1. Conflictive Christians — apostates! (Jude 1:16) – “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”

WOW! What a description! “Complainers”? “Murmurers”? While this may not pertain to you, most believers (including this writer) must be honest and confess that this happens occasionally. Do you ever complain?

2. Confused Christian (Jude 1:3–4) – “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

“For there are certain men crept in unawares… turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

By the way, the word “lasciviousness” is ἀσέλγεια, which means filthy, wantonness, or sensuality. Honestly, we live in a perverted world. Sex was meant to be contained within marriage according to the Bible. But today it seems anything goes… just saying. What would you say?

3. Critical Christian (Jude 1:18–19) – “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”

Check out the word “mockers.” It is the Greek word ἐμπαίκτης, which means scoffer. It refers to someone who mocks and belittles others and their ideas. Do you know anybody like that?

4. Christlike Christian (Jude 1:20) – “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”

Please notice building up, most holy faith, and praying—all part of God’s will for our lives.

5. Committed Christian (Jude 1:14) – “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.”

Jesus Christ is coming again! We cannot stop Him. Get ready for Him.

6. Caring Christian (Jude 1:21–23) – “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life… and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

Praise the Lord for the love of God! Besides that, keep reaching out to the lost. Be wise about it. Do not waste time. Be led by the Spirit.

7. Compassionate Christian (Jude 1:22) – “And of some have compassion, making a difference.”

Jesus had compassion on you and me. Otherwise, we would be toast! May our Lord help us to show the same compassion to those who will respond favorably.

Conclusion: In these last days, our Lord is calling you and me to be committed Christians. Will you make up your mind and resolve in your heart to be a committed Christian?

Introduction: Solomon wrote, “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3). Whether you have biological offspring or not, we can all have spiritual offspring. Are you reproducing? Go make disciples….

The word “heritage” is נַחֲלָה: (nakh-al-aw’). It can mean possession, or property, but ultimately it means inheritance.

The technical interpretation is it means portion, share. The other shade of meaning is assigned by God. Another passage where the word “heritage” is used can be found in Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

Go back to verse one of the text (Isa 54:1). This is interesting for those who are not able to have children. “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”

Fast forwarding to the New Testament, listen to the words of the apostle Paul under inspiration.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

Did you notice the positive side as well as the negative side to this verse? “Not wrath” but “nurture and admonition”; i.e. instructions, training and warning. So both physical and spiritual parents have a responsibility before the Lord. How are you doing?

Conclusion: Remember, there are no perfect parents or perfect children – only Jesus is perfect. So keep up the GOOD WORK!

This time of the year our Lord is transforming our world with the changing of the grass from brown to green, and the leaves on the trees are beginning to bloom with many other beautiful colors. With one stroke of His Word, our world’s landscape radiates the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

Yet in this text, please notice that man was made a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:3–6). He is God’s crowning work. How does that make you feel?

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.”

Look at the word “dominion.” It is the Hebrew word מָשַׁל (mah-SHAL). It means to have dominion, to govern, to reign, or to rule. It can mean to have power.

Do you get it? Man was delegated dominion over creation.

But besides that, Jesus Christ has given us the power of His Holy Spirit to exercise dominion over the following as well.

1. Domination over the devil’s deception (Hebrews 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7–8) – “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

James wrote to believers. He was inspired to inform those who put their faith and trust in the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ that if we submit to God, then we can resist the devil. Please pay attention to that order. First submit, then resist.

2. Domination over fleshly downfalls (Genesis 3:1–8; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 4:22–24; Romans 13:14) – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 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.”

Hallelujah! Victory over the fleshly patterns that hinder every Christian can be dominated by the Spirit. What a great truth!

3. Domination over deadly demons destroying (Mark 9:25–27) – “When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.”

Demons tremble at the name and power of Jesus! They must obey His commands. Please do not miss that. It is not our might or power, but His, that demons are overcome. Jesus has dominating power!

4. Domination over discouragement and depression (Psalm 42; Psalm 30:5; Job 23:10; Job 35:10) – “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

Bottom line: God knows what is happening to us. He has our number! Just like when you make a call on your phone it shows up on the caller ID. Our Lord does not need a caller ID. He made us. He knows us. He bought us. He is coming back for us. Isn’t that great news?

5. Domination over death (1 Corinthians 15:1–58) – “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

Death has lost her sting! Why? Because Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. Remember, He conquered death. Therefore, those who have been born again have His life that dominated death. Eternal life is in store.

Conclusion: What do you think about this thought of domination? Are you dominating?

Why don’t you praise the Lord!

1. Be careful WHO you listen to! (Colossians 2:18–19) – “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.”

Look at the word “beguile.” It is the Greek word καταβραβεύω, which means to disqualify or judge. In other words, in the church of Colossae evidently there were false teachers who were teaching bad things; consequently it was misleading some Christians in the church.

Remember there were both Jews and Gentiles joining together under the umbrella of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. Each one had their preconceived notions of how to worship handed down by their traditions and customs {sound familiar?}. Apparently the apostle Paul, who was in prison at the time, was writing by the Holy Spirit to clear up this confusion.

Pride, worship of angels, and false practices were creeping into the early church. Therefore the Lord spoke to them then—and to us today—to be careful who you listen to.

2. Be careful HOW you walk! (Colossians 2:19) – “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”

Instead of looking and listening to Jesus, the Head, some Christians then and now look to people to guide them. The end result is a defect in the growth of the Christian life.

3. Be careful to know WHY you are saved! (Colossians 2:21–23) – “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

It’s all about Jesus!

Understanding who we are in Him and why He is in us helps keep us on track in fulfilling His will and purpose.

Conclusion: These three life long lessons are guaranteed to carry us through this life of grace until one day we reach the finish line.

Stay focused. Walk humbly. Be careful who you listen to. And finish faithful!

Jesus stands ready, willing, and able to give His living water.

Living water from the well of God’s salvation brings forgiveness and grace! Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Conclusion: Even Isaiah makes reference to the living water.

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)

Drink this water, my friend! The wells of God’s salvation will quench your thirst.

Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

Here are a few verses of Scripture that sum it up:

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Cor 3:1–3)

You see, just being a part of a church is only the starting place. But growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ is a process that is deliberate. It will not automatically happen. Rather, it must be intentional. In other words, we must purpose in our hearts to pursue a deeper, more lasting desire for the spiritual things of God. Will you right now? What do you need to let go? What do you need to hold on to?

LET GO of fear and worry, LET GO of anger and resentment, LET GO of carnal thinking, LET GO of meaningless relationships, LET GO of self-indulgence, LET GO of pleasing self, LET GO of the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life, LET GO of the love of money.

HOLD ON to Jesus! HOLD ON to your Bible! HOLD ON to hope—confident expectation! HOLD ON to following the will of God! HOLD ON to a clear conscience! HOLD ON to wisdom from above! HOLD ON to the peace of God! HOLD ON to the love of Christ! HOLD ON to heaven in the near future! HOLD ON to Jesus coming again! HOLD ON to the promises of God!

And the church said… AMEN!!

1. We need to be fed by the Word of God because it REVIVES us! (Psa 119:25, 40, 88, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159) – “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.”

[The Hebrew word for “Quicken” is chayah, which means to revive, to have life, to be restored]

• The Word brings you back to life when you’re down
• The Word of God restores us during difficult times
• The Word of God is the catalyst for Faith (Rom 10:17)

• When we feel weak, God’s Word gives strength
• When we face fear and insecurities, the Word of God releases power

• The Word of God gives HOPE in this life (Rom 15:13)
• The Word of God gives HOPE in the life to come (1 Cor 15:1-58)

[The Hebrew word “astray” is Shagag, which means to err or sin ignorantly or inadvertently]

• The Word of God is like a mirror (James 1:23)
• The Word of God convicts and corrects (2 Tim 4:1-8; 2 Tim 3:16, 17)

*Money can buy you rubies, but not redemption
*Money can buy a nice home, but not a home in heaven
*Money can buy you fancy clothes, but it cannot buy you a robe of righteousness

• It takes money to live, and there is nothing wrong with having it – as long as it doesn’t have you! But, there are some things more important than money!
• Money is not evil…. the “love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10)

• Wisdom is found in Jesus (1 Cor 1:30, 31)
• Wisdom is available if we ask (James 1:5)
• Wisdom “Sophia” is gained through the knowledge of God’s Word (Prov 8)

• The Word of God is like a flashlight shining in the dark!
• The Holy Spirit of God uses the Word of God to direct our steps so that we can be in the will of God! (Rom 8:14; Psa 119:130; Prov 4:18)

Conclusion: Doctor Jesus recommends a consistent/daily diet of His balanced TRUTH: The WHOLE BIBLE

***Notice these Spirit-led devotions include both OLD TESTAMENT Scripture, as well as NEW TESTAMENT Scripture, which is made applicable to our daily lives***

***These TRUTHS are guaranteed to TRANSFORM!***
“Try em…. you’ll like em”!

In our devotion today, there are two responses to how we view our giants. The result of one view makes us look like grasshoppers in stature—weak, unable to conquer, afraid, fearful, insecure. The other is able to move mountains—anchored in the Word of God. Which do you prefer? Check it out, and then take the FAITH TEST.

1. The PROMISE! (Num. 13:1–3) – “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.”

NEWSFLASH: When God gives you a PROMISE, He means it! What promises has the Lord given you? If you are scrambling right now to think of one, just open your Bible and start reading! It will not be very long before the Holy Spirit imparts an unshakable truth to your heart.

2. The PROBLEM! (Num. 13:25–33) – “And they returned from searching of the land after forty days… And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

Focusing on the size of the GIANT instead of the PROMISES of God always ends in GRASSHOPPER faith. After all, faith in the God of the Bible is not rooted in our human might or power but rather in the infinite power of a living God who conquered death, hell, sin, and the grave. Will you trust Him today? Which view are you embracing up against your giants—how big they are or how big GOD is? Remember, the bigger your God looks, the smaller your giants become!

3. The PROVISION! (Num. 13:30) – “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”

I LOVE Caleb’s faith in God! Did the Lord honor it? Look a little further and find out.

4. The PUNISHMENT! (Num. 14:32–33) – “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”

Faith failures can be very costly! In fact, forty years of wandering in the wilderness turned out to be a high price for low living. Doubt and do without! Imagine all the complaining, suffering, and heartache because of a few disobedient people who had God’s promises. Unfortunately, there is a huge consequence for not trusting in JESUS. Dare to believe the Lord. He is faithful to keep His promises!

Conclusion: Faith is the victory that overcomes the world! Eventually, both Caleb and Joshua, along with their families, enjoyed the blessings of God rather than the chastisement of the Lord as they entered into the Promised Land. Will you enter into your Promised Land enjoying our Lord’s peace and provision?

Peter did just that. I love the way our Lord Jesus handles people who need to stay in their lane.

Do you recall Peter’s denial of Jesus? After boasting that he would die for Him, our Lord — who knows us better than we know ourselves — predicted Peter’s faith failure.

Isn’t it interesting that Peter’s denial happened around a fire, and his restoration also took place around a fire? Peter swerved into John’s lane!

Jesus was not saying John would still be alive at His return. But Peter got back in his lane and finished faithful (see Acts 2; 10; 1 Pet. 4; 2 Pet. 1–3).

That’s why we should love Him!