1 Corinthians 8:9-13 – “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” NKJV

Our personal liberty and the conscience of a weaker brother or sister has always been and will always be an issue in the Church.  How far do we press our liberty before we become a stumbling block for a “weaker brother”?  Is there a time to say, “Grow up and realize that different people have different convictions”?  Is exercising our liberty worth causing another to stumble?  How you answer those questions will determine how you relate to those around you.

There was a time in my Christian walk when I felt that everyone should hold the same convictions (often only opinions) that I did, and if they did not, they were “carnal” at best and “backslidden” at worst.  Most of the time, I considered that the same and was a Pharisee of Pharisees! 

It took God rattling my cage significantly to cause me to rethink my way of thinking and to understand that I am not God’s Fruit Inspector. He can handle that job just fine.  Likewise, I learned, although in my heart I knew it, that most of what I called “convictions” were simply “opinions” and did not have the weight of Scripture.  An opinion is just that and may and should change if new light is brought. 

If God “convicts” your heart over an action, belief, or anything, you should follow what God says implicitly and explicitly.  Yet you must always remember that what God “convicts” you of, He may not convict another.  The roots of that conviction often stem from something within you or the geographic region in which you live and the mindset of those around you.  God will bring conviction to your heart for your benefit, not so you can attempt to impose it on everyone else, which would be what a Pharisee does.

There have been times when I could have done something but knew that those around me would be hindered in their Christian walk if they saw me.  So, in the interest of another, I choose to abstain.  In traveling to other parts of the country and world, I have found many differing views on various things that Christians do or do not do, and sometimes, the dogmatism is so strong that no amount of reason or biblical teaching can break it. 

Unless God brings light to the heart, that person or persons will remain as they are.  Attempting to legislate a particular mindset or lifestyle to them would be futile and brings to mind the old saying: “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”  They may yield to your insistence, but their hearts and minds have not truly changed.  You are not God, so why try to be? 

As you go through your day, realize that what you do and say will impact others, so choose your words and deeds carefully; considering another for your liberty is not worth hindering another in their pursuit of GOD and His Grace!

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Matthew 4:8-11 – “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, ” All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'”  11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.”  NASB

It would be impossible in a short devotional to fully exegete this subject, but I want to say a few things with the hope of giving you comfort and hope in your daily walk, work, and spiritual warfare. 

This is a fascinating passage. Here the devil insinuates to Jesus that he, the devil, has authority over the kingdoms of this world.  Jesus did not dispute that; therefore, I conclude it was true.  The Bible refers to the devil as being the “god of this world” in 2 Corinthians 4:4, Jesus called him the “ruler of this world” in John 12:31, and Paul addressed him as “the prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. 

Therefore, before the Cross and Resurrection, when Jesus walked the earth, the devil had “legal authority” in the world and with man.  How did that happen?  It happened in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve in their rebellion and the Fall of Man.  In Genesis 1:26-28 we find God gave Adam “dominion” over the earth and everything that lived in and on it. 

Adam and Eve were to “subdue” and “have dominion” over the earth.  Man was to “live forever” and “fill” or “replenish” the earth.  In the Garden, God walked and talked with him, and man was in a perfect state of peace and purity, living in harmony with and in total obedience to God.  In that state, they were not only made in the image of God; they represented and manifested Him in all that He was.

There was a problem coming through which Adam and Eve would be tested to determine the future of man on earth.  Lucifer, as described by Ezekiel and Isaiah, a cherub angel created by God, began to be filled with Pride and a thirst for power and position.  He wanted to be “like the most high,” and in his heart, he began to desire to be a “possessor of heaven and earth.”  

I suggest that he didn’t just want to be “like” God; he wanted to “be” God.  His Pride and Rebellion resulted in one-third of the angels following him in that rebellion, and God evicted him from heaven.  At that point, Lucifer or Satan became God’s chief enemy.  He had polluted heaven with sin and rebellion requiring purging, and now he was roaming the earth seeking to do the same and bring God’s creation into a state of rebellion.  The devil knew that in order to control the Earth, he would, of necessity, have to control the human race. 

