Dec 7, 2022 to Jan 6, 2023 – Jesus Christ – The Mystery Uncovered – See Nov 28, 2021 to Dec 29, 2021
Jan 7, 2023 – Revelation 21:5 – NEW YEARS MESSAGE: Behold, I make all things new
”And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
Revelation 21:5
Hi Everyone!
A new year marks a new start for a lot of people. People make New Year’s resolutions to change some aspect of their lives in a positive way, and it is also a time where people vow to walk away from things that are unhealthy for them. The vast majority of people don’t keep their resolutions for long, whether it be for fitness, or to study more Bible, or abstinence. Why does one day place so much pressure upon people to make such extraordinary changes in their lives? Fortunately, for believers, we don’t have the pressure of a new year producing the beginning to some drastic change in our lives. When we received salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, we became new. All things became new. With a new life, there comes a new mind and heart, and that makes every day New Year’s day. Today, we will look at Revelation 21:5, and we will celebrate a new year with an old truth.
”And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
The word ”throne” refers to the place where a ruler sits as a symbol of His leadership and authority. When a ruler sits on the throne, the judgements, decrees, and commands they render become absolute law. In Hebrews 12:1-2, the Bible says, ”Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The right hand implies strength, so if Christ is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, this suggests that Christ is the strength of the throne of God. In Hebrews 1:8, the Bible says, ‘‘But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” Not only is the throne of God righteous, but the throne, and the authority to rule, lasts forever. Whatever is decreed from the throne of God extends into eternity. In Isaiah 55:11, the Bible says, ‘‘So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” The word that comes from the throne of God will do exactly what it is commanded to and will cause it to succeed everywhere it is sent.
The word ”make” means ”to purpose or ordain”. The word ”new” implies that something new is introduced, not known before, opposed to the old, and it also implies better. In Isaiah 43:18-19, the Bible says, ”Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” When the throne calls for something to be new, we are not to remember or cherish the former things. The main reason many of us can’t step into the newness of life is because we are too busy focusing our attention on old things, old mindsets, old people, and old methods. This new thing God promises will cause us to prevail and prosper under impossible circumstances. The new year can’t promise a new you if the things in our lives don’t become new. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, ”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When the throne of God commands that we are new when we are in Christ, that is law! Why do so many of us put on old ”old clothes” when we have been made new? The passage here says, ”all things are become new”, so why do many of us make New Year’s some beginning point to our greatest version of ourselves, when in Christ, all things are new 365 days in a year?
The word ”Write” means just that, but going a little deeper, what is written is supposed to engrave an image into our minds and hearts. The word ”true” means ”sincere, honest, or upright”. The word ”faithful” means ”worthy of belief, trust, confidence; trustful.” In Revelations 19:11, the Bible says, ‘‘And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” ”Faithful and True” is Christ, so because Christ is faithful and true, we can count on His word being faithful and true. If the Word of God declares that we are new creations in Christ, and all things become new in a believer’s life, then we have to live our lives in newness and power.
Let’s look at how long this word extends. In Philippians 1:6, the Bible says, ”Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. Are we confident in the Word of God, that what God declared He will see it through until Christ comes back for His bride?
The New Year is merely a continuation of the new thing God has already done in our lives by Christ. Every day is New Year’s Day!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 7, 2023 – John 13:15 – ye should do as I have done to you
”For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
John 13:15
Hi Everyone!
Christ came to this earth to seek and save those who are lost. His ministry was short, but it changed a whole world, leaving us an unlimited reference for how we are to live our lives on earth. Christ lived on the earth as a servant even though He was Lord, and lived in service even though He was Emmanuel, ”God with us”. There should not be any level of arrogance within the kingdom of God, no level of judgement, no level of condemnation, because Christ did not come to the earth to vaunt Himself on us, to judge others, or condemn us. If we are believers, then our fruit should reflect the Tree we come from. Our fruit is found in our attitude and our actions, and it displays a pattern that should reflect Christ. Are we being the examples God desires us to be in the earth? Do we have the mind and heart of Christ? If we don’t, then we must check ourselves and come into alignment with the will of God written in His Word and spoken into our hearts. Today, we will look at John 13:15, walking in the perfect example of Christ.
”For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
The word ”given” means ”to bestow, to commit unto”. We can also look at something given and something entrusted unto us. Would we give someone something of immense value who isn’t trustworthy? When God gives us something or makes something available to us, that means He trusts us to do right by it. In this case, God has given us an example in Christ to follow in attitude and deed. In this passage, Christ laid aside his garments, to gird himself with a towel and wash the disciples’ feet. This is the act of a servant, not what is expected of a king.
In Matthew 11:29-30, Christ says, ”Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The first thing we have to look at is the attitude Christ walked the earth with. He had an attitude of meekness and humility, and in His nature people found rest.
The word ”example” means ”an exhibit or pattern for imitation or warning”. In Philippians 2:5-7, the Bible says, ‘‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”. Look at this. The Word of God told us to have the mind of Christ, correct? Well, there is more, because the passage here as states that Christ was in the form of God, but so are we? Why?
In Genesis 1:26-27, the Bible says, ”And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” We were created in the image and likeness of God, and as believers, we have the ability given by God to be His representation on earth just as Christ was.
In Hebrews 1:3, the Bible says, ”Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”. If we are created in the image and likeness of God, and if Christ is the express image of God’s person, then God expects us to walk in Him.
Christ is our example. In 1 Peter 2:21, the Bible says, ‘‘For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”.
The word ”do” means ”to complete execute, fulfill, or perform”. Our walk with the Lord is one of action, not just one of word. In 1 Peter 5:2-3, the Bible says, ”Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” We are supposed to use all God has given us to feed others. We are supposed to be helpful, always willing to give of ourselves to others with a willing mind and heart, just as Christ did. God didn’t put us in a position as believers for us to act like we are in authority over people, but to show our love and service.
In 1 John 2:5-6, ‘‘But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” If we walk in the example of Christ, we ought to walk in love, in humility, and in service. The love of God is perfected by our obedience to His Word when we leave ourselves open for God to work in and through us. Christ showed us what to do, so we must do it!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 8, 2023 – John 17:3 – that they might know thee the only true God
”And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
John 17:3
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we have received the gift of salvation from the penalty of sin and death, and we have also receive eternal life, where we will dwell with the Lord forever. This is an amazing gift that was only extended to us by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and there is no other way we can receive salvation but by faith in Christ. God doesn’t just desire for us to be saved, but He wants us to know Him and Christ, and also know who we are in them both. God desires oneness with us, where we will operate according to kingdom principles and live a kingdom life on earth. God desires us to live out our salvation by becoming more and more like Him, going back to the intention God had for mankind from the beginning, to bear His image and likeness in the earth. In this oneness lies power, and in knowledge of Him we learn how to access this power in the earth. Today, we will look at John 17:3, knowing the God of our salvation and the Lord Jesus Christ.
”And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
The phrase ”life eternal” speaks of this free gift of salvation and redemption that gives us access into the kingdom of God. In John 3:16, the Bible says, ‘‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It was the love of God that caused Him to give His Son Jesus Christ to us in order for those who believe to receive salvation and eternal life. This was made available to all of us, but it is our job to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If the word ”believe” means ”to place faith in, and to entrust”, how can we believe? In Romans 10:14-15, the Bible says, ”How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?’‘ God had to send Christ to preach the Word of God and demonstrate the power of God’s Word to overcome the world, so by His triumph we can have access to salvation, redemption, eternal life and power as the children of God.
We don’t have to wait on heaven for eternal life because through salvation, we have already received eternal life. So there is much more involved to eternal life.
The word ”know” is a relational term that expresses a oneness between two people or even between a person and information. ”Knowing” implies two separate parts becoming one. So if I study the Word of God, the point is to become one with the Word of God, so when I live my life on this earth, I live according to it.
God doesn’t care about head knowledge. In John 1:1-3, the Bible says, ”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” To know the Word of God is to know where we come from.
Nothing was made without God’s hand. In Genesis 1:27-28, the Bible says, ‘‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” God’s intended design for mankind was for us to bear His image and likeness, and operate in the earth in His power and authority.
How can be who God intends us to be, if we don’t know who we are in Him. In John 15:4-5, Christ says, ”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” We must be one with God and Christ, and we must dwell in them and they must dwell in us. We can’t be who we were created to be without being one with the Lord.
The word ”sent” is the same word as ”apostle”, meaning ”to set apart and dispatch for a divine purpose”. We must understand that Christ’s life didn’t begin when He was born to Mary. In 1 John 4:10, the Bible says, ‘‘Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” God sent Christ, and Christ further establishes His presence before His birth in John 8:57-58, which says, ‘‘Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.’‘ Christ was sent, so that through faith in Him, we can receive salvation, eternal life, knowledge of God and power to live as children of God in the earth.
Know the God we serve and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 9, 2023 – Ephesians 3:5 – as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit
”Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”
Ephesians 3:5
Hi Everyone!
There was a time in our lives where the divine revelation of the Word of God was not readily available to us like it is now. There was a time where we were out of the will of God, living our lives according to flesh and feeling, and our hearts weren’t able to receive the things of the Lord. There are people who attend church service every week, but receive nothing revealed from the Lord, and they don’t live their lives in power because they have closed themselves off to the Holy Spirit’s leading. God desires to reveal His Word to us in a way we haven’t fathomed, but do we want to know more about Him, or do we want to know a more about how to receive from His hand? Do we come to church service to keep appearances out of some misplaced sense of religion, or do we come to receive the Word of God into our lives? Today, we will look at Ephesians 3:5, the revealed mystery of Jesus Christ.
”Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”
The first part of this verse suggests that this continues a point. In Ephesians 3:2, the Bible says, ”If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward”. Paul received the grace of God in full measure and by preaching the Word, He is dispensing that grace to us. In Ephesians 3:3, the Bible says, ”How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words”. This Word came by divine revelation to Paul to share with us. God not only gives us the Word of God, but He is more than willing to give us the uncovered meaning of the Word of God too. Think not?
In James 1:5-6, the Bible says, ”If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” We have the ability to ask God for the wisdom we need to fully understand His Word, and we have to ask in expectancy, believing that He will give us the revelation. In Ephesians 3:4, the Bible says, ‘‘Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)”. Paul received the grace of God to dispense to others, so Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, to share with them what God had given him. This dispensation of grace in the form of this divine revelation was not made known to people before, but it is now! So now we are up to speed on what was not made known to them who were not of the Spirit, which is made known to us now.
The phrase ”made known” means ”revealed, or to cause to understand”. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, the Bible says, ‘‘But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” Who reveals divine truth to us? The Holy Spirit!
In John 16:13, Christ says, ‘‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” When Christ ascended to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in His people, and the Holy Spirit will guide us into ALL truth. The phrase ”sons of men” just speaks of mankind in general. We can’t comprehend what God desires to reveal to us individually, unless His Spirit reveals it. This requires a relationship with God, because God will to reveal Himself to people He knows, to people He is in relationship with.
In John 15:15, Christ says, ‘‘Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” Relationship gives us access to the secrets of God, not just attending church service.
The word ”revealed” means ”to take cover off, to disclose by God”. The phrase ”holy apostles and prophets” speaks of those who are set apart for divine purpose and are given the revelation of God by the Holy Spirit to spread the Word of God, or speak of things still to come.
In Romans 16:25-26, the Bible says, ‘‘Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith”.
The Word of God is revealed by the Holy Spirit to us so that we would come in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Wherever God tells us to go, whatever God tells us to do, and whatever God tells us to say, we obey!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 10, 2023 – Ephesians 3:6 – Gentiles … partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel
‘That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
Ephesians 3:6
Hi Everyone!
God doesn’t see different in people as we do. Society has made race a topic of division, and that is not God’s intention for mankind. Sadly, the concept of racism existed back in when Christ walked the earth. Jews despise Samaritans, and Jews really despised Gentiles as well. Christ came to break the power of racism with love, so that we would not only be one in Him, but so we can all live in the power of the Holy Spirit together. When the body of Christ can come together, all being partakers in the divine nature of God, the world can change for the better. If we can partake in the divine nature of God, then we can walk in authority and power in the earth to change the narrative around. It doesn’t matter if we are Jew or Gentile, the salvation of Jesus Christ made the Holy Spirit available to all who receive Him. Today, we will look at Ephesians 3:6, one body, one God, one Savior.
”That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
The word ”Gentiles” means ”non-Jewish nation or foreigner”. The word ”fellowheirs” means ”participant in common, or joint possessor”. In Galatians 3:28-29, the Bible says, ”There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” God doesn’t look at mankind the way we do. God is not concerned with what nation we come from, the pigmentation of our skin, the language we speak, but He is concerned that we receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. God isn’t concerned with us being His original people or the last person in, because we are one in Christ. God is concerned with us receiving His promises while our society is trying to exclude people from partaking in the most basic parts of life. In John 4:9-10, the Bible says, ”Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” The Samaritans are so used to the Jews not socializing with them on any level that it confounds the Samaritan woman that Christ spoke to her. Look at the wording of this verse. It said ”the Jews have no dealing with the Samaritans”, suggesting this is one-sided. It doesn’t appear to be the way the Samaritans wanted it. While the woman was so fixed on differences, Christ was there, offering her salvation, restoration, redemption, and eternal life. How are we as a society, being so jacked up socially that we see a difference in race before we see the similarities in faith?
The phrase ”of the same body” refers to fellow members of the Christian community, or the Church. In Ephesians 2:13-14, the Bible says, ‘‘But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” I remember clearly when I was so far away from the will of God, so far apart from the Church, where I didn’t feel I had anything in common with believers, even though I grew up as a child in church. God desired that there be no wall between us and Him, and also no walls between His Church. In Ephesians 2:15-16, the Bible says, ”Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby”. God didn’t offer up Christ to be crucified just for our salvation, but so we can also come into a oneness with Him and each other. God’s aim is to destroy anything that stands against this unity happening.
The word ”promise” means ”an announcement of a divine pledge, assent, or assurance of good”. The word ”gospel” is the good message of God’s plan for salvation; its doctrines, declarations, and precepts. In Galatians 3:13-14, the Bible says, ”Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Christ’s death redeemed us from a penalty that we couldn’t avoid in our own strength, and His death broke down the dividing lines between Jew and Gentile, between race, culture, and nation. Christ death activated our access into the kingdom of God, but we can only receive this promise by faith! If we would look more at God’s intent than our division, then the Church would operate in collective power!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 11, 2023 – Ephesians 3:19 – to know the love of Christ
”And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Ephesians 3:19
Hi Everyone!
Knowing the Word of God is powerful in a believer’s life, and in the Word of God we are shown who we are, whose we are, what we are able to do, and why. The Word of God isn’t just given to us. God fills us with His Word. God doesn’t just give us a measure of His Holy Spirit. He gives us the fullest of His Spirit. God doesn’t just give us power, but He gives us all power. God just doesn’t give us a little bit, but give us abundance. How can we have abundant life but live in scarcity? How can we be able ministers, but not possess the Word of God inside of us? How can we fulfill our calling while not having enough Holy Spirit inside of us to lead us into all truth? How can we love others the way God intends, without knowing the love of Christ, which positioned us to be kings and priests before the Lord God? Today, we will look at Ephesians 3:19, a glimpse into the fullness of God in Christ.
”And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
The word ”know” is a relational term expressing the oneness between two separate things. The word ”know” is also used to express the physical coming together of a husband and a wife, where the two become one flesh. In Genesis 4:1, the Bible says, ”And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.’‘ When we know the Word of God, we become one with it, and in the oneness from coming together, something is conceived and life is birthed.
There is security and freedom in what we know, which is why the Bible says in John 8:31-32, ”Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” When we know the Word of God, and become one with the Word of God we will live the Word out in our lives. Freedom comes when we become the Word we know.
The word ”love” here means ”the proof of God ‘s affectionate regard and benevolence towards us”. In John 3:16, the Bible says, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We can easily understand the love of God and give Him glory for giving us Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sin, but do we overlook the love of Christ that caused Him to endure this excruciating torture for our salvation?
In Matthew 26:39, the Bible says, ‘‘And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Christ knew what He was going to suffer, and tried to ask God to stop His suffering before it began, but submitted Himself to the will of God for us.
In John 15:12-13, Christ says, ”This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’‘ Christ gave us the greatest amount of love that anyone can give, and that is to give Himself for us.
To know this kind of love should make Romans 12:1, the absolute least we can do and everything we should desire to do. It says,
‘‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,”.
The phrase ”passeth knowledge” implies going beyond the power of comprehension and intelligence. This suggests that there is more that God wants to reveal to us by the love of Christ, that is more than we have the capacity to understand. In Philippians 4:7, the Bible says, ”And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Not only does the love of Christ go beyond anything we can understand, but the peace of God surpasses anything we can understand in our own finite minds. The more we know about God’s word, the more we are brought into a greater understanding of the things that go right over our heads.
The word ”filled” means ”to satisfy, supply, or cram into”. The word ”fullness” means ”an abundance of God’s grace and provision”. In Ephesians 1:22-23, the Bible says, ‘‘And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” If the Church is the body of Christ according to this verse, then the Church is the fullness of Christ.
In John 1:14, the Bible says, ”And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Christ was full of grace and truth, because He was filled with the Holy Spirit of God. The same measure Christ has, we have, which is why Christ said that we would do greater works than Him. It is God who supplies us all to abundance!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 12, 2023 – Galatians 6:10 – let us do good unto all men
”As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:10
Hi Everyone!
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, believer or nonbeliever. That took a whole different meaning for me when I was in the world, because knowing tomorrow wasn’t promised, I wanted to live it up. I wanted to do whatever was in my heart to do, party as hard as I could, and have as much fun as I could, but I was highly unsuccessful with the fun part. Living it up put me at odds with my family, separated me from the church I grew up in, created a revolving door to jail, group homes, homelessness, and prison, also adding multiple gunshot wounds, a nervous breakdown, and life sentences without parole. When I committed my life to the Lord, I realized that I hadn’t even begun to live! Now, I still have the ”you only live once” attitude, but it has been completely adjusted, and now I spend my day trying to help as many people as possible, fulfill my purpose and serve God with everything I have. Today, we will look at Galatians 6:10, using the opportunity we have to do the good work in the Lord.
”As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
The word ”opportunity” means ”a distinct or set time”. The phrase ”let us do” means ”to minister, toil, or commit”. The word ”good” means ”useful, profitable, or beneficial”. We should always take the time and use the moments God gives us to minister the things of God that are profitable to someone else’s spiritual growth. In John 9:4-5, the Bible says, ‘‘I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Christ understood that He was living to maximize His giving on earth, to be everything He was created to be. He understood time well enough to know that He had none to waste, that He was going to make every day count.
In Galatians 6:9, the Bible says, ”And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” There are going to be times where doing good is not going to feel as pleasant as it actually is, but our good work in the Lord will always reap a harvest if we see the process through. Too many of us give up before we get the chance to really see what our work has produced, because we live in such a microwave society, where people demand instantaneous results. That is not how the kingdom of God works. In Proverbs 3:27, the Bible says, ”Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” God gives us the power to do good works in Him and we should not keep this to our chest. We must seize the moments to do good unto others.
In John 12:35, the Bible says, ”Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” If Christ is telling us to take the time we have to walk in the Word of God, living the life He commands us to, we shouldn’t ever wait until tomorrow to do what the Lord has required of us today.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:15, the Bible says, ”See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” We have the opportunity to do right by people or do evil unto people. God wants us to follow good and exercise good in the earth, ”good” implying ”God’s intended purpose for us from the beginning”. In 1 Timothy 6:18-19, the Bible says, ‘‘That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” Those who operate to the benefit of others store up heavenly treasure for themselves. We should be generous as believers, and accessible to others, the way Christ was. We should be willing to roll up our sleeves to help those in need, because it is profitable to them, and because it pleases God.
The word ”household” means ”associates, kindred, children, or relatives.” The word ”faith” means ”Christian doctrines believed and received, the gospel, and all Christianity stands for”. In Ephesians 2:19, the Bible says, ”Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God”. We belong in the kingdom of God as believers, so we should look like we belong in the kingdom by our conduct and treatment of others. People should look at us and know we are believers.
In Hebrews 3:6, the Bible says, ‘‘But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Christ came and represented the kingdom. He personified the image of God in His life and in His relationships with others. May we use every day to do the same!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 13, 2023 – 2 Samuel 22:7 – in my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God
”In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.”
2 Samuel 22:7
Hi Everyone!
Sometimes, life will get a little rough. Sometimes, we can find ourselves under immense strain and even persecution as being believers, and the adversity can become difficult to handle. No one is exempt from this, but in times of trouble, what do we do? It is easy to find ourselves in the flesh, swimming in the seas of emotion until we find ourselves completely overwhelmed. One instance leads to another instance, and tribulation can produce a fear and agony that can render us stagnant and unfruitful. I remember a time when I used to try to figure it all out on my own, like I could think my way through adversity. Boy, was I wrong! The Lord is right here with us, willing to deliver us from enemies that are stronger, from thoughts that are depressing us, and from attitudes that will confine us. If we would just cry out to God, and give Him the fight, we would see how great of a deliverer our God is. Today, we are going to look at 2 Samuel 22:7, calling out to the Lord in our distress.
