Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

In considering the Speaking God and our ability to Hear God today, I want to introduce you to some familiar passages for your consideration and assurance. 

In John 16:7, Jesus informed His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, THE HELPER shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” 

Then, in Romans 8:14, the apostle Paul taught that it was the Christian norm to walk in the Spirit, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the Sons of God.”  Also, in 1 John 2:27, the apostle John declares, “You abide in Jesus, the anointing you received from Him (Holy Spirit) abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as He has taught you, you abide in Him.”  That, to me, is powerful.

We must Hear God so that we may walk in the reality of Fellowship and enjoy the fullness of His Protection, Provision, Guidance, and Grace.  Hearing God is vital and never optional.  I am reminded of a story that helps illustrate the necessity of Hearing God!

I do not ski, so I have to rely on what others tell me, but I am told that, in Colorado, one can see a skier wearing a red vest and a sign from time to time. The sign reads: “Blind Skier.”  It is difficult enough for a sighted person to ski, but blind skiers manage quite well. 

HOW or WHY?  Because that blind skier has to Trust his guide’s voice.  The guide is behind or before the blind skier, continually giving instructions.  (Simple but specific.)  They use two forms of communication:  Tapping the ski poles to let the Blind Skier know they are there and all is well and speech or verbal commands. 

The Only Responsibility the Blind Skier, has is to exhibit Complete Trust and Immediate Obedience to the instructions.  Can you see that in our spiritual walk?  Our responsibility is to Listen and Obey, but before we can Obey, we have to Listen, and to Listen, we have to Know the voice of our guide.

That brings us to another question: “How Can I know God’s Voice?” or “How Can I know it’s not the devil deceiving me?”  Please do not expect an exhaustive or exhausting answer, but let me suggest a few things that might benefit you.

LISTENING IS A LEARNED QUALITY.

God is a Father, and He is interested in being our Father.  Some are probably like I was. My concept of God was that he was “Boss, Judge, etc.”  I did not really see Him as the Loving, Caring Father.  Failure to see Him as a Loving and Caring Father hinders fellowship and hearing.  We learn to Hear.  Remember, Jesus said fifteen times, “He that has ears to hear, LET HIM HEAR.”  

That suggests two facts:  We have ears with which to hear, and we can choose to use those ears for hearing or not use them.  A baby, normally, is born with the inherent physical ability to hear but does not know what he hears.  Understanding or comprehension must be learned. 

Listening is the communication skill we practice most often, but usually, we do not do it right.  We Listen, but we do not Hear.  Do you realize that most of us spend 80% of our awake time communicating, but Listening is the one communication skill we are not taught?  Remember, if the capacity is there, the ability must be developed to be effective.

Hearing God must become vital to us and perceived as an absolute necessity if we Learn to Listen for His voice.  Until Hearing God is essential to us, we will not likely Hear God quickly, correctly, or regularly.  Jesus emphasized our need to Hear God, saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  [Matthew 4:4]. 

Jeremiah 29:11-12 says a powerful word to our lives, “I know what I have planned for you.  I have good plans for you.  I do not plan to hurt you. I plan to give you a good future.  Then you will call My name, you will come to me and pray to me, and I will LISTEN TO YOU.”  Can you follow that the extension of that would be that God will Listen and Speak to us?

To develop a Hearing Ear, there must be a deliberate effort to set our minds on God.  We must make a conscious choice to exercise our minds by focusing on God regularly and consistently.  We must carry that exercise of setting our minds on God to all aspects of our lives.  I saw a sign in a Health Club Gym that described what I am saying.

                   F – Frequency

                   I – Intensity

                   T – Time

The ability to Hear God is one that we must develop, and it is something the Holy Spirit is extremely interested in helping us develop.

God bless you as you embark on today’s journey in Christ.

Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

Regarding Hearing God Today, I feel compelled to raise a few issues with you to enhance our progress in this discussion.  Let me ask a few pertinent questions:

• Which would you Determine More Important – – The Author or the Book?
• Who would be the Best Possible Source to Interpret a Book – – The Author or Another?
• Which are we to Worship – – The Book or the God of the Book?
• How can we discover and know the Will of God for Most Things in Life Unless He reveals or tells them to us?
• Why has so much Division been caused by the Bible or in Bible Interpretation?  The Bible encourages and even commands us to be unified.
• How did Christians from earlier centuries make it?  Especially those before Guttenberg invented the Printing Press because the masses never owned a Bible.

