Introduction: Are our homes under attack from Satan’s forces? Is the “My Way” mentality plaguing our marriages. Does it seem like children are becoming more and more rebellious? 

1) A Husband’s love and leadership! (Colossians 3:19)—“Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” Love means love. What? Really this word “love” is agape which has to do with unconditional love. Truthfully, only Jesus Christ working in and thru a husband can fulfill this role. Why? Because we are selfish by nature. However, when the Holy Spirit fills a believing husband then he is empowered to overcome the flesh, and thus glorify the Lord while fulfilling his godly calling. 

Conclusion: There we have it. God’s Design for our Time. Follow His plan, and get His blessing!

Dr. Randy Reese | A Daily Devotional

Conclusion: Here are proven biblical examples of REVIVAL. Measurement should be taken from these, not the shallow and emotional movements of today.

Go back over the list and see if you are a candidate for REVIVAL. If so, be RESILIENT.

Introduction: Can you tell there has been a cosmic shift in our culture when it comes to CHRISTianity? From Politics to the Pulpit, there is a trend of redefining biblical doctrine. What seems to be spelled out as a sinful practice has become socially acceptable. Unfortunately, this is the case even in CHRISTian circles.

However, a steady diet of the Word of God cuts diametrically opposed to this nonsense. Only those who are “walking in the light of the truth” of the Word of God will be able to discern the error. But stop and think. Most all of the prophets faced this dilemma. Many lost their lives because of their faith in the God of the Bible. Remember. Their names are engraved in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Just like the martyred saints who will be beheaded during the tribulation because they will not worship the beast or take his mark, their time will come. They will be rewarded by being resurrected during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ while on earth to rule and reign. 

So here is the up to date question, “are you a fence straddler?” Where do you stand? Do you lovingly take a stand for truth and righteousness? How much persecution are you willing to endure?

Please note these non negotiables:

1. All Scripture is inspired of God (2Tim. 3:16; 2Tim. 2:15) – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

2. One must follow the proper method of interpretation of the Bible (2Pet. 1:20-21) – “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

3. Lordship is more important that friendship or kinship (Luke 6:46) – “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” (Luke 12:51-53)

4. Prepare to be persecuted (2Tim. 3:12;2:12;1:12; 1Pet. 4:12-19) – “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

5. Rejoice and give God glory (Rom. 8:18) – “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

6. Be humble and take your place in the cross (Gal. 6:14) – “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

Conclusion: The choice is ours. Are we going to be a friend of the world and an enemy of the Lord or a friend of Grace and hated by the world? 

“……know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Introduction: Should we pray for everyone? Who would that include? See if these are on your list. Perhaps you may need to make some adjustments. Why not go ahead and do it right now?

1. Praying for those in AUTHORITY! (1 Tim. 2:1–2) – “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.”

Does this mean the president? Vice president? The pope? The governor? The leaders of even Iran, Russia, China, Israel, America? How about school teachers? Law enforcement officials? Church leaders? What about those we disagree with?

By the way, do parents have AUTHORITY? What about non-Christian parents? Should we pray for them?

2. Praying for those in INIQUITY! (1 Tim. 2:4–6) – “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

Did you catch that it is God’s will for ALL men to be saved, even though we know that all men will not be saved?

How should we pray for BACKSLIDERS? Those out of the will of God? Are you praying for these? Why not start?

3. Praying for those in the MINISTRY! (1 Tim. 2:7) – “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

Those in the MINISTRY definitely need prayer! Due to spiritual warfare, both men and women who serve the Lord could use some extraordinary prayers.

This inspired writer, Paul, faced numerous hardships while sharing the gospel. In fact, he was stoned and left for dead because of those who opposed the truth. He endured other atrocities listed in 1 Corinthians chapter eleven.

Furthermore, according to the Holy Spirit-inspired Word, ALL that live godly will suffer persecution. So pray for those serving today.

Conclusion: The ministry of PRAYER stretches out far beyond our own circle of influence. If you would, go back over the list in this devotion and add these to your personal prayer list. Then give God the GLORY!

Introduction: Nothing like putting on CLEAN CLOTHES! Doesn’t it feel good to take off DIRTY CLOTHES? WOW! Nice!! But remember, washing the dirty clothes makes them clean again. That is the GOOD news!

In this text of Scripture today, some dirty clothes are mentioned along with some clean clothes. See which ones perhaps you need to “take off” and then “put on.” Then do it!

1. TAKE OFF the dirty clothes which need WASHING! (Colossians 3:8–9) – “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.”

Do you ever get angry? Tell the truth. Really, should that question be rephrased this way: How many times a day do you get angry?

