The Great Red Dragon’s Futile Attempt
Introduction: The devil has always hated Jesus Christ. Being the master deceiver and accuser, he attacks Israel attempting to devour the Savior of the world. One can trace his plots in Revelation 12.
How To Be Remembered
Introduction: How are you going to be REMEMBERED? This great Psalm gives us at least 4 ways to be Remembered.
1. Remembered by our FOCUS! (Psa 91:1)
“1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Where is your focus? Do you need to refocus? Our Lord allows UTURNS!
2. Remembered by our FAITH! (Psa 91:2)
“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
Have Faith in God! He’s on His throne!!
3. Remembered by our FIGHT! (Psa 91:3-10)
“3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”
What are you willing to fight for?
*Testimony
* Family
* Ministry
* Legacy
4. Remembered by our FREEDOM! (Psa 91:11-16)
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
What a great Word! Jesus Christ redeems those who put their faith and trust in Him. Through His precious blood our sins are forgiven and forgotten!
Battles & Blessings
Introduction: Have you ever faced a GIANT? This devotion reveals that our God can overcome Giants. (Gen 14:1f)
1. The biblical narrative begins with 4 Babylonian KINGS probably located around Iraq and Iran. One particular king from Elam was named Chedorlaomer. He seemed to be the leader.
2. There were 5 other Canaanite Kings which were located around the Dead Sea. After twelve long years of paying tribute to Chedolaomer, the 5 Canaanite Kings rebelled.
3. In the fourteenth year, the 4 Babylonian Kings traveled south and fought against the 5 Canaanite Kings.
4. Meanwhile, the King of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah tried to help the 5 Canaanite kings but were overtaken. In fact, Lot, Abraham’s nephew and his family were in Sodom at the time. They were taken as POW’s.
5. Abraham gathered and trained 318 men for war. During the night time, they made a surprise attack on the 4 Babylonian Kings who were located in the northern part of Israel near Damascus. Abraham rescued his nephew Lot and his family.
6. The King of Salem named Melchizedek went out to meet and BLESS Abraham.
Gen 14:18-20 – “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
Conclusion: Some Battles are meant for the soldiers of the cross. Our brothers and sisters make bad decisions like Lot. But truthfully we all mess up at times. As believers in Jesus Christ we are called to go and rescue those taken captive by the devil. Will you answer the call?
Feel Like Fainting
Introduction: Someone has said that it is not the “sharks” that kill you instead, it is the minnows that nibble you to death”! Well anyway, the burdens and hardships of life can make us feel like fainting. Especially the things that we cannot control. We read in Proverbs 24:10, these words,
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”
Wow! What a challenge! This is a great verse to ponder when you are facing a lot of stress and pressure.
1. Did you notice the words, ” If thou FAINT in the day of adversity”? (Prov 24:10)
The word “faint” is רָפָה, (raw-faw’), which means to sink. Peter sank. Why? He took his eyes off Jesus. Are your eyes on Him?
2. Did you notice the words, ” If thou FAINT in the day of adversity”? (Prov 24:10)
The word “adversity” is צָרָה: (tsaw-raw’), which means straits, distress. At times, honestly, we feel stressed out. Or at other times, we feel in distress, which means extreme anxiety, or sorrow. Are you anxious? Worried? Lonely? Sorrowful? Remember. We have a refuge and shelter in Jesus Christ. Whether you are in distress because of unconfessed sin or uncontrollable circumstances, either way, we can find Peace and Security in our Lord.
3. Did you notice the words, “If thou FAINT in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small”? (Prov 24:10)
Compared to the strength of our Lord, our strength is always small. But with His Holy Spirit our strength can reach supernatural heights. Will you tap into His strength today?
Conclusion: Confession time. There have been times in probably all of our CHRISTian pilgrimage that we’ve felt like fainting. But on the other hand, with Jesus Christ as our power source who has faced adversity, hostility,and agony, and yet with victory, we can overcome and keep from fainting. Are you facing hard times today? Turn to Jesus. Trust in Jesus. Triumph in Jesus. He will keep you from “fainting” when things get rough! His peace, and promises along with His presence, gives us strength to carry on! Amen!!
Bitter or Better
Introduction: Are you bitter? What has happened? We all go thru experiences that can make us resentful. The key is how we respond to it. In our devotion today there are several individuals that play a part in the inspired Word of God.
1. Philemon! (Philemon 1:5-7)
“1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house.”
Paul’s commendation is to Philemon.
“5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”
Evidently, Philemon was an encourager. Are you?
2. Onesimus! (Philemon 1:10-16)
“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?”
Onesimus messed up! He had done Philemon wrong. Paul was a mediator between the two. Have you done wrong?
3. Paul! (Philemon 1:17-21)
“17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. 20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.”
Paul was urging Philemon to forgive and make the wrong right. Meanwhile, he counseled Onesimus to confess his sins and make restitution with Philemon. Will you be a go between?
Remembering the Fallen
Introduction: Unfortunately, today many do not recognize “Memorial Day” except for it being a three-day weekend. How about you? If any of your family or friends have been killed while serving in military, it becomes a priority to REMEMBER the ultimate sacrifice of so many.
Why should we take time to REMEMBER those fallen soldiers? Here are several reasons:
1. Jesus reminds us of this great truth! (John 15:13)
* Heaven
* Obedience
* The Holy Spirit
Jesus laid down His life for us as a perfect sacrifice! Through His death on the cross, and because of His redeeming blood, our sins can be forgiven!
