The Garden Gloom

Introduction: We move from Mary’s WOMB to the TRIUMPHANT ZOOM, next to the UPPER ROOM, and now to the GARDEN GLOOM.

After leaving the UPPER ROOM with the disciples, our Lord Jesus made His way to a GARDEN called GETHSEMANE. It was there that He instructed Peter, James, and John to “watch and pray”. However, due to the weakness of the flesh they nodded off. 

Meanwhile, Jesus agonized over His never before experience; namely becoming sin for us that we might be the righteousness of God in Him. “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder” (Matt 26:36).

Notice:

1. He prayed before the biggest event in human history.

2. He included others to pray even though they went to sleep.

3. He resolved to be obedient to His Father’s Will.

4. He drank the cup of our sins.

5. He overcame all the distractions. 

6. He won the battle

7. He set the example for all of His followers. 

Conclusion: While Jesus Christ agonized in prayer in the Garden, God’s plan was being fulfilled for the purpose of conquering death, sin, hell, and the grave.

What a Savior!

Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
 


Palm Sunday and Beyond

Introduction: From Mary’s WOMB to the TRIUMPHANT ZOOM. Jesus Christ goes from the UPPER ROOM to the GARDEN TOMB and then to the THRONE ROOM. But don’t forget, He is COMING SOON as the BRIDEGROOM! Next, He will usher in the DEVIL’S DOOM as the NEW JERUSALEM BLOOMS!!
 
This devotion will explore only the first two events.
 
Jesus in the UPPER ROOM! (John 13; Matt 26,etc) – The Son of God became the Son of Man that the sons of men might become the Sons of God. After healing the blind, the lame, casting out demons, calming storms, and raising the dead, Jesus set His face like a flint to lay down His life a ransom for many. Follow in His footsteps as the biblical narrative unfolds. Furthermore, His Will was and is to establish a KINGDOM, which He will rule and reign. Needless to say, that awaits in the future. But first, consider the UPPER ROOM experience. Our Lord gathers His disciples to commemorate the Passover, which was instituted by God to Israel and recorded in the book of Leviticus Chapter 23.
 
After informing the disciples that one would betray Him, Jesus dipped the sop and gave it to Judas Iscariot who got up, went out, and fulfilled that prophecy. Later, he hung himself and went to the hell beneath him because of the hell that was within him! Nonetheless, Jesus walks to the Garden of Gethsemane where He agonizes while praying to the point of sweating “great drops of blood”! With such intensity and agony He totally yields to His divine purpose which was to ultimately die on a cross for the sins of the whole world (mine & yours).
 
“Not my will but thy will be done.”
 
Conclusion: From eternity past to eternity future, God’s plan of redemption is being fulfilled. Certain phrases have come and gone. In our next devotion, we will explore the events to transpire after the GARDEN scene.
 
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese


When You Pray

Introduction: Jesus said, when you pray not if you pray. Here are two thoughts about “when we pray”.

1. Conditions of Prayer! (Psa 66:18) – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

The word “iniquity” means wickedness. 

2. Petitions in Prayer! (1Tim 2:1-7) – ” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

The words “supplication” and “intercession” can mean approaching the king, or making a petition, a prayer, or intercession.

Did you get that?

Jesus came the first time as the King of the Jews. But when He comes again in the clouds of heaven in His second coming He will come as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

Are you getting ready to approach the King?

Conclusion: These are just two conditions or ways to approach our Lord in prayer.

Something to think about.

Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese

 



Prayer Principles

Introduction: Jesus has enrolled believers into His school of prayer. By the way, it is a life-long lesson without graduation. Until, we reach heaven of course. In the epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to lists several prayers. Here is one, just two verses of the prayer.

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Eph 3:14,15).

Did you notice several principles about prayer?

1. The Position of Prayer! (Eph 3:14) – “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”

Speaking of kneeling, Daniel knelt in prayer before facing the lions den.

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Dan 6:10).