According to research, the average man “loses it” about 5 to 10 times a day, whereas women somewhat less—well, some women. Throwing tools, kicking dirt, or verbally ventilating is the outcome of internal anger when expressed.

Similar to a pot when it reaches its boiling point… some call it “blowing a gasket”! Does that make sense?

By the way, the word for anger, ὀργή, occurs thirty-six times in the Greek New Testament. This list—“anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth”—seems to be interconnected; more specifically tied to the “old man,” that which we were before being born again by the Spirit of God.

Those stains can ruin not only what you are wearing but what you are doing. In other words, our testimony can get soiled very quickly.

Question: Do you feel dirty? Do you need to CHANGE your CLOTHES?

2. PUT ON some clean clothes! (Colossians 3:10–12) – “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him… Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”

After going through the wash, these CLEAN clothes are refreshing. Put them on.

Please look over the description again and notice the cleanliness of these outward garments:
“mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”

Are you wearing these clean clothes? If so, thank God for it! After all, these outward signs are a direct result of an inward change.

Praise the Lord for His life-changing power that transforms our “old self” into a likeness of His “new life.”

Conclusion: Is your washing machine working? Jesus Christ, in this case, operates like a washing machine—He gets the stain out! So don’t forget to put your dirty clothes in God’s washing machine…

“the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”

Introduction: What is keeping the Antichrist from emerging? If you answered the CHURCH, you are correct! Are things shaping up for the Antichrist to arise on the scene? Your thoughts? How can we tell?

1. The Church is holding back the Antichrist! (2Thess. 2:5-8) – “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

Look at the phrase, “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.”

The word “withholdeth” is κατέχω: (kat-ekh’-o), which means to hold fast, back, detain, restrain.

Even though the word “what” is in the neuter form, here it refers to the Holy Spirit within the Church. The same tense is used in the gospels to refer to the Holy Spirit. Technically speaking, the Holy Spirit cannot be completely removed because He is omnipresent. However, His indwelling presence (in the Church) is taken away in this instance, and yet He remains on the earth.

“until he be taken out of the way.” So right now, we are the wall that is holding the Antichrist back. Can you feel the pressure against the wall?

2. Next, the Antichrist will be revealed! (2Thess. 2:8) – “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

That is, he will move on the scene, make a covenant with Israel and then ultimately “sit in the temple of God” desiring to be worshipped as God.

“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2Thess. 2:4)

The devil has always wanted to be worshiped. (see Isa 14 & Ezek. 28). He will succeed only for a brief season. His time will come to an abrupt end.

Recently, this song was sung by a dear Christian lady who had lost just about all mental abilities to recall anyone’s name, and yet remembered this song the night before she went to be with JESUS.

“This world is not my home I’m just-a-passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore”

“Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you If Heaven’s not my home oh Lord what would I do The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

I love that phrase: “Oh Lord, you know, I have no friend like you; If Heaven’s not my home, oh Lord what would I do.”

One of the wisest men who ever lived named Solomon said, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24).

Indeed, JESUS has been the BEST FRIEND that anyone could ever have! Can I get a Witness?

Why? Because He will be with you and carry you through the GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, on the MOUNTAIN, and in the VALLEY!

Get this:

And all God’s people said… AMEN!!

According to Hymnology Archive:

“A few years after the Carters recorded their version, Albert Brumley (1905–1977)—better known as the composer of “I’ll Fly Away”—was working as a staff composer/arranger for the Stamps-Baxter Company. His arrangement of “This world is not my home” appeared in Virgil O. Stamps’ Radio Song Album (Dallas: Stamps-Baxter, 1937). The collection was registered for copyright on 1 September 1937 (renewed 1 September 1964), and thus is valid until 2033 (Stamps-Baxter was bought by Zondervan in 1974).”

Finally, it won’t be long before we reach the “throne”! And each passing day, we get closer to that ultimate experience. So right now, LIVE for JESUS, LOVE JESUS, LONG for JESUS, and LOOK for JESUS!

Introduction: Are you facing some GIANTS? We all do! Some bigger than others… In our devotion today, here are some GIANTS that we must SLAY today.

First, notice the three steps that we must take in order to successfully SLAY our BAD GIANTS, but resurrect the GOOD GIANTS.

What do you think about these BAD, BAD, GIANTS? Simply put, these are listed as pornography {fornication – sex outside the marriage}, dirty minds, hearts, bodies, etc., along with lusts, longings for that which is forbidden, and greediness. These are BIG and BAD GIANTS that need to be SLAIN!

Did you pay attention to the BAD GIANTS that need to be slain, but the GOOD GIANTS like the NEW MAN that need to be resurrected? Put off, but put on! It is a deliberate choice. Make it today.

Here’s what we need to be doing: