MORNING MEDITATION

[Godbetheglory]

RAISE UP THE STANDARD!

"To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious Presence without fault and with great joy - to the Only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 24)

Morning Devotion: Feasting in His Presence - Read John 20:1-18

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and some of the other women went to the tomb of Jesus' and found the stone rolled away. Instead of believing that Jesus had been resurrected, Mary concluded that His body had been stolen; and she immediately went and told the disciples. When Peter and John arrived at the tomb they found it empty, just as they had been told by Mary; but they had also been told that it would be so by Jesus Himself (reference Matthew 12:40; Luke 24:46; John 2:19). While John looked in, Peter went in to the tomb and saw the Lord's grave clothes lying there. When John finally ventured in for himself, he saw the clothes and believed that Christ had indeed been raised from the dead. Then the two disciples left, but Mary returned to the tomb and stood outside weeping; overcome with grief for the one she loved so deeply. She could not leave her Lord, and she was soon rewarded for her devotion. As she peaked in to see the place where Jesus' body once laid she saw two angels, one sitting at the foot and the other at the head (just as the cherubim sit on the mercy seat in the most holy place). "Then they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?" (John 20:13). Even in the presence of angels, Mary Magdalene continued in her grief and sorrow. Nothing would comfort her except the sight of her Lord's body. Oh, how great is the love of God, and how rich the blessings that He has in store, for His devoted followers who continue in His presence long after everyone else has grown weary and left. " 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him' - but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Mary turned from the empty tomb to find her Lord standing there, and asking her: "Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" (John 20:15a). How deeply troubled she was, for she mistook her Lord for the gardener. How quickly we doubt God's presence when we face the trials of life, when in truth He is even closer than ever before. The Lord has promised us He will never leave us nor forsake us (reference Matthew 28:20b; Hebrews 13:5b). Jesus wants us to know Him, not just for what He has done for us individually, but also for who He is to us personally. He allows us to experience moments of desperation so He can show us His tender touch and personal care; to give us the assurance that He really is there for us. Jesus' appearance to Mary that Sunday morning was a compassionate reminder that, while He came to die for the sins of the whole world, He is still a personal, intimate Lord who is interested in reaching one heart at a time. God desires a personal, living relationship with each of His children. Too often, in the agony of our pain and grief, we miss hearing the voice of our Lord speaking to us; but if we will be still and wait upon Him we will find that He is right there with us, caring for us and carrying us through. When Mary heard Jesus tenderly speak her name, she immediately recognized the voice of her Shepherd, and she fell down and worshiped Him. Her sorrow was turned to joy and she was told to carry that message of joy to the other disciples. "...weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b).

"He has risen!" (Mark 16:6b). He has risen, indeed! The open tomb opened heaven for us! Jesus came down from heaven to bring us life, and by laying down His life He opened the gate for us to receive His very life. Ours is the resurrected life! "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). The life we now live we live in Christ. We are now and forever intimately connected to our Lord, and the wealth of heaven's resources is our supply. We are no longer empty, but are filled with the fullness of His life! We have no reason to grieve, wail, and mourn, because we are no longer bound to the grave. The grave clothes that once bound Jesus' body were still intact, as if to send the message that as Jesus is no longer bound to the grave, so we, as believers, are no longer bound by sin and death - we have been set free! The tomb may be empty, but the message we proclaim is full of life! We have been saved from sin and death and given new life - and not just any life - the resurrected life of Christ! "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5). If there be any mourning or crying it should be for those who have not yet come face to face with the Lord and received His extraordinary gift of eternal life. This morning, as we pray for the lost, let us also ask God to develop His resurrection life more fully in us so we can become bold ambassadors of the most extraordinary message the world is (literally) dying to know!


Heavenly Father,
"The LORD is my light and my salvation...
the LORD is the stronghold of my life..."
(Psalm 27:1)
How do I even begin to express my gratitude
for all that You are and all that You have done.
Help me to be constant in my devotion towards You
that I may have joy in Your presence,
as I look upon Your face daily and see as Mary saw,
the beauty and majesty of my risen Lord!
Wake me in the early hours to give the
best of my day to You, and fan the flame of
deep affection to stay long after others have
left the throne room.
Open my heart to more of Yours
and fill it with a deep compassion for the souls of men.
May I weep over them as You do,
and be stirred to greater fervency in prayer
so that I may find joy and comfort for
them in accessing Your abundant grace
to touch and bless their lives
in a personal and intimate way.
Keep my ear in tune to Your voice
and give me a willing heart to follow wherever You lead me.
There is no greater pursuit I have in my life
than to lose everything else that I may gain You!
Lead me to experience daily the fullness and might
of Your resurrection power that I may be a powerful
witness of Your glory, grace, and love in the lives
of those You desire to reach.
Be glorified in my life, I pray.
"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power
belong to our God!"
(Revelation 19:1b)
In Jesus' Mighty Name, I pray. Amen.

_____________________________

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:24-26

Jesus sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane as He labored in prayer over the path He would have to tread in the coming hours to obey the will of the Father. This is the reason He had come: to fill that terrible gap and repair that awful breach between holy God and sinful man. It was sin that drove the dividing wedge and separated man from his once perfect union with the Father. Oh, how the Father must have loved those walks in the garden with His most beloved creatures. But then the enemy slithered in like the snake he is, and stole their innocence. That ole' deluder Satan opened their eyes to things they were never meant to see. How vile his tactics are even today as he works relentlessly to rob children of their innocence; even their lives. So back to the garden our Great Mediator had to go, to crush the serpents head under His feet, once and for all. Sweat beaded like drops of blood upon His forehead, which was now hard as flint, as He focused on the task before Him. Jesus was determined to go to the cross, and crossover to the grave, to rescue mankind from eternal separation from the Father. He alone understood the depths of that impossible separation, and nothing would stop Him from bridging the gap of that great divide.


