Month: July 2014

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Remove the boundary of sin!

Sin can be embarrassing. There are things you do that you just don’t want anyone to know about.

You create a boundary that holds in sin. You believe it is safe. You believe it is secret. No one knows.

God knows. His word tells you what to do with it.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

God says you shouldn’t bind yourself to that sin but loose yourself from it.

The confession of sin is one of the hardest acts you will ever do. I know because I have done it before. I discovered that God’s promise of healing far outweighed my fear of embarrassment.

One other thing I’ve noticed. Confession of sin will loosen others to also confess.

Don’t keep things to yourself – no matter how embarrassing.

If your marriage is haven’t problems share it with your church. If you’re addicted to porn, it’s embarrassing but confess and start healing. If you can’t control your mouth then confess it and start healing.

I know this may step on some toes but one thing I just don’t understand is the unspoken prayer request. In my opinion it sounds like something embarrassing. I’m not saying just blurt it out. Use some discretion and get some healing.

Abba, Your word is healing. Following all that You say is meant to heal and complete me. Teach me Your ways, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Camp Lesson – Boundaries

The lesson at church camp was about boundaries. It’s a subject that touches the youngest to the oldest. Each of us has a boundary.

One teacher put “Caution” tape around the seats where the class would be held. The boys stood around and looked at the tape and tried to decide what to do.

Finally one boy lifted the tape, went under it, and sat down. Another boy followed suit. And another and another until they were all sitting down.

Prov 22:28 Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.

That’s the way it continues to be with God’s word – it has given boundaries that should not be crossed and slowly, one by one, they have been.

The line has been crossed when it comes to the abortion, same sex marriage, and the respect of God.

Once the boundary has been crossed or moved it is extremely difficult to return.

Do not cross the boundaries Father has given. Others will but you must keep yourself from doing it. When you stand before God and give your account, He isn’t going to accept the excuse that everyone else was doing it.
That didn’t work with your parents – it won’t work with Him either.

Abba, help me to see the boundaries You have given and not cross them. Give me the strength to encourage others to stay also. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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45-minutes of reasoning!

Isa 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

As great as the service with no lights was – the next night was even better.

Pastor Todd expounded and explained the word of God to the simplest degree. The Holy Spirit moved and reasoned with everyone in the worship center. The result was a 45-minute altar call!

I honestly have never seen so many teenage boys and girls crying in my life. They brought their friends to the altar, hugged each other, and prayed.

Todd offered the mic to anyone that had a testimony.

I listened as kids cried and shared their hurts and pains – divorces, the death of a parent, and the concern over a friend.

I learned that God’s grace and power does not run out or run low.
His promise to dismiss sin and replace it with forgiveness and love does not run out.

God’s love and grace did not run out with the end of church camp. Both stand ready today to change your life!

Come reason with God and listen to what He has to say to you. Find the forgiveness you need to make your sinful life as white as snow!

Abba, Your grace and love are addicting. I need it every day! I need the cleansing every day. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Light in the Darkness

On Wednesday night at church camp a storm rolled in just as the preaching started. The lights flashed once and a few moments later went out completely.

It didn’t take long for 455 people to get noisy in the near pitch black room. Some were a little disconcerted about what to do. Others were a bit nervous because of the dark.

The speaker calmed everyone and gave many something to do – get out your cell phones and turn on the light.

A majority of the congregation had a cell phone and did just that. It was one of the most awesome services I have ever witnessed.

Alter call brought many forward to pray and seek God.

It is written let your light so shine before men, Matt 5:16

Each born-again believer has the Light inside them – a light that needs to shine in the darkness of this world.

Your Light drives away darkness and calms the fear of those that see it.

Share the Light of God’s word with someone today!

Abba, I will let my light shine today. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN

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Mistake – #4

Today’s devo comes to you from Daniel Springs church camp in Gary, Texas.

When something goes wrong and you get the blame, don’t you feel like running away or crawling into a hole and pulling the dirt over the top of you?

There are many times I’d like to run away and hide.

Gen 16:6 And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Perhaps Sarai thought this would get rid of her mistake if she caused Hagar to run away. So she was very mean to her.

Hagar ran away, taking Ishmael with her. Now Sarai doesn’t have to look at them. The boy is not around for Abram to be a father to, and the problem is solved.

But God found Hagar and sent her back!

You cannot run away and hide from your problems or from God. You cannot run away from sin.

In Eden, Adam ate from the forbidden tree. He then tried to hide from God. It didn’t work.
Confession is the only remedy for sin.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Abba, I have made many mistakes in my life. You sent Your Son to pay for my mistakes. I confess them and You have cleansed and forgiven me, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Mistake – #3

Today’s devo is coming to you from Daniel Springs church camp.

Something I’ve noticed is that people like to blame others for their mistakes. I’ve especially notice it in today’s youth.

To blame someone else is an attempt to keep you from making a mistake. But it is a bigger mistake than the original. In fact, now you have made two mistakes.

Gen 16: 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.”

Abram can be accused of going into Hagar so the she would conceive but that was only at Sarai’s request.

Your sin cannot be blamed on someone else. This tactic was first used in Eden when Adam blamed God and Eve for his mistake.
Eve then blamed the serpent.
The serpent had no one else to blame.

It is written that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10

You can blame all you like but there is no one to blame but yourself.

When you accept Jesus as your Savior, He takes all the blame on Himself for you.
That is a great feeling knowing that in Christ and before God I am blameless for my mistakes.

In Jesus name, accept the Lord as Savior. YES&AMEN

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Mistakes – #2

The problem with mistakes is you do not know the entire consequence of what will happen.

You and I don’t have the Godly foresight to see what the future of a single action can do.

Gen 16:5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.”

Though Sarai’s intention was to give herself a child, the result of her action gave her a wild man, who would be against every man and every man’s hand against him. (Gen 16:12)

You will often lose sight of the future in a moment of sin. Sin is able to camouflage the consequences. Sin will also torment future generations.

In the case of Abram and Sarai, when they had a child of their own (Isaac) the son of Hagar (Ishmael) made fun of him and harassed him.

I believe in generational curses.

The lifestyle you set up and live today will affect your children. From there it will affect your grandchildren; and on and on.

You can turn the tide by proclaiming Jesus as Lord of yourself and your entire household.

Don’t let a single mistake ruin your future. Look to God in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Mistakes – #1

Have you ever made a mistake?
Of course you have; many you couldn’t undo or change.

Don’t feel alone. The Bible is full of men and women that made mistakes – some minor and some really major.

In the case of Abram and Sarai, they had no children but a promise from God that their descendants would be like the stars of the heavens.

But maybe they figured their problem was bigger than their God. So she took matters into her own hands.

Gen 16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

If God is restraining you it’s either because He doesn’t want you to have it or it isn’t the right timing for it.
In this case it is the latter, this wasn’t the right time for Abram and Sarai to have a child. That day is coming but it is not today.

God’s delay is not a weakness. Patience in waiting on God is a virtue that you can ill-afford to tamper with.

God’s promises don’t need your help. God has been running the universe just fine without you winding up the mechanism. Let Him do what He does best.

God’s plans will be fulfilled. Every promise made will come to pass. If the Bible says it, you can believe it will happen.

Never believe your problems are bigger than God can handle. If you think you can do a better job than God then your ego may be bigger than God can handle!

Abba Father, help e leave the ego behind, wait, and depend on You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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God’s Prescribed Sacrifice

“It is only by obedience that we understand the teaching of God.” ~Oswald Chambers

Gen 15:17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.

Abram obeyed God and had taken the five sacrifices and prepared them.

This obedience became a reassuring teaching from God – teaching involving the future of his descendants. (Gen 15:13-16)

Then a firepot and burning torch went between the pieces.

The pieces were the complete blood sacrifices the Law would prescribe. Those sacrifices would be offered by the priests.

In this text, God, Himself, burns the sacrifice…

…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Col 2:17

1 John 3:16 He laid down His life for us.
Heb 7:27 He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

For all the sacrifices that mankind can offer, it is the one offered by Christ, the complete Sacrifice, that satisfies the Father.

No matter what trouble may come, the Father will fulfill His promise to deliver His people.

That promise is yours when you accept God’s sacrifice for you – His own Son!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

YES&AMEN

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The Complete Offering

God’s word is not always easy to understand. For years I avoided the following, never preaching or teaching on it.

But God’s word is meant to be understood. It is given so we can know the fullness of the Father.

Gen 15:9-11 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

The greatest proof of God’s promises is found in the text and those that follow.

Sacrifice is important to God.

According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb 9:22

The sacrifices of Adam, Noah, Abram, and all before Sinai, were done without the demand of the Law.

In Abram’s case, he brought every blood sacrifice allowed by the future Law. The complete set, as it were.

Jesus is the complete sacrifice. He did what the heifer, goat, ram, turtledove, and pigeon could not do – satisfy God.

Satan wants to take that away, like the vultures. He doesn’t want you to know or depend on the offering of Jesus.
He wants the world to be confused, divided, and confrontational over Jesus.

Break through the confusion and misunderstanding. Read God’s word and let the Holy Spirit reveal the truth, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN!!!