Revival: February 27, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015.

REVIVAL

DEFINITION:

Restoration to life, consciousness, vigor or strength; reawakening of interest in and care for religion; a meeting to promote religious awakening.

SCRIPTURE:

Will you not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Psalm 85:6

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Many professing Christians today have never experienced a revival and probably never even heard of one let alone really know what a revival is. The Psalmist, in Psalm 85:6 recognized that Israel needed revival. Unfortunately, many Christians need revival and do not know it. They have become complacent and no longer know what it is to rejoice in the Lord.

A "revival" as we refer to it here is a time when a single person or a group of people (believers in Jesus) decide that they need to restore their faith in the Lord and get back to living by the fundamentals that God expects from us. It demands setting aside a time to pray and study God’s Word looking and listening for what God wants to say to you. It then demands action that will respond to what God says and to glorify Him in all you do from that moment on.

There are at least 12 revivals referred to in the Old Testament and there are four factors preceding each revival that is in common and vital to these Old Testament revivals and are also relevant for us today.

• A moral and Spiritual decline among the people of God.
• Always proceeded by some kind of a righteous judgment from God.
• The raising up of an immensely burdened leader or leaders.
• A common location for a beginning with a common burden.

The Old Testament tells us of revivals under Moses, Samuel, David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoida, Hezekiah, Joash, Zerubbabel, Ezra and Joel. All of these prophets led these revivals by calling the people together and having them pray, fast and confess their sins. In each case God used a leader who was faithful to Him.

God used Moses to bring revival to the Israelites when they rebelled against God. It would seem that after all the miracles the Israelites had witnessed God do to bring them out of Egypt that they would be forever faithful to God. Yet just within months, while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, the Israelites turned away from God and made a golden calf to worship. Moses had to call his people to a revival of their relationship with God.

God used Moses to point out to the Israelites that they had rebelled against God and that God's judgment had come upon them for one reason -- they had sinned against God. Then Moses reminded the Israelites of God's mercy and the many promises God had fulfilled in the past. Their restoration depended on their willingness to repent, follow the Lord and obey His commandments.

In II Chronicles 7:14, four conditions are given that are necessary for revival. First, humble yourself and admit your sin. Secondly, pray and ask for forgiveness. Thirdly, seek God. And fourthly, turn from your wicked ways.

America was founded as a nation under God but today as a people we have rebelled and sinned against God. We have witnessed a moral and spiritual decline not only among the general population but also among the believers in Jesus. We need a revival to begin with individuals and then to our families and finally to our churches. God desires that believers be leaders in their families and to call family members to repentance and bring revival in our home.

YES, REVIVAL is needed today. It begins with individuals. God is just waiting for us to HUMBLE ourselves; PRAY; SEEK HIM; turn from our WICKED WAYS, and then we will hear from heaven and, God will forgive our sins and heal our homes and our land.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:36.

Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

PRAYER:

Keep me always faithful in maintaining a right relationship with You. When I am weak revive me spiritually. Give me the leadership to help my family see their need for revival. It is my prayer that You will work Your miracles in my life so that Your name will be honored and glorified.

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Hell: February 26, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2015.

HELL

DEFINITION:

The place of punishment of the wicked after death; the abode of evil and condemned spirits; any place or state of torment or misery.

SCRIPTURE:

The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17

Then He will say to those on the left hand, depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The verse above from Psalms says that the wicked shall be sent to Hell. It is most important for us to tell you that if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord then we can say with total confidence that you are on the way to Hell. Hell is not fictional. Hell is a real place for real people who reject the only true God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Making no decision about Jesus is saying no to Jesus and an eternity in heaven. God's Holy Word, the Bible, makes this very clear.  John 3:36 states, "Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life, and whosoever rejects the Son will not see life." There are no alternatives available.

PLEASE LET US EMPHASIZE - UNLESS YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR YOU ARE HEADED FOR HELL! There is no compromise and the decision is yours and yours alone.

In Acts 1:25 we are told that hell is the sinner's own place of torment. After Judas betrayed Jesus and saw that Jesus was condemned to die (Matthew 27:3), he was remorseful. He returned to the chief priests and elders and tried to make restitution. The scripture says that after he threw down the 30 pieces of silver, he received for betraying Jesus, at the feet of the chief Priest, Judas went out and hanged himself. As a result of his own transgression, Judas went to "his own place." Judas had chosen to team up with Satan (Luke 22:3) and turned against Jesus, so he had chosen his own fate. He chose a place in hell with Satan, rather than a place in heaven with Jesus.