God knew our greatest need was a restored relationship with the Father; a possibility only if our righteous Judge would pardon our case (Psalm 82:8; 2 Timothy 4:8)). We are all sinners. We all stand before Holy God guilty and unable to pay the penalty for our great debt of sin. He had every right to turn a deaf ear to our excuses, and slam the gavel of judgment on our mountain of sin. Yet He chose, instead, to pay the fine Himself; a mountain of debt so great it could only be covered by blood - the blood of innocence that had been stolen - redeemed only by One who had no sin. The Judge of the earth called forth His Son Jesus to suffer the penalty mankind deserved. In humility and obedience to the Father, Jesus laid down His life in our place. He poured out His blood in a once for all final sacrifice. Our sin debt was paid in blood, and our guilt and shame was washed away; He redeemed us from the grave, and washed us white as snow. We now stand before the Judge forgiven; sentenced to a life of love. All that is required is to humbly accept with grateful hearts this extraordinary gift we will never have to repay, and repent and receive the restoration we need; or suffer the consequences of refusing and rejecting His merciful judgment.


The choice to believe and accept "is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). Our Righteous Judge wielded His power and brought down His mighty gavel ruling on our behalf: FORGIVEN! How then do we withhold such mercy from others, especially those we claim, or have claimed, to love?

Heavenly Father,
Woe to me for I am a sinner,
unable to stand in Your presence.
You have lifted me out of the miry clay
and given me a firm foundation to stand upon.
Forgive me, that I, knowing how much better it is to give than to receive,
have accepted your priceless gift, and yet have at times withheld it from others.
Forgive my debts as I have forgiven my debtors
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


The Lord's command is to "love one another" (John 13:34), for "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8), and "It keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:5b); however, it is not true love if one harbors unforgiveness in the heart. True love forgives again and again (reference Matthew 18:22). Our sin-debt is astronomical, we could never repay it, yet God has forgiven us an impossible debt that has grieved Him greatly. Why then do we expect others to pay for the pain they have caused us? How can we expect to receive such forgiveness from God, if we harbor an unwilling spirit of forgiveness towards others. God searches our hearts, and He knows what we are holding over others is only hurting ourselves more deeply, because it is keeping us separated from the One who loves us most (reference Psalm 7:9). Pray today for those you have harbored unforgiveness towards. Pray sincerely for those who have wounded you, whether intentionally or ignorantly, asking the Lord to reveal His love to them so that they also will learn how to love others as He loves them. Ask the Lord to give you His forgiving disposition so that you will be free from the need of protecting yourself or wanting to see the offender suffer as you have. Pray also for those you know who have been hurt deeply by others, especially by people who have professed to love them, and who live constantly in that place of pain. Ask God to penetrate their hearts with His pardoning love so that they can offer up the fullness of God's forgiveness and receive for themselves His love and blessings. Let us remember that apart from the love of God we cannot know what true love is, nor love others as we should. May we dwell in His love so we can forgive others as He has forgiven us.

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-39

When the Psalmist would offer praise to God it was rarely a private matter, instead he expressed his praise to God in public, and would call all those in the temple who hear to join in the celebration of praise for God's goodness, blessing, and deliverance. "Sing to the LORD, you saints of His; praise His holy name" (Psalm 30:4). While our personal prayer time should be spent in a private place where we can experience quiet, uninterrupted time with the Lord each day (reference Matthew 6:6), there are also times when it is beneficial and necessary to pray corporately, in public, with other believers.

In our Scripture reading, Elijah had received a word from the Lord revealing His intentions to show Himself anew to the people. "After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah" (1 Kings 18:1a). It has been said, that when God is about to move in an extraordinary way He moves the hearts of His people to respond with united, fervent prayer. In Elijah's day, God summoned all the people from all over Israel to Mount Carmel to show them that He is the One, True, Living God, and the only One worthy of their worship. The stage was being set for a showdown of prayer. The prophets of Baal shouted and danced for hours, they even cut themselves and bled, in a vain attempt to capture the attention of their false gods, but to no avail. However, when it was Elijah's turn to pray, he simply "stepped forward and prayed" (v. 36). In the presence of all of the people, who were weary and exhausted from making a public spectacle of themselves, Elijah stepped forward in faith, trusting in the promises of God's word; just as David had confidently done years earlier as he walked across that battlefield in the presence of thousands of doubtful soldiers, to take his stand against the opposing giant on behalf of God (reference 1 Samuel 17:40-47).

God calls us out of our daily private places of prayer to publicly proclaim the confidence, trust, and faith we have found in Him as we unite with other believers in times corporate prayer, so that our brothers and sisters in Christ will be encouraged, strengthened, refreshed, and revived to continue to walk by faith and boldly proclaim His gospel message. "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again" (1 Kings 18:37).

Heavenly Father,
We praise You for those opportunities
You give us to join You on the front line of
the battlefield with Your army of prayer warriors.
Help us to be useful reinforcements who
You can use to encourage and strengthen Your faithful,
and sometimes weary, saints who may need a word of refreshment
as they face the day to day struggles in this spiritual war.
May those who are watching catch a glimpse of
the powerful and mighty way You act on behalf of
those who love You and who have been called
according to Your purpose.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


When we are faithful to meet the Lord in the hidden and secret place of prayer we have no reason to fear when we are given an opportunity to pray publicly. There is no better training ground for prayer than the schoolroom of prayer our faithful Teacher provides for us when we meet with Him for private lessons in our prayer closet. We have a divine opportunity to implement all that we have learned by taking advantage of every opportunity to pray with others the Lord has placed in our circle of influence. Take time this week to schedule time to pray with your spouse, your children, and with a friend; and purpose to attend the next prayer meeting at your church (you might be surprised to find out how few do). Every time we pray together corporately we gain strength and achieve unity for the Body of Christ. Seize opportunities during these 40 days to take part in a prayer group, or, as the Holy Spirit leads, start your own. The success of all that we do for the Kingdom of God depends on how faithful, or unfaithful, we have been in prayer. When we link arms together, and commit to praying with one another, there is greater accountability, agreement, and encouragement in the Body.

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Exodus 4:31

When Elijah stood before the Lord and prayed in the presence of all the people of Israel the Lord's response came with fire that consumed his offering. When all the people saw this, "they fell prostrate and cried, 'The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (I Kings 18:39). The people were immediately humbled at the sight of God's mighty display of power. Their posture in that moment revealed that they recognized that He, not Baal, is the Lord. "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that You are turning their hearts back again" (v.37).