In Genesis 3, we read the record of Eve’s deception and her role in the deception and seduction of Adam in this rebellion against God.  The devil presented them with a lie, or better, The Lie, and used their reason against them.  His suggestion that God was keeping something good from them and they deserved more prominence, position, control, and power produced an infection that resulted in Rebellion. 

The command of God to not eat the fruit could have been a command not to cross a stream or anything.  The object is not the fruit but the act, it was Rebellion and Disobedience!  Adam and Eve were co-regents of the Earth. In their action of rebellion, they legally relinquished their crown to the devil and separated themselves from God’s care, keeping, and covering.  This gave the devil legal ownership or rulership in the Earth.

Jesus came as the Last Adam and legally took back the rulership from the devil through his sinless life and sacrificial death.  Jesus has stripped the devil of his legal authority, and since we are in Christ, we are not subject to the lordship of the “god of this world.”  

If we are born-again, the devil has no Legal Authority in our lives. When we allow him to operate, we are allowing a criminal to openly and without confrontation take our possessions.  We have been given weapons of warfare that are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 

We are more than conquerors through Jesus.  Do not accept the idea that the devil has any authority on this earth except in those who are not “blood-bought.”  The Blood of Jesus is our badge of authority over the power and authority of the devil.  You are IN Christ; in that condition and position, you have authority over all the devil’s power.  The Bible says that if we “resist the devil,” he will flee because he has no choice.

You have Legal Authority through Christ, and your authority frees you from the power of the devil!   So, as you enjoy this day, refuse to be intimidated by the devil and embrace your condition and position as a Child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  We serve the Living God, and in Him, we live, move, and have our being!  

My prayer and encouragement is that you will be enabled to walk in peace today and every day!

Daniel 3:15-18 – “Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, very good. But if you do not worship, you shall be thrown at once into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can rescue you out of my hands?”  ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point. ¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!”  Amplified.

Let me begin by asking, “Have you experienced a situation in your life where the answer did not come or did not come in the way you desired or expected?”  

Let me pose that a little differently and say that I am convinced each of us has prayed for someone who did not get healed; mothers have prayed for their sons in times of war who did not come, and children or loved one’s lives have been snuffed out in a tragic accident even though we prayed for God’s protection and deliverance.  I realize that is a bit different from what these three young men were facing, but the question is still valid – “What If God Doesn’t?” 

I fully believe that God can!  His ability to perform the miraculous is not in question for me.  I do not question His willingness and refer to numerous passages in the New Testament when someone said, “If you are willing?”  Each time Jesus said, “I am willing.” 

One even said, “If you can,” and Jesus said, “If I Can!”  Of course, He can, but What if… I have ministered to people in tragedy, disappointment, and loss who waited until the event to decide how they would respond.  Some wait until matters are critical to pray, seek God’s face and help, and then find themselves incredibly perplexed and troubled if things do not go as they desire. 

You do not wait until the shooting starts to prepare for war.  You do not wait until the well runs dry to prepare for water.  You do not wait until the pantry is empty to begin searching for food.  You must plan, prepare, and decide Before the crisis to survive the crisis.

These young men had determined in their hearts that they were going to serve God and not participate in the worship of anyone or anything other than Him.  Before the giant statue and edict existed, they and Daniel had determined in their hearts to serve God Regardless!  No wonder the Bible says that Daniel had an “excellent spirit” in him.  No wonder these young men find their way into the scriptural record. They had settled the issue, and they were confident God was trustworthy.

The King’s edict was, “bow down or burn.”  Their answer to the King is powerful and continually encourages me in times of ease or difficulty.  The place they had arrived and the position and condition of their hearts are where I strive to be and long to stand. 

They said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you to this point.”  That is Fascinating!  “Hey, king, there is nothing to discuss; the decision has already been made.”  Hear what they said, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire…”  

There was no vacillation in their hearts or minds – God Can!  They continued, “…and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.”   Hallelujah!  Hear their commitment, confidence, and faith in this.  God, Can that is not a question or concern.  God Will…

That is amazing because it expresses their confidence that one way or another, God will rescue us from you, Mr. King.  Notice the following statement, “But even if He Does Not, let it be known to you, O king, that We are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!”   In East Texas vernacular, “Bring it on, king!  Bring it on! We ain’t gonna bow down!”

