08
Jan '25
Can’t Wait for the Marriage & Marriage Supper
08
Jan '25
Introduction: Have you ever been to a wedding? Every wedding consists of at least both the bride and the groom. Get ready for the wedding. But how? First, a careful study of the texts reveals the meaning.
1. Will You Be at the Wedding and Marriage of the Lamb? (Rev. 19:7-8) – “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.”
Question: Is this verse referring to the “wife” of God the Father of the Old Testament or perhaps the “wife” of Jesus Christ (Bridegroom-wife), which would be the Church of the New Testament? Some suggest the former, others the latter. Listen, either way, it does not erase the truth of either one taught in the Scriptures. Chronologically speaking, first, Christ will come back for His Church in the rapture. Notable scholars have drawn the parallel between this event and the reference in John 14:1-3. In this passage, the Son of God goes back to His Father’s house to prepare a place for He and His Church to spend eternity. By the way, Jesus Christ is referred to by John the Baptist as the “LAMB of God.” From an exegetical standpoint, that should identify this passage as JESUS CHRIST (the LAMB) being joined to His wife, the Church.
2. Will You Attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? (Rev. 19:9) – “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
Following the wedding of the Lamb comes the marriage supper. Again, the terminology “LAMB” should be a “giveaway” to which this passage is a futuristic event that celebrates the marriage of the Church to Jesus Christ. Imagine, what a spread!
3. How Can We Get Ready for These Futuristic Events? (Rev. 19:7-9) – “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.”
Will you reread the last few words again?“…the righteousness of the saints.” This can be translated as the “righteous acts” of the saints. In other words, Christians living and serving through obedience to the “Will and Word” of God will purify their wedding garments.
Conclusion: Are you planning on going to the wedding? Are you preparing now for that heavenly event? Start now.
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
06
Jan '25
Blood Moons in 2025
06
Jan '25
Introduction: Could this be the year when Christ comes again? BLOOD moons are scheduled to appear on March 13th and 14th. Does that mean Bible prophecy is going to be fulfilled? Is this a “sign” of the “time”? Certain Bible teachers and preachers will certainly attempt to hype up this event to make others feel that this is the fulfillment of the Bible. But is it really?
Let’s see. Here are references to BLOOD MOONS in the Scriptures:
1. The Book of Joel! (Joel 2:30-31) – “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.”
By the way, this was not completely fulfilled in the book of Acts. How can we know? The answer is because all of these phenomenal occurrences did not take place in that day. Therefore, we must conclude it to be futuristic.
2. The Book of Matthew! (Matt 24:30) – “Immediately 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: And 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.”
Again, these supernatural signs will occur when Jesus Christ comes in His second coming — not in the rapture.
3. The Book of Revelation! (Rev 6:12) – “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.”
When does this happen? During the tribulation, the moon will turn BLOOD RED! By the way, this is after the rapture of the Church. Get ready!
Conclusion: As we’ve seen, the Bible reveals the true meaning of the BLOOD MOONS. In the context of each book and certain phrases lies the key to understanding the timing. With that being said, keep looking UP — the rapture will happen first!
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
03
Jan '25
In the New Year with Good Fear
03
Jan '25
Introduction: Did you know that some fear is good? According to the Bible, we need to take some fear into the New Year. Like what?
Check out the writings of both Paul and Solomon under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Also, Jude mentions fear.
1. What did Paul mean when he wrote Philippians 2:12? – “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Reread that last phrase: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Greek scholars define the word “fear” as φόβος. It can mean terror, reverence, or respect. In this case, it is apparently used to mean the latter. In other words, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are to work “out” what God the Holy Spirit works “in”! By the way, he is not talking about working FOR your salvation; rather, he is saying because of your salvation, there should be some works. James says the same (James 2:14-25). Also, do not forget that one day we will have to give an account of our salvation—the process of sanctification; i.e., spiritual gifts.
2. What did Solomon mean when he wrote about the fear of God? (Proverbs 1:7) – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
The Hebrew word “fear” is יִרְאָה, which similarly means reverence or awe. In summary, we do not need to necessarily be afraid of God, but we should certainly RESPECT and have a holy REVERENCE for Him! Do you have reverence for the God of the Bible?
