Christ

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The Birth

Over the weekend my oldest daughter went into labor and gave birth to my fifth grandchild.

When Linda and I arrived in Dallas on Friday, she was already having some contractions. She might take a few steps and then stop and get this real look of pain on her face.

The contractions subsided over night but picked up in intensity on Saturday. A man cannot imagine the pains of labor. Perhaps stomach cramps are as close as men can get to that sensation but it probably is a poor comparison.

Men will never know the pain of labor or giving birth.

Or can they?

The Bible says,

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:15

Each of us conceives desire and gives birth to sin. Each of us will know the pain of death.

But those that look to Jesus for salvation understand the meaning of born-again.

As Jesus said,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

As someone once said, “You can be born once and die twice or you can be born twice and die once!”

Experience new birth!

Abba, thanks You for giving me a second chance! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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When bad news arrives!

It’s bad news!

The report from the doctor isn’t good.
The car breaks down.
You’re being laid off.
A house fire, flooding, or a tornado destroys all.

The list can go on and on with bad, disturbing news.

How do you react?
Anger?
Throw a fit?
Perhaps you blame someone else or try to get even!

The bad news for Hezekiah was an army surrounding his city and boasting of the destruction they would bring. The Assyrians had surrounded many other cities and had all but destroyed them and taken the people as slaves.

Now they were at Jerusalem’s gate boasting of doing the same.

What did Hezekiah do?

And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. 2 Kings 19:1

Hezekiah humbly sought God.
God powerfully delivered him and the city.

When life becomes more than you can handle, seek God!
It’s okay to go to the doctor or to appeal to family and friends for help – but look to God first and seek His healing, help, and protection for you and your family.

Abba, keep me calm today in the midst of trouble. May my eyes be kept on You for all things! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Hoarders

There is a reality show called Hoarders about normal people that cannot or will not throw things away.
They stash, stack, stuff, push, cram, ram, and pile things like magazines, cardboard boxes, collectibles, photo’s; just anything they can.

Most have mere trails through the mountains of stuff so they can move around their home.

It’s ridiculous how many things these homes are crammed with.

Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 2 Chron 29:5

There are Christian hoarders too.

They stash, stack, stuff, push, cram, ram, and pile things into their lives that are nothing more than rubbish. Things like unforgiveness, hate, anger, grudges, grief, griping, and the such, really have no place in the life of a Christian.

Like trash in your home, it needs to be taken out! Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and there is no room for that kind of rubbish!

Paul said this about it –

I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Phil 3:8

Don’t hoard. Make room for more of Christ in your life.

Abba, let’s take out the trash today and clean house! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Reviling Accusations

During Sunday’s sermon I read a verse that has been with me since.

2 Peter 2:11 Whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

The term “reviling accusation” is what has stuck in my mind.

I have seen this elsewhere.

Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

I looked at the text in Greek and saw the meaning of the word – a blasphemous accusation.

How can one possibly commit blasphemy against Satan, fallen angels, the people of Noah’s time, and the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah?

Here’s how – by not speaking the truth about them.

For instance, what is the great sin of Sodom? If you answered homosexuality, then you’re not correct. Though that sin is present, the first sin of that city was pride. It’s followed by gluttony, laziness, and an non-caring attitude for others.

That’s hit’s closer to home, doesn’t it!

A “railing accusation” is to accuse others of things they did not do. I am guilty of such!
By not knowing all the facts, I have made blasphemous accusations before God about someone else. This is according to what His word says.

The Bible gives me two other verses that I need to heed before I make accusations.

1 Thess 5:17 pray without ceasing

James 1:19 let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath

YES&AMEN

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The Next Shemittah – 4

Peter inquired about forgiving others involving the number seven, which is the number of years to forgive debt in the year of release – the shemittah.

Jesus replied and also involved the number seven.

Matt 18:22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Then Jesus tells a story about a certain king

…who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. Matt 18:23

Why would someone want to settle the accounts?
It could be because a shemittah year was at hand and he was looking to recover the loan before he was required by law to release the debt.

In the story it says the king

…was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. Matt 18:27

Released him, loosed him, forgave him the debt certainly sounds like shemittah.

You are in debt to sin. It has demanded a high price for you – death!

Jesus is the Shemittah! He is the One that can release you, loose you, and forgive you of that debt.

I do not know what will happen at the end of the next shemittah, which is September 13, 2015.

But I do know that putting your trust in Jesus will give you the peace and hope through any problems.

Abba, I am blessed that I have been released from sin’s debt. I will trust You to care for me no matter what happens. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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The Next Shemittah-3

As I mentioned in an earlier devotion, for me the spiritual meaning of a shemittah release is rooted in forgiveness.

With this thought in mind it will totally change the meaning of what Jesus taught Peter about forgiveness?