In the verse above from Matthew we see that hell is an eternal place that God prepared for Satan and his angels. They are anti-God and have no choice but to go to hell. We have a choice. We can choose Satan's prepared hell or the heaven which God has prepared for those who believe in Him.

The day before Jesus died on the cross He said to His eleven disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled, I go to prepare a place for you." That place that He is preparing for us is in His "Fathers house," which is heaven. The choice we have is either hell, which is prepared for Satan, his angels and those who follow him, or Heaven, the place in God's house that Jesus has prepared for those who follow Him.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction (death in hell) and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, (heaven) and only a few find it." Jesus is the only way to heaven.

You have a choice either to follow the many on the broad way that leads to eternal hell or you can join the few and follow Jesus on the narrow road that leads to eternal life in heaven.

When people are angry with someone we often hear the words "Go to hell." People do not think how awful that statement is. Hell is a place of eternal fire, a place of darkness and a place of torment. In Matthew 13:50 we are told that those that are in hell will weep and gnash their teeth. People gnash their teeth when they are in pain. Hell is eternal and when one is once there, there is no escape.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:36.

Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

PRAYER:

Thank You for preparing a place in heaven for me. Thank You for sending Your Son to this earth to pay the penalty for my sins. And thank You that Jesus is in heaven and preparing a place for me for eternity. Give me a new dedication to serve you and use every opportunity to tell others that Jesus loves them.

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Satan: February 25, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015.

SATAN

DEFINITION:

The chief evil spirit; the devil.

SCRIPTURE:

Thus says the Lord God: "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering -- you were the anointed cherub, I established you, you were the holy mountain of God, you were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you." Ezekiel 28:11-15

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We encourage you to read carefully this devotional. Our prayer for you is that these few thoughts will alert you to the actions of Satan and that they will help you not to be tempted to fall into the grasp of Satan. We all need to be aware of his influence on the world we live in and the influence he can have on our lives and the lives of our family, even as believers in Jesus.

Satan is the chief evil spirit in the world. He is known to most people as the devil. Many people have a mental picture of Satan as an ugly creature with horns, a pitch fork and in a red suit. Don’t be deceived. Satan is attractive and was perfect until iniquity was discovered in him. In talking about the origin of Satan, the scriptures indicate he was the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

In II Corinthians, Paul writes that, “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Although Ezekiel was writing about the evil king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28: 11-15, it is a likely description of Satan.

Satan fell from his original exalted position when he decided to put his self-will above God's perfect will. Five times in Isaiah 14:12-15 Satan said "I WILL."

•    I will ascend into heaven.
•    I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
•    I will sit on the mount of the congregation at the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
•    I will ascend above the tops of the clouds.
•    I will be like the Most High.

Satan had become puffed up with pride and wanted to exalt himself above God. Satan's prideful self-will became his downfall. When Satan was cast out of heaven he became "prince (ruler) of this world." Satan fell from what God had given him, all because he wanted his will to be above God's will.

Satan began his evil work of deception in the garden of Eden, God's perfect garden and to God’s perfect people, Adam and Eve. He continues to "seek whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8) and will continue until he is cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10) You need to be aware of some of Satan's work:

•    He snares the unbeliever and takes him captive to do his will. (II Timothy 2:26)
•    He tempts believers to turn away from God and entices man to commit evil. (I Thessalonians 3:5)
•    He has the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14)
•    He motivates professing believers to betray Christ. (John 13:2)
•    He tempts believers to lie to God. (Acts 5:1-11)
•    He enters into people and causes them to do his will. (John 13:21-27)
•    He has the power to steal the Word of God from the hearts of those who hear the Word of God, but do not understand it. (Matthew 13:19)
•    He blinds the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 4:4)
•    He will work through the Antichrist who will call himself God in the great tribulation. (II Thessalonians 2:8-12)

Satan is "bad news" but there is "GOOD NEWS". God is greater than Satan. Satan is powerful but God has limited his power. Jesus' resurrection, after He died on the cross, destroyed Satan's power over death. Our faith in God and His Son Jesus, gives us victory over Satan and death. Satan never gives up, so we must be wary of his attempts to entice us away from the Lord and we must stand firm in what we believe and know to be truth.

