Life

LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD – – Part 2…


1 Corinthians 3:1-9 – “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters are anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”  NASB

Let’s address the next two truths regarding God’s Harvest and the Church and our Position and Condition in the process.

GOD ALONE GIVES THE INCREASE.

1 Corinthians 3:6 is a needed reminder by the apostle Paul regarding the church and the ministry we are commissioned to engage in.  He said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.”  In verse 7 we read, “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”  Notice that he said twice that the growth is God’s work, not ours.  We are simply co-laborers with Him, doing what He has directed and lifting Him up.  We are not the growers of the church or the producers of the growth. 

I love the declaration in Psalm 126:6 – “He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”  You are important in this process, but you are not the most important and the growth of the church is not dependent on your amazing ability or persuasiveness. 

I had a person tell me once, “You saved me.”  I said, “Nope!  If I saved you, I would be responsible for keeping you and I am not.  God saved you and your allegiance is to God, not me.”  It is up to us to water and plant, but up to God to give the increase and bring to maturity what we have planted.  The harvest is His and we are workers in His field.

There are some dangers:  If we plant nothing and water nothing what will the increase be NOTHING!  If we plant and water in faith and obedience to Him what will the increase be FRUIT?  God gives the increase in what we plant and water.  We must move outside the confines of the four walls of our sheep shed and sow the seed of the gospel to as many as possible.  That’s our part.

WE ARE CO-LABORERS WITH GOD.

God chooses our field and our ministry.  There is a powerful reminder in Psalms 127:1 – “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.” 

I believe that our purpose is not simply to fill churches with people but to bring souls into contact with the living God and enable them to experience Salvation.  The Living God will transform their lives.  A church full of people is of no value and could be a nest full of headaches and heartaches if they have not experienced Jesus in salvation.  Success is not defined by the number of attendees but the number of people whose lives have been changed by the Grace of God. 

We need to be led by the Spirit of God as to where, when, and what we sow.  We need the anointing of the Holy Spirit to do the work of Jesus.  We need to be obedient to the vision God has established for the church and our location. 

God calls, commands, and provides.  We plant and water.  He gives the increase.  That was liberating to me as a pastor when I realized it was not my job to ‘grow the church’ and it was not ‘my church.’  I saw more souls born into the kingdom and the church (local) became stronger as I relinquished my control and followed His. 

God wants none to perish!  Jesus will have a church and it will be glorious.  We are not in competition with any other church or group, denomination, or sect.  We are Laborers Together with God!  I have discovered that God always works where He finds willing hearts that desire Him more than anything.  He moves where His people believe Him, receive Him, and obey Him. 

You are an important part of the Harvest of God.  You are a vessel filled with His glory and empowered by His Spirit.  Therefore, “Go Ye Therefore.” 

God bless you as you enjoy your position and condition as a “Co-laborer with God.”  Have a Great Day!

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LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD…


1 Corinthians 3:1-9 – “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters are anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”  NASB

My primary text and focus are in verse nine – “God’s fellow workers” or “Laborers together with God.”  I became persona non grata to some fellow ministers once when I challenged the use of the term “My Church.”  I have been concerned for a very long time when I hear and see the church world and preachers lose sight of the centermost part of what we do and who we are. 

The devil is a strategist and one of his strategies is to divert our attention.  If he can get us to become entrapped in the business of it all and become so busy engaging in the superficial, the minute, and our vision become misdirected he defeats us or hinders us.  If we lose sight of the whole and only see our part, our purpose becomes skewed and our effectiveness diminished.

When that condition occurs, we tend to expend our energies on secondary things.  If the devil can entrap us into small thinking, he gains an upper hand.  As a pastor, I heard, “We’ve tried that before and it won’t work.”  I’ve heard the argument, “We cannot do that because we are a small congregation, or we are not large enough to take on that responsibility.”  I have heard, “If it is the will of God, He will do it.”  No, He won’t!  I do not mean that God won’t do things independently of us, but if it is something, He told us to do, He Won’t Do It for Us!

Attitudes are incredibly important in life and especially in the work of the Kingdom of God.  Tragically, I hear conversations among believers that reveal they are defeated before they begin.  I have heard preachers talk about, “Building My Church.”  No, it is His Church and you cannot build it.  You can participate, but it belongs to Him and He is building it.  You are not doing a work for God your are laboring with God!

I have heard preachers say, “I want to grow my church.”  That is the wrong focus.  I am not opposed to church growth, that would be ridiculous.  I am opposed to focusing on noses and nickels and thinking that we must create a program or generate some excitement through our efforts that will attract people.  Changed lives are the focus of God not how many are assembled.  That won’t sit well with some.

There are three major truths that I would like to address in this and the following devotionals:

IT IS GOD’S HARVEST.

Matthew 9:38 instructs us to pray that God will send laborers into HIS harvest.  It is vital that we focus on the words, “His Harvest.”  He is the builder and maker. He is the creator.  He is the owner.  He is in control.  He is the Light of the World.  When we consider Who He is, any objection, doubt, fear, and hesitation become laughable.  There is nothing impossible with God!

I want to address this more but will pause until the next devotional to reveal the other two truths of which I spoke in the beginning.   It is God’s Harvest and I encourage you to focus on that truth.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him.

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YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD…


Psalms 8 – “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth, Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens! 2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength, Because of Thine adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease. 3 When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him? 5 Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, and dost crown him with glory and majesty!  6 Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth!”  NASB

I love the Psalms and the beautiful encouraging and challenging messages they bring to the hear of the Child of God.  If we attempt to compare man to God, we quickly realize how insignificant we truly are. If we press that to the nth degree, we would become overcome with a sense of hopelessness and uselessness.  However, God gives us truths in His Word that reveal that we are Important to Him.

I want to take a brief journey through some of those truths and list them for your consideration and encouragement:

  • You Are More Valuable Than the Creatures of the Earth.  (Genesis 1:26). 

Man was given dominion. 

  • Our Soul is Worth More Than the Earth Itself.  (Matthew 16:26)

What could we possibly give in exchange for our eternal soul? 

  • We Were Important Enough for Christ’s Blood to be Shed for Our Sin.  (John 3:16 and Romans 5:8). 

It was while we were still in rebellion and sin that Jesus went to the Cross for us.  The unmatched and often unfathomable love of God is demonstrated in God’s willingness for the Blood of Christ to be shed for us.

  • Man Was Created in the Image and Likeness of God.  (Genesis 1:27).

We are crowned with His glory. We are the apple of His eye.  We may feel insignificant, unimportant, and inferior but God values us as the prize of His creation.  If we look at His provisions, we should be awed by His incredible love for us and the incredible value He places on us.

God’s provisions are for man, not the angels or the animals.  The angels have not tasted or experienced this Salvation that we know.  God has given us dominion in the earth.  God has brought to us His Salvation and Forgiveness.  He has prepared for us an Eternal Abode – Heaven.

The warning of scripture is, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation.”  “If the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinner appear.”  We have not been given the spirit of fear so we should never be oppressed by fear.  Our Father desires to give us the kingdom and His abundant life, free of guilt and shame. 

We are valuable to God, so I encourage you to look in the mirror every day and say, “I am Valuable.  I am valuable to God.  I believe that I am valuable, and I will live like it.  I will be the expression of His glory and manifest His presence in my life through obedience.”

God has called you to victory!   Have a great day in Jesus!

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THE LAW OF DOUBLE PORTION – (Part 4)


Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”  NASB

We have considered some examples of Double Portion in Scripture.  We looked at The Right of the Firstborn, Double Manna, and Double Rain.  Now we will look at a few more in our pursuit of understanding and implementation of the Double Portion Promise of God in our lives.

There Was The System of Double Retribution.  Exodus 22:4

This law kept crime at an incredibly low rate in Israel, when practiced.  I suggest it would also reduce crime significantly in today’s society if we did the same.  If something was stolen, it was God’s Judgment that the thief had to restore DOUBLE what was stolen.  That is Double not simply pay a fine or do jail time.  They had to restore to the victim double even if it meant they had to work for that victim until the debt was paid.

God never says, “Just grin and bear it.” He never says, “I know life is hard, so just tough it out.”  He says, “Double.”  You get back Double when the thief is caught and identified.  That is a powerful deterrent to crime and a deserved blessing to the victim.

There Was Double Anointing with Elisha & Elijah.  2 Kings 2:9

Elisha had served Elijah for ten years in practical service and apprenticeship.  Elijah knew he was about to be taken to heaven, so he asked Elisha, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Elisha asked, for a “Double Portion of Elijah’s Anointing.”  That is incredible.  The message should be, “Never settle for too little.”  Go for the double portion.  Elisha refused to be sidetracked and pressed in and receive the Double Portion Anointing.

The prophecies in both testaments declare that the spirit of Elijah will be at work in the earth before Jesus returns.  Elijah brought forth the Double Portion Anointing.  My question is, “Where is the hunger today?”  Jesus said that we are to ‘ask, seek, and knock.’  We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  We must never be satisfied with second best but press into God’s best.  There is a harvest to be reaped and a double portion anointing is needed if not required to fulfill that mission.

There Was Double Restoration.  Job 42:10

God always and I mean always rewards those who suffer when pursuing His purposes.  If, for a time, you suffer then seek and expect a double portion blessing not a double portion of suffering.  There was no pride in Job. There was no self-sufficiency. There was trust and dependence on God.  This Double Restoration may cost something, but it is worth it.

There Was the Doubling of Talents.  Matthew 25:14-30

One of the servants in the parable was given five talents and through diligence and labor, his five became ten.  The master honored him with more because he expected and dared to use what he had been given.  Some illustrations of the Double Portion reveal diligence and faithfulness are rewarded.  Whatever God gives us, if we are faithful with it, it can and will become a Double Portion.

Each of those seven examples I have listed show us different responsibilities and possible dangers.  God wants us to understand this principle or law so that we can be people who operate in a Double Portion of God’s Blessings to bless and set others free.

We have considered the Inheritance rights of the firstborn.  We have seen the double portion of the Bread of Life and the Double Rain or Blessing.  We have seen the principle of that which is stolen from us being restored double.  We have the promise of a double portion anointing in our lives.  We have God’s promise of restoration of double when we have suffered and lost serving him.  Then we considered the need to diligently apply ourselves and be rewarded doubly in the use of our gifts and talents in service to God.

Hopefully, this has produced a seed of desire in your hearts to have the Double Portion God has promised.  I hope that each of us fully embraces the reality and truth that this is a valid desire for today.  If we do, it will motivate us to become radically different and determined to press into His presence and receive the Double Portion. 

Let’s become a Double Portion People.

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THE LAW OF DOUBLE PORTION – (Part 3)


Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”  NASB

Last time we identified one of the seven examples of Double Portion in Scripture, The Right of the Firstborn.  Today I ask that you join me in considering additional examples and hopefully, we will see the beauty and power of this Law and how it applies to us today.

There Was Double Manna – Exodus 16:5, 22-30.

For each of the six normal days of the week, the Children of Israel gathered provisions for that day.  If they attempted to gather more and horde up manna, it would spoil.  It got worms and rotted.  The issue was Trust.  Every day continually they were required to ‘Trust God’.  They could not have a nest egg or develop a contingency plan, they had to Trust God every day.  The sixth day was different.  Because they were to honor God in a special way on the seventh, He allowed them to gather a ‘double portion’ on the sixth day to take care of two days.

How does that relate to us today as New Testament believes?  Human history has been running a course for about 6,000 years.  We could suggest from a prophetic viewpoint that on God’s calendar one day is as a thousand years.  That would mean that we are living in the sixth day of God’s week of redemption.  If that is the case, then we are living in the Day of Double Portion of Manna.  What would that mean for us?  Remember Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”  Double manna would be double bread, double strength, and double revelation of Jesus.  In John 14:12, Jesus said that we would do what He did and greater works because He has gone to the Father.  Greater could be deemed Double.

There Was Double Rain – Joel 2:23-27

Normally, the early rain came at the beginning of the growing season to get the crops started.  This was followed by a dry season and then the latter rain would come at the end of the season to enable the crops to ripen for harvest.

But, God says, “Now the rain will come all at once or a Double Portion of Rain!”  What does that mean for us?  There will be Double Fruitfulness and a Double Harvest.  In verse 24 the floors will be full of wheat and in verse 25, God restores the “years” that were lost.  That is amazing!  Then comes the incredible declaration in verses 26-27 – “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. 27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.” 

For those wondering what the rain represents I suggest we turn to Hosea 6:1-3 which reveals what the rain represents.  God says, “I will come to you as the rain.”  This is the Living Presence of Jesus in the midst of His people because of the outpouring of the Spirit of God.  It is Double Portion Anointing and Double Portion Fruitfulness. 

God wants His people to have abundance, not so we can horde up things and heap things on ourselves but so that we can manifest Him to the world and set the captives free.  It is for Freedom that we have been set Free.  We are blessed to be blessings.  God wants to give us a Double Portion!

I want to tackle this again but will pause here and pray that the light of His love will shine upon you and you will be enriched in all things in Him. 

Have a fantastic day in Jesus!

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THE LAW OF DOUBLE PORTION – (Part 2)


Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”  NASB

In Zechariah 9:9 we read, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Then in verse 10, it speaks of His Kingdom being a ‘peaceful kingdom’, and the weapons will cease, and He will speak peace to the heathen.  In verse 11 we see the ‘Blood of the Covenant.’  We also see that He has set the prisoners free from the pit of destruction.

That is a beautiful picture of the ministry of Jesus.  The ministry we are recipients of.  He did not come with a physical sword, but in humility going to the Cross as a sacrifice for our sin. He came to provide salvation so that the Gospel of Peace could spread to the ends of the earth.  Through His Blood, we have the New Covenant and those bound by sin are liberated.

In verse 12 we are instructed to ‘return to the stronghold’.  We are those who have Hope!  In the last part of that passage, we are informed that God would restore to us a “Double Portion.”  There it is again, ‘double.’  I hope you see this.  God’s promise is that even though we have been prisoners of the pit of darkness where there was no hope, no water, no life, no sustenance we have been released to HOPE!   Hope means to have a confident expectation of something that you are sure is going to come to you. 

I declare on the authority of God’s Word that there is more to come!  We do not have to be satisfied with the status quo, there is more.  There is going to be a glorious church that lives in the double portion of God’s blessings and exercises His authority on this earth.  There will be doubters, scoffers, and nay-sayers, but it is going to become a reality.  I believe that it will be in our lifetime.

THE LAW OF DOUBLE PORTION

The Law of Double Portion is a subject far too large to tackle in a devotional or even a series of devotionals, it is a life-time study but let’s see what we can discover.  I would like to offer seven examples of “Double Portion” in Scripture.  Each of the examples affords understanding and insight into different aspects of this Law.  Each of them reveals different responsibilities we have concerning double portion and identifies the pitfalls that must be avoided.

The Right of the Firstborn – Deuteronomy 21:17

When a man had several sons and it came time to divide the inheritance the Law demanded that a ‘double portion’ be given to the firstborn son.  That was not because he was the favorite or even the most deserving but because of his place in the line of succession.  It was automatic.

Is there an application to us, as New Testament believers?  I refer everyone to Hebrews 12:23 where we are informed that as the Church of Jesus Christ we are ‘the church of the firstborn.’  Through Jesus, we are God’s firstborn for the purpose of covenant.

Some will contend that we are not ‘firstborn’ because that distinction belongs to Jesus.  After all, God only has one firstborn and that is Jesus, right?  In Romans, Hebrews, Colossians, and Revelation Jesus is called God’s Firstborn.  Therefore, how can the church also be the firstborn?  Let me take you to several passages for clarity.

In James 1:18 we discover that God has begotten us, and we are the ‘first fruits’ of His creatures.  In 1 Peter 1:3-4 we are made to understand that when we are born again, we are born to receive an inheritance.  Additionally, Romans 8:16-17 identifies that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are God’s Children.  We are heirs of God and we are told ‘joint-heirs’ with Jesus.

Therefore, Jesus, as God’s ‘firstborn’ received the Double Portion, and because we are ‘in’ Him and He is ‘in’ us we also become God’s firstborn.  Jesus is the head and we are the body.  We are the One New Man and double portion heir of the Father, through Jesus.  That means we do not just receive a blessing we receive everything that Jesus gets.  We are IN Him and He is IN us.  We are one with Him.

I want to pursue this further but will pause here and ask that you begin to consider Who you are in Jesus and begin to expect to receive your Double Portion Blessing.

Have a Great Day in Jesus!

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THE LAW OF DOUBLE PORTION…


Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”  NASB

I have taught and preached on “Double Portion” many times in my fifty plus years of Christian ministry.  It is an interesting and challenging project because of the incredible need for biblical balance.  The Bible has much to say about “Double Portion” and I believe it unfortunate that some believers never grasp this reality and thereby miss much of God’s intended blessing and power in their lives.

Life is not without change. Human history is not simply an ongoing cycle of continuous and often confusing events.  God is involved in history.  He is involved in our daily lives, at every level.  I believe there are going to be some significant and radical changes in the way we do business.  I mean that on every level and in every dimension.  I say that because God is moving and when God moves things change.  That reality makes it imperative that we never become willing to accept the status quo living and try to coast through life. 

Many things are happening in our world and the time has come when we are going to experience dramatic change at a very rapid pace.  I believe that the pace is going to escalate and things that took decades to become the ‘new normal’ will occur in days or weeks.  Therefore, it is time for every believer to ‘Wake Up’ and ask God, “What do you want me to do?”  We need to pray for clarity and the ability to discern the times and learn to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  We have an opportunity, as no other generation, to achieve things for the Kingdom.  We dare not sleep through our window of opportunity and our day of visitation.

That brings me to the subject or focus of this devotional, “Double Portion.”  I believe that double portion will be a strategic part of the Last Days Generation.  Isaiah 61 is a powerful declaration of both the ministry of Jesus and what God intends for His Body in the Last Days.  We are in Him and through Him, we are to pull down strongholds.  We are to do the works that Jesus did and even greater works through the Power of the Holy Spirit.  We have been commissioned and empowered, therefore, it is high time that we begin to expect what He has promised.

I love the wonderful promise of this passage that we can trade ‘ashes’ for ‘beauty.’  We can swap our ‘mourning’ for ‘joy.’  We are called ‘trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD.’  God is glorified in the fruit we bear, therefore if we bear a ‘double portion’ we doubly glorify Him.

In verse 4 of Isaiah 61, we see a truth that is often missed, not discussed, misunderstood, or ignored – Restoration.  He promised to rebuild the waste places.  He promised to raise up the former desolations.  He declared that we would repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.  What has been lost is going to be restored and we are going to reclaim the land for God.  That will happen, the only question is will we be a part of it.  My prayer is Yes!

Something that I have learned and deeply appreciate about God is that when things seem to go bad and are not working out, He Never Loses Hope!  He Never Gives Up!  He Never Quits!  God is not intimidated by the apparent hopelessness of the situation, He is the Sovereign God, the Living God, the Almighty God.  God made it and He can and will fix it.  In God, there is no such thing as Hopeless.  That is comforting!

In Isaiah 61:6 we are called priests of the Lord the ministers of God and the promise is that we will “eat the wealth of the nations.”  In verse 7 in the KJV reads, “For your shame, you shall have double…”  Wow!  That sounds like we will have ‘double shame’ but that is not what the LORD is declaring.  It does not mean, “We’ve had trouble up until now, but cheer up it will get worse and we will have double trouble.”  The last part of the verse informs us that “everlasting joy shall be unto them.”  That tells us what the double portion is.  It is not, shame or trouble but everlasting joy, and that will be the evidence that the double portion is in operation in our lives. 

In verse 8 we see the reference to an “Everlasting Covenant.”  In the Old Testament, the theme of double is tied to the idea of covenant.  Our Covenant, the New Covenant is a better covenant established on better promises and is anchored in the Blood of Jesus.  The reason that ‘double portion’ is connected to covenant is God’s means of reminding us just how committed He is to His children.  He declares to every believer that He is fully committed to us.  Jesus said, “It is My Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” 

We do not live in wishful hope, hoping that someday things will get a little better if we are lucky.  This is something that God has promised with an Everlasting Covenant.  It is a sure thing!  Somebody is going to receive it.  Somebody is going to operate in it and use it for the glory of God.  My question is, “Since God is no respecter of persons and never changes, Why Not Us?”

I want to deal with this more in the next devotional but will pause here and encourage everyone to ‘get your expectation up’.  What God promises He completes. 

God bless you, have a great day in Him!

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ONE DAY AT A TIME LIVING…


Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  NASB

I have come to realize that too many of us live focused on what might be, what could have been, and the what-ifs of life.  I felt inspired several years ago to address that in a book entitled, “Too Busy With Busyness To Hear God.”  If we allow the noise of life to crowd out the voice of the Spirit of God, we live beneath our privilege and promise in God.

The words of our Lord, in this passage, are invaluable for living life one day at a time.  He is attempting to shift our focus from the important to the essential and from the temporal to the eternal.  In that, He is offering us a means whereby we can live this temporal life to the fullest and embrace the eternal.  In that sense, we get the best of both worlds.

His instruction is to focus on the essential – God, His Kingdom, and His Righteousness!  He gives the pattern for prayer in the earlier portion of this chapter and now at the end of this portion of His discourse, He brings to light how we can bring the focus of that prayer into reality.

Most of us are burdened with the necessary things of life.  Jesus is giving us a pathway to having our needs met and maintaining a healthy relationship with Him.  If God becomes the most important in our lives and is pursued before anything and everything else, He promises to supply our needs.  That is an incredible promise and one that we profess to believe but our practice indicates we do not.  We live busy bothered lives rather than in the calm assurance that He is in control and has everything under control.

Jesus’ last words in this discourse and instruction are, “There is no reason to fret over what might be, let things play out as they will.  There is enough to focus on in the immediate to fret over what might be tomorrow.”  We have the choice to live in a state of peace through trust or in worry out of a misguided idea that it is up to us to do it.

Please know I am not suggesting that we do not do what is needed as we realize it is needed.  What I am suggesting is that rather than fret over it, worry about it, lament over what might have been or might be, we look up and make Him the primary pursuit of our lives.  It is in His Presence that there is Peace.  It is in His Presence there is Provision.  It is in His Presence there is Fulfillment.

Therefore, my encouragement and His is, rather than worry about tomorrow learn to live today resting in His Grace, Goodness, and Guidance.  I would encourage everyone to read Psalm 91 again and again.  I would encourage everyone to read Philippians 4:13-19 again and again.  I would encourage everyone to read Romans 8:28 again and again.  He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, therefore we have no reason to fear.  He is still God!

God bless you, have a great day in Him!

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WALKING WITH GOD – – Part 2


We talked about the agreement between man and God to establish the needed relationship and covenant to ‘walk together.’  We discussed agreement on man’s condition.  Now, we will move forward or further and consider additional agreements required to maintain a relationship with God that is fruitful and lasting.

  • There Must Be Agreement About the Sin Situation.

It is vital that we come into full agreement with God, His Word, and His Spirit as to sin.  We must define what sin is, how it is committed, it’s nature, and penalty.  God has not avoided this subject in scripture and made some clear and definitive declarations.

We know that sin is not acceptable to God.  If we seek to define sin, I’m quite sure that we would find the task impossible to fully satisfy every inquiring mind.  A room of 100 people would probably produce 100 different definitions or variations, so we need to stick to what God says as much as possible in our pursuit of understanding.

I suggest that sin involves motive, not just an action.  In fact, a good deed done for a devious purpose out of selfishness and self-aggrandizement would reveal an impure motive.  That violates the heart and character of God.  Sin involves selfishness and makes it all about me and what I can get out of the activity or action.  Sin, it could be argued is relative to the spiritual light we are walking in.  James 4:17 – “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” 

It is important and necessary that we see sin as God does.  God looks at the heart and examines the motive, not just the outward or the action.  (1 Samuel 16:7).  We, are to do ‘self-examination.’ (2 Corinthians 13:5).  God considers our understanding or spiritual light.  God views sin in light of true benevolence.  He looks at the condition or attitude of rebellion and selfishness. 

We are told in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve ‘two masters.’  In the Greek, the word master implies the one to whom a person or a thing belongs and over which the owner or master has the power of deciding.  God is the owner!  You are not your own, you have been bought with a price.  Sin must always be viewed by us as it is by God if we are to walk in agreement.  Otherwise, we will water down what it is and what it does.

  • There Must Be Agreement About the Right Way to Live.

Hebrews 12:14 directs that we are to, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man can see the LORD.”  That is interesting, we are told to ‘follow holiness’ a lost word and concept in the modern church.  I would contend this can be applied as saying we must agree with God as to Holy Living.  Let me offer a very simplistic definition of Holiness.  It is walking in all the light and understanding spiritually that you have and doing so with total honesty.

Following Holiness must include and involve:  Desiring to have more light or understanding from the Lord.  It must include an honest examination of all motives and actions.  It must include repentance whenever and wherever we fall short.  It includes the elimination from our lives of all motives and acts that are in disunity with the precepts of God’s Word and His moral law.  It involves manifesting, in our lives, true benevolence and allow the precepts of God’s word to shape our character, words, and deeds.

