‘Recorded at home just before leaving to preach Revival in a nearby city. This Verse really is a “key” to getting an understanding of the Book of Amos. Watch the Lesson if you possibly can.’
Bible Devotions
All posts tagged Bible Devotions
‘Let me share something I recently saw in Psalm 56. it is both surprising and encouraging.
Verse 3 has David saying, admitting … “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
Here this giant of a man spiritually admits to fear!
But when he is afraid … he will still lean on the Lord.
Actually, the specific verb “to trust” used in this Verse (spelled “batach” in Hebrew) means “to be so confident in a person that you have absolutely no worry about him keeping his word!” So worry free in that regard that you are “careless,” without a fret or doubt or hesitation! The word is literally translated “careless” one time in the King James Bible.
David when afraid … that’s verse 3.
Now, look at Verse 11, near the Psalm’s conclusion. “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
Wow!
His fear is gone!
I will NOT be afraid!
Is this not some form of spiritual growth?
From “fear” to “no fear!”
Excellent, dear David the Psalmist!
Now watch …
In Verse 3 … the fear comes before the trust … “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
But by Verse 11 … the trust comes before the word fear is used! “In God have I put my trust (“batach” again): I will NOT be afraid what man can do unto me.”
Looks like sincere trust can dissolve fear!
Fear-crushing faith, that’s what David has developed!
Yes, that’s growth!
I remembered that perfect love can cast out fear, 1 John 4:18.
Now I know that perfect (mature) faith can as well!’https://drmikebagwell.org/2022/02/17/spiritual-growth/
I want to introduce you to Baptist preacher-teacher, Dr. Mike Bagwell. He has a Youtube channel where his Bible teaching may be viewed https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6xvokPmU8DUeU2LLBK_dkw.
The Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air is described for us in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Dr. Manfred Kober was a Professor for many years at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. His four page paper for the Faith Pulpit is worth a read at https://www.manfredkober.com/materials/FP/1988_1001_How%20Soon%20the%20Rapture.pdf.
If you do not know what the Gospel is Paul gives forth the Gospel in 1Corinthians 15:1- 11 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
‘My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:3)
Bible study, meditation on the Word, and prayer are necessities for a healthy Christian life and are good to practice at any time of the day or night, according to the constraints of time and responsibilities of each individual. Other things being equal, however, the best time of all is in the early morning. A believer who awakens each morning to the voice of the Lord in His Word will, in turn, be ready to speak words of blessing to others through the day (Isaiah 50:4). And as we, in turn, look up to Him each morning in prayer, He will hear and direct our steps through the day.
This was the example set by the Lord Jesus Himself: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). If even Jesus Christ needed such a quiet time early in the morning set aside to fellowship with His Father, we also would do well to follow.
Note the prayer of David: “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee” (Psalm 143:8). We urgently need to know the way we should walk each day, for it is so easy to get turned aside into our own ways, and the obvious time to pray for guidance is at the very beginning of every day.
One should not make a legalistic ritual of prayer and Bible meditation, of course, for it should come from a heart of love whenever and wherever it can be done, whether morning or evening. However it may work for each person, may God help us to say with the psalmist: “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day”’https://www.icr.org/article/13016/?utm_source=phplist9629&utm_medium=email&utm_content=HTML&utm_campaign=October+13+-+Meditation+in+the+Morning
- Christians in apostasy are as a wrecked ship.
“…concerning faith have made shipwreck”. 1 Timothy 1:19 - A ship’s rudder is like the tongue.
“Behold also the ships…Even so the tongue…”. James 3:4,5 - Salvation is like entering a haven.
“…he bringeth them…desired haven.” Psalm 107:30 - God’s throne is on the face of a sea.
“And before the throne…a sea of glass…”. Revelation 4:6 - The wicked are like the troubled sea.
“But the wicked are like the troubled sea…”. Isaiah 57:20 - Our sins are in the deepest sea.
“…cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19 - The Holy Spirit is like unto water.
“…whence then hast thou that living water?” John 4:10,11 - The Word washes like water.
“…the washing of water by the word”. Ephesians 5:26 - The gospel is as a net.
“… is like unto a net…”. Matthew 13:47 - A fish gave a man a ride.
“…a great fish to swallow up Jonah…”. Jonah 1:17 - Men are likened unto fish.
“And makest men as the fishes of the sea…”. Habakkuk 1:14 - A Christian is a fisherman.
“…fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19‘https://www.fomm.org/
MORNING & EVENING:
DAILY READINGS
by C. H. SPURGEON
JANUARY 27 — AM
“And of his fulness have all we received.” — John 1:16
These words tell us that there is a fulness in Christ. There is a fulness of essential Deity, for “in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead.” There is a fulness of perfect manhood, for in Him, bodily, that Godhead was revealed. There is a fulness of atoning efficacy in His blood, for “the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” There is a fulness of justifying righteousness in His life, for “there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” There is a fulness of divine prevalence in His plea, for “He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him; seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” There is a fulness of victory in His death, for through death He destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil. There is a fulness of efficacy in His resurrection from the dead, for by it “we are begotten again unto a lively hope.” There is a fuIness of triumph in His ascension, for “when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and received gifts for men.” There is a fulness of blessings of every sort and shape; a fulness of grace to pardon, of grace to regenerate, of grace to sanctify, of grace to preserve, and of grace to perfect. There is a fulness at all times; a fulness of comfort in affliction; a fulness of guidance in prosperity. A fulness of every divine attribute, of wisdom, of power, of love; a fulness which it were impossible to survey, much less to explore. “It pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell.” Oh, what a fulness must this be of which all receive! Fulness, indeed, must there be when the stream is always flowing, and yet the well springs up as free, as rich, as full as ever. Come, believer, and get all thy need supplied; ask largely, and thou shalt receive largely, for this “fulness” is inexhaustible, and is treasured up where all the needy may reach it, even in Jesus, Immanuel — God with us.
JANUARY 27 — PM
“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” — Luke 2:19
There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory — she kept all these things; her affections — she kept them in her heart; her intellect — she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about the things which she had heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what He has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold Him fast for evermore. Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it be broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on His pierced feet. Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus. Meditate upon what you read: stop not at the surface; dive into the depths. Be not as the swallow which toucheth the brook with her wing, but as the fish which penetrates the lowest wave. Abide with your Lord: let Him not be to you as a wayfaring man, that tarrieth for a night, but constrain Him, saying, “Abide with us, for the day is far spent.” Hold Him, and do not let Him go. The word “ponder, ‘ means to weigh. Make ready the balances of judgment. Oh, but where are the scales that can weigh the Lord Christ? “He taketh up the isles as a very little thing:” — who shall take Him up? “He weigheth the mountains in scales” — in what scales shall we weigh Him? Be it so, if your understanding cannot comprehend, let your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot compass the Lord Jesus in the grasp of understanding, let it embrace Him in the arms of affection.
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