“8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

2. Human Pride that robs God of Glory is sinful! (1Pet 5:6)

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”

Conclusion: James writes,

“6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)

Introduction: Do you have trouble sleeping? One man said, not too bad except, sometimes in the daytime! I love what Solomon was inspired to write. Check out the following:

“24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”

Several ideas come from this text.

1. Fear keep us from sleep! (Prov 3:24)

“24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid.”

The word “afraid” is פָחַד,(paw-kkad’), which means to dread, be in dread or in awe. Honestly, when we dread something, it usually makes us sleepless.

The word “sweet” is עָרֵב: (aw-rabe’), which means to be sweet or pleasing.

2. Sudden fear and devastation keeps us from sleeping! (Prov 3:25)

“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.”

When trouble comes, it can keep us from sleep.

3. But the Lord gives us His presence and peace to help us to sleep! (Prov 3:26)

“26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

When we have confidence in Jesus it soothes our soul and calms our fears.

Introduction: Instead of owners, we are managers. We have been entrusted to be faithful stewards of what our Lord has given us. How are you doing? We need a check up.

1. Enemies of STEWARDSHIP! Covetousness ( Luke 12:15)

“15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

2. Foolishness with possessions! (Luke 12:16-21)

“6And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

The rich man cared only about the present day. His short-sightedness caused Jesus to call him a fool. There is a great temptation in our day to look only at the present instead of the future.

3. Jesus clarifies what our focus should be! (Luke 12:21)

“1So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

There is nothing wrong with having possessions or wealth, as long as it does not have us.

1. Time to get READY! (Rev 19:7)

“7Let 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.”

This is a heavenly scene. Finally the bride (the Church) is joined to her GROOM. Paul writes to the Ephesian believers:
(Eph 5:25-27)

“25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

As the bride of Christ right now, we must be watching and waiting for His return. Jesus said,

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”(John 14:2,3)

2. Time to get our clothing (wedding dress) ready! (Rev 19:8)

“8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

1. By the Power of Prevailing Prayer! (2Tim 1:3)

“3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.”

2. By the Power of Remembrance of those who have “Poured” into us! (2Tim 1:5)

“5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

3. By the Power of Passing on the mantle of God’s anointing! (2Tim 1:6)

“6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”

The word “stir up” is ἀναζωπυρέω,(an-ad-zo-poor-eh’-o), which means stir up the fire, fan the flame of.

Introduction: Truthfully, isn’t it difficult to TRUST the Lord when you cannot see the answer or the end of a trial? Yet, the Scripture teaches that without FAITH it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Here are some insights that will help you when you’re going through a time of testing – testing your FAITH in Jesus (Heb 12:1-3).

1. TRUSTING the Lord Jesus when you cannot see!
(Rom 4:17-22)

“17As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

Abraham TRUSTED his God…to the point that even though he had not received the promise, he counted it and called it DONE! Wow!! Love it!!!

2. TRUSTING the Lord based on His WORD!
(Heb 11:6)

“6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Did you notice that our God REWARDS those that both seek Him, and believe Him?

3. TRUSTING the Lord when things do not always go the way you want them to!
(Job 13:15)

“15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”

In spite of his hardships and suffering, Job determined to TRUST the Lord.

4. TRUSTING the Lord because He knows our situation!
(Job 23:10)

“10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

Job, with the eye of faith was able to see the end of his trial, which would result in him being purified.

5. TRUSTING the Lord and not leaning on own own understanding
(Prov 3:5,6)

“5Trust 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.”

Depending on our limited knowledge and wisdom always leads to missing the mark. However, TRUSTING in Jesus results in His will and wisdom.

Introduction: Do you feel secure in Jesus? How about your eternal security? Living with insecurities can be devastating. This devotion will discuss how to have eternal life and how you can have security.

1. Eternal Security!

“11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:11-13)

Clearly, Eternal Life is in Jesus Christ. John writes, if you have the “Son” you have eternal life. Do you have the Son?
The same John writes the following:

“11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:11-12)

“6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

“31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31)

Praise the Lord! Jesus gives, and is….eternal life!

Conclusion: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Introduction: Do you ever feel burdened down with a heavy load? Would you like someone to help carry your heavy load? What does the Word of God reveal about helping others carry their burdensome weight?

Here are some suggestions:

1. It is biblical!

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

The word “bear” is βαστάζω,( bas-tad’-zo), which means I carry, bear, (take) away.

Since it is biblical, will you do it? Perhaps, you are carrying too much of a load? Will you reach out to someone and ask them to pray with you or for you?

2. It is burdensome!

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

The word “burden” is βάρος, (bar’-os), which means a weight, a burden.

Expect to strain some while you help carry their burden. Don’t be surprised if afterward you get weary…it comes with the territory. But also remember how our Lord blesses when we make ourselves available for His use….and for His glory. 

3. It is bless-able!

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

Don’t miss that last phrase…“and do fulfill the law of Christ.”

While this is in His divine plan, it is also important to remember that Jesus always BLESSES what He initiates.

Conclusion: Get ready to help carry a burden. And at the same time, get ready for a blessing because of your obedience to Jesus.

OBEDIENCE = BLESSINGS!

Introduction: Are you really free? Jesus came to set us FREE! See if you are FREE.

1. The TRUTH sets us FREE! 

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

Speaking to the believing Jews, Jesus lets them know that He could set them free. 

2. The Holy Spirit sets us FREE!

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

Legalism, License and Liberty. That summarizes the book of Galatians. Liberty is found in being Spirit led and Spirit filled. 

3. Jesus Christ sets us FREE!

“13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal 3:13)

The curse of sin dominated the human race until Christ died on the tree, thus setting us free from the curse of the law. 

4. The Father sets us FREE!

“2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” (Rom 8:2,3)

What the law could not do, other than exposing our sin, Jesus Christ did through His sacrifice on the cross and in giving us His Spirit to flesh out the CHRISTian life!

Conclusion: Freedom is found in our sins being forgiven. Freedom is found in Jesus being Lord! Freedom is found in having a home in heaven. We are FREE indeed!

Celebrate your FREEDOM in Christ!!

1. Ask a broken-hearted Mother!

“28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matt 15:28)

This military man – Centurion – was a man under authority who understood God’s authority. This was a case of “distance healing”!

3. Ask a Desperate Daddy!

“14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matt 17:14-21)

Did you notice that Jesus said if you faith as a mustard seed? Not faith in yourself, instead… faith in God’s Power!