Did you notice Daniel did not wait until he was thrown into the lions den to pray? Instead, this was his daily routine. No wonder he was not afraid; plus, God honored his faith. He went from being despised to the decree, and then his devotion which led to his deliverance. Next, those enemies were devoured. But the king declared all were to worship Daniel’s God!

2. The Propelling Motive in Prayer! (Eph 3:14) – “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”

This last verse means those who have been born into God’s family. While everyone is God’s creation, only those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ thru His sacrificial death and vicarious resurrection are included in His family.

Conclusion: Not only do we have the Position and Motivation in prayer but we also must consider the following:
Conditions, Petitions, and Supplications in Prayer, which will be discussed later. But for these first two verses, these are the elements that need to be practiced while praying.

Let’s pray.
 
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese


Here and Later

Introduction: Do we need to focus on things NOW or Later? How about both! But the question is asked, “how can we be earthly-minded and not neglect being heavenly-minded?”
 
Here are some suggestions from the Scriptures.
 
1. Remember to LOOK in the Right Direction! (2Cor 4:17,18) – “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Our focus must be in two different directions without forgetting the heavenly direction.
 
How are you doing? It is not easy, is it?
 
2. Remember to PRAY in the Right Way! (Matt 6:10,11) – ” Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:” His kingdom will come. And at the same time, we must pray and trust our Lord for our daily bread.
 
Are you doing that?
 
3. Remember to SERVE the Lord Jesus with the Right Motives! (2Cor 5:10; 3:11-14; 4:5) – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad…. Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” One day we will be held accountable….at the judgment seat of Christ.
 
Are you preparing?
 
Conclusion: Staying focused in this short life is the key to preparing for heaven; yet not being so heavenly minded that you are not any earthly good. Jesus Christ did both. He enables us by His Holy Spirit to accomplish this task while laying up treasures in heaven but making a difference in our families and friends on earth.
Are you keeping the balance? Need to make any changes?
 
Constant evaluation is needed.
 
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese

 



Love Deposits

Introduction: Are you making LOVE deposits?
 
Just like your checking account, we need to deliberately and intentionally add Love deposits to our relationship accounts.
It is very easy in this busy world to either forget or delay making these meaningful investments. 
 
Check out these Scriptural principles regarding this matter.
 

1. Loving one another! (John 13:35) – “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

(1John 3:17,18,23) “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth…. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

There we have it. Loving others is the key to really loving God. Do you love others?

2. Loving God’s way! (1Cor 13:6,7) – “….Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.”

This is the biblical definition of love? What is your definition of love?

3. Loving the Lord! (Matt 22:37,38) – “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Loving the Lord is probably easier than loving all of our neighbors, wouldn’t you think? Are there any neighbors that you don’t love?

Conclusion: Love deposits are a must. How are you doing? Make all the love deposits you can! Love shows, and love grows.
 
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese


Do What You Can

Introduction: Are you doing what you can in serving the Lord? Just do what you can. Don’t worry about what you cannot do, just do what you can!

Learn about this special woman who Jesus commended; she did what she could.

1. Will you do what you can in serving the Lord? (Mark 14:8) – “She hath done what she could.”

She did what she could even though others thought it was a waste. The world will look at you while serving Jesus Christ and think it is a waste. But it is not according to Him.

Are you pursuing the world or Jesus?
 
2. Because one day we will go where He said we would! (John 14:1-3) – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
 

Here is a promise.

Plus, not only will Jesus come back for us but He will take us to the Father’s house that He built!

Imagine that. 

3. That Day we will see our love ones and that will be GOOD! (1Thess 4:16,17) – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

What a glorious reunion that will be! We can hardly wait. It is going to be great!!

Conclusion: The lesson: Do what you can now because it will matter later!

Keep up the good work. 

Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
 


The Big Fight

Introduction: Are we in a fight or what? Do you feel the war within, not only with principalities and powers but also from the flesh?

If you are still wondering about this fight, check out what the apostle Paul, led by the Spirit, wrote to the Galatian believers.
 