Satan will prevail for as long as God allows. In the end God will prevail and Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire forever. “And the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:36.

Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

PRAYER:

Give me spiritual understanding as I read Your Word so that I have the strength to stand firm against the devil. Help me to keep my eyes on You and to look to You for direction and wisdom. May my life shine brightly for You and may others see Christ at work in me through my words and deeds.

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Communication: February 24, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2015.

COMMUNICATION

DEFINITION:

To give or interchange thoughts, feelings, or information by speaking or writing; to express ideas or feelings effectively.

SCRIPTURE:

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Our oldest granddaughter and her husband some time ago shared with us some thoughts on communication that we want to share with you in this devotional. After they were married they began to learn the importance of communication in marriage. They both had often found themselves making assumptions about the other person's feelings and opinions, and quickly discovered that assumptions cannot and should not take the place of communication. They realized that part of marriage involved the two of them becoming "one" and without communication, it is impossible to blend two lives into one.

Through changes in plans, differing schedules, and a variety of separate interests, keeping each other informed was essential to harmony within their relationship. Most importantly, they learned the importance of communicating their ideas about their faith, values, and future dreams and goals. Staying current in their exchange of ideas helped them ensure that they would always work together towards the same ideals and goals.

Communication has been of upmost importance in all areas of their lives. Having learned the value of family from a young age, they had been able to appreciate the worth of a strong family unit and the deep bond of friendship that communication can bring to a marriage. Now they are expecting their first child and they are excited to put into practice the knowledge that God has given them. The two-way street of communication is truly a more blissful path than any one-way street.

What they communicated to us is not the norm today among many newly married couples. The key to their healthy marriage begins with their daily communication with God and then between each other. God has blessed them abundantly because they learned as children priorities that honored God and they live today by these same standards. The words of Solomon are so wise. Reckless words are hurtful and will tear a family apart, but thoughtful and honest communication will unite and bring healing.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:36.

Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

PRAYER:

Help us as spouses and as parents to be strong in the Lord and show courage in communicating the love of our Lord and Savior. Thank you that I can be assured that I can communicate to You in prayer at any time and in any place because You have promised to never forsake us but will always be with us.

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Always: February 23, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2015.

ALWAYS

DEFINITION:

Throughout all time; uninterrupted; forever; without exception; on every occasion.

SCRIPTURE:

I am with you always. Matthew 28:20

The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24:1-2

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Often we say the word always but do not think what we are saying. Always infers that it always was back in time and many times when it is said one is inferring it always will be. There are several “always” in life that we want to share with you today.

Only God always is all knowing, all powerful, all caring, always present and always eternal. There is none other that can be available to all at all times. He is always there for us and always can solve any situation or problem we may face.

The scripture also reminds us that, “Obedience always brings blessings.” What is blessing you may ask? A blessing is anything that one receives from God because we have glorified His name.

Noah obeyed God and God blessed him, his family and a world that followed. Obedience to God saved Noah and his family from the flood. Joshua obeyed God and marched the Children of Israel around Jericho for seven days. God blessed Joshua because of his obedience and the walls of Jericho fell to the ground and it was conquered.

The same can be said about Moses, Abraham, David, Paul and Peter. When each one obeyed God, He brought blessing to them. Only God can always reward obedience with a blessing.

God sometimes will tell us to do something that in our mind is totally unreasonable from our perspective. We need to listen carefully, read His Word and pray diligently to make sure we understand that it is God talking to us and that we clearly know the direction He wants us to go. Then we must do it. We can be sure that God always has a purpose and a plan when He leads us to do something for Him.

How do you think Noah, Joshua, Moses and Paul felt down deep inside when they received a direction from God that was unreasonable? They all received such and they all responded as God asked them to do and God always brought victory and blessing to them.

Remember obedience is a biblical principle that God has set down for us. Obedience to God is not an option.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:36.

Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

PRAYER:

Thank You that You are always there for me and my family. I am grateful that whether it is a time of need or a time that we just need to talk, that You are there for me. Help me to be obedient to Your direction for my life. Open my eyes and ears so I can see and hear what You desire for me and my family to do.

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