3. What did Jude mean when he wrote about fear? (Jude 1:23) – “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
The same word is used for “fear” as in Philippians 2. Here, it can mean the object or cause of fear, or even terror. Some suggest that in the context of “save others with fear,” it means with an anxious heart, being concerned lest we be defiled by the wickedness of those whom we are rescuing. In addition, any soul winner knows the awful consequence of rejecting Jesus Christ as God’s remedy for sin and going out into eternity lost forever, destined for the lake of fire! Do you experience a sense of godly fear when witnessing?
Conclusion: While some fear is negative, as we’ve discussed in this devotion, some fear is positive. Will you stop and pray for the “good” kind of FEAR in the NEW YEAR?
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
02
Jan '25
20/20 Vision in 2025
02
Jan '25
Introduction: How is your vision? Do you need spiritual glasses? Are you spiritually nearsighted or farsighted? Is God’s will blurry? Can you see biblical principles? Are your eyes open to the needs of others? Habakkuk needed a spiritual vision test. Why? Because he did not understand why a “Good God” would allow “Bad things” to happen to His people.
Are you in the same boat? Take this VISION test.
1. When you need a Word from God, you need to WATCH EXPECTANTLY! (Hab 2:1) – “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.”
The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were on the brink of overthrowing the southern Kingdom of Judah. Keep in mind, the northern Kingdom of Israel had been invaded by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. Have you noticed that in order to hear the Lord speak or to know His will these days, it requires diligent and persistent expectation?
2. When the Lord speaks, you need to WRITE OBEDIENTLY! (Hab 2:2) – “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”
For Elijah, God did not speak through the wind, earthquake, or fire; instead, it was the still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11,12) – “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
Are you listening for the still small voice? Don’t forget, when God the Holy Spirit speaks through the Word of God, write it down.
3. When the Lord reveals His Vision, you need to WAIT PATIENTLY! (Hab 2:3,4) – “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
When our Lord reveals His VISION, it can be trusted. But make no mistake about it, our faith will be tested!
Conclusion: Now then, what is your VISION for 2025? Will you go back and review this devotion? Follow the guidelines whereby Habakkuk discovered God’s VISION.
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
01
Jan '25
Blessed & Alive in 2025
01
Jan '25
Introduction: We are blessed! Really, go ahead and admit it. Our Lord has been good to us! Not only are we blessed to be alive physically, but more importantly, we are staying revived spiritually. I love this chapter in the book of Psalms.
Here is how to stay alive in 2025:
1. It begins with a HEART-CRY to God in prayer! (Psa 143:1) – “Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.”
Prayer works if you work it! Not just when we are facing troubles—praying the right way releases God’s supernatural power. Is prayer a daily practice for you?
2. It can turn into a HEART-SIGH for relief! (Psa 143:4) – “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.”
Interesting to note, the word “overwhelmed” is עָטַף. It means to cover or to envelop. It can also have to do with fainting. Finally, here it can describe being feeble. Everyone faces being overwhelmed at times. Are you feeling overwhelmed right now? Keep reading.
3. It can call for a HEART-ELECTRIFY—come to life! (Psa 143:11) – “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.”
The word “quicken” is חָיָה, which means to live, to be alive, to revive, or to restore to life. Because of life’s stress, our spiritual batteries get drained. Are you feeling tired and weary?
Conclusion: Is one of your desires in 2025 to stay ALIVE—spiritually? In summary, these three steps will guarantee you can stay alive. Through the vehicle of prayer, the act of casting our burdens upon the Lord, and finally trusting and receiving the “Quickening” of the Holy Spirit, you will definitely experience spiritual growth in the coming year.
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
31
Dec '24
Great Promises for the New Year
31
Dec '24
Introduction: What is 2025 going to bring? Blessings or curses? Peace or trouble? Victory or defeat? Adversity or misery? Joy or sadness? Hope or hopelessness? Success or failure? Wisdom or foolishness? Understanding or confusion? Truth or deception? Faith or fear?
Wait a minute. Stop and consider God’s promises for the New Year:
1. His Peace! (John 14:27) – “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
This PEACE money cannot buy. We all need this kind of peace! Are you experiencing this kind of peace?
2. His Comfort! (2 Cor 1:3-5) – “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.”
The word “comfort” is παράκλησις, which means encouragement or exhortation. It can have the idea of consolation. God’s comfort is like a soft pillow for a weary body.