It is as we practice the known precepts of God’s Word and Moral Law that we become more like Him.  As we pursue Truth, studying to show ourselves approved we find that He reveals more and more of Himself to us and extends greater grace for us to live.  It is to walk in Agreement with God about Everything!

We agree as to our responsibility for our sin. We are guilty and have missed the mark.  We agree as to our need for redemption because of that sin.  We agree as to the right way to live and agree as to God’s Ultimate Authority.  That is to be our objective, Agreement with God.  We align ourselves by the aide of the Holy Spirit with God’s Word.

Here is my confession before God: “Lord, I am guilty of my sin.  There is no one to blame for it but me.  There is no one to share my guilt.  I have sinned.  I realize that sin is not and cannot be acceptable to You and if I am not doing what I know You want me to do, I stand guilty and confess.  I realize that to continue in rebellion will separate me from You and I desire to be one with You.  I recognize that you desire, and demand holiness and I ask that you transform me by the renewing of my mind and enable me to become one with You.  I give you my heart and my life.”

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

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WALKING WITH GOD…


Amos 3:3 – “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”  NKJV

What a tremendous assertion in this verse.  The idea presented is that in order for there to be an abiding relationship, with permanence, there must be agreement.  In this particular case, the ‘two’ are the Judgment of God and the Words of the prophet.  These two do not coincide by mere chance, any more than two persons pursue (in-company) the same end unless there is a previous agreement.

We must realize that in order to maintain an honest walk with God we must have agreement.  Being a Christian is more than accepting a creed or even accepting a loving savior.  It means to walk with God day by day all the days of our lives. 

For two to walk together in a relationship there must be agreement.  Simply, both parties agree on the objective and desire the same end.  There has to be common ground.  That is true in all relationships but especially true in Covenant with God.  To walk with God there must be agreement.  I want us to consider some of the agreements that must be established and maintained.

  • There Must Be Agreement About the Natural Condition of Man.

We and God must come to full agreement as to the true nature of man.  I guess it would be better said, we must come into agreement with God and adopt His view of man.  He knows!  There must be agreement about man’s ability or inability regarding his actions, his transgressions, his life, attitude, and heart.  We must come into agreement as to the remedy for man’s dilemma or sinfulness.

There is the belief, shared by many, that man is born a sinner.  James 1:14-15 sheds a little different light on that subject, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”   I would ask if man is born a sinner what about Adam?  Of course, one could argue Adam was innocent but fell and now we inherit his sin.  What of the angels?  Well, angels do not get saved is the objection.  What about the devil?  He was one of the angels of God and through rebellion (sin) fell from God’s favor and was evicted from heaven.

If we are born sinners, then is sin our fault?  That brings us to the opposing view that man becomes a sinner through an act of his will or through his missing the mark. 

Regardless of which view you hold, the one truth that we should all be able to agree upon is that without Christ man is lost, a sinner, and hopeless.

There are some biblical realities we need to interject here are:

All have sinned – (Romans 3:23).  The natural or carnal man and mind hates God. (Romans 8:7).  Those who have reached the age or mental state they know right from wrong and are accountable for their actions have sinned.  The natural mind (heart) is selfish and because the focus is on self, rejects God and His rightful rule.

Who does natural carnal sinful man blame for his condition?  If we are born sinners and cannot help sinning, then sin is not a crime against God it is a tragedy.  If I cannot help it and have no part in it, then it is not my fault but God’s for my condition.  If on the other hand I sin through an act of my will or in rebellion or choosing to disobey, as did Adam and Eve, then it is my fault and I am guilty.  I become fully accountable to God and in need of a Redeemer and Forgiveness. 

God says, “The soul that sins it shall die.”  Isaiah 53:6 declares, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way…”  God holds each of us accountable for our own sins, not the sins of Adam, our brothers or sisters, nor our parents.  It is my sin that separates me from God, not your sin.  Therefore, as the song we used to sing, “It’s not my brother, nor my sister, but it’s me O LORD standing in the need of prayer.”  I have sinned and come short of God’s Glory and I need forgiveness. 

I want to delve a little deeper into this subject in the next devotional but will pause here and allow you time to reflect upon the thoughts I have presented.  You can receive them, reject them, or be indifferent, but I ask that you consider them.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus!

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