A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

The Unseen Angels

For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (Psalm 91:11).

God has created "an innumerable company of angels" (Hebrews 12:22), and there are many references to them in both Old and New Testaments, but few living men or women have ever actually seen real heavenly angels--or, at least, recognized them as such. We may "have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews 13:2), for they can assume the appearance of men on occasion, but normally they are invisible to human eyes.

Nevertheless, they are there! Furthermore, they are "all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). God has given them charge over us--that is, over each believer "that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High" (Psalm 91:1). They "excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word" (Psalm 103:20).

Wide is the variety of His commandments with respect to angelic ministry to believers. "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. . . . They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Psalms 34:7; 91:12).

Not only physical protection but also guidance and encouragement are angelic ministries. When a believer dies, angels translate his spirit to the Lord's presence (Luke 16:22; II Corinthians 5:, and we can look forward then to meeting and thanking them personally as we come to understand better all their ministries on our behalf during our lifetimes. They are keenly concerned with our salvation and spiritual progress, "which things the angels desire to look into" (I Peter 1:12). Finally, "When the Son of man shall come in His glory," He will bring "all the holy angels with Him" (Matthew 25:31) as He judges the world.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Christian's Lifestyle: Our Control

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).

Two factors need to be identified with this verse: First, the immediately preceding context confines the primary application to behavior, just as the immediately following context relates the "filled" behavior to the fellowship of believers. Secondly, the imagery stresses control of the behavior by the Holy Spirit (contrasting filled with drunken behavior).

The filling is not synonymous with the baptism of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:12-14) since all are so baptized but not all are filled. Nor is it equal with or subsequent to speaking in tongues, since some specifically identified as being filled with the Holy Spirit (John the Baptist, Elizabeth, Jesus) never spoke in tongues. Some individuals (Paul, Peter, Stephen) were filled on different occasions. Apparently, the filling produces a temporary effect like alcohol does. The effect of the filling of the Holy Spirit enhances or encourages a God-like behavior in contrast to the Satan-like behavior stimulated by alcohol.

Some passages equate power with this filling (Acts 1:8; Romans 15:13; I Thessalonians 1:5), and others equate it to wisdom (Colossians 1:9-11; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 3:15-17). The immediate context, however, lists four evidences of the Holy Spirit's control (Ephesians 5:19-21); songs of praise together; personal singing and private melody to God in our hearts; thanksgiving; and voluntary submission to one another in the Lord. Since the Holy Spirit distributes gifts to the saints (Ephesians 4:7-11) for the purpose of building the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-16), it stands to basic reason that the Holy Spirit's control is designed to enhance and stimulate the ministry of believers to each other and the personal joy and awareness of the goodness of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Better Hope

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Hebrews 7:19).

Men and women have many false hopes in this world, one of which is that they can earn heaven by good works. Even though God's law is a perfect law, it can never make a person fit for heaven, because no one can keep the law perfectly. There is a better hope, however, and that hope is "the hope of salvation" (I Thessalonians 5: "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

This "hope that is in you" (I Peter 3:15) is indeed a wonderful hope. In addition to the one in our text ("better"), there are three other adjectives in the New Testament relative to our Christian hope:

First, it is called a "good hope." "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father . . . hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace" (II Thessalonians 2:16).

Next, it is a "blessed hope." "Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12,13).

Finally, it is a "lively |or living| hope." "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (I Peter 1:3).

It is true, of course, that our hope is centered on the eternal future, for "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (I Corinthians 15:19). Nevertheless, the proved resurrection of Christ makes it a good hope, a blessed hope, and a living hope.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jesus Touched Them

"And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed" (Matthew 8:3).

This is the first occurrence in the New Testament of the word "touch," and it is significant that it was Jesus who was doing the touching. When Jesus healed someone, He could (and sometimes did) merely speak a word to accomplish the healing. The nobleman's son, dying in Capernaum, for example, was healed when Jesus so spoke in Cana of Galilee, six miles away (John 4:46-53).

Often, however, He showed His love and concern by actually touching the person. Lepers were considered untouchable, for their loathsome disease was highly contagious and considered incurable. Yet Jesus touched him, and healed him! On another occasion, a young man had actually died, but Jesus "came and touched the bier," and the dead man was raised from the dead (Luke 7:14).

Peter's wife's mother was "sick of a fever" (Matthew 8:14,15), the word indicating a high fever and probably a contagious disease, but Jesus "touched her hand, and the fever left her." On at least two occasions, blind men beseeched Him for their sight. "Then touched He their eyes. . . . And their eyes were opened" (Matthew 9:29,30; see also Matthew 20:34). A man who was deaf and dumb was healed when Jesus "touched his tongue. . . . And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain" (Mark 7:33,35). When Peter impetuously cut off the ear of one of the soldiers sent to arrest Jesus, "He touched his ear, and healed him" (Luke 22:51).

One touching was different. "They brought young children to Him, that He should touch them" and despite the disciples' objections, "He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:13,16).

[Soldier4Christ]

Prerequisites fir Christian Unity

"If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" (Philippians 2:1,2).

Churches haven't changed much in 2000 years. The call to unity in these verses is as needed now as it has always been. Let us examine the prerequisites for unity found here.

Consolation in Christ: The Greek word translated "consolation" is frequently translated "exhortation," and that seems appropriate here. The "exhortation in Christ" immediately follows this passage where His beautiful life of humility becomes the exhortation to unity among believers, since disunity ultimately comes from pride (v.3).

Comfort of love: Comfort could be rendered "encouragement," implying a tender act of incentive. The agape love which the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a believer produces the incentive to unity. When believers truly love one another in this fashion, unity prevails.

Fellowship of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit makes possible a precious relationship between believers. Through the Spirit's empowering, our wills can be molded into Christlikeness, enabling us to live in unity with our fellow saints.

Bowels and mercies: In the western world, the heart is referred to as the seat of our innermost affections, here called "mercies," or, literally, "compassionate yearnings and actions." When Christians have tender compassion for one another, divisions cease.

The four prerequisites for unity are then Christ-like humility, Spirit-produced agape love, a yielding of the will of each believer to the Spirit, and tenderheartedness toward one another. May God grant that "they will know we are Christians by our love."

[Soldier4Christ]

Instantaneous Creation

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for He commanded, and they were created" (Psalm 148:5).

The concept of "fiat creation" is opposed by evolutionists and all who believe in the so-called geologic ages. Nevertheless, this is clearly the teaching of the word of God, and God was there! Psalm 148 exhorts all the stars to praise the Lord, and then notes that, as soon as God spoke, they "were created." Similarly, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. . . . For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:6,9).

It is worth noting that whenever the verbs "create" or "make" are used in reference to God's work of creation, they are never in the present tense. God is not now creating or making stars or animals or people as theistic evolution requires; at the end of the six-day creation period, in fact, God "rested from all His work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:3).

This is the teaching of the New Testament also. "The worlds |that is, the space/time cosmos, the 'aeons'| were framed |not 'are being framed'| by the word of God |not 'by processes of stellar evolution'|, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear |not 'out of preexisting materials,' as required by theories of chemical and cosmic evolution|" (Hebrews 11:3).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself confirmed the doctrine of recent creation. "From the beginning of the creation |not, that is, four billion years after the solar system evolved| God made them |Adam and Eve| male and female" (Mark 10:6). Thus, those who believe in the geological ages are rejecting both the Biblical record and the authority of Jesus Christ in order to attain ephemeral acceptance by the ungodly. This is a poor exchange!

[Soldier4Christ]

The Strength of the Lord

"I will go in the strength of the LORD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only" (Psalm 71:16).

Since God the Creator is omnipotent, if we can go in His strength, there would seem to be no limit to what could be accomplished. The Book of Psalms, in particular, over and over again, testifies that God indeed is our strength. For example: "I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower" (Psalm 18:1,2).

But how do we appropriate God's strength and how is it manifested in our own lives? The answer is not what most would expect. "He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy" (Psalm 147:10,11). "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).

Our text itself indicates that going in the strength of the Lord is essentially to "make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only." Speaking of God's righteousness (not ours) in the fear of the Lord and the leading of the Spirit hoping only in His mercy, manifests the strength of the Lord.

Furthermore, "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). And, finally, the Apostle Paul, who surely exhibited the strength of God in his life as much as anyone ever did, testified that "He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (II Corinthians 12:9). His grace and His joy, shining through our own weakness, enable the man "whose strength is in thee" to "go from strength to strength" (Psalm 84:7) in His service.

[Soldier4Christ]

Results of Religious Compromise

"And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD" (II Chronicles 19:2).

Jehoshaphat was a godly king of Judah who faithfully served the Lord, but he made the tragic mistake of forming an alliance with ungodly king Ahab of Israel in fighting against their common enemy Syria. After all, he reasoned, they were "brothers," both descended from Abraham, so they could join together in battling the Syrians.

As a result, although God continued to bless Jehoshaphat during his lifetime, this compromise eventually resulted in great tragedy in his family when his son and successor, Jehoram, married Ahab's wicked daughter Athaliah and then slew all his own brothers, and soon he himself died of a loathsome disease (II Chronicles 21:4,6,19).

The road of compromise eventually ends in a precipice, especially in matters regarding the integrity of God's word and His saving gospel. The timeless principle for Christians today is given in II Corinthians 6:14,15: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? . . . or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?"