Matt 18:21-22 “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

It has been said that the Rabbi’s taught that forgiving someone three times was sufficient. I have found where a Rabbi Yosi may have taught this in the Talmud using the example of Joseph and his brothers as the backdrop.

But what I find interesting is that seven and multiples of it are used.

Seven is one shemittah. Seventy is ten shemittah. And seventy times seven is 490 or seventy shemittah.

What if Peter was not just talking about forgiving someone seven times but seven years!
A shemittah!

Then the response of Jesus is not to forgive someone 490 times but seventy shemittah’s or 490 years. That would mean your whole life!

Forgiveness is not an option – it is a lifelong lifestyle!

Matt 6:15 If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Abba, my forgiveness from You will become my forgiveness for others. I release them and free myself from any grudges. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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The Next Shemittah – 2

A study of the shemittah will reveal that it contains three releases.

First the release of debt.

Deut 15:1 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts.

Second is the release or rest of the land.

Lev 25:2-4 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.

And third is a release of your faith and dependence on God.

Lev 25:20-22 ‘And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.

Can the U. S. possibly fall under the curse of God because we have not held to this principle?

More likely, I believe the U. S. falls under the judgment of God because we have not upheld the principles of Christ and the truth’s of which this nation was founded on.

To me, the spiritual implication of a shemittah is in forgiveness. There is no real forgiveness outside of Christ. Even those that call themselves Christian’s often struggle with truly forgiving someone.

I constantly hear things like “I’ll forgive but I’m not going to forget!”
That is not a release! That is clinging and holding onto the trespass.

Jesus said in the model prayer,

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Matt 6:12

As for the U. S., our problem is not a government problem. It is a people problem. If Christians would have risen up in 1963 with fasting and prayer and stood their ground – then prayer may have remained in schools. It has been downhill ever since with one thing after another, including the government sanctioned right to kill the innocent unborn.

A release of forgiveness is not bound by law but is given by the heart that has been changed by the release and forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus.

Abba, I pray that I can shemitah anyone in debt to me, especially those that need my forgiveness. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Don’t be Piggish on the Foundation

Last night the unusual happened. Our speaker at church had given testimony and read from God’s word.

It was wonderful.

She then said she wanted to read from another book – a children’s book of bedtime stories.

She picked it up and thumbed over a few pages.
“Once upon at time,” she began, “there were three little pigs!”

She went on to tell the story of houses of straw, wood, and brick.

Then she wanted to tell of one more story of a house.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭24-25‬

The funny thing to me is during the Three Little Pigs I found myself saddened by the plight of the two that were eaten by the big bad wolf.
Then I remembered how much I had enjoyed baked ham earlier that afternoon.

I have built my house on the foundation of Jesus Christ, the Rock.

I am not concerned about the foundation. But I am taking great care at what I build on it. (1 Cor 3:10-13)

Abba, You are my Rock. In Jesus name, help me to build rightfully on the Foundation. YES&AMEN

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Depressed – Look Up!

The death of Robin Williams caught me by surprise. I found him a multi-talented comedian. He was lightning quick on delivery, while changing voices or subjects in a wink! Robin was made for improv!

Little did I know that such a talented man that could make so many others laugh had trouble laughing himself as he suffered with depression.

Prov 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

One of my first thoughts upon hearing about his death was his soul – did he know Jesus as Savior. It’s a question I can judge but not one I can answer.

Last night one of the ladies at church told me that while he was receiving an award, he pointed up and thanked his Father!

My response was maybe he was thanking his dad.

Uncertainty about the future can cause anxiety; and anxiety can cause depression.

Prov 12:25 But a good word makes it[the heart] glad.

I am not uncertain about my future. I have a good word from God’s word and I have given my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

That’s not to say that a Christian cannot be depressed. When you take your eyes off of Him and begin looking at the world around you, it can happen.

Keep looking up to Christ!

Abba, I pray for those suffering from depression. Please help me recognize them and share with them the only real Hope – Jesus! YES&AMEN

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Your name

A name says a lot about a person. There are names that you hear and associate with different things.

For instance, if you hear Wright Brothers you may think about flying.
John Adams may bring a thought of statesman or president.
Billy Graham is associated with preaching or evangelism.
You may not know anything else about any of these people other than those simple things.

There other names about people you know personally and you may think drug user, drunk, creep, teacher, good person, athlete, grandmother, or any number of things.
The fact is you will associate some characteristic with a name.

And your name is associated with a characteristic by others.

Gen 17:5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham;

Abram had his name changed by God to Abraham. Abram is lost in meaning and Abraham becomes the new association. Abraham is the father of Isaac. Abraham is the one that pleaded for Sodom and Gommorah. Abraham is the Patriarch of Israel.

What does your name say to others? Do they think bad or good? Do others think of Christ at the mention of your name or do they think about sinfulness?

By the way, Abram is never mentioned in the Bible again. He is known by the name of change – Abraham!

Abba, I want my name to be a reflection of You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN