Introduction: Are you free? Free from the penalty of sin? Power of sin? Jesus sets us free!

How can we tell we are free?

* No condemnation

* No more a slave to sin

* No fear of eternity

* No bitterness

* Free to love

* Free to forgive

* Free to worship

* Free to pray

* Free to witness

* Free to give

* Free to help

* Free to care for others

* Free to love Jesus

* Free with a clear conscience

* Free to believe the TRUTH

Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

The truth about…. God’s great Love, Grace, Mercy, Goodness, Provisions, Peace, Joy, Power, Forgiveness!

Conclusion: So may we live in FREEDOM because of the mighty cross of Jesus Christ, the redeeming blood of the lamb, and the enablement of His Holy Spirit!

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Gal 5:1).

Introduction: Do you need a fresh filling? This writer does….daily. 

Three questions emerge from this text.

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18).

1) Who? (Eph 5:18) – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

These words in the Greek are plural in form which means that it is not just for preachers and deacons or Sunday School teachers but for all CHRISTians. The words “be filled” is πληρόω, which means to make full, or to complete.

Are you under control of the Holy Spirit?

2) Why? (Eph 5:18) – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

The answer is because without being filled we cannot fulfill our biblical role in the home as husbands and fathers (Eph 5:22-33).

3) How? (Eph 5:18) – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

The only way a full cup of milk can be filled with water is to empty the cup of milk first then fill it with water. Do you get the point? We must be emptied of ourselves first in order to be filled with the Spirit.

Conclusion: Needless to say, this is a very practical passage of Scripture. Perhaps it is the key to being an effective witness in our homes, church and world.

Introduction: Apparently, some angels did some bad “stuff”! Both Peter and Jude mention them in their writings. These are called the “Fallen Angels”.

1. Who are these Fallen Angels? (2Peter 2:4,5) – “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.”

Are these the angels that committed fornication with human women? From this text, it appears that the Fallen Angels were judged and confined by the Lord. Whatever they did, it was deserving judgment.

2. What did these “Fallen Angels” do? (Jude 1:6,7) – “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

Did you notice that the Lord tied the angel’s sin thru Jude’s writing to Sodom and Gomorrah’s sin of fornication? Is there a connection between the two?

Some believe that the Angels committed fornication with the “daughters of men” (Gen. 6:1-4).

3. Why did the “Fallen Angels” do this hideous sin?

If this reference is to the angels that procreated with women then the reason seems plausible. In other words, from day one Satan attempted to be like God (Isa 14; Ezek 28). And because he was ejected out of the third heaven, he rebelled and led a revolt against the human race by deceiving Eve, and then Adam, into disobeying God. In so doing, he gained some authority back.

Next, it stands to reason that he wanted to thwart the plan of God by contaminating the human blood line by defiling the offspring. Ultimately, the promise of Messiah’s coming would be derailed. However, his plan failed.

Conclusion: While this is not necessarily clear about the Fallen Angels, it is evident that something happened to cause God to confine them in darkness to be ultimately judged by Him.

Jesus Christ will carry out the judgment upon Satan and his followers.

Jesus will reign forever.

Introduction: Don’t miss it. These three are crucial to the Christian life. See if you agree. Based on how we handle these three issues will determine our effectiveness as a follower of Jesus Christ.

1. Care! (1Pet 5:7) – “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

The word “care” is μέριμνα (mer’-im-nah). This word means care, or anxiety, and can have to do with worry. By definition, the word “worry” has to do with a feeling of nervousness or uneasiness because of a thing or not knowing the outcome of something that is out of our control.

Basically, since God has a concern “care” for us, then we can rest with a peace of mind knowing He knows us and what we are going thru.

2. Prayer! (Phil 4:6,7) – “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Here in the context of this prison epistle, the apostle Paul is reminding CHRISTians that the key to overcoming anxiety is to PRAY in faith. Oh yea, and do not forget to THANK God for He knows all about it anyway – even the outcome. After that, and only after that, then we can expect an overwhelming sense of anti-anxiety to overtake our thinking and even feelings. Try it! You’ll like it!!!

3. Bear! (Gal 6:2) – “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

The word “bear” is βαστάζω: (bas-tad’-zo), which has to do with taking up, or carrying. Have you noticed that when we help carry the load for others, God moves in the heart of some to get under the burden and help carry our load. Amazing how that works, isn’t it?

Introduction: How can we be sure that the Lord will keep His promises to the Church? The answer is because He is keeping His promises to Israel. 

1. His Plan! (Exo 19:3-6) – “And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

Here we find the Lord decided to choose Israel to be a peculiar people, and a special nation. God will keep His promises to Israel!

“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever” (Jer 31:35-36).

There we have it. The day the sun, the moon and the stars cease to shine is the day the Lord will nullify His covenant with Israel. That assures the Church that He will keep His promises to the Church. 

2. His Person! (Rev 19:7-9) – “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

The Church is the bride of Christ. At the present moment, she is waiting for her Bridegroom to come get her and take her to the Father’s house (John 14:1-3). It seems like it will not be very long now. 

3. His Purpose! (Rev 21:22-26) – “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.”

The New Jerusalem is our final destination. There in that beautiful city that lies four square we shall live forever. Serving our Lord Jesus throughout eternity is His will. 

Conclusion: As this devotion has discussed, God’s promises that He will keep to His people called Israel should give every Christian great peace and comfort knowing that His promises to His Church will be fulfilled as well.

Introduction: How is Genesis 6:1-4 interpreted? What kind of implications does this passage bring? In other words, how does this Scripture relate to the endtime? Let’s take a look at the book!

1. A Time of multiplication! (Gen 6:1-2) – “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”

The words “the daughters of men were fair” means they were beautiful, pleasant, or even agreeable.

2. A Time of devastation & duration! (Gen 6:3) – “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”

The word “strive” means “judge”. God seemed to give a timetable for men to turn from their wickedness.

3. A Time of degradation! (Gen 6:4) – “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”

The word “giants” is נְפִיל, which can be translated Nephilim(nef-eel’): Technically speaking, it is the name of two peoples, one before the flood and one after the flood. Were these demonic angels? How could they procreate with human women? Of course there are different interpretations of this passage… three to be exact.