This warning and command is at least as greatly needed today as it was in Paul's day. Spiritual, moral, and religious compromise seem to be endemic in the Christian realm today, in both doctrine and practice, and God would warn us that tragedy is imminent in the generation of our children if not before.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" (II Corinthians 6:17).

[Def]

Results of Religious Compromise

"And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD" (II Chronicles 19:2).

Jehoshaphat was a godly king of Judah who faithfully served the Lord, but he made the tragic mistake of forming an alliance with ungodly king Ahab of Israel in fighting against their common enemy Syria. After all, he reasoned, they were "brothers," both descended from Abraham, so they could join together in battling the Syrians.

As a result, although God continued to bless Jehoshaphat during his lifetime, this compromise eventually resulted in great tragedy in his family when his son and successor, Jehoram, married Ahab's wicked daughter Athaliah and then slew all his own brothers, and soon he himself died of a loathsome disease (II Chronicles 21:4,6,19).

The road of compromise eventually ends in a precipice, especially in matters regarding the integrity of God's word and His saving gospel. The timeless principle for Christians today is given in II Corinthians 6:14,15: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? . . . or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?"

This warning and command is at least as greatly needed today as it was in Paul's day. Spiritual, moral, and religious compromise seem to be endemic in the Christian realm today, in both doctrine and practice, and God would warn us that tragedy is imminent in the generation of our children if not before.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" (II Corinthians 6:17).

Hi Pastor Roger
Right now I am at in my study of the WORD
2 Chronicles 16:9 
 For the  eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to shew Himself strong in the behalf of Them whose heart Is perfect toward Him.
Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV
good night   Pastor Roger
Boy the WORD is so good ,It is like Honey to my soul. Yummy Yummy Yummy..

[Soldier4Christ]

The Christian's Lifestyle: Our Relationships

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God" (Ephesians 5:21).

    Our calling is to walk worthy.
    Our gifts are perfect and complete.
    Our behavior is changed by the new man.
    Our wisdom is to understand the will of the Lord.
    Our control is being filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:22 through 6:9 presents a basic primer on human relationships in dynamics that impact most of our lives, our families, and our places of employment. Our relationships are to be carried out by submitting (ourselves) to one another in the fear of God. That key word, hupotasso, is, itself, instructive. It is a compound of the preposition "under" and a word that means to arrange in order. Thus, to arrange under, in order.

In the home, the submission (order, arrangement) is compared to the Lord’s house, the church. Wives are to be arranged under the husband (emphasis on authority) just as the church is under the authority of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:22-24). Husbands are to be under the responsibility of love (emphasis on sacrifice) just as Christ gave His life on behalf of and for the benefit of the church (Ephesians 5:25-33).

Children are to be under the arranged order of correct behavior (emphasis on obedience) just as the fifth commandment so requires for the protection and promotion of well being and longevity (Ephesians 6:1-4).

In the workplace, those who serve are to serve as though they were serving the Lord, not men (Ephesians 6:5-8). Those who lead and own are to relate to their servants as though they were serving the servants, recognizing that one Master is over all (Ephesians 6:9). These instructions are really quite simple. We do not need to complicate them.

[Soldier4Christ]

When to Pray

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2).

There is no set time to pray, for it is always appropriate. Our text tells us to "continue" in prayer, and this is the same word as in Romans 12:12, which urges us to be "instant in" prayer. In fact, the admonition of I Thessalonians 5:17 is to "Pray without ceasing."

Children should pray, as did little Samuel. When the Lord called him, he could answer: "Speak; for thy servant heareth" (I Samuel 3:10). Young people should pray, as Timothy, who was exhorted by Paul to make "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks . . . for all men" (I Timothy 2:1). Adult men should pray, as did Paul himself, who could say to the Christians of Philippi that he was "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy" (Philippians 1:4). Old men should pray, like Simeon, and old women, like Anna, who "served God with fastings and prayers night and day" (Luke 2:25,36,37). And even dying men should pray, as did Stephen who, as he was being stoned to death, was also "calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59).

We can pray at dawn like David, who said: "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). In a Philippian prison, "at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25). Daniel "kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed" (Daniel 6:10). There is no time that is not a good time for prayer. One should pray in times of sorrow, and also in times of joy, as did Hannah in both circumstances (I Samuel 1:15; 2:1).

It is a most marvelous privilege that we have through Christ, that we are able to speak to the infinite God in prayer, and to know that He hears, and cares! Therefore, pray!

[Soldier4Christ]

Things Not Seen

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith" (Hebrews 11:7).

The little phrase "things not seen" is used three times in the New Testament, and interestingly enough, these refer to the past, present, and future works of God with respect to the things that are seen.

At the beginning of the "faith chapter" of Hebrews occur these remarkable words: "Now faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen. . . . Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Hebrews 11:1,3). That is, the material things of this present world were not made of pre-existing materials; they were supernaturally created by the word of the Creator! These things which are now seen provide evidence (or better, the "conviction") of the things not seen--that is, of God’s creative work completed in the past.

The "processes" that are now seen (as distinct from the "materials") date especially from the time of the great Flood. The "things not seen as yet" by Noah--that is, the present atmospheric circulation, the present hydrological cycle, the present seasonal changes, and many other key phenomena of the present order, all were instituted in the days of Noah when "the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished" (II Peter 3:6).

Finally, "we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for . . . the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Corinthians 4:18). Just as surely as the materials and processes of the present world once were unseen, but now are easily seen, so the future eternal world will soon be clearly seen when Christ returns.

[Soldier4Christ]

This Same Jesus

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:.

When the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, then later ascended into heaven, His body was immortal, no longer subject to death--yet it was a physical body, capable of being seen and heard and touched, even capable of eating with His disciples. He was clearly recognizable, yet could quickly ascend from earth to heaven and could pass through a solid wall. As He ascended, two angelic messengers said: "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). He was immeasurably different after His resurrection, yet Peter could also proclaim "that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).

Furthermore, even when He returns and assumes the eternal throne of the universe, He will still be the same. "But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: . . . they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail" (Hebrews 1:8,12).

This was the same Jesus whom John the Baptist identified at the beginning of His earthly ministry. "He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptize with the Holy Ghost" (John 1:33).

In fact, before His baptism, and even before His incarnation, He was the same. "In the beginning was the Word, . . . The same was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1,2). This same Jesus who lived among men, identified by John the Baptist as the Son of God, and who died on the cross, is the eternal Word by whom all things were made, as well as the resurrected Savior and coming King. Jesus Christ is truly "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

[Def]

When to Pray

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2).

There is no set time to pray, for it is always appropriate. Our text tells us to "continue" in prayer, and this is the same word as in Romans 12:12, which urges us to be "instant in" prayer. In fact, the admonition of I Thessalonians 5:17 is to "Pray without ceasing."

Children should pray, as did little Samuel. When the Lord called him, he could answer: "Speak; for thy servant heareth" (I Samuel 3:10). Young people should pray, as Timothy, who was exhorted by Paul to make "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks . . . for all men" (I Timothy 2:1). Adult men should pray, as did Paul himself, who could say to the Christians of Philippi that he was "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy" (Philippians 1:4). Old men should pray, like Simeon, and old women, like Anna, who "served God with fastings and prayers night and day" (Luke 2:25,36,37). And even dying men should pray, as did Stephen who, as he was being stoned to death, was also "calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59).

We can pray at dawn like David, who said: "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). In a Philippian prison, "at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25). Daniel "kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed" (Daniel 6:10). There is no time that is not a good time for prayer. One should pray in times of sorrow, and also in times of joy, as did Hannah in both circumstances (I Samuel 1:15; 2:1).

It is a most marvelous privilege that we have through Christ, that we are able to speak to the infinite God in prayer, and to know that He hears, and cares! Therefore, pray!

Hello Pastor Roger Thank you for being there.It helps me greatly
all I ask God is a grateful heart and some piety.one moment at the time all for eternity with Him Forever.in Adoration.
Good night Pastor Roger.Love in Jesus a hug maybe.Def

[Soldier4Christ]

The Father's Love for the Son

"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

In this remarkable verse, God the Father, speaking from heaven itself, introduces His beloved Son to the world. This is the first New Testament reference to "love," just as the Father's love for the Son was the first love that ever existed. As Christ prayed in the upper room: ". . . for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24).

There are many other references to the Father's love for the Son, including two to the voice at His baptism (Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22) and two more in the upper room prayer (John 17:23,26). One great reason for that love is the following: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life" (John 10:17).

The extent of the Father's love for His blessed Son was all-encompassing. "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand" (John 3:35). Furthermore, "the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth" (John 5:20).

God also spoke of His "beloved Son" on the Mount of Transfiguration, as cited four times (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; II Peter 1:17). Thus there are seven references in the New Testament to the Father's heavenly testimony to His beloved Son. Similarly there are seven passages where the Son Himself testifies of that Fatherly love. In addition to the six cited above, Christ said: "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you" (John 15:9).

Seven testimonies from the Father and seven from the Son! Surely the Father loved the Son with a perfect love. And yet--"Herein is love . . . that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (I John 4:10). Such love for unworthy sinners merits nothing less than total thanksgiving from us.