who performs miracles in our lives every day. Whether we are studying the Bible for the acquisition of knowledge only or for spiritual transformation will reveal itself when our peaceful, all-is-well lives are interrupted by the hurricanes of hardships.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33, NLT

When happiness and tranquility are abruptly terminated by the forceful winds of strife and we are caught off guard by a life event that impacts everyone in our family, will we immediately fall to our knees and pray for Divine Intervention? Our reaction to the unexpected trials and tribulations is determined by the existence and strength of our relationship with Christ.

Like Peter, we can demonstrate the faith to get out of the boat and walk on the water, but the distance from the boat to Jesus appeared much greater when he became distracted by the stormy winds and the crashing waves. The prayer of “Jesus, help me!” should be our first response and daily prayer when facing the unexpected turbulence of trials and sorrows.

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

“We can have a history of overcoming many stormy trials, but inconsistent worship weakens even the strongest faith and confidence in Christ.” —SDJ

Facing the unknown with no foreseeable options and feeble faith causes us to develop spiritual disorientation. In the storm, we forget that the winds and waves of tribulations are under the subjection of the Master who can command them to “Be still.” When we pray for help, Christ does not guarantee that the stormy trial will cease, but He does promise us that we will receive His peace and strength to persevere until the storm ends.

With the Bible in hand, go to your secret closet and pray an honest prayer of humility, “God, my faith is weak and I’m afraid, but I trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Pray for comfort and strength from the Holy Spirit. Allow some quiet time and stay in God’s presence until you feel the peace that passes all understanding permeate your mind, body, and soul. Like Jacob, wrestle for victory, “I will not let You go until You bless me!”

When our faith is shaky from the tumultuous waves of fear and doubt, we must ask every day for the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to remain focused on Christ instead of the present storm. God knows that our human hearts are fragile and forgetful of the many times [in the past] He delivered us.

As we search the Scriptures, we will receive hope because Christ never abandons us whether we have little or abundant faith.

Scripture Reading: Genesis chapters 37-50, Joseph’s Journey

Prayer: Lord, we come to You with feeble faith. Yet, we ask for the strength and peace that You promise to those who seek You. Jesus, we ask You to calm our inner storm and to bring resolution to our stormy tribulations. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.