I realized we could get into all kinds of arguments and discussions as a result of those questions, but can we not conclude that the Holy Spirit must somehow communicate the Will of God to the hearts and minds of people?

In John 16:13, we are told that the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth,” whose job is to guide us into all truth, and He Speaks.  Therefore, we can be confident that God is Still Speaking since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  We can conclude that God’s children can Hear His Voice, for Jesus said, “My sheep shall hear my voice and know Me.”  We should expect God to communicate with us as we seek His will daily.  God has a Will and wants us to Know it!

One of the most repeated phrases of Jesus (15 times) He said, “He that has an ear let him hear…” The last seven (7) were in the Book of Revelation, and He added, “What the Spirit is saying…”  Jesus, speaking from heaven by the Holy Spirit to the heart and mind of man on earth.  In John 10, our Lord declared that His followers are those who Hear His Voice, and He knows us, and we follow Him. 

In Luke 8:21, Jesus said His family was “…those who hear the Word of God and do it.”  Additionally, our Lord taught that we (believers) are to live as He lived and minister as He ministered.  He then told us how He lived and ministered.  John 12:49, “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but The Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say and what to speak.”  In Luke 10:41-42, Jesus told Martha (the busy one) that only one thing was necessary: what Mary was doing, Listening to His Words!

The New Testament Picture reveals that the Holy Spirit lives IN the believer NOW and is to the believer All That Jesus was to His disciples.  Remember John 14:16, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter), that He may be with you forever.”  Then, our Lord explained more fully that this Helper “is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not behold or know Him, but you know Him BECAUSE He abides with you and will be in you.  I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS.” [John 14:17-18a].

I will pause here and pick this up tomorrow.  God bless you, and may your hearing ears become very receptive. 

Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

My primary focus will be on verses 23-24 in this passage, but all of it is germane, as is all of the Scripture.  Throughout the Bible, the Old and New Testaments emphasize the importance of Hearing God!

In biblical history, we find numerous records where earthly kings would not make any move without first “hearing” a word from God through the prophets and seers.  In the New Testament, we are repeatedly reminded directly, by implication and suggestion, that Hearing God is vital for work, walk, and warfare in the believer’s life. 

Yet, the overwhelming majority of believers in our generation do not hear or know how to hear and often do not know that you can hear God now!  I am convinced the devil loves this and laughs at the failure of the church to emphasize Hearing God!

In 1 John 1:3, the apostle writes, “What we (apostles) have SEEN and HEARD we proclaim to you… THAT you… May have fellowship (koinonia = community) with us; and indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”  [Emphasis mine].

A straightforward but essential question must be, “How can you have FELLOWSHIP with someone who does not communicate?”  That is a virtual impossibility.  The concept of Fellowship between God and man is woven intricately throughout the pages of the New Testament and is a vital part of the message of grace.  In Revelation 3:20, we find Jesus standing at the door and knocking, wanting to come in and have fellowship with us.  In John 14:23, we read that Jesus desires to come to us and make His home with us.

The Father’s heart, both natural and spiritual, cries out for Fellowship with His children.  He (God) wants to commune with and communicate with us in a true fellowship of love and for us to enjoy each other.  Hebrews 11:6 declares that “without faith (abiding trust), we cannot please (gratify completely) God.”  That is Fellowship. 

In Revelation 4:11, we find God’s declaration, “You created all things (including man), and for Your pleasure they were created.”  Romans 10:17 declares, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  That is communication and communing, which means Fellowship.  We know that faith, an essential element in pleasing God, comes by Hearing God Speak

Therefore, if I cannot or do not Hear God, I cannot have faith developed in my heart to that level and, therefore, cannot please God.  If I do not, please God, that will diminish the prospects of fellowship with Him.  We read in 1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.”  Therefore, if we cannot Hear God, we cannot fully fulfill our call from God.  That condition and situation leave us empty, unfulfilled, and often frustrated, producing the absence of peace and victory.

THE VITAL QUESTION:  “Does God Still Talk to Man Today?”  Some contend that God has said all He is going to say through the Scriptures.  Hear me carefully, please.  God will not write a new Bible, but He is a Speaking GOD and Communicates with us even today.  I am not suggesting that we all throw away our Bibles and run around with a “Thus saith the Lord.”  NO! 