3. His Presence! (Heb 13:5) – “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
You talk about not being alone! Jesus has promised to always be with His people. That should help bring security to His people. Do you recognize His presence in your life?
4. His Promises! (Rom 4:17-21) – “…and calleth those things which be not as though they were… according to that which was spoken, so He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
What God promises, He fulfills! Abraham was a recipient of His promises! Have you? By the way, faith is the key that unlocks the door to God’s promises.
5. His Security! (Psa 46:1-10) – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea…”
When trouble comes, Jesus is there. With His power, we are strengthened through the storms of life. Anybody going through a storm? Are you needing strength to face the challenges of life? Will you call upon His name?
6. His Safety! (Prov 18:10) – “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
Since our Lord is a strong tower, we can find refuge in Him. Do you need a place of shelter and safety? Why not run into His arms that are wide open? He is waiting.
7. His Forgiveness! (Heb 8:12) – “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
Whereas Satan wants to remind us of our past sins, the God of the Bible FORGETS them! Don’t you love that? Once forgiven, our sins are gone!
8. His Grace! (2 Cor 12:9-12) – “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
His GRACE is available for the race! It is in place. Remember, grace is God doing for us what we do not deserve. Will you stop this minute and thank Him for His AMAZING GRACE?
9. His Pardon! (Isa 55:6-7) – “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
The word “pardon” is סָלַח, which means forgive. It also has to do with sending away. That is, because of the full payment of the precious blood of Jesus, the Judge of all the earth declares the guilty sinner no longer guilty! Bless the Lord! What a Savior!
10. His Power! (Phil 3:10-14) – “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
This word “power” has its roots in the word dynamite. The power of God is unlimited, unchangeable, and unmatched! There is nothing like it. Shouldn’t we be telling others about this power?
11. His Purpose! (Rom 8:29-30) – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren… whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
There you have it. Follow this train of thought: Since our God knows beforehand and is in control, we can trust Him. Will you today?
12. His Word! (Psa 119:105) – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Walking through a dark world calls for a bright light. The Word of God shines like a bright light to give guidance to those who seek His will. Are you searching for His will and way?
13. His Provisions! (Phil 4:19) – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Our needs and our wants are different. Did you notice the context of this book and chapter? It was inspired by the Holy Spirit directly to the Church of Philippi. You may be aware that they gave and partnered with Paul as he fulfilled his mission work. With that being said, God gives that irrevocable principle in regards to giving. Are your needs being met? Are you giving back what’s rightfully God’s?
Conclusion: God’s promises are within reach of our grasp. First, know them. Second, line up under them. Third, embrace them. Fourth, receive them. Fifth, enjoy them by sharing them with others!
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
30
Dec '24
In the New Year Without Fear
30
Dec '24
Introduction: Are you afraid? Fearful? Why? If the enemy has his way, many will go into the New Year with FEAR. Look at those who could have been afraid but overcame their fears. God will give us faith in His Word and His will to go into the New Year without fear.
1. Joshua could have been fearful! (Joshua 1:9) – “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Think about it. You are leading a nation of about two million people who had been wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Imagine the complaints! Naysayers! Doubters! Skeptics! What a daunting task. Yet, God knew that Joshua would need to fight his fear. Stepping into the overflowing Jordan River without a bridge required great faith. Shouting down the walls of Jericho without firing a shot, after marching around it for seven days, seemed ridiculous—until the walls fell flat!
2. Esther could have been fearful! (Esther 4:16) – “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther could have taken the easy route and looked after herself. But she trusted the Lord no matter what. God honored her faith.
3. The three Hebrew boys! (Daniel 3:16-18) – “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
They could have easily taken a knee to please the king. But contrary to their fears, as well as their rational thinking, they overcame their fear with faith in God.
4. Peter could have shrunk back with fear! (Acts 12:1-3) – “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.”
Remember, Peter had witnessed Jesus Christ being arrested and beaten until He was ultimately nailed to a cross.
5. Paul could have been defeated with fear! (2 Timothy 1:7) – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Look who is saying this: a man who had been stoned and left for dead, beaten numerous times with rods, jailed, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, and eventually beheaded.
Conclusion: Over and over again, Jesus told His disciples not to be afraid. Can you hear His words? In the storms of life, He told His disciples, “fear not” (Mark 4, Matthew 8, 14, Luke 8, etc.).
You can start off on the right foot by fighting your fear and feeding your faith as you go into the New Year. How about it? Why not go into the New Year without fear?
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
27
Dec '24
Time, Place, and Occasion of the Birth of Jesus
27
Dec '24
Introduction: When was Jesus Christ born? Was it December or June? How can we tell? Does it really matter? Let’s call three WITNESSES to testify.
(Luke 1:5) – “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.”
1. The first witness is Zechariah the priest! He would have been chosen by lots. (Luke 1:9) – “According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.”
However, he would not function as the High Priest, who would be the only one allowed in the holiest of holies on the Jewish Feast called the Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur.
Next, Luke mentions all the people praying outside. This would have been done more than likely on The Feast of Tabernacles—Sukkot, which is the last Jewish feast of the year.
(Luke 1:10-11) – “And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.” This priestly order was designated by King David.
2. The second witness is the shepherds in the fields watching their flock by night. (Luke 2:8) – “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
These were professional (priestly) shepherds raising sacrifices for the temple offerings, which was a year-round job. Contrary to the skeptics, they were not teenage boys out in the field. Even though it was winter, they would have been watching over their flock. The shepherd fields in Bethlehem are approximately three miles away on the road to the Temple in Jerusalem.
To recap, these were trained priestly shepherds responsible for raising qualified lambs to be sacrificed. By the way, the “sign” that the Angel gave them—“the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes”—would have been a key piece to the puzzle. They had skillfully wrapped numerous lambs in “swaddling clothes” to keep them from being injured, thus disqualifying them for being a sacrifice without spot or blemish.
3. The third witness is Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth conceives after Zechariah finishes his two-week service in the temple. After hiding for five months, she then visits her cousin Mary in the sixth month.
Apparently, afterward, Mary is impregnated by the Holy Ghost according to Gabriel the Angel.
Do the Math:
Since the Feast of Tabernacles always follows The Day of Atonement, which is a fall feast (Leviticus 23) around September:
-
- Count six months from there, and you get March.
- Mary conceives.
- Now calculate the duration of a pregnancy, which is nine months, and you come up with December.
Conclusion: There are other witnesses, but for time and space, this should be sufficient. Interesting to note: Hanukkah will be celebrated this year on December 25, commemorating the supernatural miracle of the candelabra virgin flask oil, which was enough for one day yet burned for seven days back in the days of the Maccabees, 165 B.C.
By the way, Jesus Christ observed the Feast of Lights as Jews do today. (John 10:22)
In concluding, while as CHRISTians we do not worship a date but rather a person, Jesus Christ, here is good evidence that He was, in fact, born in December.
So, “Come let us adore Him!”
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese
26
Dec '24
Joy to the World
26
Dec '24
Introduction: People are sad. Many are depressed. Most of humanity is looking for happiness and prosperity. Where can they get it? What would you tell them? How are you doing deep down inside? Is there real JOY?
How can we have JOY? Try this:
1. JOY comes in the birth of our Savior Jesus! (Luke 2:10-11) – “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Listen to the words of a favorite Christmas song: “JOY to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King.” This message to the shepherds, which has been announced through the centuries, is GREAT NEWS! God has a remedy for man’s sin; that should bring jubilant JOY!
2. JOY comes in answered prayers! (John 16:14) – “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
Has God answered any prayers lately? Please do not forget to be filled with gratitude toward Him. From there, JOY will flow!
3. JOY comes through the fruit of the Spirit by the Holy Ghost! (Galatians 5:22-23) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”
Did you notice that this work of the Holy Spirit is called fruit, not fruits? Remember, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches (John 15:1-7). The fruit comes from the vine and extends through the branches.
One last thought… sometimes the branch has to be pruned—cut—in order to produce more fruit. Are you being pruned?
4. JOY comes in having a relationship with Jesus Christ regardless of trials! (1 Peter 1:8) – “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
Troubles and trials are to be expected; however, as the believer stays connected to Jesus, the Vine, there is a release of His life-giving power to overcome the enemy of defeatism.
With that being said, sing out:
“Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.”
“Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.”
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese