Examination to Transformation
1. Preparation (1Cor 11:20)
“20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.”
Evidently the Church of Corinth was treating the Lord’s Supper as something that was not sacred. So Paul writes to both correct them from the wrong approach and commend them for the right approach. Preparation was the key. Is preparation important to you before communion?
2. Examination (1Cor 11:28)
“28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
The word “examine” is δοκιμάζω: (dok-im-ad’-zo), which means put to the test, prove, examine. Am I fit? Again, either we take a self-evaluation or the Lord will do it for us. Hint: it is far better if we take the initiative!
3. Substitution (1Cor 11:23)
“23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread.”
Jesus took our place, paid our debt, set us free! We owe Him a debt of gratitude!!
4. Transformation (1Cor 11:26)
“26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
In the light of His return, our motivation is to serve Him, love him, and wait for Him.
Fasting for Your Faith
1. God’s call to His people to FAST and pray because of a National crisis! (Joel 1:6)
The nation of Israel was under God’s judgment because of their idolatry. But there was HOPE.
“6For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.”
Our Lord would use the Assyrians to invade the northern kingdom called Israel in 722 BC. But listen to the prophet’s call.
“13Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
14Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD” (Joel 1:13-14).
2. God’s call to His people to FAST and pray because of a spiritual crisis! (Joel 2:12,13)
“12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: “13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Brokeness leads to BLESSINGS! Our Lord is gracious and merciful. When we repent and return to Jesus with fasting and prayer, He forgives our sin and restores us to fellowship.
Listen to the words of Joel:
“15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” (Joel 2:15-17).
3. God will answer His people as they FAST and pray and return to Him! (Joel 2:18,19)
“Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.”
Fasting and Faithful Service
1. A life well lived with the practice of Prayer and Fasting! (Luke 2:36,37)
“And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
2. A life well lived with the practice of Prayer and Fasting made her a great WITNESS and WORSHIPPER! (Luke 2:36,37)
“And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Dr. Randy Reese
Fasting for Focus
Introduction: If fasting was good for Jesus, it seems good to me! Although we are not Jesus Christ, yet we are to follow Him, submit to Him, obey Him, and allow Him through His Spirit to live in us – as we are conformed to His image.
Knowing what was ahead in His earthly ministry prompted Him to start off by FASTING – 40 days and 40 nights – a supernatural fast!
1. The Living Word used the written Word while fasting against the devil! (Matt 4:3,4,7,10)
“And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Imagine the hunger pangs. Satan hits us when we are weak, and where we are strong. But as we “fine tune” our spiritual senses, the flesh decreases while the Spirit increases! It is amazing how that works!! Could you use alittle more of the Spirit? Spiritual power?
2. The Living Word used the written Word to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil while fasting! (Matt 4: 6,7)
“6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Temptation comes knocking on our door. Do you know what to do? Send Jesus to the door! Is the devil tempting you to sin against God? Lean on your own understanding? Take credit. What should you do? Pray. Fast as the Spirit leads.
3. The Living Word through the written Word becomes the fleshed out Word by Fasting! (Matt 4:8-11)
“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
Do you want to get rid of the devils accusations and temptations? Try fasting and praying. Did you notice how our Lord exercised power over the enemy?
Love y’all,
Fasting for the Family
Introduction: Does your family need a “BREAKTHROUGH”? Try fasting….of course with the right motives and for the right purpose. When Ezra and the people of God were rejoicing because of the GOODNESS of the Lord, they were also needing His BLESSINGS for what was ahead. Truthfully, we can all relate! Check out and see if you are led to “FAST for the FAMILY.”
1. Fasting for Focusing on your Family! (Ezra 8:21)
“21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.”
Here is the burden – our families, “the little ones.” Every family has spiritual needs. Some of these needs will only be met through prayer and fasting. Such was the case throughout the Bible (see Mark 9:14-29). Is your family worth it? Is God’s glory worth it? While no one may ever know your secret alone with Jesus, He knows! That’s all that really matters!!
2. Fasting for Fighting our Foes! (Ezra 8:22,31)
“2For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us….. 31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”
In this case, fasting released God’s restraining power over Israel’s enemy. It appears we can conclude that our Lord heard His people’s cry and honored their sacrificial faith directed to Him. Is Jesus the same today? Yes! (Heb 13:8)
Financial Fears or Financial Freedom?