I believe that anything God communicates to us today will fit squarely and perfectly in harmony with what He Has Said in the Bible.  Also, every word must be tested.  1 Corinthians 14:29 gives a guide that prophetic utterances are to be judged by the other prophets and, by consent, the Word of God.  Likewise, Matthew 18:16, a reference to Deuteronomy 19:15, teaches that it takes “two or three witnesses” to establish a word.

Hearing God is vital, but as in most things, caution must be exercised because of the deadliness of presumption. There must be order and a willingness to test and have our words tested through the Bible, God’s elders, and prophets.  I believe that we can Hear God Today and that God is still Speaking to His people in 2024 or wants to speak to us!

I must pause here and pick up next time as we continue to consider this Vital Essential of Hearing God in today’s world.  

God bless you as you embark on today’s beautiful and fruitful journey in Him!

Romans 12:6-21 – “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  NASB

Now, let us look at the conclusion of this study.

THE FINAL ADMONITIONS FOR LIFE

In the first part of verse sixteen, we are told, “Be of the same mind toward one another…”  We discussed that this could and should be viewed in the light of how we would feel and react to what we would desire if we were in the same situation. 

Then the sentence continues, “…do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.”  That warning was repeated several times by our LORD in the Gospels.  We are never to have partiality or show favoritism in our relationships with others.  A man in a lofty economic status is no better or worse than a man in poverty. 

The so-called ‘beautiful people’ are not better than the ‘unwashed masses.’  God shows no partiality and judges the heart, not the bank account or the exterior.  Our response to everyone should be patterned after our Lord Jesus, not simply personal preference, or appearance.

We are then warned not to become “Self-Inflated” in our own eyes.  The Bible tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think.  No, it is not saying to be down on yourself, but the call is for humility.  The call is to remember that all we have comes from God.  Our talents and abilities came from Him. He equipped us, and although we had to work to hone those gifts, talents, and abilities, their root and source are Him!

In verse seventeen, we are given a much-needed warning –Never and the emphasis must be on NEVER pay back evil for evil.  An eye for an eye is an Old Testament Principle that was nailed to the Cross in the Sacrifice of Jesus.  We are to be those who forgive, not those who hold grudges, and we must remember that God said, “Vengeance is mine.”  It is not our right or place to be a judge, jury, and executioner.  We are not God.  We are to forgive and place them in His hands, and He will do what is right and needed.

We are to respect and honor what is Right publicly and privately.  Integrity must be a cornerstone in our lives.  Then, he says something that places a major emphasis on our determination and personal responsibility.  In verse eighteen, we are told, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” 

Some will not allow us to be at peace, but we must seek peace and extend the olive branch of peace to all men.  We must be those who practice “soft words” rather than “harsh words” of strife and discord. We must never be sowers of discord.  He then returns to the matter of personal revenge and says NEVER.  If you do, you hinder God’s wrath and judgment upon evil. 

Here is the most challenging part of this message: verses twenty and twenty-one are often bitter pills to swallow but swallow we must if we are to become what God desires and be “like Christ.” 

“BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK, FOR IN SO DOING, YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Wow!  Lord, I react to this as I do to the admonition of James telling me to “count it all joy when trials come my way.”  This is so hard! 

If a person is an antagonist and has sought your physical, mental, emotional, or financial harm, extending a helping hand is next to impossible for most.  We must also be careful not to focus on the last portion of that directive and say, “Well, I’m heaping burning coals on their heads.”  We are, but not if the thought of burning coal is part of our thirst for vengeance or revenge.  No, that transpires when we release them to God, and He begins to deal with them.  In that dealing, the coals of conviction fall upon them, and they find it, as did Saul of Tarsus, “difficult to kick against the pricks.”

The last verse is powerful and should provide incredible comfort in our pursuit of godliness and righteousness.  “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”  I realize we often seem to be doing anything but overcoming when we seek to extend good to those bent on evil, harm, and destruction.  But it is a matter of Faith and Trust.  If we believe God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do – We Can Do This!

God bless you, and may the LORD help you become all you can be in Him and live those Life Principles in your daily walk.  Have a Great Day!

Romans 12:6-21 – “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  NASB

I want to delve into the following verses, beginning with verse nine, and consider some of the applications we are admonished to adopt into our lives and ministries.

LOVE – Complete Love God’s Way.

In verse nine, we are brought face to face with the repeated admonishment in Scripture to Love, and here, it gives an exciting addendum or addition.  We are to love without hypocrisy. 

Hypocritical Love?  What in the world is that?  He speaks of genuine love, not theoretical love or love out of necessity or obligation.  He is speaking of Agape.  That is the Greek word for love found in this passage.  It is love that loves regardless of external influences or stimuli.  It is allowing the Love of God to flow through us to others.  I suggest that kind of love is far rarer than we care to admit, and most of our love is conditional and dependent, at least to a degree, on “what’s in it for us.”

In this love, we are to abhor evil.  The word used in Greek is “apostugeo,“ meaning to detest utterly.  I have contended for years that too frequently, we in the Church and our individual lives do not truly detest and abhor sin as we should.  We have become anesthetized by modern television, the internet, interpersonal relationships, and a society that has become far more tolerant of sin than is healthy.  Too frequently, we are not disturbed by nudity on the screen, profanity in the movies or life, and the various lifestyles God calls abominable. 

I lament this in my own life, that I have been guilty of not abhorring sin to the point that I shun the very appearance of evil and turn the TV off or walk out of the movie theater or away from a conversation that is the base foundation.  We are to receive anyone who is willing to come, but we are not to be a part of the world.  There is a place and time to ‘come out from among them and be separate.’  We are admonished to be holy because He is holy.  No, I am not saying we become Pharisees, but sin should break our hearts.

We are to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who are weeping.  In simple terms, we should be touched by the blessings and troubles of our brothers and sisters in this life.  We are not islands, and what affects you does affect me in the sense that we are part of the same body.  Therefore, if you rejoice, I can share in your joy; if you weep, I can offer comfort in your sorrow.

We are to “be of the same mind toward one another.”  What does that mean? 

Let me offer this, and you evaluate it and come to your own conclusion.  In Barnes Notes, we read, “A literal translation of the Greek will give somewhat a different sense, but one evidently correct. “Think of, that is, regard, or seek after the same thing for each other; that is, what you regard or seek for yourself, seek also for your brethren. Do not have divided interests; do not be pursuing different ends and aims; do not indulge counter plans and purposes; and do not seek honors, offices, for yourself which you do not seek for your brethren, so that you may still regard yourselves as brethren on a level and aim at the same object.” The Syriac has well rendered the passage: “And what you think concerning yourselves, the same also think concerning your brethren; neither think with an elevated or ambitious mind but accommodate yourselves to those who are of humbler condition;” compare 1 Peter 3:8.

It would seem that the Golden Rule is at work at the heart of this admonition and the directive to “be of one accord or agreement.”   If I consider your situation in the light of how I would feel or respond, I am far more likely to be empathetic or sympathetic to your plight or embrace your blessing as a wonderful thing from the Lord.  I will not become envious or jealous but will, with a humble heart, give thanks to the Father from whom comes all gifts for His blessings on that person.

We have covered verses 6-16a, and now I want to open some beautiful truths and give some beneficial things we can incorporate into our daily lives.  In verses 6-12, we have a most potent guide to everyday living, and when embraced, it will bring incredible personal victory from sin and discouragement.  It will lead us to triumph rather than depression.

I will pause again and pick this up in the following devotional.

Until then, may the rich and bountiful blessings of the LORD be yours.  Have a fantastic day!

Romans 12:6-21 – “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  NASB

There is more here than could be addressed in a short time.  If we hit some high points, it might prove beneficial and become a catalyst for deeper study individually.  Both would be wonderful accomplishments. 

I want to take this step by step and begin with the first verse in our text, verse six.  I believe that God is very orderly and organized in what He does. He speaks words with meaning and purpose. How He organizes those words and the order in which they come forth are meaningful and essential. 

THE GIFTS AND THEIR EXERCISE.

This is a clear revelation that each of us has some gift(s), and we need to discover what they are.  That is insufficient for a gift; talent or ability is useless if it is not utilized, and therefore, we must also learn to operate or exercise those gifts, talents, and abilities for them to fulfill their purpose and design. 

Some do not believe in prophecy today, but this is the New Testament and the Covenant under which we readily identify that we are to live.  This was not spoken simply to the First Century Church but to all believers everywhere. 

Therefore, let those with the gift of prophecy utilize that gift, including preaching the Word of God.   Let those gifted with service engage in and learn to be the best stewards of their gift and serve.   Let those with the ability and gift to teach seize every opportunity and use every means to teach.  Let those with the gift of exhortation and inspiration find that stump or soapbox, stand on it, and proclaim their message.  Let those with the Gift of Giving, and this is a real gift. 

Some have been blessed with this gift, and God has seen fit to put in their hands that which they are to give and often in abundance.  A stingy person will not realize the magnificence of this gift and the open door it provides.  I have known people with this gift; the more they gave, the more they had to give, and the cycle continued to grow and grow.  Their heart was to give.

Some people in leadership positions do not have the gift, inclination, training, talent, or ability to lead but have somehow been pressed into that role.  Some have the Gift of Leadership that is overcome with timidity or the lack of self-confidence. They tend to hide in the shadows or, as with Saul, among the stuff.  They are little in their own eyes, one of the needed characteristics of outstanding leadership.  Not timidity and indecisiveness but humility. 

Those who are gifted with Mercy, and we should all be merciful, are encouraged to demonstrate the heart of God in Mercy and do so with overflowing joy and cheer.  That becomes infectious for those who observe this incredible and supernatural demonstration of God’s incredible Love and Mercy.

I will pause here and pick this up in the next devotional. 

Until then, may the LORD bless you and keep you, making His face shine upon you.  Have a fantastic day!

Proverbs – 11:30 – “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”  NKJV

The last portion of that verse should be both an encouragement and compulsion for every believer in our daily lives.  It clearly declares that it is the privilege and duty of every believer to reject the notion that evangelism or spreading the gospel is to be relegated to professionals or preachers. 

It is the expressed commission of every believer to “go ye therefore” and spread the news of the gospel and salvation that can only be found in Christ Jesus our Lord.  There are myriads of stories of people in history whom God has powerfully used in evangelism, and I wish to share one of those.

In the 1700s, there was a young black man named John Marrant.  He was born in New York, his father passed away when John was eleven, and his mother sent him to Charleston, South Carolina, to live with an older sister and learn a trade. 

Instead of following that course, he became skilled with the violin and French horn.  In a couple of years, he became a child prodigy, and as he recounted, “I was invited to all the balls and assemblies that were held in the town and met with general applause of the inhabitants.  I was a stranger to want, being supplied with as much money as I had any occasion for.”  His talent made a place for him and provided for him amazingly.

He and his traveling companion passed a crowded meetinghouse on his way to perform at a particular event. They observed an incredibly large crowd and saw “a crazy man was hallooing there.”  The crazy man was George Whitfield, a prominent religious leader in what is known as the “First Great Awakening.”  

Most people know some of the history of George Whitfield. It is estimated that he preached to as many as 10 MILLION people and over 18 Thousand sermons, averaging over 500 messages per year.  His meetings have reported that up to 500 people would fall to the ground prostrate under the power of his sermons and the power of God. 

Marrant’s friend dared him to disrupt the meeting by sounding out a loud blast with his French horn.  As he raised the horn to his lips, Whitefield saw him and said, “Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel!”  Marrant fell to the ground as though some unseen force had struck him down and lay there for over one-half hour.  Whitfield ministered to him as he came to, and after three days, John Marrant accepted Jesus as his personal savior. 

Marrant returned to his family to share his experience, and they rejected him.  He took a similar path as Moses and fled to the wilderness, where a Cherokee warrior befriended him. They spent ten weeks together hunting, fishing, and becoming fast friends. 

Eventually, they went to the warrior’s village, and he was immediately made a prisoner because the Cherokee were at war with the settlers. Marrant, though black, was clearly one of the settlers. 

The chief threatened his life, and Marrant spoke to the tribe in their language, sharing the gospel of Jesus according to Marrant:  “The king [the chief] himself was awakened [converted], and the others set at [spiritual liberty]. A great change took place among the people; the king’s house became God’s house; the soldiers were ordered away; and the poor condemned prisoner [John] had perfect liberty and was treated like a prince.  Now the Lord made all my enemies become my great friends.”  The chief gave him permission to evangelize the entire tribe, and he did so for nine weeks and also reached out to the Muskogees. 

It was said of Marrant that he was “A Negro in America…who spread the seed of Christianity among the Native American Indians before the birth of the American Republic.”