2. Our Freedoms are dependent upon our strong military – and our God! (Ecclesiastes 3:1-10)
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of WAR, and a time of peace.”
The nation of Israel in the days of Joshua was to fight for their freedom. The God of the Bible promised to be with them.
3. Jesus fought and won the biggest war in history! (Col 2:13-15; Heb 3:8)
“8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
Satan wanted control – that is why Lucifer fell (Isa 14; Ezek 28). Jesus overcame the enemy of mankind when He fulfilled His mission on earth. (Matt 4:1-10; Matt 20:26-28)
“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Are you going to fulfill your mission?
Focus
Introduction: Does it feel like you are in a race… against time, getting things done, meeting people’s needs, etc.?
Remember. Focus is the key. The writer to the book of Hebrews is inspired by the Holy Spirit to help keep us focused on the right things.
1. In order to stay focused we must lay aside anything that weighs us down! (Heb 12:1a)
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us..”
Did you notice it is a choice to lay aside every weight or we can keep carrying the load? Which will you decide? It is much more difficult to run in a race being weighed down with unnecessary weights!
2. In order to stay focused we must lay aside anything that weighs us down and run with perseverance! (Heb 12:1b)
“…. and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Running in a race requires stamina. The CHRISTian life is one continuous race….a race of holiness (1Cor 9:24-27). How are you doing? Did you get tripped up? Get up and start over.
3. In order to stay focused we must lay aside anything that weighs us down and run with perseverance by looking to Jesus! (Heb 12:2)
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Looking to Jesus is the key. People will fail you but Jesus will never fail!
A Turn Around – Setbacks for Comebacks
Introduction: Life has its mountains and valleys. The most spiritual growth usually takes place in the valleys. It’s in the valleys that…
* we learn to trust
* we cry out to God
* we recognize our weaknesses
* we turn tests of faith into testimonies of faith
Are you in a valley?
Remember the clay does not tell the Potter what to do, instead, it simply yields to the hands of the Potter.
This devotion today is loaded with truth that transforms.
1. Burdens turned into blessings! (Psa 34:1-4)
“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
As the songwriter wrote,
“Burdens are lifted at Calvary!”
2. Fear turned into Faith! (Psa 34:4-9)
“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 😯 taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.”
Fear is FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL!
F-E-A-R
What did our Lord inspire Paul to write to Timothy about fear?
“7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)
3. Afflictions are turned into prayer Addictions! (Psa 34:15-19)
“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
Did you notice the Psalmnist says MANY are the AFFLICTIONS of the righteous but the Lord DELIVERS them out of them ALL?
Conclusion: This Word from the Lord changing everything; i. e. the way we look at things, react to things, and go through things. With Burdens turned into Blessings, Fear turned into Faith, and Afflictions turned into Prayer Addictions, it is a game changer!!
Truth Vs. Deception
Introduction: Does it seem like DECEPTION is becoming more and more accepted these days? Lies. Deceit. False information… Satan’s plan from the beginning. Does it seem more and more difficult to distinguish falsehood?
How can we keep from being DECEIVED?
1. We must Know the origin of DECEPTION! (John 8:44-47)
“44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
Jesus made it clear. The devil sinned from the beginning. He is the father of lies. Is he lying to you today?
2. We must identify the Truth! (John 1:14-17)
“14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
Jesus Christ is TRUTH!
His Word is TRUTH!! It is God’s plumb line.
3. We must measure DECEPTION with the TRUTH! (2 John 1:7-11)
“7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
Jesus said many deceivers are here and many more will arise.
4. We must be aware that in the last days DECEPTION is going to intensify! (2Thess 2:7-9)
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And 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: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
We shouldn’t be overly surprised with all the DECEPTION in our day. Why? Because the Bible forewarns us. Look out!
Conclusion: Jesus told His disciples that even the very elect could be DECEIVED. (Matt 24:24)
“24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
Remember, this is in the context of His second coming.
Bottom line: We are living in days of DECEPTION; however, unless we are saturated and walking in the TRUTH, we could be DECEIVED.
Watch out!
Burdens are Lifted at Calvary
Introduction: Have you ever picked up and carried a refrigerator or a window unit AC? It has what is called a compressor on one end which makes it heavier on that end. When working at an appliance store years ago and having to deliver appliances, the employees would always want the opposite end of the compressor because it was lighter.
Are you carrying a heavy burden today? Did you know that our Lord will carry the heavy end if you let Him.
Check out what the Psalmnist suggests:
1. Our Cry! (Psa 55:17)
“17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”
Pray without ceasing. That is what this verse is demonstrating. God hears our cry, feels our pain, and promises our deliverance.
2. Want to Fly! (Psa 55:6)
“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.”
When the work caves in on us, we want to fly away…but we can’t! Burdens grow heavier but GRACE grows GREATER!
3. Feel like About to Die! (Psa 55:18)
“He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.”
Have you ever felt like you could not take much more? But you can. Do you know why? Because Jesus is with us to strengthen us! And His GRACE is sufficient!!
4. Must Rely! (Psa 55:22)
“22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
So go ahead and let Jesus carry the heavy end. After all, why would you think that He cannot handle it?
Conclusion: Our heart CRY when we feel like we’re about to DIE makes us want to FLY, but in all actuality, because of Jesus we should RELY!
Remember. He will carry the heavy end if we let Him. Will you let Him?