1. God will supply the NEEDS! (Phil 4:15- 19)
“Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Paul, led by the Spirit, reminds the believers in Philippi that God is faithful, and that FRUIT would result in their obedience in the area of giving. Do you see the fruit in your life?
2. As we get older we can trust the FAITHFULNESS of JESUS! (Psa 37:25)
“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
Can you look back on your life and see the hand of God’s provision in place? What makes you think that He is going to abandon you now? On the contrary, He can be trusted! Are you going to trust Him?
3. Being GOOD STEWARDS of what we have is required! (Prov 3:3-10)
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
Honoring our Lord with what is rightfully His is critical when it comes to FINANCIAL FREEDOM. Some have been blessed more than others. But faithfulness to JESUS CHRIST with our finances and future will be tested. How are you doing?
Conclusion: Learning to live with what we have is the starting point. Being thankful with our Lord’s BLESSINGS is the keeping point. Are you there?
Tomorrow Has Enough Worries
After discussing other earthly matters, Jesus spoke on why we should not Worry.
1. Our Heavenly Father knows our needs for every day! (Matt 6:25- 32)
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin…..30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
I love this illustration our Lord used to demonstrate how much our heavenly Father knows our needs. The God of CREATION…is the God of SALVATION…and is in control of every SITUATION!
2. Our top priority is to SEEK the WILL of our Father, and then He provides for His children! (Matt 6:33)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
First things first! Jesus #1! Is He # 1 in your life? If not, why not choose to enthrone Him and dethrone self?
3. Worrying about things we can’t CHANGE in the future, robs every believer of the Peace of God and the Joy of the Lord for today! (Matt 6:34)
“34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Today has enough troubles. Why take on more CARE?
Conclusion: Are you worried today? How about troubles for tomorrow? Instead of worrying, why not TRUST our Heavenly Father? Put Jesus Christ first and watch what He does in your life! He’s the Best!!
Progressive Sanctification
Introduction: After salvation, the process of sanctification takes place. Both mentally and Spiritually, the Spirit of God is changing us – setting us apart… making us more like Jesus. But how? This devotion will share a few ways this process takes place.
1. The Life changing Power of the Word of God! (Col 3:16)
“16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1Pet 1:23).
Heaven and earth will pass away but God’s Word is forever!
2. The Cleansing Power of the Blood of Jesus! (Rom 3:25)
“25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”
By faith in the blood of Jesus, our sins are forgiven. And by continual faith in Jesus’ blood, we can stay in fellowship with our Lord.
3. The Filling Power of the Holy Spirit! (Acts 1:8)
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The power of the Holy Ghost is the secret element in witnessing. Do you have it? Are you being a witness?
4. The Supernatural Power of Prayer! (Eph 3:20)
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
Think about it. Whatever we ask our Lord, He is able to do more. Wow! Makes us want to ask for more!!
Conclusion: God’s will for every believer in Jesus Christ is to be conformed to His image.
Feast of Trumpets
Introduction:
When is Rosh Hashana?
What is this Jewish feasts?
What is its significance?
How does it relate to Bible Prophecy?
While it has an agricultural, historical, and prophetical significance, this devotion will focus primarily on the prophetical.
1. This Ordinance (A Time out) in Israel will be celebrated starting Sun Sept 25, 2022!
“23And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 25Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.” (Lev 23:23-25)
This is Israel’s NEW YEAR. Much like our JAN 1st. This is the first of three of the Jewish Feasts celebrated in the fall.
2. How does the Feasts of Trumpets correspond to the Second coming of Jesus Christ?
“29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt 24:29-31)
Did you notice the trumpets will be blown? However, these trumpets are not the same as the trumpet of God in the RAPTURE. Some CHRISTians get confused on this text and claim it is the RAPTURE. But in order to interpret this text the right way it must be translated in its proper context. What is the context? Judgment. Jesus’ second coming. This will take place during the tribulation (Matt 24:29).
Jesus will come again! In this return, called His second coming (not the rapture), Jesus will come back as the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS! (Rev 19:11-18) His wrath and Judgment will take place against the ANTICHRIST armies gathered in the valley of Jezreel. Compare & contrast the rapture….”comfort and bliss.”
Are We the Generation?
1. What did Jesus mean?
“34…..This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
Remember. Who is Jesus talking to? Israel or the Church? The answer is to His disciples who were questioning Him when will the end be…
“3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3).