Three Principles for Standing Firm in These Last Days

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 13, 2024

“… For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day.” —Timothy 1:12.

Know Christ – Reflect on your life and compare it to five years ago, has your relationship with Christ grown closer or become more distant? How did Christ live when He was on this earth? Although he had 12 disciples who witnessed His Godly power, Christ had to rely on God, the Father for strength. His disciples remained unchanged for most of their journey with Jesus. They lacked faith and spiritual growth because they desired earthly prestige and power.

At some point in every believer’s life “… every earthly support will be cut off…” We will experience a crisis that only God can intervene and resolve. We must know who Christ is and have a faith-based intimate relationship with Him. When facing satanic attacks, Christ alone will keep us safe. Jesus is leading us to fully depend only on Him. Each new morning, surrender to God and pray for Divine wisdom, strength, power, and solutions to your problems. In the peaceful times, develop a life of prayer and Bible Study.

“Sanctify them by Your truth, your word is truth.” —John 17:17

Know His Word! – Although it is not popular in the Christian community to study the Scriptures, we will not stand against false teachings and temptations without studying the Bible nor can we serve God with love and loyalty when He is a stranger. Most importantly, our hearts cannot be converted and our characters transformed without Scriptural knowledge. Those who lack the knowledge of God’s Word will easily be persuaded by the enemy to sin against God. “We must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ to be able to stand.”

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” —Ephesians 1:18-19

Know His Power! – The Triune God is Sovereign: God, the Father, Jesus, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit have always existed [Refer to Genesis 1]. In John chapter 1, the apostle confirms that Jesus known as “the Word” created all things. “Jesus spoke and the Earth was created…think about the power of Christ delivering Israel from Egyptian bondage, Christ used the wind to part the mighty Red Sea and the Israelites walked through the Red Sea on dry land. Joshua and the Israelites shouted, but it was the Power of Christ who knocked down the walls of Jericho.”

Signs of the Last Days: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” —2 Timothy 3:1-5

Do we really know what time it is? We were created with free will to choose who we would serve. Either we will prepare now to stand as courageous soldiers who are loyal to God or not. God gave Jesus, His only Son to redeem us from the wages of sin which is the final death. “Christ has the power to deliver us from our past and empower us for the future. Christ has the power to deliver us from the guilt of sin and the grip of sin.” As we draw closer to the end of time, commit to stand with Christ.

Quotations: Pastor Mark Finley

A Personal Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want nothing between my soul and my Savior. I confess and ask for the forgiveness of my sins. I desire a personal relationship with You. Jesus, I want to saturate my mind with Your Word and to know Your Mighty Power working within Me. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Guard Your Faith in God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 7, 2024

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17

“The Greek word translated as ‘breathed out’ in this verse is theopneustos. This means that Scripture is the very speech of God, and that God is the source of what is recorded in the Bible. The Holy Spirit used human authors to write what God revealed.”

The Holy Bible was breathed from the Voice of God and the Holy Words were given to righteous men for Christian believers. The Scriptures define God’s Loving Character, the Creation Story, gives us the history of Divine Intervention, and Jesus’ harsh earthly life, and we also receive guidance on how to live righteously.

In the book of Revelation, Jesus reveals the end of the Great Controversy between Good and Evil. Every believer will receive eternal life if they choose to serve [surrender and faithfully obey God’s will] in their earthly lives.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8

Although Satan, formerly known as Lucifer, the highest angel who resided in the presence of God is more powerful than humanity, we cannot be forced to sin against God! How do we guard our faith? Through much prayer! The awakening to the mercies of a new day is our opportunity to give gratitude to God by inviting Jesus to work on our hearts. From our daily prayer of surrender and obedience, we receive strength from Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

God’s Promise: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

Christ’s Invitation: “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).

Jesus Christ is our Heavenly Intercessor. To guard our faith, we must admit our continuous dependency on God. Yes, we have received spiritual gifts to overcome sin: “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), still, only God can give us the strength to overcome temptations.

We were created with limitations: We cannot foretell the future, nor can we determine the outcome in any given situation, therefore, we desperately need Divine guidance to live as overcomers. Our role is to willfully choose to abstain from all sinful pleasures. When tempted, we use our love for God, and faith in Jesus Christ to pray for Divine strength, say No, and walk away.

“…Be holy, for I am Holy…” —1 Peter 1:16

Avoid Compromise: Guard your faith in God by separating from people who do not place God as the Sovereign ruler over their lives. Let go of secular music and programs that do not honor God. Use your time and spiritual gifts to glorify God and practice a healthy lifestyle. Volunteer your services to churches and nonprofit organizations that focus on helping the disadvantaged.

Choose Christ! When we admit our helplessness and pray for Divine guidance and strength the Holy Spirit will strengthen us when we face temptation. God’s ultimate goal is to save our souls. When we practice righteous principles, we align ourselves with God who will bless us with our best lives now and in the future New Heaven and New Earth. Guard your faith in God!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” —John 14:1-4

Lord God, we desperately need You in our lives. We pray for strength, guidance, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your great sacrifice and promise of eternal life if we strive for righteousness. In Jesus’ Holy and Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

God Cares For You

Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” —Isaiah 43:1-3

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living” (Psalm 27:1, 13).

Pray and Wait: “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).