1. How can you tell we are in a FIGHT? (Gal 5:16) – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

First of all, look at the word “walk”. It is the word περιπατέω, (per-ee-pat-eh’-o). It means to conduct my life, or the way we live. So we are to “walk” in the Spirit. In so doing, we will not fulfill the “lust” of the flesh.

The word “lust” is ἐπιθυμία,(ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah). It means to desire, or an eagerness for; it can mean an inordinate desire, or simply put lust. Please notice the desire “lust” is for the FLESH.

Flesh is a word that describes the carnal, fallen nature, otherwise known as S-E-L-F. There is the battle!
 

2. Who wins the Fight? (Gal 5:17-21) – “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Wow! This is an ugly description of the bad fruit of the Flesh.

  • Sexual Sins
  • Satanic Sins
  • Shameless Sins
  • Selfish Sins
Who is not guilty? Even after the New birth, these can trip us up! Have you fallen? Get up!!
 

3. How can we win the Fight? (Gal 5:22-24) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

The words “have crucified” are σταυρόω (stow-ro’-o). It can mean to fence with stakes, or to fix to the cross. Lastly it can mean to mortify. In other words, this is a divine act but must be activated by faith thru the Holy Spirit. Obviously, there is more to it than space will allow at this point.

But victory is possible without sinless perfection.
 

Conclusion: The Big Fight is on! However, as we have explored, the Lord Jesus has already made provisions for His children to overcome the flesh and “walk” in the Spirit (Gal 5:25).

See this word “walk στοιχέω (stoy-kheh’-o). It means to be in rows, or to walk by rule.

Keep walking brother, keep walking sister, until we see Jesus!

Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
 


The Prayer of Faith

Introduction: Why pray if you do not have FAITH in God? Remember “without faith it is impossible to please the Lord.” But how can we pray in faith when things are not clear? For instance, some things we know to be the revealed will of God; i.e. praying for the lost – witnessing (1Tim 2:4), giving thanks in everything (1Thess 5:18), sexual immorality (1Thess 4:3), and deliverance from sin (Gal 1:4). Other things are more obscure.
 
So how should we pray?
 

1. Pray according to the Will of God! (1John 5:14,15)

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

When we are not sure from a biblical perspective what God’s will is in the matter we should pray in faith for wisdom and grace to accept His divine purpose. Will you do that right now?

2. Pray in faith because our Lord knows what is best! (Mark 11:22-24)

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

By the way, to clear up any confusion, this does not mean that whatever we want and whenever we want it, that God immediately responds to our every beckoning. Instead, this is another reminder along with other Scriptures that we are to “trust” in the Lord no matter the situation…..easier said than done, right? But once that bridge is crossed, then and only then will we experience His PEACE that passes all understanding (Phil 4:6,7).
 
Do you need that peace? Will you pray that right now?
 
Conclusion: While these are biblical principles, this is not something we will graduate from this side of heaven. So in concluding, remember the prayer of faith according to the will of God is the key to the blessings of our Lord.
 
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese


Sit Back and Relax

Introduction: Do you feel tired? Stressed? Overloaded with information? How can we relax?
 
Several thoughts:
 

1. Sit Back – and know that God is in control! (Psa 46:10)

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

With all the suffering and injustice going on in our world, it seems like God is not in control. But remember. We are free moral agents. Secondly, we live in a sin-cursed world.

2. Relax – the Lord will be exalted in all the earth! (Psa 46:10)

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

The words “be still” is רָפָה (raw-faw’), which means to sink, or to relax. When we know that God is our God…
  • Our Shepherd, (Psa 23:1)
  • Our Friend (Prov 18:24)
  • Our Redeemer (Job 19:25)
  • Our Life (Col 3:4)
  • Our Savior (Acts 4:12)
  • Our Lord (Phil 2:10,11)
  • Our Lover (Gal 2:20)
Conclusion: Why worry? No need to be afraid! Jesus is near. Jesus is here. Therefore, we need not fear!
 
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese