Prayers Devotionals

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21 NASB 1995 https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.3.20-21.NASB1995

How do we receive the Holy Spirit? We receive him by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is something of a mystery—or, maybe we should say, someone of a mystery. One time, when Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit, he said that how people are born of the Spirit is like an invisible, unpredictable, but powerful wind. In other words, the Holy Spirit can’t be tamed. He can’t be predicted or controlled. He can’t even be fully comprehended. He’s like an invisible, powerful gust of wind. The Spirit has all the freedom of God himself, because, of course, the Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. But just because he’s sovereign, just because he’s unpredictable, doesn’t mean he isn’t  trustworthy. He’s God, he is the perfect reflection of God’s nature and character. He loves us, and he wants to come and live with us. But how do we receive the Holy Spirit? It’s as simple as this: you hear the message of the Gospel—that Jesus died for your sins and was ra

Why did the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit? The Spirit was sent into the world to fulfill God’s promise to give life to his people and dwell with them forever. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave his people the gift of the Holy Spirit. He even claimed that having the Holy Spirit would be better than having Jesus with us in person. How could that be true? Well, there are several reasons. First of all, we were broken and sinful and needed forgiveness. So Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to bring forgiveness and healing. Second of all, we were without life and joy, separated from God. So Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to give us life and joy. Third, Jesus called us to be his witnesses for the world. But, for that, we needed his Spirit. So Jesus sent his Spirit to make us effective witnesses in the world. Fourth, Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to make us holy. God wants us to be holy so that one day we can live forever with a holy God. The Holy Spirit does all of that? Yes! Because the H

When we read the Bible, it transforms us. The psalmist David wrote, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7. God’s Word transforms the way think and the way we live. It changes us. But here’s what we must remember. It is not enough to simply read the Bible. We must do what the Bible says. James 1:22-25 tells us, “But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it” C.S.

"Once in Christ, in Christ for ever, Nothing from His love can sever." C.H.S.

God Can Put the Pieces Back Together Nearly 40% of first marriages will end in divorce, according to a survey by the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center. This is because marriage has become less meaningful for many in our culture. There are lots of reasons for this, from the decline in moral values, to the depiction of marriage and family in entertainment and the media. The biblical view of marriage is under attack as "outdated," and there's a growing agenda to "redefine" marriage.  No matter how society defines marriage, nothing will work like the original plan God gave us in His Word. The courts and society make breakups easier to swallow by calling them "no fault" divorces, yet I now that God put the pieces back together again. He can heal homes and families. No matter what the problem may be in your marriage or family, never count God out ... because He has a plan and purpose for everything.  God created Adam and Eve, man and woman, to enjoy

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, equal in power and glory with the Father and the Son. Do you ever feel alone? Like God is a long way away from you and doesn’t notice what you’re going through? Well, the truth is he does. When Jesus ascended into heaven, after his resurrection, he didn’t leave his followers or us all alone. He sent his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to come live in our hearts and in our midst. And Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would never leave us. He’s always there. Always accessible. Always giving us access to the loving, saving, healing, powerful presence of God. The Bible tells us this about the Holy Spirit: He’s God, the third person of the trinity. He’s the Spirit of Jesus whom Jesus sent when he ascended into heaven. He’s always with us. He gives us salvation and sanctification. He gives us power to conquer sin and fear. He gives us strength to be Jesus’ witnesses in the world. Spend some time reading and reflecting upo

I Did It Confession is a lost spiritual discipline in the evangelical community. We've focused so much on grace and mercy and positive thinking, we've lost sight of the responsibility to confess our sins. We don't like to admit where we've failed, let alone those of our ancestors, as the Israelites did in the passage today. But it was not only important to them; the apostle John's first letter reminds us it's important for us today too. Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for my presumption and arrogance concerning all you've done for me. My unconfessed sins stand before me today and I confess them and ask your forgiveness based on the blood of Jesus. Restore me, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. It is a way of getting more out of your time in God's Word. The S.O.A.P method of Bible Study (for individuals or small groups) does not require a theology degree or special leadership skills.

We should memorize Scripture so we can walk unbelievers through the salvation message and help them understand their sin and need for a Savior. Speaking God's words instead of our own will give our message more authority and will harness the power that is in the Word of God (Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12; Jeremiah 23:29)

There is no sin which a Christian cannot overcome if he will only rely upon his God to do it. They who wear the white robe in heaven overcame through the blood of the Lamb, and we may do the same. No lust is too mighty, no besetting sin too strongly entrenched; we can overcome through the power of Christ. Do believe it, Christian, that thy sin is a condemned thing. It may kick and struggle, but it is doomed to die. God has written condemnation across its brow. Christ has crucified it, "nailing it to His cross." Go now and mortify it, and the Lord help you to live to His praise, for sin with all its guilt, shame, and fear, is gone. "Here's pardon for transgressions past, It matters not how black their cast; And, O my soul, with wonder view, For sins to come here's pardon too." C.H.S. What’s The Unforgivable Sin? Billy Graham Answers Q. How many sins can you list that God won’t ever forgive? I worry about this, because I know I’ve not been a very good person,

I once read a book about the inner spiritual life by a man who was not a Christian at all. He was a sharp intellectual. He examined spiritual people from the outside, but nothing ever reached him. And that is possible! You cannot argue around this. You can read your Bible, and if you are honest, you will admit that it is either obedience or inward blindness. You can repeat Romans word for word and still be blind inwardly. You can quote all the Psalms and still be blind inwardly. You can know the doctrine of justification by faith and be blind inwardly. It is not the body of truth that enlightens; it is the Spirit of truth who enlightens. If you are willing to obey the Lord Jesus, He will illuminate your spirit. He will inwardly enlighten you. The truth you have known intellectually will now be known spiritually. Power will begin to flow up and out, and you will find yourself changed—marvelously changed. Almighty God, forgive me the ways in which I have trusted in my own abilities and l

What Will They Say Have you ever thought about what people will say at your funeral ... or what you'd like them to say? Have you consistently done what God has asked you to do? Have you completed the tasks you've started? Did you follow sound doctrine passionately? If so, perhaps your memorial service will sound like what Paul wrote matter-of-factly concerning his own life. Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the time, energy and space to do what you've asked of me. Forgive me for those times when I have failed to use those opportunities wisely. Help me to share the apostle Paul's passion for you, your will and work. Help me fight the good fight today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What does it mean to meditate? In the Bible it means to contemplate. The idea given in Scripture is that of chewing your food carefully. Eastern meditation is emptying your mind. But biblical meditation is filling your mind with the Word of God. And as you memorize, know, and understand Scripture, it will be a weapon to use as you share your faith and also to defend yourself when you’re being attacked.

Can You Trust Your Conscience? 1 Timothy 1:5-7 Let your conscience be your guide. This bit of folk wisdom seems to make sense since our conscience is designed to help us discern right from wrong. However, people cannot always trust their internal radar to steer them correctly; this is the case particularly with unbelievers, who don’t have the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and offer guidance for wise decisions. And while Christians do have God’s indwelling Spirit, they should be careful not to harbor sin in their lives, as that can interfere with the way their morality sensor functions. A trustworthy conscience is programmed with scriptural teaching. Believers build a stable and sensitive spiritual radar system by applying God’s truth to their lives. They are committed to thinking and acting in ways that honor and please the Lord. Then, when sinful thoughts or choices come across that radar, it will deliver a sharp warning. A person with a reliable conscience will have a strong desire to

The End of Life . . . willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. —2 Corinthians 5:8 A little boy was riding alone on a train on a hot day when the travelers were extremely uncomfortable; and the scenery was not too interesting as they passed through the desert of Arizona. A lady sitting beside the boy asked him, “Are you tired of the long ride?” The little boy smiled and said, “I’m a little tired, but I don’t mind it much. You see, my father is going to meet me when I get to Los Angeles.” Sometimes we get a little tired of the burdens of life, but it is exhilarating to know that Jesus Christ will meet us at the end of life’s journey. The joy of being with Him forever is beyond the ability of any writer to describe. Prayer for the day To think You will be waiting for me at the end of this earthly journey! I am filled with unspeakable joy, Lord Jesus. B.G.

The Holy Spirit is God How shall we think of the Holy Spirit? The Bible declares that He is God. Every quality belonging to Almighty God is freely attributed to Him. All that God is, the Spirit is declared to be. The Spirit of God is one with and equal to God just as the spirit of a man is equal to and one with the man. The historical church when she formulated her “rule of faith” boldly wrote into her confession her belief in the Godhood of the Holy Ghost. The Apostles’ Creed witnesses to faith in the father and in the Son and in the Holy Ghost and makes no difference between the three. The fathers who composed the Nicene Creed testified in a passage of great beauty to their faith in the deity of the Spirit: “And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified.” I confess today that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are of the same substance co-equal in power an

Commitment Is Tough. Count On It. In the popular westernized prosperity-oriented, glow-in-the-dark version of Christianity, problems, persecution, and difficulties are something that are supposed to just disappear with the right words and attitude. The apostle Paul knew better. Following Christ means not following the world ... which makes the world uncomfortable, angry, vengeful, and persecution inevitable and guaranteed. Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, for being more concerned about comfort than commitment. Too often I've chosen the road to make the most friends and fewest enemies instead of concerning myself with living a godly life. I commit myself anew today to live for you, no matter what. Give me strength to stand up when I want to sit down, to stand out when I want to hide. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What God Expects He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much . . . —Luke 16:10 What God expects, and all God expects, is that we dedicate completely all of our talents and gifts to Him. That is the meaning of the parable of the talents in Matthew, chapter 25. Read this parable, and you will see that we are always rewarded because of our faithfulness. You can be just as faithful as anyone and have the commendation of the Lord. Take the one talent you have and invest it in eternal things. Some talented people lose their reward because they do things to be seen of men. Some untalented people lose their reward because they fail to dedicate what they have, because it is not noticed by men. Both have sinned equally. Prayer for the day Let me not be concerned with the praise of men, but may my talent be completely yielded to You, Lord Jesus. B.G.

The probable reason for the satanic attack upon the Book of Deuteronomy is that the Lord Jesus Christ quoted exclusively from this book in beating back Satan’s temptation. Little wonder Satan hates this book. 1st temptation — Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4 compare Deuteronomy 8:3 2nd temptation — Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12 compare Deuteronomy 6:16 3rd temptation — Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8 compare Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20

If you want to be a growing Christian, if you want to produce spiritual fruit, then you need to be a Bible studying Christian. As believers, we are either progressing or regressing. We are either going forward or going backward. And the moment we stop our forward momentum is the moment we begin our backward regression.

There are several different versions of the “The Lord's Prayer” and I keep seeing people sharing the Lord's Prayer which that's great there doing it but do some of them know there's more than 1 version, so let's just look at a few shall we! Catholic Version: The Lord’s Prayer (this is the one going around on Facebook right now) Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Then there's: The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13 Version (KJV)  Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us n

The Holy Spirit: Present of Absent In most Christian churches the Spirit is quite entirely overlooked. Whether He is present or absent makes no real difference to anyone. Brief reference is made to Him in the doxology and the benediction. Further than that He might as well not exist. Our neglect of the doctrine of the blessed Third Person has had and is having serious consequences. For doctrine is dynamite. It must have emphasis sufficiently sharp to detonate it before its power is released. The doctrine of the Spirit is buried dynamite. Its power awaits discovery and use by the Church. The power of the Spirit will not be given to any mincing assent to pneumatological truth. The Holy Spirit cares not at all whether we write Him into our creeds in the back or our hymnals; He awaits our emphasis.  Lord, grant that I may not resist or doubt, and therefore grieve, Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Here’s an acronym to remember for sharing your faith: BLAST.  B is for build. When you’re talking to people about Jesus, start building a bridge.  L is a reminder to lovingly enter their world. Take an interest in them.  A is for ask. Ask questions, and then listen.  S is for share. Share your testimony. That brings us to  T. Tell them how to come to Jesus. Remember, it is not about you; it’s about Him. Tell your story to build a bridge to His story, the greatest story ever told. Prayer for the day May I be worthy to bear the name Christian, Lord Jesus.

"As true as God's own word is true; Nor earth, nor hell, with all their crew, Against us shall prevail. A jest, and by-word, are they grown; God is with us, we are his own, Our victory cannot fail." "Faint not nor fear, His arms are near, He changeth not, and thou art dear; Only believe and thou shalt see, That Christ is all in all to thee." Charles Haddon Spurgeon

God’s Favor The book of Ezra taught that when man looked to God, studied and obeyed His word and taught others about His standard, then God's hand would be on that person. Prayer: Lord, help me to have a heart like Ezra - to seek Your thoughts and wholeheartedly do things Your way so I too may have Your hand on me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Cross We Bear The Christian as a member of the body of Christ is crucified along with his divine Head. Before God every true believer is reckoned to have died when Christ died. All subsequent experience of personal crucifixion is based upon this identification with Christ on the cross. But in the practical, everyday outworking of the believer’s crucifixion, his own cross is brought into play. “Let him… take up his cross.” That is obviously not the cross of Christ. Rather, it is the believer’s own personal cross by means of which the cross of Christ is made effective in slaying his evil nature and setting him free from its power. The believer’s own cross is one he has assumed voluntarily. Therein lies the difference between his cross and the cross on which Roman convicts died. They went to the cross against their will; he, because he chooses to do so. No Roman officer ever pointed to a cross and said, “If any man will, let him!” Only Christ said that, and by so saying He placed the

It reminded me a little of the church today. We’re busy with our discussions and our political debates, but it’s time to lift our heads and look around us. Jesus said, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37). Sometimes we think we’d like to go to the mission field in another country to tell people about Jesus. But why don’t we just start by just crossing the street? There are opportunities in front of us every day. We simply need to be looking for them. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, there would be no spiritual progress.

Scripture distinguishes between the way of Balaam, the error of Balaam, and the doctrine of Balaam: “The way of Balaam” (2 Peter 2:15) was that he prostituted his gift for gain, he was covetous, he commercialized his office. “The error of Balaam” (Jude 11) was that he concluded a righteous God must curse Israel. He was unaware of the grace of God revealed in God’s redemption of Israel out of Egypt. “The doctrine of Balaam” (Revelation 2:14) was his counsel to Balak. Finding that he could not curse Israel, he showed Balak how to break down the wall of separation by marriage with women of Moab (Numbers 31:15, 16).

Trust In a Sovereign God How do you respond when tragedy strikes your family? At various points in our lives we will likely face difficult experiences that leave us with thorny questions, questions that remain unanswered. Why would God seemingly take a good young person to heaven and leave an evil old person here? While Scripture rarely provides simple answers to such questions, it does invite us to trust the God who in the midst of adversity promises to be our Great Shepherd, gathering us in His arms and carrying us close to His heart (40:11). When the Bible asserts that God is in control, it invites us to believe that evil does not have the last word. A loving, sovereign God can be trusted to overwhelm present evils. In our own situation, a hint of how God is using adversity to mold our character, as we think about this, “I guess you don’t need limitations to serve God.” The Scriptures never promise that Christians will be kept from adversity. But God does promise to provide grace to

Can Freedom Destroy Freedom? Freedom in Christ is a precious commodity. It opens up a whole new universe we could never experience bound by sin! But freedom itself has limits. Paul makes it clear we can't use the freedom as an excuse to hurt others, to cause them to stumble, or to be presumptive about God's grace. Today let's use our freedom carefully and for good.

The Consequences of Drifting Hebrews 3:12-13 Spiritual drifting--the gradual wandering away from God and His will--takes place when a believer ceases to steer toward the Lord. Like an empty boat set loose upon the waters, he or she makes a slow and lazy glide away from good practices like disciplined obedience, regular Bible study, prayer, and assembling with fellow Christians. And there are consequences for casting yourself on uncharted and dangerous waters. A life adrift is outside of God's will and therefore in sin. The Holy Spirit pricks a believer's conscience to send a message when he is off course, but the drifter is prone to ignore such warnings. If a Christian continually excuses his wandering ways and denies sin, then his conscience gradually numbs. A person who becomes desensitized to wrongdoing has paved the way for more sinful behavior with less guilt. Can you imagine a more dangerous situation? As the drifting believer's conscience becomes anesthetized, his sp

Understand There Will Be ‘Scoffers’ On the last night of the 1969 New York City Crusade, Billy Graham preached that there will be “scoffers” in the last days. In 2 Peter, chapter 3, the Bible describes these scoffers as people who will follow their own sinful desires while mocking the truth of Jesus’ return as though it will never happen. “People will say, ‘Oh yeah, God is dead,’” Billy Graham explained. “‘We can’t find God anywhere. We took a trip up in space. We didn’t meet God; we didn’t meet any angels while we were there.’ “And there are going to be other scoffers that will scoff at the idea of future judgment, scoff at the idea that Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth again. They’ll laugh at the whole idea.” “I belong to that group that has a theology of hope,” he said. “Because my hope is not centered in this world or in what man is going to do or not going to do. My hope is centered in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, who the Bible says is going to come back someday a

The Power of Choice The Lord hath anointed me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. —Isaiah 61:1 Viktor Frankl in his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” describes the reactions of two brothers with the same heredity, the same environment, in the same concentration camp under the Nazis. One became a saint and the other a swine. Frankl tells us the reason why. He said, “Each man has within him the power to choose how he will react to any given situation.” God has given us the power of choice. Some people today do not wish to accept the responsibility for their actions. They blame society. They blame the environment. They blame the schools. They blame the circumstances. But Adam sinned in a perfect environment under perfect circumstances. We can’t blame it all on somebody else. We must accept the blame ourselves for our part. Society is made up of individuals. If we have social injustice, we’re the ones who are wrong; we’re part of

The Signs of Drifting Hebrews 2:1-3 Regularly gathering in the house of the Lord with brothers and sisters in Christ provides an "anchor" of support and accountability. But skipping church in order to pursue other interests is an obvious sign that a believer has begun to drift away from God. Less apparent are the men and women who mentally skip the worship service. The act of attending means nothing unless we make a deliberate decision to receive God's Word and apply it to our life. As the writer of Hebrews warned, if we do not pay attention to what we have heard, we will drift away from it (2:1). However, Sunday morning is not the only time for receiving a steady diet of nourishing principles and encouragement from the Bible. We should be in its pages every day, reading and meditating for ourselves. When our interest in what God has to say decreases, we're already slipping out into troublesome waters. The only way to keep our way pure is by following His Word (Ps. 11

  Listen with Love “The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’” (Luke 7:34 NLT). When the Barna Group asked nonbelievers what they value most when talking about spiritual things, a majority said they want people to listen without judgment. This isn’t easy for some Christians. Some believers want to judge people, condemn people, and even yell at people. But that isn’t how we’re going to reach them with the Good News of Jesus Christ. I love the way Jesus conversed with the woman at the well in Samaria. He asked her questions. He listened to her and didn’t come off as a know-it-all. We may know certain things as Christians, but let’s not be know-it-alls. When you think about it, who on earth was more of a know-it-all than Jesus? He literally knew it all because He was God incarnate. He was omniscient, which means all-knowing. And sometimes people accuse Christians of being holier-tha

 Anger is not always or necessarily sinful, but it has such a tendency to run wild that whenever it displays itself, we should be quick to question its character, with this enquiry, "Doest thou well to be angry?" It may be that we can answer, "YES." Very frequently anger is the madman's firebrand, but sometimes it is Elijah's fire from heaven. We do well when we are angry with sin, because of the wrong which it commits against our good and gracious God; or with ourselves because we remain so foolish after so much divine instruction; or with others when the sole cause of anger is the evil which they do. He who is not angry at transgression becomes a partaker in it. Sin is a loathsome and hateful thing, and no renewed heart can patiently endure it. God himself is angry with the wicked every day, and it is written in His Word, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil." Far more frequently it is to be feared that our anger is not commendable or even justifiab

Developing Faith through Adversity 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 It doesn't seem fair, does it? Paul spent his life serving Christ, and yet he experienced continual suffering. Why would God let one of His most faithful servants go through so much pain? This isn't just a question about Paul; it's an issue we face today. In our minds, the Lord should protect His loyal followers from hardships, but He doesn't necessarily do so. Maybe our reasoning is backwards. We think faithful Christians don't deserve to suffer, but from God's perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, we'd never really know God, because we'd never need Him. Like it or not, adversity teaches us more about the Lord than simply reading the Bible ever will. I'm not saying we don't need to know Scripture; that's our foundation for faith. But if what we believe is never tested by adversity, it remains head

The Holy Spirit is the Teacher, and He must be the One to lead us and guide us into all truth, friend. If you ever learn anything through a Bible study program, it will not be because this poor person is the teacher, it will be because the Spirit of God is opening up the Word of God to you. The next guideline may seem oversimplified. Someone asked a great Shakespearean scholar years ago, “How do you study Shakespeare?” His answer was very terse, “Read Shakespeare.” And I would say to you: Read the Word of God. Do you want to know what the Bible has to say? Read the Bible.  Obedience to the faith. This is where Adam and Eve went wrong. Eve not only listened to Satan, the enemy of God, but she also disobeyed God. Obedience to God is very important. And we must recognize that God will not continue to reveal truth to us if we become disobedient. We must obey the Bible if we are to profit from its reading. (You will recall that Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians: Ye are our epistle wri

WHEN YOU READ THE BIBLE THROUGH I supposed I knew my Bible, Reading piecemeal, hit or miss, Now a bit of John or Matthew, Now a snatch of Genesis, Certain chapters of Isaiah, Certain Psalms (the twenty-third), Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs— Yes, I thought I knew the Word! But I found that thorough reading Was a different thing to do, And the way was unfamiliar When I read the Bible through. You who like to play at Bible, Dip and dabble, here and there, Just before you kneel, aweary, And yawn through a hurried prayer; You who treat the Crown of Writings As you treat no other book— Just a paragraph disjointed, Just a crude impatient look— Try a worthier procedure, Try a broad and steady view; You will kneel in very rapture When you read the Bible through! —Amos R. Wells

The Gospel is written a chapter a day By deeds that you do and words that you say. Men read what you say whether faithless or true. Say, what is the Gospel according to you? —Author unknown That little jingle is true, by the way. Oh, how important it is to obey the Bible! I believe that today Christianity is being hurt more by those who are church members than by any other group. That is one of the reasons that we have all of this rebellion on the outside—rebellion against the establishment, which includes the church. A placard carried by one in a protest march had four words on it; “Church, no; Jesus, yes.” Candidly, the lives of a great many in the church are turning people away from the church. There was a barrister in England years ago who was asked why he did not become a Christian. This was his answer, “I, too, might have become a Christian if I had not met so many who said they were Christians.” How unfortunate that is! We need to examine our own lives in this connection. How im

Forever Thankful While painful, difficult seasons strengthen and mature our faith. Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote, “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.” It’s a simple but wise saying that reminds us about the importance of hardships in our life. Without challenges, we never learn new skills or gain the spiritual strength needed in order to endure. This is why the apostle Paul teaches us to “celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). Everyone faces difficulties. For some, it might involve financial challenges or the loss of good health. Others might know the pain that comes with the breakup of a family or the death of a long-held dream. The question is not if one of these things will happen to us but when. Rather than spend time worrying, we put our faith in God—the One who tells us, “Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will ca

Interpret the Bible literally. The late Dr. David Cooper has stated it well: “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.”

This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is given you in life and will be opened in the judgment and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred co

Whence but from Heaven, could men unskilled in arts, In several ages born, in several parts, Weave such agreeing truths, or how, or why, Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie? Unasked their pains, ungrateful their advice, Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price. —John Dryden

The Bible is a corridor between two eternities down which walks the Christ of God; His invisible steps echo through the Old Testament, but we meet Him face to face in the throne room of the New; and it is through that Christ alone, crucified for me, that I have found forgiveness for sins and life eternal. The Old Testament is summed up in the word Christ; the New Testament is summed up in the word Jesus; and the summary of the whole Bible is that Jesus is the Christ. —Bishop Pollock

THE BOOK OF BOOKS Born in the East and clothed in Oriental form and imagery, the Bible walks the ways of all the world with familiar feet, and enters land after land to find its own everywhere. It has learned to speak in hundreds of languages to the heart of man. It comes into the palace to tell the monarch that he is a servant of the Most High, and into the cottage to assure the peasant that he is a son of God. Children listen to its stories with wonder and delight, and wise men ponder them as parables of life. It has a word of peace for the time of peril, a word of comfort for the time of calamity, a word of light for the hour of darkness. Its oracles are repeated in the assembly of the people, and its counsels whispered in the ear of the lonely. The wicked and the proud tremble at its warnings, but to the wounded and the penitent it has a mother’s voice. The wilderness and the solitary place have been made glad by it, and the fire on the hearth has lit the reading of its well-worn p

7 honest questions for atheists If you consider yourself an atheist today, or if you considered yourself an atheist in the past, I’d love to ask you some honest questions. But I do not ask these questions to win a debate. Or to be antagonistic. Or to buttress my own beliefs by exposing alleged weaknesses in your position. On the contrary, I ask these questions so I can better understand your mindset as an atheist. It is in that spirit of genuinely wanting to understand the atheist mindset better that I ask these questions. 1. Would you say that you are (or, were) an atheist based primarily on intellectual study or based on experience? Or did you never believe in God at all? Put another way, was it the lack of answers to prayer, failures within organized religion, or some other anti-faith experience that first caused you to question the existence of God? Or was it something you learned in school or your studies that caused you to doubt? Or were you raised without belief in God and you’v

Who's the Real Enemy? Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14   Our nation faces a crisis of social deterioration which would have been unimaginable a generation ago. Our society needs radical transformation. Yes, we're in a culture war, but we need to know who the real enemy is. The real enemy, working behind the scenes, is Satan. Yet the number one reason Satan can influence the schools, the media and government is because Christians have abandoned our culture and handed it over. Christian morality no longer permeates, and society has lost its best moral frame of reference. We need a whole new generation of people who know, revere and follow God. If we humble ourselves before the Father, He will give us the power to take our culture back.

The Benefits of Sharing Your Faith “I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart” (Psalm 40:8 NLT). Sometimes as Christians, we find ourselves down and depressed and lethargic, even though we’re reading our Bibles, praying, going to church, and fellowshipping with other believers. A depression of sorts has come into our lives, and we wonder why. Of course, there is the reality of clinical depression, and some people have a serious struggle with this. But there is another kind of depression that many of us have as Christians, and there’s something we can do to deal with it. In fact, it’s a ten-step cure for depression. The first step is to find someone who has greater needs than you do, and then do something for them. The second step is to repeat the first step nine more times. The idea is to look at the needs of others and share Jesus with them. Satan wants to steal your joy as a Christian, and he wants to keep people from coming to Christ becaus

NEW TESTAMENT The Bible Project Overviews  (Always read your Bible, so hopefully this helps someone that needs to get a grasp if there not familiar with the Bible) 1 Overview: Matthew 1-13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dv4-n6OYGI 1 Overview: Matthew 14-28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGCF3OPWN14 2 Overview: Mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGHqu9-DtXk 3 Overview: Luke 1-9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIb_dCIxzr0 3 Overview: Luke 10-24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26z_KhwNdD8 4 Overview: John 1-12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2e9mMf7E8 4 Overview: John 13-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfh_wOsauk 5 Overview: Acts 1-12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGbNw855ksw 5 Overview: Acts 13-28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-17KxpjL0Q 6 Overview: Romans 1-4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_6dVdJSIU 6 Overview: Romans 5-16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SVTl4Xa5fY 7 Overview: 1 Corinthians  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiHf8klCCc4 8 Overview: 2 Corinthians https:

OLD TESTAMENT The Bible Project Overviews  (Always read your Bible, so hopefully this helps someone that needs to get a grasp if there not familiar with the Bible) 1 Overview: Genesis 1-11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQI72THyO5I 1 Overview: Genesis 12-50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4isSyennFo 2 Overview: Exodus 1-18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E&t=1s 2 Overview: Exodus 19-40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNpTha80yyE 3 Overview: Leviticus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ-FekWUZzE 4 Overview: Numbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp5MIrMZFqo 5 Overview: Deuteronomy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5QEH9bH8AU 6 Overview: Joshua https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqJlFF_eU 7 Overview: Judges  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOYy8iCfIJ4 8 Overview: Ruth   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h1eoBeR4Jk 9 Overview: 1 Samuel    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOju5Dw0V0 10 Overview: 2 Samuel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvoWDXNDJgs 11-12 Overview: 1-2 Kings htt

Striving For Numbers In Christian circles today, the church that can show an impressive quantitative growth is frankly envied and imitated by other ambitious churches. Numbers, size and amounts seem to be very nearly all that matters—with a corresponding lack of emphasis on quality! This is the age of the Laodiceans. The great goddess, Numbers, is worshiped with fervent devotion, and all things religious are brought before her for examination. Her Old Testament is the financial report, and her New Testament is the membership roll. To these she appeals as the test of spiritual growth and the proof of success or failure in most Christian endeavors. A little acquaintance with the Bible should show this up for the heresy it is. To judge anything spiritual by statistics is to judge by something other than scriptural judgment. Yet this is being done every day by ministers, church boards and denominational leaders. And hardly anyone seems to notice the deep and dangerous error! Prayer - "

Overview: Leviticus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ-FekWUZzE

Failure Of Religion    Millions of men and women refuse to face up to the fact that religion, in and of itself, is not enough for the sinner’s need. It is amazing how many things religious people want to do to you. They can start with infant baptism and end up with the last rites when you are 108 years old—and all of that time they will manipulate you, maul you and sweet massage your soul. When it is all done, you are just what you were. You are just a decorated and massaged sinner—a sinner who did not eat meat, or on the other hand, a sinner who did eat fish! When religion has done all it can, you are still a sinner who either went to church or did not go to church. Religion can put us on the roll and educate us and train us and instruct us. But after all that, there is still something within our beings that cries, “Eternity is in my heart and I have not found anything to satisfy it!” Only our Lord Jesus Christ is enough to satisfy the eternal longing in our souls.    Prayer - "L

Bring the Presence of God Back to Where We Are The ark of the covenant contained the Ten Commandments. But the ark also served as a throne for God and represented the presence of God. Let us also live out a Christian's life, which brings the presence of Jesus back in our lives, into our marriage and family, and into our works or ministry, so that we can attract people to the gospel. Prayer: Father Lord, help us to live in such a way that we are a credit to the Message of Christ. Our conduct must be the same whether we are in church or in the office or the home. Holy Spirit, we pray you help us to stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Good News. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Have A Blessed Day

Overview: Revelation 12-22 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpnIrbq2bKo

Overview: Revelation 1-11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nvVVcYD-0w

Overview: Jude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UoCmakZmys

We are "called to be saints" by that same voice which constrained them to their high vocation. It is a Christian's duty to force his way into the inner circle of saintship; and if these saints were superior to us in their attainments, as they certainly were, let us follow them; let us emulate their ardour and holiness. We have the same light that they had, the same grace is accessible to us, and why should we rest satisfied until we have equalled them in heavenly character? They lived with Jesus, they lived for Jesus, therefore they grew like Jesus. Let us live by the same Spirit as they did, "looking unto Jesus," and our saintship will soon be apparent. (Side-Note: Is there a difference between Christians and saints? In many Protestant churches, the word saint is used more generally to refer to anyone who is a Christian. This is similar in usage to Paul's numerous references in the New Testament of the Bible.)

"Toward the mark" It is one of the devil’s oldest tricks to discourage Christian believers by causing them to look back at what they once were. It is indeed the enemy of our souls who makes us forget that we are never at the end of God’s love. No one will make progress with God until the eyes are lifted to the faithfulness of God and we stop looking at ourselves! Our instructions in the New Testament all add up to the necessity of looking forward in faith—and not spending our time looking back or just looking within. Brethren, our Lord is more than able to take care of our past. He pardons instantly and forgives completely, and his blood makes us worthy! The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend. If the “root of the matter” is in you and you are born again, God is prepared to start with you where you are!   Prayer - "Thank You, Lord, that we can never reach the end of Your love for us. Your love, like all Your attributes, is

The Holy Spirit’s Dwelling Place 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Every time the news programs report a story about vandalism at a church, believers cringe. It’s hard for us to bear the thought of anyone spray-painting graffiti on sanctuary walls or damaging the stained glass windows, let alone setting fire to a place of worship. It’s a desecration! The church is a sacred place. I’m saddened by the fact that many Christians don’t have the same qualms when it comes to harming the temple of the Holy Spirit—their own bodies. Some put junk into their stomachs, their veins, or their lungs. Others wear themselves down under a weight of stress or exhaustion. Some folks justify these abuses as their right: It’s my body, I can do what I want. But that isn't true. First Corinthians 6 says that believers are the Lord’s possession (v. 19). He has fashioned these earthen vessels to serve Him and carry out the work He’s planned for us to accomplish. God created us with a mind, body, and spirit—of the three

Religious Freedom Fear God and honor the government. —1 Peter 2:17 (TLB) On this Independence Day we should be on our knees thanking God for all He has given us. The United States is a country in which everyone has an equal opportunity. Thank God for a country where there is no caste or class to keep a man from going to the top. If a man has a will to work and study, he can go ahead regardless of his background. In addition, thank God, He has given us freedom of religion. Whatever you may believe, no one can close your church because your religion does not coincide with his. A few people meeting in a small, out-of-the-way shack, worshiping God as they believe in Him, have the same right to religious freedom as the people who worship God in the great cathedrals on the avenues of our greatest cities. Prayer for the day Thank You, God, for allowing me to live in the greatest, grandest, and most free land the world has ever known. B.G.

Overview: 3rd John 13-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfh_wOsauk

Overview: 2nd John 1-12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2e9mMf7E8

Salvation is an act of God. It is initiated by God, wrought by God, and sustained by God. —Billy Graham The Gospel is not an old, old story, freshly told. It is a fire in the Spirit, fed by the flame of Immortal Love; and woe unto us, if, through our negligence to stir up the Gift of God which is within us, that fire burns low. ― Leonard Ravenhill The ultimate fruit of revival is salvation's—people giving their lives over to Jesus and accepting his unearned gift of salvation. There is much work to do. Pray that the gospel would spread over our country. Pray that the salvation of Jesus would find it’s way into every corner of the earth. Take a moment to pray for one friend, family member or neighbor who doesn’t know Jesus.  Pray that the work of God would not diminish, but would increase beyond expectation. That it would multiply so greatly that all nations and tongues would see the glory and power of his movement on earth. That the church would take new territory and be blown away

A Christian Virtue  I am being very frank about this and I hope I am being helpful: Do not ever say you are not right with God because you like some people better than others! I believe you can be right with God and still not like the way some people behave. It is easy to love those who are friendly; others rub us the wrong way or perhaps they cut us down. The writer to the Hebrews has appealed to us as Christian believers to “let brotherly love continue”—in other words, “never stop loving one another in the Lord.” Here is what I have found: It is possible to love people in the Lord even though you may not like their boorish or distasteful human traits. We still love them for Jesus’ sake! Yes, I believe you can be right with God and still not like the way some people behave. Our admonition is to love them in a larger and more comprehensive way because we are all one in Christ Jesus. This kind of love is indeed a Christian virtue!   Prayer - "Father, help me to love people for Jesu

Devotional Pray Confidently to God King David faced difficulties and was threatened by many wicked oppressors. Without help and hope in the situation, David turned to God and prayed "(But) You, O Lord..." He used "But" to turn the hopeless situation to hope, from helplessness to confidence because he knew God is greater than his problem. David prayed confidently that God is his shield to protect him and God is his provider to give him glory. When David has no one to lift him up, God encourages him. (If your a follower of Dr. Phil 1 of Oprah cronies he says anyone that uses the word "BUT" the next part of the sentence is a lie, HMM, well Dr. Phil if your a man of God as you say you would read this about King David and change your mind)  Prayer: Father Lord, we declare that you are our shield and our provider. In all circumstances we are facing, Holy Spirit, help build up our sense of security in You alone. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Overview: 2 Peter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWLv_ITyKYc

Overview: 1 Peter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhP7AZQlzCg

Unwilling To Yield I know there are people who hear me preach regularly who will never consider changing their way of living. They will go “underground” before they will do that! Our situation is not an isolated case. There are millions of men and women with an understanding of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, who are still not willing to receive and commit themselves to Him whom the very angels and stars and rivers receive. They hesitate and they delay because they know God is asking the abdication of their own selfish little kingdom and interests. This is the tragedy of mankind, my brethren! We have rejected Him from our lives because we must have our own way. But until Jesus Christ is sincerely received, there can be no knowledge of salvation, nor any understanding of the things of God. The little, selfish, sinful man rejects the Son of God. While he is still enumerating the things he deserves, the Son of God stands outside. My brethren, I repeat: This is the great tragedy of

6 Ways To Test If Someone Coming To You Or Your Community Is A False Prophet Or Teacher Jesus warned seriously against false prophets. If you follow Jesus and take these warnings seriously, you’ll learn a lot in this sermon. The disciples said the false prophets will appear as angels of light. False prophets can be appealing and convincing. You need to keep on updating your ability to stay alert, identify them and stay protected. This message will become a useful weapon of protection for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbx_tQddSzY

 The Bible Project Overviews All The Books Of The Bible: Overview: Genesis 1-11   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQI72THyO5I Overview: Genesis 12-50   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4isSyennFo Overview: Exodus 1-18   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E&t=1s Overview: Exodus 19-40   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNpTha80yyE Overview: Leviticus  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ-FekWUZzE

Overview: James https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

"I Will Arise And Go" I believe the Prodigal Son is God’s clear-cut picture to us of the entire human race that went out to the pigsty in Adam— and came back to the Father in Christ! The most telling part of the parable is the fact that the errant son “came to himself ”—and that speaks to us of the reality and necessity of repentance. He could repent and turn and seek forgiveness because he knew that his Father had not changed. He knew the character of his Father. Except for that knowledge, he could never have said: “I will arise and go to my Father!” Brethren, all of us who have come back to God by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ have found, as did the prodigal, that the Father in heaven has not changed at all!