The key is Commitment and Confidence!  The key is Trust that is so complete that even if death in the natural is the result, there will be no other gods before the Living God of Heaven.  Even if God does not do what we ask or expect, we won’t bend even if we burn because We Trust God!

In our Christian Walk, it is critical to reach a place where we are so confident in God and wholly committed to Him that we have no other thought than serving Him.  That is where the disciples were when imprisoned by the Sanhedrin, and Peter said, “Whom shall we obey, God or man?”  

If we reach the place where the issue of bowing or burning is decided, we can face all the “What ifs of life” with complete peace.  We live knowing that God Can, and we are confident that He will, but if He does not, that changes nothing because He still rescues us in the end, and the reward is eternal.  What shall a man give in exchange for his soul, and what is the benefit of gaining the whole world and losing our souls? 

If you decide in advance that you will not bow even if you burn, your confidence will cause hell to tremble, and your peace will guide you safely through all the troubled waters of life. 

I pray that God will richly bless you and enable you to abide under the shelter of His arms.  Have a Great Day!

Acts 19:11-15 – “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also, there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”   NKJV

As the darkness covers the backyard, stillness, and quietness allow the mind to reflect on the things of the heart without interruption from external sources.  Reading passages from the Bible and listening to the Lord refreshes the soul.  This morning, I sat thinking about the question above from the scripture text passage. 

This account in Acts applies to us today as it is any day.  Some diminish the power of the forces of hell to the point that they mock and taunt those forces, while others are so fearful that they live life with such timidity that they cannot accomplish anything for the Lord.  We have authority, weapons of warfare that are mighty through God (2 Corinthians 10), and a commission to go into all the world with the “Good News.” (Mark 16)

Luke 10:18-20 – “And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” NKJV

Having been born again, we have the privilege of carrying the “Good News” to the ends of the world and to every person.  In so doing, we will be invading territory currently occupied by the forces of darkness.  They will not give up that territory without a fight, so it is imperative that we know who we are and whose we are.  Our faith and confidence are not in our ability, spirituality, gifts, or talents but in Him; otherwise, we will find the evil forces saying to us what was said to the sons of Sceva in Acts 19, “Jesus, I know, and Paul I know but who are you?”   May that never be!

Our rejoicing is not that the powers of darkness are subject to us through Christ but that our names are written in heaven.  Our rejoicing is not in our ability to cast out demons and see signs and wonders but in souls coming into the Kingdom of God. 

Seeking the demonstrations of power is to focus wrongly.  Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness is the proper focus, and the other (power) will be a by-product of that relationship, as needed and where needed.  It is not important that anyone know our name or recall any exploits that we may have done or been used to accomplish in Christ, but that they know Him!

The objective is reaching those who are lost, dying, hurting, bound, wounded, bruised, battered, or defeated and bring them out of the darkness into His marvelous light!  There will be demonstrations of power when God moves!  The purpose of those demonstrations is not to call attention to us but to turn hearts to our Lord! 

My desire is to see the captive free, not have attention called to me.  My purpose is to lead so that others can follow Him, not that I have a following.  So, for my name to be feared in hell, it must be written in heaven, and my heart must be completely submitted to Christ!  We are children of the Most High God and have authority over all the enemy’s power!  We do not walk in fear but in confidence in Him!

Therefore, as you work, war, and witness for our Lord, know that you are more than a conqueror through Him who loves us!  Perfect love casts out fear!  Walk in His love and allow Him to demonstrate the power of that love through us. 

May the rich and bountiful Blessings of the LORD accompany you as you go through your day! 

Daniel 3:16-25 – “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”  19 Saved in Fiery Trial Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”  25 Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”  NKJV

What a beautiful beginning to a new day.  I am sitting with my morning coffee, Bible and enjoying the presence of the Lord, reading, and listening.  In the stillness I heard “There is a Fourth Man in the Fire!”