The apostle Paul explained at Corinth that the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. We have been given divine power "to demolish strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). The people of Elijah's day were gripped by the stronghold of idolatry, and Elijah was called by God to attack the imposing force that was keeping all the people in spiritual bondage by employing the powerful weapon of prayer. Elijah's prayer opened heaven and fire rained down, the sacrifice was consumed, and the once proud idolatrous people fell humbly on their faces before the Lord, and were released from the stronghold that had held them captive.

In our short reading this morning, the people of Israel were so overcome by the holy visitation of the Lord that they bowed their heads in worship. The Lord had come to deliver them, and they were humbled at the word. How dearly we need this reminder that the Lord is concerned with the afflictions of His people. How much we need to hear the anguish of His heart over the condition of His people. "I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey - " (Exodus 3:7-8a). This morning may we take the time to bow with reverence and awe at the feet of the One who loves us with an everlasting love, and who will never leave us or forsake us. He came to deliver us and set us free, and He has laid within our hearts the key to unlocking the chains of those in spiritual prisons all over this land. May we go out and bring the word that will cause the people around us to declare, "The Lord, He is God!"

Heavenly Father,
There are times when I am so overwhelmed
by Your goodness and mercy
that my floor is soaked with tears of gratitude.
You reveal Yourself both in extraordinary and simple ways
to Your creation everyday. Help us to recognize Your
loving presence in our lives each day,
and to look beyond the uncertainty of our present circumstances
to see You high and lifted up, seated on Your throne,
that we find ourselves overcome with awe and reverence
for Your beauty and majesty
that we fall on our faces in worship.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


Moses was so overcome by the evil and sin that the Israelites committed he fell prostrate before the LORD for forty days and forty nights. He had just come off the mountain of the Lord with the Law, and the intimacy that he had experienced while resting in the presence of God enabled him to feel the depths of God's anger and wrath towards the sin of the people (Deuteronomy 9:18-19). When we lay prostrate before the Lord, completely surrendered and humbled with our faces in the dust, we place ourselves in a position to experience the very heart of God. Moses was so in tune to the Lord's view of sin that he stood (laid) in the gap on behalf of all the people. May our time with the Lord these 40 days renew our view of how great and holy our God is, and how great His wrath towards wickedness and sin is, that we will be willing to prostrate ourselves in unceasing prayer until the moral and spiritual fog is lifted over this land and we can march forth as the army of God we were purposed to be to wield our mighty spiritual weapons and set the captives free! Pray this morning for those in your circle of influence who are so blinded by the world that they do not have eyes to see or ears to hear the great love of our Father in heaven who has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver them from captivity.

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[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: John 14:12-13

If we have ever wondered what the purpose of prayer is - the answer is found in these ten words:
"...so that the Son may bring glory to the Father" (v.13b, NIV). The very reason Jesus hears and answers our prayer is to this end alone (v.13a). "...I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me" (John 5:30b). Jesus' entire ministry on earth was to bring glory to the Father by being obedient to His will. "For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me"(John 6:38). His work did not end when He ascended to the right hand of the Father; on the contrary, He continues to bring glory to the Father by making intercession for us. It glorifies the Father when Jesus hears and answers our prayers. Because of this we can rest, with confidence, that if Jesus' great purpose is to bring glory to the Father, then He will do whatever is necessary to see that His glory is our highest aim as well.

During the first part of His-story, the glory of the Lord was associated with the tabernacle and with the temple in Jerusalem (reference Exodus 29:43; 40:34). The prophet Ezekiel was given a VIP view of God's glory apart from the temple (reference Ezekiel 1:28), and again when the glory of God returned to the temple. "..and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with His glory" (Ezekiel 43:2). The Scriptures tell us that all of creation shows forth the glory of God (reference Psalm 19:1-6); but it was when Jesus was born into the world that man was invited to get up close and personal with His glory. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). God's creative and redemptive work shows His glory, and He continues to show forth His glory as He works through the lives of His obedient and praying children. It glorifies the Father to do what we ask. May we keep the prayer altar aflame with our fervent God-glorifying prayers until the whole earth is filled with the glory of God (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14).


Heavenly Father,
You are the Majestic Glory.
Just as Your servant Moses asked of You,
I make this same request, "Show me Your glory."
For Your glory is all that I want to see and know.
Teach me today how to pray and live for Your glory.
I know You won't deny my request, because it is for
Your glory to answer Your child when I call.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


The glory of the Father must be the aim and object of all our prayers. This is what one saint called, "the chief end of prayer." We will experience the power of prevailing prayer if this is the priority of our petitions. If this was (and continues to be) Jesus' duty before the throne, then it should be our main objective as well. As we pray this morning, let us ask ourselves if the glory of the Father is the true motivation of our prayers, or if our self-interests are our main concern as we begin our day? How dearly we need to learn the proper way to pray. Every step of this journey only reveals how much more we have to learn about prayer. May we submit our times of prayer to learning from our Teacher, Who alone knows how to bring glory to the Father. "Who is He, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty - He is the King of glory" (Psalm 24:10).

__________________________________________________ _____________

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:14-15

When we meet a new person, the first thing we typically do is exchange names. Our name identifies who we are. The mere mention of a person's name is all it takes for our mind to be filled with the impression or characteristics of a particular person. In the Old Testament the name a child was given when he was born held great significance. "When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb...his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heal; so he was named Jacob" (meaning "he deceives"; Genesis 25:24,26a) When the Lord set Abram apart for Himself, He attached His own name to Abram's: "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations" (Genesis 17:5); and the Lord did the same for his wife Sarai, who became Sarah (reference Genesis 17:15-16). A person's name could be a great blessing or a terrible curse that one carried with them throughout life.

We have all been given a name or names that were either family names or had a significant meaning to our parents when we were born. But we are also called more than our first name because of the many positions or functions we fulfill: father, brother, son, mother, wife, sister, friend, teacher, doctor, lawyer, athlete, even nicknames. Every name describes a different characteristic of who we are or what we do. How we identify ourselves to people helps them to understand more about us. This holds true even more so for our God, Who has revealed Himself by more than one thousand names and titles throughout His holy Word. Of particular importance is the name chosen for God's Son: "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). His name was a common name for the time, but the meaning behind His name identifies the purpose for which He came into the world: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Every time we uncover another name, characteristic, or aspect of our God, as we dig into His Word, the more our understanding and knowledge of Him grows, and the more intimate our relationship with Him becomes. There is no greater knowledge than the knowledge of God. From the very beginning of their relationship, Moses wanted to know Who it was that he was talking with, hearing from, and being obedient to. God gave Him the name that showed Moses he could trust Him: "I Am Who I Am...This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation" (Exodus 3:14a, 15b).

When we pray to the Heavenly Father, as Jesus has taught us to pray, we are calling upon, and identifying with, the One from whom all good things come. "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). When we pray in Jesus' name we tap into the authority and power of the One who is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father and who will supply all that we need to accomplish the Father's business on earth. "Then the Father will give whatever you ask in My name" (John 15:16b). Praying in Jesus' name means we are praying with a desire to see the purposes for which Jesus was sent fulfilled: the salvation of mankind. Jesus hears and answers these prayers to the glory of the Father.

Heavenly Father,
Hallowed be Your name.
"O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!"
(Psalm 8:1)
"I will praise Your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise You
and extol Your name for ever and ever."
(Psalm 145:1b, 2)
"Let all who take refuge in You be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread Your protection over them,
that those who love Your name may
rejoice in You." (Psalm 5:11)
In the wonderful and powerful name of Jesus. Amen.


Simply tagging "in Jesus' name" to our prayers does not provide a magic formula for answered prayer. When we pray in Jesus' name we are literally praying "according to His nature." The core of His nature is love; this is the motivation behind His creative and redemptive work throughout history. "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and ever tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). May our prayers be motivated by a loving response to the Lord's command to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and an earnest desire to be so filled with His love that we can touch and impact the lives of those around us. There is power in the name of Jesus. May His great Name continue through all generations because we, like Moses, want everyone to know Who has called us, Who is leading us, and Who desires to save and deliver them.
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[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Luke 5:12-16

From the very beginning of His earthly ministry Jesus began to transform the lives of everyone He touched. Multitudes of people were drawn to Jesus everywhere He went, and were receiving healing for their sicknesses and diseases (reference Luke 4:38-40). Jesus, who had been sent into the world as an act of indescribable and unimaginable love from the heavenly Father, could not help but express that love in tangible ways to everyone He came in contact with.

The news of Jesus was spreading quickly, however many thought of Him as only a miracle worker or a healer. Truly He had come to heal them, but His concern was for more than just their temporal physical needs. Jesus' mission was much greater. He had been sent to redeem mankind from their sins and restore them to a right relationship with the Father. He knew He had limited time to accomplish His work, and to prepare a people who would proclaim His message after He was gone. The news of Jesus' power to heal drew large crowds everywhere He went, and this was beginning to hinder His ability to minister and teach the good news of the kingdom of God. He wanted people to come to Him for the spiritual healing He had to offer, and not just for the physical healing He was capable of. "Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places" (Mark 1:45b).

Jesus had come to display the glory of the Father and to complete His work. While His ability to heal displayed His divine power, it was not quite time for Him to be fully revealed. It wouldn't be long before the people would recognize Jesus as their Savior, but not as the Father intended; instead, they were looking for a deliverer who would rescue them from Roman oppression. This was not the kingdom He had come to establish. The work He came to do would greatly improve the quality of their lives, as He would ultimately deliver them from the oppression of a far greater enemy. The people were desperate for healing, they began to show up in droves to be near the One who could meet their present physical needs, "so He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed" (Luke 5:16, NKJV). It was here, in the quiet place of prayer, away from crowds, where Jesus received the strength and peace He needed for each day. His prayer life demonstrated how absolutely dependent He was upon the Father. and how vital it was that He listen to only One voice, despite all the demanding cries of the people. He would let nothing deter Him from His love relationship with the Father, nor hinder Him from sharing that extraordinary love in the way it would be most beneficial to the people. "For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).


Heavenly Father,
. There are so many people around us who are hurting
and need healing on so many levels.
There are days when the burdens can be so overwhelming.
Help us to respond affirmatively to Your call to meet You in that secret place of prayer each day
so we can lay these needs at Your feet, and in the stillness and quiet of our prayer closet listen to Your tender and compassionate voice as You give us the direction we need
to do the work You've called us to do. Teach us, Lord Jesus, to pray down the blessing, healing,
strength, and provision for those You've placed in our path that will best fulfill
Your purposes for their lives. Protect us from getting in the way of the
work You have purposed for them, because we may think we know what is
best for their lives; and help us to be obedient at the moment You
require us to act on their behalf.
Thank You for being our help and shield, our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
We praise You that we are never powerless or helpless when
we come to You in prayer.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


We are surrounded by a world of people desperately needing help, healing, and salvation. As people of prayer, our hearts are filled with compassion to help others, just as Jesus' was, but we may feel constrained by limited time and resources. Prayer was Jesus' secret weapon to meeting the needs of the multitude while still remaining on mission; and it is ours too! The Lord has placed each of us in our own circle of influence, and has burdened our hearts to meet specific needs through our various giftings, ministries, and resources. May we pray for His wisdom and discernment to know how to best help those He has connected our lives and ministries with. Let us pray for a deeper understanding of His heart, and how He desires to reach them in the way that will achieve His higher purposes for their lives, testify to His incredible goodness, and ultimately bring glory to God. At times we may feel powerless or penniless to help those we desperately desire to reach, but if we are willing to take the time to bring them before the Lord in prayer we can be assured that the Lord will provide for them exactly what they need. As we pray for the very real physical needs of the people all around us, let us not forget that we have all the power, authority, and resources of heaven at our disposal to meet their greater spiritual need.
__________________________________________________ _____________________

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: John 15:1-8

In this morning's devotion we discover the secret to true power in prevailing prayer: The abiding life. "It you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (vv. 7, 8). Our intimacy with Christ, in close fellowship in the secret place of prayer, is absolutely essential to our daily walk with God. He is the vine, and we are the branches. Apart from this close union with Christ - a life of absolute dependence upon God - we are powerless. "For without Me you can do nothing" (v.5b). If there is indeed a deficit of spiritual power in the Church today, we can trace the cause back to our lack of dependence upon the Vine; where we have failed to maintain our living and vital connection. "He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow" (Colossians 2:19).

Our greatest necessity, as children of God, is to have the life of Christ working in us. It is here, in the abiding life, that we tap into all power necessary for life. The sap which flows from our True Vine is what gives us, the branches, our life, and through which all spiritual fruit is born. "This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit..." A life that learns to abide in Christ is what pleases the Father. There is no greater work for the Christian than that of abiding in the Vine. So often our service and ministry for God is what robs us of spending intimate time in prayer with the Lord. But as one saint has said: "We have not been called to some great work - we have been called to Christ." The work we, as believers, are called to do is to bear fruit, much fruit; and this comes from accepting as our greatest occupation the abiding life. Our work is to simply abide in the Vine and receive from Him the spiritual sap which will produce spiritual fruit. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit."

Heavenly Father,
What a blessed work and honor
it is to maintain this living and loving connection with You.
For only by living a life of absolute dependence upon You
will I experience Your power, peace, and rest.
Thank You that You carry for me the full responsibility of providing
the sap, Your Holy Spirit, who will produce the fruit which will glorify You
as I daily learn to rest and abide in You.
Help me to take advantage of every moment in my day
for quiet fellowship with You, so You can work in me all that
in necessary to bring glory and honor to Your name.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


This morning let us reflect on the moments we spend alone with the Lord. Can we say with confidence that we have truly entered into the abiding life - the place of close communion with the Father - where our work is to simply rest in Him and allow Him full access to our hearts? As we carve out this precious time this morning for prayer, let us consider what is occupying our minds. Does the Lord have our full and undivided attention, or are we concerned with so many other things that we are being pulled away from our most vital connection and find that we have lost necessary power and are failing to bear much fruit? Let us attach ourselves securely to the Vine and give Him complete access to our hearts, so He can fill us with the fullness of His life through the Holy Spirit who will produce in us His spiritual fruit that will nourish and feed a hungry world with the love of Christ. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
_______

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist He departed to a desert place. Once again we find Jesus retiring from the multitudes to spend time alone. While He traveled by ship, the people, eager to be with Jesus, followed after Him on foot. They pursued Him, and His compassions did not fail. He came out to meet them, and He helped them, healed them, and fed them. "And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (v.14).

Jesus looked upon the multitude with compassion, but His disciples looked at the crowds with concern. The hour was getting late, and the disciples thought it best for the people to go home, but Jesus wasn't about to let them go away empty-handed. "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat" (Matthew 14:16). The crowds came with their sights fixed on Jesus, knowing He could supply their need, and Jesus, the Good Shepherd, had compassion on them. The disciples however did not pity the people as Jesus did. Their eyes were fixed on their circumstances rather than Jesus. They saw an impossible situation, rather than all-sufficient Savior and Provider. Jesus saw a teachable moment, so He called the people to Himself, asked them to sit down, blessed the food, thanking His Father in heaven for the portion He had provided, and gave it to His disciples to distribute to the people. "So they all ate and were filled" (v.20a). And if that lesson wasn't enough to feed on for the day, the disciples gathered up twelve baskets more as a further lesson of the Lord's infinite, abundant, and overflowing supply for those who are His ministers and messengers in the world. "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).


Heavenly Father,
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of [Your] great love I am not consumed,
for [Your] compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him,
to the one who seeks Him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."
(Lamentations 3:21-26)
Thank You for my daily bread that
You so graciously and generously provide for me each day.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


The portion the Lord placed in the disciples hands seemed too little compared to the multitudes of hungry people, but the disciples obeyed their Teacher never-the-less, and they were rewarded, as they took what little they had been given and shared it with those the Lord had placed in their care. How strangely, yet wonderfully higher the law of God's kingdom is - that in the giving away the supply is actually increased, rather than used up. "Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance" (Matthew 13:12a). What blessings abound when we trust our tiny offerings to His infinite, all-sufficient, all-powerful hands. How fully satisfied we are when we feast on the portion He has placed on our plate each day. Let us offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the portion He has prepared for us and entrusted to us today; receiving with gratitude what has so graciously come from His compassionate and tender hands, and willingly and obediently sharing with others so the portion will be substantially multiplied and the multitudes sufficiently fed. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants of His household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions" (Matthew 24:45-47)

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-33

In our devotional time yesterday we read how the disciple's pop quiz turned quickly into an open book test as Jesus asked them to have a seat while He demonstrated how "the bread of life" feeds a multitude of people with a simple offering of child-like faith. The disciples were then put to the task of gathering up the leftovers, each filling their own basket full, while chewing on the bitter aftertaste of humble pie. The Lord dismissed His pupils until it was time for their next lesson. They climbed into the boat and headed to the other side of the lake. One can only imagine the conversation that took place as they huddled together in the boat; or maybe the silence was thick enough to be cut with a knife as they took time to contemplate the events that just took place.

Jesus didn't let them belabor over the previous days' exam too long, for it was time to see if they truly learned anything. "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake" (v.25). Earlier in the day the disciples had trouble believing what they could not see, now, in the early hours of a new day they could hardly believe what was before their eyes. "Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (v.27). Jesus, always the faithful Teacher, had a lesson He wanted to drive home to His students. It was time for them to test the core issue that would prevent them from being useful to His kingdom building program - their faith. Peter raised his hand and stepped to the front of the class: "Lord, it it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water" (v.28). Peter had enough time to chew on his failure in the last exercise, and now he was willing to put it all on the line as he stepped onto the water. Unfortunately, this test wasn't about showing his faith, this was about knowing Who his faith was in. Peter was ready to put his faith on display, but the Lord was about to lay his heart bare and show the true motivation behind his request. "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6).

