They say you are known by the friends you keep. Jesus said, “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14 KJV). Moses asked the Israelites, “Who is on the LORD’S side?” (Exodus 32:26). If we run with the LORD, then we side against the devil. If we are part of the Body of Christ’s Church, then we are on Christ’s Team against a common adversary, the devil. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). We need carefully to determine our allies or teammates — “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2Corinthians 6:14) — then, make sure they consider us teammates, as well. We need to strive together for the best interests of Christ’s Team. Christian families need their spouses and children to strive together as a team against the devil. Churches need to pull together as a team against the devil, or we will certainly pull ourselves apart. “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30). LORD, when You return for us, may our hand be on the plow working the fields and building Your kingdom. Amen and amen.
Author: Ken
Ice Cubes Shouldn’t Float
“By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast” (Job 37:10 ESV). If supernatural means defying the laws of physics, then a floating ice cube would be supernatural. Okay, maybe not as impressive as God speaking the world into existence ex nihilo or promising with a rainbow never to destroy the world again with a flood. In physics, we expect the solid form of a substance to be more dense than its liquid form. However, the solid crystalline form of water is less dense than its liquid phase, causing ice to float, seemingly defying the laws of physics. The polar ice caps consequently float, instead of sinking to the bottom, and freezing the earth’s oceans from the bottom up. Living water is the basic molecule of life on earth. Humanity needs to pay more attention to our Creator. LORD, we have willingly forgotten You as the source of all blessings. May we repent and return in worship and gratitude to You our Faithful Creator. Amen and amen.
My Servant Jōb
We don’t say it, but it’s hard not to feel, it wasn’t fair for Job, a “perfect” man (Job 1:8 KJV) by God’s own estimation, to be subjected to all the pain, suffering, and deprivation he endured at the hands of the satan. But, doesn’t God the Judge determine what is fair? The same kind of thinking was voiced about the blind man in the NT. “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:2-3). The Almighty never apologized to Job and said, ‘I did it to win a bet with the satan.’ After the Almighty responded out of the whirlwind, Job could only say, “Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:3, 6). LORD, may we be as Your servant Job. Amen.
Our Secret Place
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 KJV). Everyone needs a secret place to meet with God alone. Only the Almighty is capable of furnishing such a unique place for each of us. If we desire to come into the “secret place of the most High” (91:1), we rely upon our faith to visually or verbally imagine such a comfortable meeting place with God. We can do this, when wide awake. And, even in our dreams, we can find ourselves in this secret place with God, as we sleep. Pray for that blessed meeting before we sleep and the remembrance of that meeting, after we awake. LORD, draw us into closer communion with Yourself whether awake or asleep. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Analysis: Fear — the Bad and the Good
“Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1 KJV). 62 times in the KJV, we are told to “fear not.” Fear is an emotion capable of causing great harm in humans. Our physical body can be so greatly impacted by fear, it can cause death, as witnessed by Nabal, when he found that David was coming to slay him but was intercepted and prevented by Abigail’s wise actions. Nabal’s “heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died” (1Samuel 25:37-38). Fear of God, by comparison, is a right relationship with Him, who is the source of life and the only means of escaping death. “Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread” (Isaiah 8:13). Fear of God is the positive emotion of trusting Him who is worthy of our trust. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).
How to Accomplish Something Good
“A Wasted Life” is not what any of us want memorializing us once we’ve departed this life, but our desire for recognition needs to be squarely placed at the feet of our Master. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21,23 KJV). Do you have a pet whose chief desire is your attention and approbation? A wagging tail and a doggie smile when they have been acknowledged? We’re more like that than we realize. Atta boy! Good girl! Not condescending for our pets, but we’re loved better by our Master than we treat our favored, time absorbing balls of fur. May we elevate our understanding of our relationship to the LORD, when He holds communion with us and explains to us what he is trying to accomplish with our existence. Who wouldn’t love such a Master! LORD, may we give back to You the love You have shown to us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Satan Benefits From Our Ignorance
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10 KJV). Though our adversary the devil desires the glory of the Almighty, he does some of his best work because of our lack of understanding of his diabolical plan of action. Our failure to comprehend his scheme of opposition to God’s design for our life is necessary so we will not fully embrace our true victory in Jesus — that the “power of Christ may rest upon me” (2Corinthians 12:9). The benefits of our ignorance are his, while he delays his final judgment, for he knows limited power can never defeat Omnipotence. He must satisfy himself with putting off as long as possible his final demise. Our goal then is to more fully investigate, understand, and put into action the “power of Christ” (12:9) that rests upon us. That power brings us into complete union with God. LORD, teach us the meaning of the “power of Christ” (12:9) that Your kingdom would come and Your will would be done on earth as it is in Heaven, in Jesus’ name we request it. Amen and amen.
Not for You to Know the Times or the Seasons
Jesus clearly wants His Church focused upon the power of the Holy Spirit working in His people witnessing of Him to the world, not the times and dates of His return. “When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8 KJV). Then, why study Bible prophecy? Because the Church needs a clear idea of the Father’s strategic plan for the ages. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). We cannot and should not dictate the times and dates under the Father’s “own authority“ (Acts 1:7 NIV), but for us to “look for Him” (Hebrews 9:28 KJV) assuages our fears that everything is out of control, and it doesn’t look good for the Church. Prophecy gives us hope for the future, stability to keep doing what the Spirit directed us, and comfort in our Father’s foreknowledge. Worry not, but be encouraged, for Jesus said, “Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12). Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Accentuate the Positive
Traffic slows on the freeway when there is an accident on the opposite side of the median strip — going the other direction! Why? Lookie-Lous [“Hey, look at that accident, Lou!”] even momentarily paying attention to someone else’s problem, cause snarled freeway traffic for a mile. Hard not to do it! News agencies say, “If it bleeds, it leads,” not just the tabloids next to the checkout aisles at the grocery store. The public views stories about sensationalism, and viewers attract advertising dollars readily. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2 KJV). Lofty sentiment, but it takes a True Believer to make it work. Our job is to set the example for the world to follow, not simply to follow the world. If no one listens, then that’s the Holy Spirit’s problem. Only God can work that in anyone. LORD, make us the “light of the world. A city that is set on an hill” (Matthew 5:14) to give Your Spirit the opportunity needed to bring people into a right relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, work that in us and them, we pray. Amen.
Jesus Said It Would Be This Way
When the world is making it hard to ignore all the calamities and tragedies all around us, then we are experiencing more than the everyday difficulties usually befalling us. Jesus did not come to bring a message of doom and destruction to the world, but to bring us the hope of forgiveness, restoration, and a new life in fellowship with Him. He only warned us about the tribulation we’d experience because we can’t escape this world without it. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 KJV). Jesus overcame, so we, too, would continually be overcoming. ‘Jesus said it would be this way’ is the theme of prophecy, so we should not become distracted by the calamities and quit living the supernatural, overcoming life of disciples of Jesus Christ. Then, God is glorified, and we will do the good we should. In the meantime, Lord Jesus come quickly, and help me to do all the good I can before the Father declares, Time is up, and we go Home. Amen.
We Need A Miracle 
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