The Book of Daniel is a most interesting book to me.  I love watching the hand of God upon lives that are entirely committed to Him and seeing His delivering hand.  A truth that, too frequently, we forget and allow ourselves to fret, fuss, and fume over various situations and circumstances. 

The Hebrews taken captive to Babylon had four very distinctive personalities among them.  Daniel, whom they named Belteshazzar, but we always find him called Daniel.  Hananiah, the Babylonians renamed Shadrach, Mishael to Meshack, and Azariah to Abed-Nego, names we find them referred to in the book henceforth.  These four young men made some early decisions regarding their commitment to the Almighty God whom they served.

• They refused to eat the king’s meat or drink the king’s drink. 

We need to understand that we must “come out from among them and be separate.”  They did not try to make themselves noticeable to everyone around them in their difference; just maintain their commitment to God and allowed the result to speak for itself.  Their commitment elevated them to prominent positions in the kingdom of Babylon, yet they maintained their integrity and commitment to God.

• They refused to bow before the king’s idol even though, in the natural, it meant sure death. 

They responded to the king by saying, King, we do not need to try to justify our actions to you. We trust the God we serve, and He will deliver us; if not, it’s no big deal.  We must always remember that this life here is just a sojourning; we are passing through as “strangers and pilgrims on this earth.”  This is a temporary home, not our permanent one.  Therefore, keeping the focus on the “goal, the prize of the high calling” is more important than being politically correct or fitting in with the world.

• They were delivered by THE FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE, whom Nebuchadnezzar declared looked like “the Son of God.” 

Even the Babylonian king could not deny the truth of God nor His great power because of the commitment of these young men.

It does not matter what we face!  It does not matter what obstacles are laid in our path!  It does not matter what opposition comes our way!  It does not matter what danger our lives might be placed in – – THERE IS A FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE! 

If we “seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness,” our eyes upon Him and our commitment firmly rooted in His Word and refuse, as the three Hebrew Children, to Bend, Break, or Bow, we will walk out of the fire either in this life or in the next unscathed and into His presence!  They may be able to kill our bodies, but they cannot kill our souls. Therefore, we need not fear them, whoever they might be!

Begin your day today knowing that if today leads you to the fiery furnace, the FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE will be awaiting you there to cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you can trust, rest, and be protected.  We will either receive deliverance or promotion, and both are victories!

Blessings, my friends, as you go through your day!

Acts 4:1-12 – “As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ” Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead —  by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 ” He is the STONE, WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.  12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” NASB

Sometimes in the chaos of this world’s problems, political, social, economic, physical, etc., we forget the foundation.  We turn our eyes toward the problem, and it causes fear, concern, apprehension, trepidation, and even depression. 

Yet, when we remember to remember that Jesus is the foundation and that “NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN has been given among men by whom we must be saved,” we shake ourselves and rise up out of the ash heap of despair and look up to the author and finisher of our souls in victory!

Deep inside my spirit, I know that I know that I know that God is in Control of my life and the lives of many others and that His Holy Spirit is touching hearts across this land for good and right.  We may continue to have political, social, and moral chaos and disaster, but the one thing we dare not forget is that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life – – He is the Door!  There is no other access to the Father but through and by Him.  That has to remain our foundational focus and message to those around us. 

The chorus of an old song resounds and resonates in my heart today – “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”  He is the Stone the builders rejected but has become the Chief Corner Stone!

He is trustworthy!  He is reliable!  He is Truth!  He is Life!  He is Hope!  He is Change!  He is Salvation!  In Him, we live, move, and have our being and upon whom we can rely!  So, no matter what takes place in this life, our faith and confidence must remain in Him!  He is our Rock and our Foundation!  Do not let the problems overwhelm you; allow His love to give you an anchor that will hold you no matter what!  If they kill us, all they have done is send us home early.  However, if He keeps us here awhile longer, there is work to do, and we must be busy about the Master’s Business!

God Bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!  May the Lord Bless and Keep you and make His face Shine upon you and give you Peace!