Peter needed confirmation that Jesus had called him out, but that wasn't enough to keep him afloat; he quickly lost focus, having been distracted by the wind and waves, and he began to sink. "You of little faith,' [Jesus] said, 'why did you doubt?" (v.31). Peter wanted so desperately to prove his faith, but he only proved he had much more to learn. If the disciples were going to be able to lead others down the path of faith, they had to pass this test themselves. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). Jesus wanted them to know that wherever they were He would always be with them, and whenever they cried out to Him He would be there to deliver them, and whatever they asked for He would provide for them. This is an important lesson Jesus desires all of His followers to learn. "We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Heavenly Father,
This morning our eyes are upon Jesus,
the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2a).
"We fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Help us today to not lose our vision, focus,
or perspective, no matter what disruptions,
distractions, or difficulties come our way.
With each new (and expected) testing of our faith
may we prove our trust in and dependence upon You
and provide an example to the watching world
that will cause them to look upon You and call upon Your holy name.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


Peter deserves some credit for his boldness and willingness to step out of the boat and onto the stormy sea, but he took a slight misstep when he asked Jesus, "if". How many times do we pray asking "...if it is your will, Lord?" Jesus wants us to ask with confidence realizing that every time He answers our prayers He brings glory to the Father. The more time we spend in the Word of God the better equipped we are to discern the will of God and are enabled to pray with the assurance that His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Before we pray we ought to take a good look at our surroundings, and then step forward believing our God is greater than our circumstances, and submit our prayers in faith. "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (2 Chronicles 20:12b). Instead of trying to show or prove our faith, we need to simply ask God to show Himself to us (reference Psalm 25:4,5); this is a prayer He delights in answering. If we are willing, He will show us "great and unsearchable things we do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3).
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[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:18-27

It was time for another lesson, as Jesus took His students on a field trip to Caesarea Philippi; to the place where many came to worship false gods. Jesus had gone to pray, and His disciples joined Him. After preparing them in prayer, He questioned them: "Who do the crowds say I am?" (v.18b). With his feet still wet from failing his last examination Peter was a little more cautious in speaking up, so the others chimed in: "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." (v. 19). Their Teacher, wanting to test their understanding of Him, questioned further: "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" (v.20). This time Peter was ready, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Peter had passed the test with flying colors, and he received his reward: "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven" (v.17). The lessons were beginning to take root. How blessed we are that the Lord doesn't give up on His children, but proves His love over and over in giving us ample opportunity to learn the lessons He desires to teach us.

The disciples had been observing Jesus in prayer, and at work ministering to the many needs of the people. Up to this point they had been astounded by what they saw with their eyes. Jesus wanted them to see beyond what their limited physical vision allowed them to see, and, instead, to view the world around them through spiritual lenses. Peter looked at Jesus, all of the miracles and healing He had done flooded his mind; he had seen what everyone else had observed, but now he saw so much more; he saw the truth, before him stood the Christ, the Anointed one, the promised Messiah whom the prophets had spoken and written about. This was not just one of the prophets; this was The Prophet, the Son of the Living God. Peter had found the key, and the door of his heart had been opened to greater understanding, and the Lord opened the floodgates of heaven to him: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (v.19). Peter opened his mouth and proved with his words that he all that he had observed penetrated his soul and became truth to him. What he spoke about Jesus in private, he would soon be proclaiming openly and unashamedly (v.26).

Heavenly Father,
"Sovereign LORD, [You], have given me an instructed
tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary,"
[You have] "wakened me morning by morning,
waken my ear to listen like one being taught.
Sovereign LORD, [You], have opened my ears,
and I have not been rebellious;
I have not drawn back." (Isaiah 50:4-5)
Help me to not waste the precious keys You
have placed in my hands, but use them
daily to unlock the storehouse of heaven
so that Your blessings can be poured out on
all those You have placed in my life.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Jesus warned His disciples to tell no one what they had just proclaimed about Him. The people would be convinced soon enough that He is "the Christ of God"; His crucifixion and resurrection would provide all the proof they would need. "But wisdom is proved right by her actions" (Matthew 11:19b). Jesus knew the sufferings He would soon endure, therefore He took this opportunity to explain to His disciples the cost of following Him. The life of a true follower of Jesus Christ would not be one of creature comforts, but rather they would be called to live the crucified life; a life of self-denial and cross-bearing. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). We have been called, as His followers, to advance His Kingdom in this world; we are not to make a name for ourselves, or concern ourselves with the comforts the world has to offer. As we continue in prayer, may we be willing to deny ourselves of the pleasures of life that rob us of valuable time that we can spend in quiet devotion with the Lord. Let us remember, that with every moment of solitude we spend with the Lord, He is there with us. We are not alone. There is nothing in this world that we could sacrifice that could possibly equal the extraordinary privilege of spending time in the company of the King! May every possible discomfort or affliction be exchanged for joy as our souls learn to delight in the presence of the One who is willing to give us anything we ask of Him. Jesus has given us the keys to the kingdom of heaven and He desires for us to unlock the door to His heavenly storehouse with our prayers so He can flood the earth with His eternal blessings. Let us be willing to sacrifice our time and comfort so that others will find salvation and true happiness in the Lord. "So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Luke 23:26-43

The love of God was imprinted on the earth in the footprints of Jesus as He made His way to the cross. From the moment His feet touched the earth, and with every step He took as He ministered to the people, up until He took those final, painful steps on the road to Calvary, Jesus' mission was to spread the love of the Father into the hearts of the people. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' " (Isaiah 52:7).

The Scriptures paint a beautiful picture of our Lord's unconditional and selfless love throughout His ministry, and as it was extraordinary demonstrated in the final week of His Passion. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the first day of the week He wept over the city (reference Luke 19:41). Later, when the cross was laid upon Him the women would follow Him weeping and wailing, and He would have compassion on them and call them to instead weep for the judgment that was to come upon the city, and that they should weep for themselves and their children and for their sins which where the reason He was being put to death. "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me; weep for yourselves and for your children..." (Luke 23:28). His compassion was remarkable as He prayed His final prayers on the cross. The first being an incredible prayer of intercession calling on the Father to forgive those who were murdering Him even as they nailed Him to the cross. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (v. 34 a). In the hour of great suffering our sacrificial Lamb announced the reason for His death: the forgiveness of sins. He also demonstrated for us how much we need to pray for our enemies. Our Lord was being crucified for who He is, and one of the criminals being crucified beside Jesus recognized the truth in the words written above His head: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS" (v. 38). A thief saw what the chief priests couldn't see, and he submitted his prayer request to be saved by one who would not even save Himself from the cross. His humble prayer exhibited great faith and hit the nail on the head, for that is exactly why Jesus was being crucified, to save sinners by the cross. And Jesus responded immediately to his dying request: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (v.43).

Jesus loved and ministered up until His final breath. His body was beaten and torn beyond recognition. He suffered excruciating pain, yet in His own agony He was able to speak words of comfort and bring hope, forgiveness of sin, and the promise of eternal life to those around Him. He had been verbally and physically abused, spat upon, mocked, tortured, and unjustly accused; yet there was nothing that could affect His love or deter Him from His mission. He willingly and obediently took everything we deserved to suffer upon Himself, and purchased through His death what we could never achieve for ourselves (reference John 3:16). His mercy and grace were passionately poured out from the cross as He prayed up until His dying breath. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Heavenly Father,
"The LORD, the LORD,
the compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
maintaining love to thousands,
and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." (Exodus 34:6, 7a)
"Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
For the word of the LORD is right and true;
He is faithful in all He does.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of His unfailing love.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people He chose for His inheritance.
We wait in hope for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in You." (Psalm 33:1-5, 12, 20-22)
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

It can be painfully difficult to love and minister to others when they are attacking us with vile words or abusive behavior, yet this is the example Jesus set for us. He looked beyond, or really into, their hateful (empty) hearts, and saw a great need that only He could fill. Jesus was not deterred or distracted by the reactions or responses of the people, He responded solely to the Father's heart and His extraordinary love for His creation. Sadly, it is often the people we should love the most that turn out to be the ones we struggle the most to love. When conflict and criticism arise we find ourselves more apt to respond with anger and bitterness, rather than love. As we kneel in prayer this morning, let us pray that we would respond the way the Lord has commanded, and demonstrated for, us: "As I have loved you (remember the cross!), so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34 b, 35).

__

[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-26

Jesus cried out His last breath and surrendered to the will of the Father, giving up His life on the cross as a ransom for the sins of mankind. Three days later, having conquered the grave, He began to meet with His disciples, calling them to follow the path of perfect love. Jesus had completed the work He came to do; achieving victory over sin and death for His beloved creation and opening the doorway for them to enter into the presence of the Father. Over the next forty days He prepared His disciples to take up their cross and to carry the glorious good news of His resurrection to the utmost parts of the world. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (v.8).

At the end of their forty days together, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He would begin the work of interceding for His followers; He commanded His followers to wait for the promised Helper, Who would guide them to become successful intercessors and fruitful workers for the kingdom: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (v.4b, 5). The disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy, where they "stayed continually at the temple, praising God" (Luke 24:53). As they waited and worshiped together they prayed for guidance in filling the position for the twelfth apostle. "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen..." (Acts 1:24a). While they waited, they worked; desiring to know God's will they made good use of their time during those ten days by being watchful and praying. "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers" (v.14).

Prayer was the critical component to the success of the early church as the Holy Spirit guided them to fulfill their role of being witnesses for God's kingdom. For the next ten days we will journey with these faithful believers as they lay the foundation for the work we, too, have been commissioned to continue (reference Matthew 28:18-21). The example they demonstrated for us in prayer is an important lesson that we, as the modern church, must learn and put into practice. May God awaken our hearts to what prayer can accomplish.

Heavenly Father,
I praise You for this small remnant
of faithful followers that You
personally picked to provide an example
of the importance of unceasing prayer,
and who paved the way for Your gospel message
to reach and transform my life in this present day.
Awaken Your Church today to recognize
how great a sin our prayerlessness has been,
and revive and strengthen our hearts in Your love
to continue this holy and vital work
for the glory of Your name.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

This morning may we heed the voice of our Beloved calling us away to wait upon Him in prayer. May we not allow the ticking of the clock or the taunting of the enemy to distract us from this blessed time of fellowship with the Father. Let our Lord have full possession of us this morning; we are His, let us surrender every second to His hearts desire. "I delight to sit in His shade, and His fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to the banquet hall and His banner over me is love" (Song of Songs 2:3b, 4).

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[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-47

The Church was born on the Day of Pentecost; the 50th day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord chose a feast day as the appointed day to send the promised Holy Spirit. It was the Feast of Weeks, the Firstfruits of the Harvest (reference Numbers 28:26; the Feast of the Harvest (reference Exodus 23:16)); and now it had become the firstfuits of the great harvest of the Church. The giving of the Holy Spirit came with "a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind...and divided tongues, as of fire" on the Day of Pentecost. The day of celebration for the giving of the law upon Mount Sinai, which had also come in fire, would now be the day of fulfillment of God's new government upon their hearts: "I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people" (Jeremiah 31:33b). The public proclamation of the gospel began as the Holy Spirit endued the disciples with power to preach in the many different languages from all the countries known at that time which were in Jerusalem for the feast (15 nations are listed); they spoke in languages they had not known as a sign from heaven of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and confirmation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. "about three thousand were added to their number that day" (v.41).

The birth of the Church was extraordinary and miraculous. The Lord had prepared them for this blessed event because they "were all with one accord in one place" and "they all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication" (Acts 1:14a). They were united in prayer and holy love and continued in that same manner from that point on, as they "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (v.42). They opened their hearts to one another and were joined together with a common interest, and they opened their hands and sold their possessions to care for those in need (v.45). They were diligent in their hearing and preaching of the Word, and their prayers were without ceasing; their love to one another increased and they were filled joy.

The "spiritual" body of Christ was birthed and built "on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20). Peter laid the first stone with his inspired confession of faith, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Since then, God's solid foundation, the Church which upholds the truth (reference 1 Timothy 3:15), stands firm, "sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows who are His,' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness" (2 Timothy 2:19). Zechariah saw this stone with the inscription on it being laid: "See the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day" (Zechariah 3:9). The seven eyes are the seven-fold Spirit of God who will guide, direct, and fulfill the purposes of God in the Church (reference Isaiah 11:2). "I do not believe in a repetition of Pentecost, but I do believe in a perpetuation of Pentecost - and there is a vast difference between the two...Pentecost did not come and go, but...Pentecost came and stayed..." - A.W. Tozer.

Heavenly Father,
Prepare our hearts even now as
You did at the birth of Your church
to experience and appreciate
the life of Your Holy Spirit.
We are facing a great dilemma, Lord,
and only You can guide us through
these tumultuous days ahead
by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
Teach us to be still and know that
You are God. Open our hearts
and purify them so that Your Holy Spirit
can find holy ground in which to rest
His tender feet, and do the work
necessary in the inner life
so our hearts will be awakened
to advance Your kingdom and
proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Someone once wrote that, "while the early Christians lacked temporal resources, they were not short on spiritual power." The early church knew what it meant to appreciate and experience the life in the Spirit. Our modern church is lacking in necessary spiritual power because we are not united as we should be and we do not pray as we ought. The Lord revealed Himself to His early disciples and He confirmed His presence with the outpouring of His Holy Spirit. It is our duty as the church of God to continue to carry this blazing torch of truth that has been entrusted to us, and reveal God in all His holiness and majesty to this generation. We have the power to change our current course of spiritual destruction and moral decline if we will repent, return to our First Love, and pray without ceasing. Let us unite in prayer this morning with an earnest desire to return to our spiritual roots and become the Church of Acts - where the acts of the Holy Spirit were evident as believers gave their time to fellowship, prayer, and the ministry of the Word.
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[Godbetheglory]

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Acts 3:1; 4:1-31

The Christians in the early Church knew how essential prayer was to the fulfillment of the great Commission. When Peter and John went up to the temple at the time of prayer (reference Acts 3:1), the Lord had scheduled them a divine appointment with a lame man who needed healing. As we discussed yesterday, the early Christians had little material wealth, but they had an abundant supply of spiritual power through the Holy Spirit, and this treasure they gave the crippled man. "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk" (v.6). Their actions amazed the people as well as caught the attention of the Sanhedrin; the same group that only months earlier had condemned Jesus to die.

The disciples' simple act of service became the springboard which gained for them the audience of the ruling authority. But the leaders, wanting nothing more than to silence the disciple's message, threw Peter and John in jail. Rather than prevent their message from being heard, their arrest only further published it, and five thousand new believers were added to their number. Praise God that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9)! The next day they were brought before the council and questioned: "By what power or what name did you do this?" (v.4:7b). The Lord placed them exactly where He wanted them to be, so they could proclaim His gospel message to the most powerful men in Israel; and the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak confidently and freely. "On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (Matthew 10:18-20).

The leaders, trying to intimidate the disciples, commanded them to no longer speak or teach in the name of Jesus. While we may be called to submit to the governing authorities (reference Romans 13:1-4), there is no authority apart from God; and our obedience to man's laws should never be in violation of God's law; particularly when that ruling authority rejects God's authority. "We ought to obey God rather than man" (Acts 5:29b). Jesus had commanded His disciples to be His witnesses to all people, and had given them the Holy Spirit to make their work effectual. With power, Peter and John boldly responded, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen or heard" (Acts 4:19-20). They had been forbidden to speak the name of Jesus Christ, a reality we are experiencing today; but they refused to compromise the truth of God's message or comply with the ruling authority; "Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!" (Isaiah 30:11); and they were eventually released and joined together with the other believers, praising God and praying for further boldness to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ in the hearing of all people (vv. 23-30). The Lord heard their prayers and sent a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit to equip them for further ministry. "After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" (v. 31). What followed was an increased level of unity among the believers and greater boldness to speak the truth. The early Church carried the message of salvation to all people; this included the governing authorities: "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). May we pray for greater boldness for the pastors in our pulpits and the people in the pews to boldly proclaim the full counsel of the Word of God, and to come out from behind the walls of the church and into the civil arena so the glorious message of the gospel of grace can be proclaimed and bring healing to our communities, our country, and our world!

Heavenly Father,
"Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord and against His anointed One."
(Psalm 2:1,2)
"Now, Lord, look on their threats,
and grant to Your servants that with all boldness
they may speak Your Word."
(Acts 4:29)
Lord, give Your people courage
to stand firm on Your holy Word and boldness to proclaim
Your truth in the face of increasing persecution towards people of faith
and rising hostility toward religious freedom in our nation today.
Our weakness in prayer is the cause of our weak witness
in the world. Help us to realize the influence we
have in Your presence, and the influence You
have given us upon the earth to secure
the peace of the world when we come boldly
before Your throne of grace on behalf of all men.
Lord, You are God, and we glorify and exalt
Your holy name.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The enemy has been relentless in his pursuit to silence God's people since the very beginning of the Church; but as we have just read in the book of Acts, his attempts only made the witness of the Church stronger and more effective. Today, there is a renewed effort aimed at silencing Christians, and a calculated and strategic assault from hostile groups aimed at restraining and limiting religious liberty - "our first freedom upon which all our other freedoms rest." While "there is no authority except that which God has established" (reference Daniel 2:21a; Romans 13:1), their position of power and influence is meant for the benefit of society, and for the general welfare and good of the people. We have seen a great overreach of this power in recent days which has become fuel for the fire for aggressive attacks against people of faith who hold fast to God's definition of marriage. While our nation has set itself on course for destruction, as it moves further away from our spiritual foundation, it is vital for believers to remain steadfast in the face of persecution; and to stand firm and set the example in love, gentleness, patient endurance, and faithful involvement in the public sector; and continue to pray for God's people and God's purposes to be fulfilled. We are told in the Scriptures to not be surprised at the painful trials we face (reference 1 Peter 4:12), or the hostility of non-believers to the gospel message (reference Matthew 10:22), we are to simply be faithful to proclaim the good news with our lives and our lips, understanding that God's "living and active" Word will accomplish what He has purposed (reference Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 55:11; Jeremiah 1:12); "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained"
(2 Timothy 2:8-9).