Later, Marrant worked as a carpenter on a plantation near Charleston, and his heart was broken for the spiritual condition of the slaves, as he preached to them, many were converted.  This resulted in terrible treatment for those who converted but remained faithful to Christ’s word and forgave those who abused them. 

When the American Revolution began, Marrant was captured by the British and forced into service in the British Navy.  After the war, he was ordained and continued his soul-winning in England, Canada, and finally back in the United States.  He died of an illness when he was 36, but his life left an indelible mark on multitudes.  He truly lived the admonition of Proverbs 11:30, that “He who wins souls is wise.” 

I have discovered that what holds our hearts also enters our conversation.  God help us to become so gripped with the joy of salvation that we cannot be silent but become those who fulfill this admonition of Proverbs 11:30.  

God bless you as you embark on this beautiful day in Jesus!

2 Corinthians 1:24 – “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” NKJV

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 – “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.  20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.  22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”  NKJV

Most people understand that Freedom is a precious commodity.  It is essential to understand what Freedom is, what False Freedom is, and what it means to be Free from Law and Sin.  Those are incredibly important, but one Freedom must be addressed: “Freedom from Man.” 

When men become spiritual dictators, it creates a hazardous and undesirable condition.   In 1 Corinthians 7, listed above, the apostle Paul lays down a fundamental principle: we should not be subject to people; we should be subject to God.

That makes the setting of this passage beyond essential but critical.  If we fail to grasp the setting, we will arrive at some false conclusions and develop some false interpretations.  As I read and studied this passage, I realized that Paul was battling due to some Corinthians abusing their Freedom in Jesus. 

The Corinthian Church was made up of people who, by and large, had lived in gross sin.  Many had been involved in extreme wickedness and now had Freedom in Jesus.  Galatians 3:28 advises us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  That is important!  The Corinthian believers knew this truth but were taking it to the extreme.  Simply, they were using their freedom to the point of license.

They took that passage and argued that marriage was abolished in Christ, nationality was erased, those in slavery were no longer to obey their earthly masters, etc.  When we come to Christ, our sex, nationality, ethnicity, and social and economic status do not immediately change, and some things never change.  Salvation affords us the potential to make the most out of every situation. 

Salvation is a spiritual change!  It can and should bring about change in the home, on the job, and in society.  The crucial point is that God does not work from the outside in. He works from the inside out.  He changes us, and that change results in a changed attitude and actions, and that results in changes around us.

Paul offered a foundational principle, “Remain as you are and allow God to make the change.”  As you consider vv. 7, 17, 20, and 24, we understand that we are to learn to make the most of our present condition and situation.  As we allow the changes to come from within, we find that God’s incredible miracle of change comes. 

Remember, we are Free, not Independent!  No believer can be independent of other believers; likewise, no believer should be totally dependent on other believers.  Our dependency is Christ, not man.  No human is to be a dictator in the lives of others.  That is true in politics, economics, marriage, and spiritually.  The slaves were still slaves, but they were Free!  The masters were to be slaves to Christ but still masters.  You and I are free from the dominion and domination of people, but that does not make us independent.  The change in our lives must begin on the inside. 

Paul presented four arguments for us to remain as we are and allow God to make the changes from within.  We can cover them later, but for now, I pray that each of us realizes that we are to obey God rather than man when man’s decrees violate God’s.  We are not islands in life but connected to every other believer, and although we are Free, we are not Independent.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

Luke 24:36-39 – “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”  37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”  NKJV

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples, and they were terrified when he appeared.  I am not sure we would not have been in the same boat.  We benefit from hindsight while they were living in the reality of the moment.  We can piously look back and say, “Well, I would never have doubted, but had we lived when and where they lived, we probably would have had the same reaction, if not worse.”

Jesus’ question applies to that and any situation in life, “Why are you troubled?  Why do doubts arise in your hearts?”  How many times do we find ourselves “troubled” and our hearts filled with “doubt” and “questions?” Probably much more than we would like to admit publicly! 

There was a time in my life when it would have been hard to admit that I had “doubt” because preachers were supposed to be perfect.  Nobody ever told me that, but that was the perception I developed from listening to my elders and church members in my early days as a Christian.  I cannot tell you how often I have been told, “But you are a preacher, so…”

So?  Because I am a preacher, I cannot have doubts.  Can’t I make mistakes?  Can’t I have wrong thoughts?  Can’t I succumb to the temptations of the flesh in some fashion?  I am not saying “can’t” because it is okay, but just because I am a preacher does not make me immune! 

While I do not doubt that God holds those of us who stand in the Sacred Desk of the Pulpit to a very high standard, I also believe He knows our frailty as human beings.  I wish that people inside and outside the church did.  If so, we would probably have a smaller drop-out rate of those who enter the ministry and then walk away at some point.  Some do so, so wounded and bitter that they lose their faith. 

Likewise, if preachers understood that the man or woman in the pew is human and approached life situations with a little more compassion, at times, we would also see fewer people walking away from the church bitter, disillusioned, and destitute in their faith.

What we need is a revival of SEEING JESUS!  We need to see His “nail-scarred hands” and remember how He got them and what they mean to us individually and collectively. 

• We need to see His “pierced side” where he was wounded as He hung on the Cross and realize that our words can be spears that do great harm in the lives of others. 
• We need to see his “tattered and torn flesh” from the lashes He received for us and realize that Without Him, we would not survive in this world. 
• We need a revival of Seeing Jesus!  We need to see His compassion for the lost, the hurting, the dying, the needy, the discouraged, the disappointed, and the disillusioned.
• We need to see Jesus in the occurrences of life and allow Him to shine through our lives in a much more real and powerful way. 

If we could see Jesus, we would find ourselves facing fewer times of “troubled hearts” and “doubt-filled minds.” We would know that no matter what we face in life – – HE IS THERE! 

So, as you go through this day, may you go in the strength of His Person! 

Blessings abundantly upon your life are my prayer and desire!

2 Timothy 2:11-13 – “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.  12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” NKJV

Let me explain my title.  We want “half” of this statement, not the whole enchilada.  We want to live with Christ but not die with Him.  We want to reign with Him but not endure or suffer with Him.  We want Him to be faithful even though too often we are unfaithful.  We want to be able to do warfare as a Soldier of Christ but not “endure the hardship” of a good soldier. 

We become so entangled in the affairs of this life that we fit the old song of Tennessee Ernie Ford – “Sixteen Tons.”  We owe our souls to the company store. Through our “entanglement with the affairs of this life,” we have virtually become slaves to the system rather than those who can and will follow Christ anywhere, anytime, under any conditions.  Too often, it is “I owe, I owe, I owe, so it’s off to work I go.”

Dying with Jesus is not a physical death in the cessation of life as we know it but a dying “spiritually.”  It is the dying to self and the crucifixion of the old nature that we have a problem with.  We do not like it because it is hard and requires commitment and discipline.  It requires humility and often involves self-effacement. 

But, if we “die with Him,” we will “Live with Him!”  We enter the “newness of life” and find access to the Abundant Life He promised.  The end product is well worth the getting there, but too often, we are half-ers and only want the end result without the process or the pain.

Enduring with Jesus is easily one of the most difficult things we will encounter as Christians.  It is hard to endure when retaliating or running for cover would be easier.  Yet, the message is clear: if we “endure,” we will Reign with Him!  We will walk as Overcomers in this life and see the fulfillment of the promise of Scripture that “as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17). 

Enduring is never easy, has never been easy, and will never be easy, but if our eyes focus on the prize of the high calling in Christ, “endurance” is not only a possibility but a probability for the believer!

Too often, we fail to understand that “denying Him” goes far beyond denying that He is the Christ and rejecting our faith.  Remember that Jesus told us that as much as we did “good things” to the least of these, we did them unto Him. 

Our insensitivity to the needs of others, our callousness, our lack of the demonstration of grace, judgmentalism, and self-centeredness are methods through which we “deny Him.”  If we deny Him – He will Deny Us!  He told us that if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before the Father.  What could be worse?

Too often, we are unfaithful, but He is Always Faithful.  We are unmerciful, but He is Always Merciful.  We are sometimes unloving, but He is Always Loving. We fail, but He does not.

So instead of being a half-er, be one willing to die with Christ, as painful as that may be.  Be one who will endure with Him and suffer hardship as a good soldier when it is required.  Refuse to deny Him in word or deed, and know He will never deny us.  Refuse to be faithless or unfaithful, and rest in His Faithfulness!  He is our Hope!

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