”In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.”
The word ”distress” means ”anguish, trouble, or adversity. It shows us the tight places we can find ourselves in when we are under trial. In James 1:2-3, the Bible says, ”My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” We are supposed to be joyful when we find ourselves in the midst of trial, because the adversity is actually doing something that helps us. Seriously? So, instead of running, hiding, or fighting back, we are supposed to count it all joy. That seems like the most difficult thing to do, but there is a reason why we should count it all joy.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says, ”There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” There are things we need to know about adversity and distress. We all go through it, even though when it happens, it causes us to feel the most alone. The next thing is the faithfulness of God, which means for us that God is not going to break from us in the midst of our distress. Faithful people don’t leave when it gets rough! The next thing we should know about trial is God puts a limitation on our struggle according to what we can handle, and declares in His Word that we can handle what we go through. The final thing we need to see is that God always gives us a way of escape, so we can stand when it all is said and done. These are great reasons to count it all joy, because God has already positioned us for victory.
In 2 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, ‘‘Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” God always causes us to triumph, but our victory is in Christ alone.
The word ”called” means ”to accost, or to address by name”. The word ”Lord” means ”supreme in authority or controller”. Our problem is when we are under distress, we call upon the wrong people and things that are incapable of delivering us. A lot of times, who and what we turn to can imprison us further. Calling out to God, who holds all authority, is the best and only way to be delivered. In Psalm 120:1-2, the Bible says, ‘‘In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” Sometimes, the enemy attacks us with words. There are more people becoming psychologically damaged by tweets and posts, by false reports, by cyber bullying and trolling. It is not always physical.
In Jonah 2:1-2, the Bible says, ”Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” When we cry out to the Lord in the midst of our struggle, he hears us, and it doesn’t matter how deep of a mess we find ourselves in.
The word ”hear” implies listening with attention, and with intention on responding. God is not too far away that He can’t hear. He always hears us! In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Bible says, ”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” The word said God will hear from heaven, so let us not think that God isn’t in a position to hear and respond to us.
In Psalm 34:4, the Bible says, ‘‘I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Distress is a byproduct of fear, the uncertainty of how it will end, but praise be to God that He hears and responds to our cry!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 14, 2023 – 2 Samuel 22:3 – The God of my rock; in him will I trust
”The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”
2 Samuel 22:3
Hi Everyone!
God is our greatest line of defence, the protection we need from everything that comes our way. Sometimes, when we feel under attack, it seems like we are vulnerable, and unable to triumph over the enemy. That is not true because in God, we have a great Protector, a valiant Defender, and a safe place for us to turn to in every season of our lives. When a toddler is scared, they immediately look for their parents, and seek protection in their presence. As parents, it makes us feel good that our babies turn to us, and we then reassure them that they are safe, that everything is okay. This is what the Word of God does for us when we turn to the Lord for deliverance. God ensures us that we are safe and that He always has us covered. Today, we will look at 2 Samuel 22:3, divine protection from an all-powerful God.
”The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”
The word ”rock” means ”refuge or strength”. A refuge is a place of safety, protecting us from the storms of life, or the enemy that desires to consume us. In Psalm 94:22, the Bible says, ”But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.” The problem many of us face is we tend to turn to the wrong people and things for our protection. Being an ex-gang member, I would have a problem and I would call my fellow members, and they would come to help me solve whatever problem I faced. Sometimes, if I was in a position where I couldn’t call, then I turned to a gun to protect me. Nowhere in my life in the streets did I turn to the Lord first. I always waited on it to get so bad that I had no other option, like when I got shot and I was bleeding internally on the ground. God doesn’t want our last, He wants our firsts. In Psalm 95:1, the Bible says, ”O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” God is faithful, and when I cried out to God and asked Him to not let me die, He answered, and saved me from the danger I was definitely in.
The word ”trust” means ”to flee, or confide in”. It said ”In Him will I trust”. Isn’t it ironic that American currency states ”In God we trust”, while money is one of our biggest idols. More people put trust in money than in God. In Matthew 19:21-22, the Bible says, ”Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” The man did everything right by coming to Christ to find out how he can obtain eternal life, but the minute Christ told him to give up his idol, the thing he trusted in above God, he walked away. I had to give up the ”street mentality” of protection in order to trust in the Lord, but it all amounts to us submitting our will to His. In Hebrews 2:13, the Bible says, ”And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” Christ put His full trust in the Lord and He has paved the way for us to do the same.
The word ”shield” means ”defender or protector”. The phrase ”horn of my salvation”, means ”the power of my deliverance”. In Deuteronomy 33:29, the Bible says, ‘‘Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.” There is a real blessing to be under the defence of the Lord, to be in His presence, receiving His protection. All the enemies attempts to unseat us are put to shame and God causes them to suffer defeat in every place they rest. There is real power in the protection of the Lord, far greater than anything the Word can give.
The phrase ”high tower” means ”a cliff or inaccessible place”. The word ”refuge” means ”escape or place of retreat”. The word ”violence” means ”cruelty, damage, or injustice”. In Psalm 59:1-2, the Bible says, ”Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.” We must understand that the enemy does not have great intentions for us. He is similar to a fox, presenting sin as something playful and fun, only to lure us away from the safety of our loving Father, where he can then attack and hurt us.
In Jeremiah 16:19, the Bible says, ”O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.” Our God is the great protection we have and His deliverance extends into eternal life. Will we trust Him to be our refuge?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 15, 2023 – Proverbs 12:14 – a man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth
”A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.”
Proverbs 12:14
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we should have full assurance that we will be rewarded for things we say and do. Because we are created in the image and likeness of God, what comes out of our mouths has power to vastly change our whole landscape for the better. At the same time, if we speak negatively or words inconsistent with the Word of God, we cannot expect good things to happen for us. Too many believers will pray to God, asking Him to bless some area of our lives, but then nullify their faith by speaking against the very thing they are asking God for. What we do is also of grave importance, because our actions have a language of their own. Are we working towards our faith or working against the faith we have? We must be careful that the things we say and do are consistent with the Word of God and the direction God has given us for our lives, because we will be rewarded accordingly. Today, we will look at Proverbs 12:14, speaking and living a message of faith and life.
”A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.”
The word ”man” speaks of mankind, male and female included. In Genesis 1:26, the Bible says, ”And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Mankind was created to project the physical image, attributes, and character of an invisible, spiritual God, and He gave us the authority to have dominion in the earth.
The word ”satisfied” means ”filled, to have enough, or to be in plenty.” In Ephesians 1:3, the Bible says, ”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. God has always desired to fill us to capacity, to bless us in abundance, and God does not want His children to lack anything. God does not desire us to live without Him as Lord and King. Even when we find ourselves in adversity or affliction, God provides us with everything we need, even if we still feel a crunch in a particular season. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says, ”And 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.” Paul asked God three times to remove a thorn from him but God told him that His grace would satisfy him, giving him the ability to praise Him even when under affliction.
The word ”good” speaks of the things God provides for our benefit, the things that are favorable and profitable to us. The word ”fruit” means ”reward”. The word ”mouth” means ”speech”. In Proverbs 18:20, the Bible says, ”A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.” Who ever would’ve thought that our words would have so much power that what comes out of our mouths can be our abundance? This isn’t about some prosperity doctrine, but about real situations, like health, happiness, and relationship. What if, instead of saying how bad life is, we speak from a position of victory, declaring our lives to be full of blessing?
In Proverbs 18:21, the Bible says, ‘‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” We can speak life or death, blessing or cursing, and we are going to speak in accordance to what reigns within us. In Matthew 12:34-35, Christ says, ”O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” We are kidding ourselves if we think that what we speak won’t activate into reality.
The word ”recompense” means ”act, service, or benefit”. The phrase ”man’s work” refers to our work in the Lord and in life. The word ”rendered” means ”to be returned, to pay”. In Isaiah 3:10-11, the Bible says, ”Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” Whether it is good or evil, what we do will come back and provide a just reward.
In Job 34:10-11, the Bible says, ”Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.” We must make sure our speech and action are consistent with the Word of God and what He delivers into our heart and minds. We must choose life!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 16, 2023 – Acts 4:20 – we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard
”For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:20
Hi Everyone!
When we received salvation, we were invited into the family of God and we were made partakers in the kingdom of God. As we grow, we learn more about the Word of God, about who we are in Him, and God allows us to gain so much valuable perspective about our life experiences. God doesn’t want us to keep what we learn to ourselves, but He commands that we share the Gospel with everyone we can. Then, as believers, we have the wonderful opportunity to experience the powerful hand of God move in our lives, but we aren’t supposed to keep that to ourselves either. We are supposed to share what God has done for us with others so they will also believe and desire to receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ as well. God does not allow us to learn and experience things coming from Him so we can stockpile the proof of His existence, wisdom, and power, but so others can understand Who is responsible for all we have as believers. Today, we will look at Acts 4:20, witnessing the things of God to a world starving for faith.
”For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
The word ”speak” means ”to announce, declare, utter words, preach or teach”. Before Christ ascended to the Father, He gave us a charge, a great commission. In Matthew 28:19-20, Christ says, ”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” We can only teach what we have learned ourselves, and we can only declare what God has allowed us to experience. We can’t give a person man’s knowledge and present it as the Word of God, because that is not what Christ commanded. Christ said we are to teach people to practice the things He commanded us to teach. So when God gives us a Word to share, we must teach it. We never know the ultimate effect of what the Word we teach will do, but we have an idea of what the Word does in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which says, ”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The Word of God shows us how to live, allows us to check ourselves according to the Word, correct our behavior and train us to live holy lives. The Word of God is also designed to make sure we are equipped to fulfill anything God calls us to do. When we teach the Word of God, we position others to maximize their greatest potential in the Lord, and when we don’t teach the Word, we essentially rob people of their chance to be everything the Lord desires of them.
The word ”seen” means ”to perceive, to know, or to understand”. In Luke 7:19, the Bible says, ‘‘And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” John the Baptist heard about the work of Christ, and based on what he was taught, he identified what he was hearing with the attributes of the Messiah. He sent people to find out, and they went to ask Christ directly. When they asked Christ He didn’t give a conventional answer, but in Luke 7:21, the Bible says, ”And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.” The Bible doesn’t record Christ saying anything to them about who He was at first, but showed them what He did to reveal who His is to them. Then, He gave them the charge to report back to John the Baptist the things they saw and heard. They became witnesses because they experienced the power of God right before them.
The word ”heard” means ”to be informed of instruction or doctrine, to learn”. In Acts 22:14-15, the Bible says, ”And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.”
Think about this with me.
God chose us to reveal His will and chose us to reveal His mighty hand. He chose US!
All He is asking us to do is speak what He has already given us the power to do. Many of us feel like we are unqualified, but that is a lie from the enemy.
Remember the demon possessed man with the legion of demons in Him? He wanted to go with Christ, but Christ gave him direct instructions. In Mark 5:19-20, the Bible says, ”Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” God took a man that was overcome by demon possession and he was a witness and minister in ten cities! Christ only told him to go home to his friend and declare the goodness of God, so either he had a bunch of friends, or he knew he couldn’t stop there! We must be willing to go wherever necessary to preach, teach and declare the Word of the Lord. It is really the least we can do!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 17, 2023 – Proverbs 15:29 – The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous
”The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”
Proverbs 15:29
Hi Everyone!
As believers, it should be our desire to be in the presence of the Lord. The thought of our being far away from the presence of God should greatly disturb us, because when the presence of the Lord is removed, peace is removed as well. There have been many times where I have tried to blaze my own trail, thinking I was doing a good thing, but it was not what God was calling for me to do, so I found myself walking further and further away from the presence of God. When I committed my way to the Lord, I found myself in the presence of the Lord, and my prayers were answered, as long as they were in the will of God. Could it be that, if we want God to hear us, we have to position ourselves in His presence so that He has the desire to hear us? Today, we will look at Proverbs 15:29, prayers that are heard and answered by the Lord.
”The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”
The word ”Lord” means ”supreme in authority, or controller”. First, we must understand that our God holds all power, and bestowed this same power upon Christ. In Christ we have access to this same power. In Matthew 28:18, the Bible says, ‘‘And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Not some power, but ALL power. See, we don’t pray to a God who can’t do anything we ask of Him. We pray to a God that will do all we ask according to His Word. In Mark 2:10-11, the Bible says, ‘‘But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” Not only does Christ have the power to forgive sins, but He has the power to heal of our infirmities.
In Acts 1:8, the Bible says, ”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.” We have power that was given to us from Christ by the Holy Spirit, but that power is only good if it is in the framework of the Lord. If we step outside of that framework, we step outside of our power, and position ourselves to not be heard by the Lord.
The word ”wicked” means ”morally wrong, condemned, ungodly, and bad”. In Psalm 1:4-5, the Bible says, ”The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” The wicked are similar to the chaff that is separated from the wheat, because when the wind blows, the chaff does not fall back to the ground and stay in place. The wicked are unstable, unable to be still, and will wander if the circumstances change and be sent in a different direction. Would we place something valuable in the hands of someone who is unstable and unable to remained rooted enough to receive it? There is a difference between a Christian who occasionally sins and someone who is wicked. Wicked people reside in darkness and have no desire for the light of the Lord. God knows who are His and puts a distance from the wicked.
The word ”heareth” means ”to listen in order to respond, obey, heed; to regard”. The word ”prayer” means ”supplication, intercession, or petition before God”. The word ”righteous” means ”lawful or just”. In Romans 3:21-22, the Bible says, ”But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference”. Who is righteous in God’s sight? It isn’t the person who appears squeaky clean, nor is it the person who shows that they follow the law. It is the person whose faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in His finished work. It is the person who has received Christ as Lord and Savior.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible says, ”For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” It is only through the finished work of Christ that those with faith have access to the righteousness of God. Without Christ, no one can be righteous before the Lord. In John 9:31, the Bible says, ‘‘Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” Even a man who was born blind knew that God doesn’t hear those who reside in wickedness, but hears those who reverence the Lord and desire to be in His presence.
In Psalm 145:18-19, the Bible says, ”The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” God responds to His children when they call for Him. He is always willing to hear those who reside in His presence.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 18, 2023 – Acts 5:39 – but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it
”But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
Acts 5:39
Hi Everyone!
The enemy tries his hardest to destroy everything God is building in us. That has been no clearer in my life than yesterday, when I was called to the Sergeant’s desk and ordered to give up my wedding ring. I was immediately angered by this but I didn’t show it, and even though I didn’t want to, I immediately complied. There were other officers at the desk, all seeming to be on edge, as if waiting on me to react, or refuse their order. Apparently they were given an order by a Captain to confiscate my ring, citing that, I wasn’t married. I immediately discerned that they were doing this because my marriage certificate hadn’t made it to the institution yet, and I already had my ring, but when I went to the mailroom to mail my ring out (wasn’t given the option to contest the decision by inmate complaint), the property officers were confused because the written policy in place allowed me to have my ring. This left no doubt in my mind that someone has an issue with me being married and was trying to disrupt this process, or disrupt me in the process, but they won’t win. What God joined together, man must not separate, and in my opinion, this was a clear, but failed assault on my marriage to Jess. I’ll have my ring back on my finger in less than two weeks and this will go back to normal, because they can’t win a war against something God ordained. Today, we will be looking at Acts 5:39, fighting a losing battle against the Lord.
”But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
The word ”God” here means ”Supreme Divinity”. In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, ”The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Everything on and in the earth belongs to the Lord, because He is the Creator.
In Colossians 1:16-17, the Bible says, ”For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Even the powers in the earth we created and established by the Lord, so the prison I am housed in, the staff in place, and the policy that govern us all belongs to the Lord. I gave up my ring, even though I knew they were wrong, because the Bible says in 1 Samuel 15:22, ”And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” The Lord established the powers than be in their places, and God desires obedience out of His children. The only time one should disobey man’s laws is if it goes directly against the Word of God.
In Romans 13:1-2, the Bible says, ”Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Even though I didn’t agree with the Captain’s order, I followed it, and even when I saw the policy that clearly made provision for me to have my ring, I still obeyed and sent the ring home. I answered to the Lord when I obeyed, and I know that God honors my sacrifice.
The word ”overthrow” means ”to destroy, dissolve, or demolish”. The phrase ”fight against God” means ”an opponent of Deity”. When a person mounts an offensive against something God ordained, they become in opposition of God. In Ecclesiastes 3:14, the Bible says, ‘‘I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” What God does will never be broken, so it doesn’t matter if I have the small inconvenience of sending my ring out for two weeks, they can’t nullify what God has done. In Luke 21:15, the Bible says, ”For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” The word God gave me in the midst of this ordeal was obedience, so I obeyed even though it hurt me to the core, and even though I was angered by the assault.
Let me tell you what happened because of this ordeal. I had the privilege of showing the correctional staff my faith in action. They all have seen me studying my Bible daily in the day room, but now they know for a fact within themselves that it is real. They all thought I was going to flip out, but I was kind, obedient, and I didn’t push back. In James 1:2-3, the Bible says, ‘‘My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” The enemy thought I was going to crumble, but God turned this into a moment to witness for the Lord in both word and deed. No weapon formed against us share prosper.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 19, 2023 – Romans 13:14 – but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ
”But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Romans 13:14
Hi Everyone!
As believers, it is required for us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. This means that we build our lives, our minds, our hearts, and our families according to the Word of God. When we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, we plant our feet in the foundation of the Word of God and our desire becomes to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord. I had come to learn that the more we live according to the Word of God, the less likely we are to answer to the sinful impulses that come our way. We will be stronger against the enemy because we always have a sure foundation in the Word of God. We live in a world that answers to every sinful desire they have imaginable, and the world seems to provide for every sinful desire a person has, no matter how vile the desire is. As believers, our desire should be to do the will of God and to please Him in our walk. Today, we will look at Romans 13:14, clothed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
‘‘But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
The phrase ”put ye on” means ”to invest with clothing, to array”. How do we put on a person? In Galatians 3:26-28, the Bible says, ”For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.’‘ When we have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we have been covered by His blood, saving us from our sinful past, and redeeming us from the penalty of sin and death. The blood of Christ was an entry pass into the kingdom of God. Putting on Christ makes us one with Him, so that we can operate in the earth the same way He did, in power and in purpose. When we were baptized into Christ, we have identified ourselves with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Think not?
In Romans 6:3-4, the Bible says, ‘‘Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” We have the privilege by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ to walk in the newness of life, able to receive the Word in a fashion that we never knew before, and also able to do things as believers that can display the power of God. Putting on Christ is bigger than just not sinning, but it is the ability to walk in the complete power of God!
In Ephesians 4:22-24, the Bible says, ‘‘That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” When the flesh comes off us, we have the ability to walk in true holiness and righteousness. This means that the stuff that we used to walk in, our best efforts, were never enough to bring us to the state of righteousness and holiness God desires from us. Putting on Christ is the only way.
In Colossians 3:8-10, the Bible says, ‘‘But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”. When we put on Christ, the things listed above won’t ever be dominant in our lives. When we put on Christ, the fruit of the Spirit will be prevalent in our lives. We have to remember who we are when we slip, and we have to always be mindful of the fact that we are renewed in Him.
The word ”provision” means ”forethought, care or supply”. The word ”flesh” refers to our human nature with its frailties, desires, sin, etc. The word ”lusts” means ”a longing for what is forbidden, an evil desire”. In Galatians 5:16-17, the Bible says, ”This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Putting on Christ means that we walk according to the Spirit of God, and if we do that, we won’t live according to the evil desires that the world lives in. This means that we will be so trained on the Word of God that the desire of sin remains checked. This enables us to walk according to the Word and allows us the strength to walk in victory over sin.
In 1 Peter 2:11, the Bible says, ”Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul”. There is a war between flesh and spirit, but who we robe ourselves with determines who will have victory!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 20, 2023 – Deuteronomy 18:18 – I will raise them up a Prophet
”I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”
Deuteronomy 18:18
Hi Everyone!
Christ was raised up by God to speak the Word that comes by God. When Christ came to the earth, He spoke the very words that God gave Him to speak. This prophecy was spoken to Moses by God and delivered from Moses to the children of Israel. We have direct access to the Word God gave Moses, and we also have the knowledge that this prophecy was fulfilled by Christ Jesus. The beauty about this prophecy is that it also pertains to believers, because the Holy Spirit continues to give us the words of life to speak. Isn’t it amazing how God’s Word was spoken then the same way it is now, but we have a better leg up than Moses because we know things about God’s plan that Moses never got the chance to see! God is always willing to give us His Word, but will we listen to it? Will we speak the Word that God gives us to speak like Moses and like Christ did? Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 18:18, raised by God to speak His word.
”I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”
The word ”raise” means ”to ordain, establish, or confirm”. The word ”Prophet” means ”inspired man or speaker”. This speaks of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Prophet that would come to fulfill everything written in the law. He would come as the personified Word of God, as evidenced by John 1:1, which says, ”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”, and also in John 1:14, which says, ”And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Not only was Christ the manifestation of the Word of God, but He also was the epitome of grace and truth.
The Word of God was also called ”the word of truth”, according to Ephesians 1:13, the Bible says, ”In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”. Christ was also the personification of the gospel of salvation, freely making it available to us all who believe on His name. When God raised Moses up, it was to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptians, lead them in the wilderness, to introduce them to the Law, and to bring them into their promise. Christ was raised up to fulfill the Law, and to give us salvation, redemption, eternal life and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, so God can speak directly to us and lead us in His Word. Christ was raised to make us who believe heirs of God with Him.
In Deuteronomy 18:15, the Bible says, ‘‘The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken”. When we hear the word of the Lord, hearing with the intention of obeying the Word, we have the ability to operate in the supernatural authority of God. In Acts 3:22-23, the Bible says, ”For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” Death is the consequence to those won’t hear the Word of God, because they won’t receive the gospel plan for salvation, or believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the free gift of salvation.
The word ”words” means ”commandments, purpose, report, and power”. The word ”mouth” means ”speech”. In Isaiah 51:16, the Bible says, ‘‘And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.” God protects those in whom He puts His word, and through their mouths, He establishes us as His people.
In John 17:8, Christ says, ”For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” Christ only operated according to the Word of God, speaking the Word God gave Him, and operating according to the power God gave Him. In John 12:49-50, the Bible says, ‘‘For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” When our speech is governed by the Word of God, and when we speak the things God commands us to speak, we will be no different than Christ in the earth. This is God’s purpose, for there to always be a people of God speaking His Word throughout the earth. Will we do as Moses and as Christ, speaking the Word of God delivered unto us by Him?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 21, 2023 – Jeremiah 33:8 – I will cleanse them and pardon all their iniquities
”And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.”
Jeremiah 33:8
Hi Everyone!
When we receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, we were cleansed from our sin. There are so many people who feel that they have to clean themselves up before they stand before the Lord, before they go to church service, but they don’t fully appreciate the fact that it is in Christ that we are cleansed. If we were capable of cleansing ourselves, then there would be no need for Christ to have been crucified. If we could cleanse ourselves, there would be no need for God because we would have it all figured out. The truth of the matter is, without the blood of Jesus Christ cleansing us from all sin, there is no redemption, there is no fellowship, and there is no Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Our lives would be without power, with destruction imminent. Today, we will look at Jeremiah 33:8, cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
”And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.”
The words ”cleanse” means ”to purify, render innocent, or to produce uncontaminated”. Be advised that this is a prophecy, a word coming directly from the Lord to His children. It says, ”I will cleanse”, not ”we will cleanse ourselves”. Too many people are out there working themselves to ruin, trying to perform good works to make themselves righteous before God. In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Bible says, ”For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” The whole reason why God has designed us to need a Savior in Jesus Christ is because we otherwise would walk around like we were our own savior, thus not needing God.
In 1 John 1:7, the Bible says, ‘‘But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” The blood cleansed us for ”all sin”. Nowhere in Scripture does it say we cleansed ourselves from all sin, because it is impossible for us to ever do anything right enough to correct our wrongs in full. We needed a perfect sacrifice, and that was not us!
The word ”iniquity” means ”conscious perversity or sin”. This refers to our blatant disobediences to God and the sinful lifestyles we all lived by before we were in Christ. Now, how can we cleanse ourselves from the things we purposely did that were in direct opposition to the Word of God. We can’t!
In Ezekiel 36:24-26, the Bible says, ‘‘For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” God took me from the most filthiest, vile place and brought me to him. He cleansed me with ”clean water”, gave me a new heart and a new spirit, and declared that I’m now His! Where do I remember hearing something about being cleansed by water?
In Ephesians 5:25-27, the Bible says, ‘‘Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Christ gave Himself up for us to be saved, redeemed, cleansed and washed with water by the Word of God. The whole point of this is to make us righteous before God, so we can stand before Him as His children, with every right to be there.
The word ”pardon” means ”to forgive”. In legal terms, it is the unconditional release from a conviction, making it as if I never did anything in the first place. I am not limiting God, but I hope this is my ultimate result, unconditional release. Once again, this covers ”all their iniquities”. It means that there is nothing we could have done that Christ’s blood and Word doesn’t cleanse. The word ”transgressed” means ”to break away from just authority, to rebel, or revolt against God”. In Jeremiah 31:34, the Bible says, ‘‘And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” This is the ultimate plan for our cleansing, for us all to have direct access to the Lord, so that we all will know the Lord. Remember, to ”know” is a relational word that means ”to be one with”. God desires this cleansing to make us one with God and Christ. We can’t do this on our own. We need the Lord!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 22, 2023 – Numbers 23:19 – God is not a man, that he should lie
”God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
Numbers 23:19
Hi Everyone!
Our God keeps His word! We live in a time where honesty is becoming more and more frowned upon in society, and it seems like people are more comfortable with someone lying to them than telling them the truth. God’s word is truth and whatever the Lord says, it will be. This is why faith is so important in a believers lives because faith is us saying, ”God, you said it in your Word and I absolutely believe it, so I will do what you say”. There has to be a trust in God we must have as believers, and there also must be an understanding that our God is good for it. We may not be able to trust in the word of our families, friends, and colleagues, but we can definitely trust in the Word of God. It is much easier to trust in a God that doesn’t go back on His word. Today, we will look at Numbers 23:19, the God of all truth.
”God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
The word ”lie” means ”to deceive of fail”. The word ”repent” means ”regret, turn back, or be sorry”. In 1 Samuel 15:29, the Bible says, ”And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” God is the strength of Israel, and does not lie. How can someone ever be our strength and we can’t trust in them? In Isaiah 26:4, the Bible says, ‘‘Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength”. Because the Lord is strength, and this is a part of His identity, we can always place our trust in Him.
In Hebrews 6:17-18, the Bible says, ”Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us”. Because the Word of God is true and it is confirmed, we can take refuge in it. It becomes a place a real safety for us.
In Romans 11:27-29, the Bible says, ‘‘For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Because God makes a covenant with His children, He keeps his covenant, and He declares us beloved, and doesn’t take back His callings and gifts. We are His choice, not the other way around.
In Titus 1:2-3, the Bible says, ”In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour”. God made eternal life available to us by promise, and gives us the pathway to His promise through the Word of God.
In James 1:17, the Bible says, ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Our God doesn’t just give us gifts and then regret giving them to us. When God declares something, that is exactly what it is, and nothing will ever change that.
The word ”said” refers to the spoken and written Word of God. The word ”do” means ”to accomplish, complete, of fulfill”. In Isaiah 55:11 the Bible says, ‘‘So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God doesn’t speak a word that doesn’t do exactly what He calls for, nor does He speak a word that doesn’t bear fruit wherever it is sent.
The word ”spoken” means ”commanded, declared, or promised”. In Joshua 1:8-9, the Bible says, ”This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” God gave Joshua His word, and gave Him the command to meditate on it day and night. God wants His word planted in us so we will live according to His Word in our lives.
The phrase ”make it good”, means ”cause to succeed or establish”. In Romans 8:28, the Bible says, ‘‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” When God speaks and ordains for His Word to come alive, it is to for His purpose to be fulfilled in us. This is how God makes it good, because the spoken word becomes reality.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 23, 2023 – 1 Corinthians 1:9 – God is faithful
”God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:9
Hi Everyone!
Our God is completely dedicated to our spiritual, relational, physical, emotional and financial well being. Our God loves us so much and He made provision throughout world history to bring us into oneness with Him. That was His design for us from the beginning, and even though mankind has fallen, vaunted ourselves in disobedience, and driven ourselves further from the Lord, God never stops calling us home. I am home in Him because God is faithful, and never stop calling me home, no matter what I have done in my life. I am only manifesting the things He has done in me because He never gave up on me. I have had family and friends give up on me, but God never gave up. When He makes His choice, He sticks by His choice, and continues to direct things that bring us back into fellowship with Him. Praise God for His faithfulness. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 1:9, a God who desires fellowship with His children.
”God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The word ”faithful” means ”trustworthy, true fidelity, worthy of confidence, trust and belief”. Reread the tense of the first three words of the verse, ”God is faithful”. Paul didn’t say God WAS faithful, but that God IS faithful. In Hebrews 13:8, the Bible says, ”Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Christ is the express image of God’s person, and if Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then God has to be the same way.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says, ‘‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” After just experiencing a major hardship in my prison environment, this verse becomes even more real for me. The word ”temptation” refers to the trials that God allows us to go through in order to refine us, and strengthen our faith. God is faithful, not to allow us to go through life experiencing nothing, but in allowing us to handle what we go through. God provided for me in my dark place a way of victory, so I didn’t have to remain in offence, anger, and confusion. Even when we are wronged, God is faithful to turn it into a platform, and I was able to not only witness to a few officers about who I am in the Lord, but I was also blessed to get up in church and give testimony before my brothers in this prison environment. When I had my ring confiscated for no reason, I felt victimized, but praise be to God for His faithfulness, because I was able to experience victory, and show others how to do the same.
The word ”called” means ”invited, or bid forth”. In Isaiah 49:7, the Bible says, ‘‘Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.” God’s presence puts ruling authorities in their rightful places, under His authority. God sets things in perfect order, and then chooses us out of that order. In order to call someone, you have to get their attention, so there is absolutely no accident in who the Lord calls. When the Lord anointed the preacher to prophesy on my 17th birthday that I would be a preacher, I ran so fast that I could have had a couple of gold medals. I didn’t run because it was a lie. I ran because it was the truth, and the tear I shed when he prophesied over my life was my spirit testifying to that truth. In 2 Thessalonians 3:4-5, the Bible says, ‘‘And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.’‘ God wants to direct us into His love, where we can remain forever!
The word ”fellowship” means ”participation, communion, sharing common interests.” In John 17:21, Christ says, ”That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” There is the real purpose behind our fellowship in the Lord, and that is to show the world by our word and by our deed, that we have a Father in heaven and we are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. We were called to allow our lives to give testimony. In 1 John 4:13, the Bible says, ”Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” God gave us His Spirit, and by His Spirit dwelling in us, we have the ability to fellowship with God right where He is! In the Lord lies everything we need. We were called because of His love, and we were invited into oneness with Him so that we can bear witness in the earth. Great is thy faithfulness!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 24, 2023 – Luke 2:10 – CHRISTMAS # 1: Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy
”And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
Luke 2:10
Hi Everyone!
When Christ was born, the angel announced it to the shepherds first. Why were the people, who were ceremonially unclean and prohibited from entering the temple because of their profession, the ones who first received the good news about Christ’s birth. Why was the Word given to the shepherds and then an expectation placed upon them to share the Word about Christ’s birth? I think if anyone would’ve gotten the Word first, it would’ve been the pastors, the chief priests, the scribes, someone of religious acclaim, not people who aren’t even allowed in church. Wait a minute, doesn’t this sound familiar, for God to use the most unlikely people to do the most incredible things? This is what God had in mind when He sent a baby as the King and also as the lamb of God, the Saviour of the entire world. Today, we will look at Luke 2:10, Doing the incredible with the unlikely.
”And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
The word ”angel” means ”messenger of God”. Angels came to perform the Word of God as He ordains it to. In Hebrews 1:14-2:1, the Bible says, ”Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” God uses angels to administer His Word so we will be in position for salvation and deliverance. God used angels this time to deliver His Word to the shepherds, so they could declare the Word to everyone!
The word ”fear” means ”to be afraid, terrified, or frightened”. The presence of the Lord will automatically cause fear, but God wants us to look beyond our impulse of fear to receive the Word of God. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Bible says, ”For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” So, the reason the angel is telling the shepherds to not fear, is because God did not give them this fear. Fear will prevent people from hearing the Word of God and also heeding the Word of God. In Luke 1:13, the Bible says, ”But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.” Zacharias was a priest, the ”closest” person to God, yet when the angel appeared, he was told not to be afraid. Once the angel dealt with the thing that would block him from receiving the Word from God, the Word of God was delivered, and it was the answer to his prayers. Sometimes, fear will rob us from receiving the good news, and even the best part, because fear can cause us to shut down, instead of obey.
The word ”bring” means ”to declare”. The phrase ”good tidings” means ”a beneficial or profitable announcement fulfilling the Word of God”. The word ”good”, when it is used by God or the angels of God, is expressed as the fulfillment of God’s intention. In Mark 1:15, the Bible says, ”And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Christ coming fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6-7, which says, ”For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” The fulfillment of this prophecy was a divine announcement beneficial to the hearer, and this announcement was first given to people who didn’t go and couldn’t go to church! God passed up everyone who was clean enough and gave it to people who slept outside with their flocks. The phrase ”great joy” speaks of cheerfulness and gladness, so this is why fear had to be removed.
The word ”people” was not exclusive to Jews. God wanted everyone to know that Christ was born. In Matthew 28:19, the Bible says, ”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Christ, before He ascended to the Father, gave a commission for us to teach all nations, and the angel gave the shepherds a charge to declare Christ’s birth to all people.
When we are called to speak, God gives us the message. In Luke 2:17, the Bible says, ”And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” God gave the announcement of Christ to the least likely people, and they spread it everywhere! If God used the shepherds as evangelist what won’t He do for us?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 25, 2023 – Luke 1:32 – CHRISTMAS # 2: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest
”He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David’’
Luke 1:32
Hi Everyone!
As believers, it is easy to think about Christmas when we see a baby Jesus in a manger.
What about at other times of year, and what about non-believers?
That image had been engraved into our brains for as long as we remember, and it is the symbol of our Saviour coming into the world. It is hard to see beyond that image to see a king, to see God robed in flesh, the ”Name Above All Names”. It is also hard to see that Christ’s birth ushered in the fulfillment of the promise God made to David, that his kingdom would last forever. Having a kingdom that never ends means Christ’s authority never ends, so all of these promises given to us by Christ apply fully to us! We are a part of the Holy Kingdom of God, partakers of the divine nature, because of the gift given to us at Christmas. We tend to see the gifts of the Magi as a reference to the gifts of Christmas, but who lay in that manger is the real gift. Today, we will look at Luke 1:32, royalty fulfilled.
”He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David”
This verse is prophecy given to Mary by the angel of the Lord. This is when Mary receives the Word that she is going to conceive Christ. I love how the Bible doesn’t just give prophecy concerning events, but also gives prophecy on the role Christ will live out in the earth. The fact that we know that this prophecy was fulfilled should allow us to understand more about the sovereignty of God. The word ”great” means ”mighty or strong”. The word ”called” means ”to address by name, to be identified as”. The word ”Highest” refers to the Supreme God.
In Mark 5:6-7, the Bible says, ”But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.’‘ In this passage, we have a man who is demon-possessed, and seeing Christ from a distance, ran TO him in order to worship him. How is it that the demon inside of that man could worship the Lord, but God can’t get enough worship from His children? The demon identified Christ as the son of the ”most high God”. Isn’t is kinda funny that the prophecy given to Mary was fulfilled by people, but in this case, the prophecy of Christ being called the Son of the Highest was fulfilled by a demon? In Matthew 16:15-17, the Bible says, ”He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” The Bible always confirms itself, so it has been established that Christ is the Son of the Highest.
The word ”give” means ”to bestow upon”. The word ”throne” means ”a stately seat of power”. The word ”father” here speaks of ancestry, meaning ”patriarch, the founder of a tribe or nation”. In 2 Samuel 7:16-17, the Bible says, ”And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.” The Word of God came to David by the prophet Nathan, establishing David’s kingdom forever. The only way David’s kingdom can be established forever is by Christ.
In Psalm 132:11-12, the Bible says, ”The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.” This is yet another passage from Scripture that gives prophecy that Christ would come from David’s line. Christ is from a lineage of kings, and even as a baby, Christ was the King He is.
In Isaiah 9:6-7, the Bible says, ”For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” As King, the government is definitely upon His shoulder, and that means His Word is law! This beautiful baby born to Mary was God, King, Priest, Saviour, and Counsellor. If was prophesied that He would be all of these things and his birth signalled the beginning to the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Him.
Christmas is about Christ coming into the world as the Word made flesh. Christ arrival also secures the truth of the Word of God. Let us praise God at Christmas for keeping His promises.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 26, 2023 – 1 Corinthians 3:11 – For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid
”For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11
Hi Everyone!
In my lifetime, I’ve built on cracked foundations, foundations of sand, on foundations of destruction. I used to feel that building on the foundation of Christ was this slow and arduous process that was designed to suck the fun, and my identity, away from me, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. When Christ is our foundation, we have real hope, we have joy, we have access to the kingdom of God, we have salvation, and the ability to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. In the foundation of Christ lies strength and purpose, because when we build on the foundation of Christ, with the materials given to us by God, what we have will survive any test, any strain, or any adversity. People talk about leaving a legacy behind, but what greater legacy than that of Christ? When I tried to build on another foundation, everything I built crumbled, but everything I have built in Christ has remained. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 3:11, Christ the sole and sure foundation.
”For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
The word ”foundation” means ”something put down, the substructure of a building”. When we look at a foundation, we have to think about construction. Usually, the ground is dug into, and the deeper the hole, the bigger the structure. The foundation is the most important part of a building, because if the foundation is not set properly, then a catastrophic failure can result. Many buildings have toppled over due to faulty foundations, and many buildings have been rendered uninhabitable because of flaws in the foundation. In Isaiah 28:16, the Bible says, ”Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” Christ is that stone, and when we place our trust in His foundation, we can build something incredible that will stand the test of time and space.
In Ephesians 2:19-20, the Bible says, ‘‘Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”. Our identity is in our foundation whether we believe it or not. When my foundation was the street life, I wanted to be identified by what I did in the streets, and I willing accepted the monikers and titles I was given like it was a badge of honor. If my foundation is Christ, then my identity is in Him.
The word ”laid” means ”to lie outstretched, to place or set”. In John 15:4-5, Christ says, ”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’‘ Without a foundation the building won’t stand for long. It may look pretty and garner attention, but when it topples to the ground, people will know that there was a flaw in its construction. Without Christ, we have nothing we need to succeed in this life, and our fall will to bear evidence of that. We can do nothing without Christ. To lay our foundation in Christ is to abide in the Lord and allow His word to have reign in our lives. If His Word doesn’t have reign, then we have not built our lives on His foundation. Think not?
In Matthew 7:24-25, Christ says, ”Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Laying our foundation in Christ means we are obedient to His Word, and we are the ones who hear His Word and do what the Word says. No matter what comes our way, when Christ is the foundation, we will stand against anything that beats upon us.
When Christ isn’t our foundation, tragedy will strike. In Matthew 7:26-27, Christ also says, ”And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” If we try to build our lives on anything but Christ, it won’t hold up, nor survive the storms sure to come. We want a building that will stand long after we are gone, a legacy of loving and trusting the Word of the Lord, so we don’t suffer disaster.
In Matthew 16:18, Christ says, ”And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Hell is trying to prevail against us, but if our foundation is Christ then nothing formed against us will prosper.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 27, 2023 – Leviticus 20:26 – for I the LORD am holy
”And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
Leviticus 20:26
Hi Everyone!
There is a song whose lyrics say, ”Holiness, holiness, is what I long for/ Holiness is what I need/ Holiness is what you are to me/. The concept of holiness to a person who doesn’t know is like looking up to a glass skyscraper slicked down with baby oil, with no places for them to grab onto, and then being forced to climb the skyscraper with no ropes or harness. Good luck, right? This is an accurate impression of someone who tries to keep the law in their own strength and power, who try to live out their own version of holiness. No matter how valiant the effort to climb the skyscraper, eventually they are going to fall. Fortunately for us as believers, when we receive the blood of Jesus Christ upon us by faith in the finished work of salvation on the cross, we also receive the ability to walk in the spirit of God, which is true holiness. Because God is holy and we are His children, we can live holy as well. We will look at Leviticus 20:26, being holy as our Father is holy.
”And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
The word ”holy” means ”a saint, sacred morally or ceremonially”. Doesn’t it seem like a tall order for God to expect holiness from us? Our minds can be jacked up day to day, but in Romans 12:2, the Bible says, ”And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The concept of being holy is daunting until we can fully embrace this Scripture. Being transformed by the renew-ING of our mind, we understand that holiness is a continual process where we refresh ourselves with the Word of God, patterning our lives according to what God desires in us. To ”prove” means ”to establish by evidence”. We understand that by continuing to feed on the Word of God and making ourselves to be led completely by the Holy Spirit, we will always be positioned in holiness. Before we see action, there has to be something that forms in the mind first. In Philippians 2:5-6, the Bible says, ”Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”. We are to have the mind of Christ, and understand who we were created to be. If we were created in the image and likeness of God, then we were created to walk in holiness, just as our Father is holy and as Christ is holy. God will never command something of us that we are incapable of doing. Some of us will ask, ”How can I ever be holy if I sin?” In Galatians 5:16, the Bible says, ‘‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Sin comes in when we ignore the Spirit to walk in the flesh. Holiness begins in us as an attitude, where our heart’s desire are the things of the Lord. Even when we fall short, the Word of God allows us to repent and reestablish this attitude.
The word ”Lord” means ”Supreme in Authority, Controller”. The word ”holy” here refers to God by His eminence. God is holy and we are His children, so we carry the same traits as our Father. It is not about who we are, but it is about who He is in us. In Leviticus 19:2, the Bible says, ”Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” God only gives us doable commands, commands that He has already empowered us to fulfill. In Leviticus 20:7-8, the Bible says, ”Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.” The Bible instructs us to ”sanctify ourselves” meaning we bring ourselves under the conformity of the Word of God and we place an expectation upon ourselves to live out the Word of God in our lives. Sanctification requires separation, and many of us are unwilling to separate ourselves from something harmful in order to join to Someone holy.
The word ”severed” means ”to divide, separate, detach or distinguish”. God intentionally separated us from the world because we are not of the world. In Leviticus 20:24, the Bible says, ”But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.” God separated us from others for us to understand that we are His, and so the world will be able to distinguish us from them, because of the His work in us. In Titus 2:14, the Bible says, ”Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” God separates us from the world to establish us in Him as a unique possession. Being holy in the Lord makes us desire to do the things that are pleasing to him. Holiness pleases the Lord!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 28, 2023 – 1 Corinthians 5:6 – know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
”Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”
1 Corinthians 5:6
Hi Everyone!
Influence is something in our society that can lead a person into good or bad scenarios. Influence affects those who are vulnerable to it, and the enemy loves finding those who are vulnerable to his influence so he can lead them into destruction. Look at our world and see that the enemy’s influence is trying to destroy the world we live in! Look at the violence, the culture of drugs, the environment of sexual sin that has found its way in every community in the world. That must not be! Instead of being influenced by the enemy, securing our path to destruction, let us be influenced by the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Word of God, and by the Holy Spirit leading us. Whatever we allow to influence us becomes what rises in us, and whatever we allow to rise in us becomes what dominates our minds and hearts. Do we want to be risen with Christ or do we want to rise by our own righteousness? Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 5:6, what is our influence?
”Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”
The word ”glorying” means ”vaunting oneself up, or boasting”. Well, this isn’t a good sign, because it not the will of God that we vaunt ourselves up. In Romans 12:3, the Bible says, ”For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.’‘ God wants His children to exercise humility, understanding that everything we are and everything we have comes from the Lord. In 1 Timothy 6:17, the Bible says, ”Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy”. Even if we are well to do, and have nice things, we are not suppose to allow our possessions to cause us to think highly of ourselves. Even our wealth comes from the Lord and He gives us the things we have from His bounty for us to enjoy. In Romans 11:18-20, the Bible says, ”Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear”. We also should not vaunt ourselves up over others because we are saved and we have a secure place in the Lord. Our salvation didn’t come by our efforts, but by the grace and love of the Lord; Jesus died a torturous death so we can experience the newness of life.
Being in a great position spiritually, emotionally, relationally, or financially is not the time for us to take inventory and celebrate who we are. It is the time to celebrate who God is. In Psalm 34:1-3, the Bible says, ”I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” When we honor the Lord and bring glory to His name, He honors that and responds with His presence. When we glorify the Lord, we leave ourselves available to His influence, to be recipients of His Word and His power.
The word ”leaven” represents influence or doctrine, most of which will lead us away from the presence of the Lord. Most references of leaven have negative or evil connotations. In Matthew 16:6, the Bible says, ”Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” The disciples thought Christ was talking about actual bread, until He explained it to them. In Matthew 16:12, the Bible says, ”Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” We are to avoid any doctrine that is inconsistent with the Word of God, nor are we to feast on the influence of the world.
The word ”lump” means ”a mass of dough”, referring to the Church. Let’s look at what leaven, or yeast does to dough. A small amount of yeast goes into a huge bowl, but it has a capability to spread throughout the dough, activating its growth. This is what happens when false doctrine is introduced to a Church body. It starts small and spreads throughout the congregation, if we let it. In 2 Timothy 2:15-16, the Bible says, ”Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” When we become a Church who rightly divides the Word of Truth, we will understand the importance of making the Word of God the only influence. We will rise in Christ to be a powerful Church, influenced by His Word, and a positive influence on others!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 29, 2023 – 1 Corinthians 5:7 – purge out therefore the old leaven
”Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us”
1 Corinthians 5:7
Hi Everyone!
God wants us to be new creations in Christ, but we are wearing old clothes, exercising in old mentalities, living by old principles. When I committed my life fully to the Lord, there were things that no longer fit into the framework that God had set for me, and they had to go. The beauty about the purging process is that is was definite, and I had peace with every choice I was blessed to make to remove the ungodliness from my life. I knew God empowered me to be new in a new lump, because this was something I could not do on my own. Christ took my sins and iniquity upon Himself, and His blood shed was the remission of all my sin. Why would I receive such an awesome sacrifice, such a precious gift, and not do my part? Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 5:7, purging out the old doctrine from our lives.
”Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us”
The word ”purge” means ”to cleanse thoroughly, to clean out”. The phrase ”old leaven” refers to sin, the doctrine and instruction that we lived by in our lives before we received Christ. In Psalm 51:7, the Bible says, ”Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” When the old things are purged from us, we will be clean like we never had been before. It is not because of us, but because of the blood of Christ. In 1 John 1:7, the Bible says, ”But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Christ’s blood gives us complete cleansing, complete purity, and it is all in Him. We must then walk according to the Word of God, and pattern our lives accordingly. In Hebrews 9:13-14, the Bible says, ”For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” The blood purges the old life and the old mind from us, so that we can serve the Lord with everything we are. God is always positioning His children for success, and He doesn’t want anything that will deter us from worshipping Him.
The phrase ”new lump” refers to us being members of His Church. In Ezekiel 20:38, the Bible says, ”And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” The Lord will not only purge the old leaven out of us, but He will also remove the old leaven from among us as well. So God not only cleanses us, but He also cleanses our environments as well, so that if anything from our old lives resurfaces, then we were the ones that invited it back in. In Isaiah 6:6-8, the Bible says, ‘‘Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” God cleanses us, purges the sin from us, so that we can be vessels for the Master’s use. We will be positioned by purging to serve the Lord, and be led in the way God wants to lead us.
The word ”unleavened” means ”pure, undefiled, or uncorrupted”. The unleavened bread symbolize freedom from Egypt by the Passover, and if we are unleavened, then we are freed from the penalty of sin, from bondage, and from eternal death. In John 1:29, the Bible says, ”The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Christ is the Passover Lamb, whose blood saved us from the sentence of death that came over our land.
The word ”sacrificed” means ”slaughtered or slain”. In Isaiah 53:7, the Bible says, ”He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Christ endure the shame of sin upon Him, and didn’t defend Himself against the accusations. He became our sacrifice, so that we would be able to live in the Lord forever.
In 1 Peter 1:18-19, the Bible says, ”Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”. This God’s vision for us, to be spotless before a very stained world.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 30, 2023 – 2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word
”Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
2 Timothy 4:2
Hi Everyone!
The Word of God is truth, and sometimes, the truth can break all sorts of barriers in our lives. Then again, the truth will cause us to suffer a little because as the adage goes, ”The truth hurts”. We live in a society where people desire convenience instead of truth, where they look for someone to confirm whatever nonsense they have concocted instead of rebuking the nonsense altogether. A person who is truthful is not too popular in this society, and if they are truthful about major social issues, they can easily find themselves ostracized. Sadly, some of our churches have become hubs of convenience, where some of the pastors have made concessions for things that are clearly against the Word of God. Even the Church is becoming afraid of offending people by preaching the truth, even though the truth is what sets people free. Today, we will look at 2 Timothy 4:2, the word of truth without deference to the hearer.
”Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
The word ”preach” means ”to herald as a public crier, to proclaim or publish”. The word ”word” refers to the written or spoken Word of God. God will always put His message on our hearts to speak but the question is will we? In Romans 10:14-15, the Bible says, ”How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Preaching proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, and in that preaching lies the opportunity for someone to receive the Word of God, believe in it, and receive salvation by faith in Christ. With God, there is always order, and God makes sure that His word is going to go out and affect whomever He ordains it to reach.
What happens if there is no one to preach the Word of God because everyone refuses?
In Luke 19:38-40, the Bible says, ”Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” If there is no one to preach the Word of God, Christ said that the stones will cry out! It is that important that the Word of God is preached into all the earth?
In Matthew 28:19-20, Christ commanded, ”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.’‘ God desires for as many people as possible to receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, so He desires for this Word to be preached and taught in all nations.
The phrase ”be instant” means ”to be ready or at hand”. The phrase ”in season” means ”conveniently, opportunely”. The phrase ”out of season” means ”inopportunely”. Simply put, God desires for us to preach the Word of God when it fits and is comfortable, and when it is fingernails scratching the chalkboard. We should not be concerned with our convenience, but we should be concerned with obeying the Word of God.
In Matthew 10:34-36, Christ says, ”Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”
The Word of God preached may cause people to separate themselves, or the Word of God may do the separation.
The word ”reprove” means ”to tell a fault or admonish”. The word ”rebuke” means ”to tax upon, forbid or charge”. The word ”exhort” means ”to implore”. None of this is going to feel good for the person to hear it, especially when they need the correction, but do we forego giving them the food they need to succeed in order to protect their sensibilities? In 1 Thessalonians 1:6, the Bible says, ”And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.” The momentary sting of the truth will be replaced with the joy of our salvation, the understanding that we have a loving Father that wants us positioned for success.
In Titus 1:13, the Bible says, ”This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith”. Do we want to breed a Church with itching ears, or a Church that is strong in the faith by the truth of God. Sometimes, the truth hurts, but the truth will set us free!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jan 31, 2023 – Leviticus 26:9 – for I will … and establish my covenant with you
”For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.”
Leviticus 26:9
Hi Everyone!
Since the beginning, God has always desired His children to be fruitful and multiply. God is such a loving Father who adores His children, and He desires to position us for Godly success, for Godly power, and to walk in kingdom authority in the earth. There was an awesome feeling when we did something that made our parents proud. My parents didn’t raise me, but there was a look my Uncle Jay gave me when he was proud of me that makes me smile every time I think about it. It is something even greater when the Lord has respect for our obedience, for the way we pattern our lives, and there is something extraordinary about the Covenant God remembering us when He sees our obedience in action. Obeying the Lord makes Him proud, and He honors those who honor Him by keeping his Word. Today, we will look at Leviticus 26:9, the blessing of fruitfulness and multiplication to those who obey the Lord.
”For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.”
The word ”respect” means ”to turn in order to face, to regard”. This usually signifies favor extended towards a person by God. In Exodus 2:23-25, the Bible says, ‘‘And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” When God shows favor unto His children, He responds to their cries and moves in order to help them. When God has respect unto us, there is a pride God has when He looks upon us.
In Genesis 4:3-5, the Bible says, ‘‘And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” The very first reference of the word ”respect” deals with an offering to God, one made out of reverence, humility, and adoration, and another thrown together out of convenience. God had respect unto Abel’s sacrifice because of the heart, attitude, and process of His sacrifice. There was real intention to serve God through His sacrifice, and God honored it. God will honor our sacrifice the same way.
The word ”fruitful” means ”to bear fruit, grow or increase”. The word ”multiply” means ”to bring in abundance”. In Genesis 1:27-28, the Bible says, ‘‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” God blesses us with the ability and the provision to obey His Word. God created us to operate the same way He would in this earth. He blessed us to be able to increase and bring in abundance throughout the whole earth. This was God’s intention for mankind from the beginning.
In Genesis 17:6-7, the Bible says, ”And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.” Do we understand that when God commanded us to be fruitful, He placed nations inside of us? God not only placed nations in us, but royalty in us!
The word ”establish” means ”to strengthen, confirm, accomplish, or ordain”. The word ”covenant” means ”an agreement, a compact made by the cutting in flesh in half and passing through the pieces”. In Genesis 17:7, the Bible says, ”And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” God doesn’t make covenants with us of which He won’t keep all of the terms. This covenant was established as a blessing for their obedience with God.
In Genesis 12:1-3, the Bible says, ”Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” When Abram obeyed the Lord and left his father’s house, He sent him to the place where He would make His covenant with Abram.
That covenant made was established and led all the way to Christ and through to us! We are now the beneficiaries to this established covenant!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 1, 2023 – Jeremiah 51:15 – He hath made the earth by his power
”He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.”
Jeremiah 51:15
Hi Everyone!
Many of us take the world we live in for granted. We live in it but don’t fully understand that the grass, the trees, the seas, and the sky was made by the Word of the Lord. Most of us can’t make anything with our own hands, but God made almost everything in this world by His Word. When He created us, He formed us into the image and likeness of God, and then breathing the breath of life into us, making us living souls. What we know can never come close to what God knows, yet there are people who are walking on the earth that God created, all while denying that He exists. It is by the power, wisdom, and understanding of God that this world, not its people, has been functioning perfectly from creation. The earth is the evidence that our God is real, because who could ever create something so beautiful and so perfect? Today, we will look at Jeremiah 51:15, giving God praise for creating the world we live in.
”He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.”
The word ”made” refers to the creative power of God. The word ”power” means ”capacity, means, ability, strength, or might”. In Hebrews 11:3, the Bible says, ”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.” The power of God was displayed by His Word, and the world was completely established within the framework of the Word of God. In Genesis 1:1, the Bible says, ”In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God’s creative power didn’t just reside in the earth, but also in heaven.
In Genesis 1:14-15, the Bible says, ”And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.” God’s power to create caused the heavens to shine the light He created upon the earth. God created the earth to need the sun to tell it the times and seasons, and God also created the earth to need the sun for life. So in the earth, God established something, and in the spirit He did the same thing, creating the people in the earth to need the SON to live.
In John 3:16, the Bible says, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just as the earth needs the sun, we need the SON.
The word ”established” means ”to set up, to fix, to ordain, or to make ready”. The word ”wisdom” means ”skillfulness or wit”. In Proverbs 8:22-24, the Bible says, ”The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.” Wisdom was presence with and in the Lord before creation. God knew how to set up the world before the world ever existed, yet we question the Lord in our lives like He doesn’t know exactly what He’s doing.
In Proverbs 8:29-30, the Bible says, ”When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him”. Within creation, God set borders and limitations of everything He created, and wisdom is what produced the order that we see today.
The phrase ”stretched out” means ”to spread out or expand”. The word ”understanding” means ”intelligence, reason, discretion, or insight”. In Job 9:7-9, the Bible says, ”Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.” Job describes God as being over the universe, and it all being subject to His Word. God then confirms the words of Job in Job 38:31-33, where God says, ”Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?” God’s Word is what guides the world and the universe surrounding it, and before we can ever question why God allows things to happen, we should understand that God’s Word was just as intentional then when He created the world as it is now.
Instead of questioning God for what we believe is going wrong in this world, let us praise God for being infinite in His power, wisdom, and understanding to create something perfect for us to have dominion in.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 2, 2023 – Acts 28:28 – the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles
”Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”
Acts 28:28
Hi Everyone!
I love how God has made provision for the outsiders to be welcomed into His family. I love how this was devised long before I came into the picture, so with a provision made for me despite my lack of qualifications. Too many of us don’t feel qualified to receive such an amazing gift from God, so we then try to ”work for it”, rather than receive His love offering, which is Christ the atoning sacrifice for sin once and for all. God’s chosen people, the Jews, didn’t receive Him as Lord and Savior, and most rejected Him altogether. Praise be to God for looking upon those that society has looked down upon, and for setting us up to receive His kingdom. I see it in parents who had their own children, but still had plans to adopt afterwards, to allow someone rejected to receive all the love and benefits as a child naturally born in the family. This is what God did for us. Today, we will look at Acts 28:28, an inside track for an outsider.
”Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”
The word ”known” means ”become one with, to take heed, to receive as truth”. Paul was delivering a parting word to the Jews, confirming Isaiah’s word that they would reject the Word of God. In Isaiah 6:9-10, the Bible says, ”And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” Isn’t is sad despite all of the evidence of God’s existence, all the proof of God’s Word being truth, that there were hold outs in Isaiah’s day, as there were in Christ’s day, and in Paul’s day, and as there are hold outs in our day. Two thousand years and people are still rejecting the truth of God’s Word.
The word ”salvation” means ”deliverance or defence by faith in Jesus Christ”. In John 3:16-17, the Bible says, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” The word ”whosoever” is a qualifier for anyone to receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, but so many Jews rejected this salvation even though the manifestation of prophecy was standing right among them. Even after Christ was crucified, there was still a rejection of the gift of salvation when the Church was formed in Acts.
In Acts 8:1, the Bible says, ”And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Saul, who later became Paul, contributed to the persecution of the Church, but later was able to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior by faith. The word ”whosoever” is all-inclusive to those who receive the salvation of God by faith in Jesus Christ, whether one is on the inside or outside. Whether we start as insiders or outsiders doesn’t matter to God. He is only concerned with us receiving His free gift.
The word ”sent” means ”set apart, and dispatched”. How is the salvation of God sent unto us? By the Word of God. If salvation comes by faith, then the provision for salvation has to be in the Word of God. In Romans 10:17-18, the Bible says, ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” The Word of God produces the faith we need to receive the salvation of God, and this Word went out to the ends of the world.
The word ”Gentiles” means ”non-Jews, heathen, or pagan tribes of people”. God had a plan to bring people who didn’t believe in Him into a loving relationship with Him. In Acts 13:46-47, the Bible says, ”Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” When most Jews rejected the Word, then the Gentiles received the Word of God.
The word ”hear” means ”to listen with intention to heed or obey.” Isn’t it odd for the people who are outside of the house to have more appreciation for the house than the people that dwell in the house? This is how the Gentiles were able to receive the Word of God and salvation by faith in Christ, because of more appreciation for what God provides. May we never lose it!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 3 – Feb 17, 2023 – THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD – PSALM 51 SERIES – See Aug 13, 2021 to Aug 27, 2021
Feb 18, 2023 – Ephesians 2:2 – ye walked according to the course of this world
”Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”
Ephesians 2:2
Hi Everyone!
We all have a past that is apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, one certainly headed for destruction. Our sinfulness is an eyesore before the Lord, where we aren’t living in victory. When we live ‘in the world’, there is an authority we are under. Since the ruler of the world is Satan, we live according to his influence, his precepts, and we judge things according to his standards. A person doesn’t have to be a criminal or a murderer in order to be headed for destruction. There are tons of law-abiding, generous, affectionate people who are scheduled for destruction and eternal death because Jesus Christ is not their Lord and Savior. There is a ruler in this world who is trying to keep us from salvation, who is trying to keep us from sanctification, and is trying to hinder us from living victorious lives in Christ. Today, we will look at Ephesians 2:2, to understand that nature we can be delivered from.
”Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”
The word ”walked” means ”to tread all around as proof of ability, to love, or to follow after.” The word ”course” refers to the age of world order, where people’s standards and values are apart from God and Christ. The word ”world” speaks of the idea of transience, worthlessness, and the physical and moral evil that is in our cares, temptations, or irregular desires, all opposed to Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, the Bible says, ‘‘Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” The enemy knows that if we remain in a worldly state, we will not have the privilege of receiving the kingdom of God. The enemies motives are to keep us completely away from the presence of the Lord, to keep us from seeing that our Lord is the real King, and that His authority is the standard by which we should live our lives. These behaviours spoken of in the above passage speak of the people who live by that worldly authority, not those who occasionally sin. It is these worldly people who become these things.
We know that in Christ, we are no longer these things because 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, ”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When we are in Christ, we now have a choice to embrace our newness and reject our past. Why? Because being in Christ means we are now under His authority, and we answer to who He says we are now.
The word ”according to” means ”the standard by which we pattern our conduct ”. The phrase ”prince of the power of the air” refers to Satan. In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the Bible says, ”But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” When the enemy is in power, he can blind us from experiencing the truth of the Gospel, which is the Word of God. The enemy strives to block our minds and blind our eyes from seeing this authority he has us under will lead to death.
In Ephesians 4:22-24, the Bible says, ”That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” When we live according to the enemy’s authority, we live lives of corruption, where enemy tries his hardest to keep us from being taught the truth, that he is a liar and the father of lies, that we are being deceived into thinking the Way, the Truth, and the Life is not the Way, the Truth, and the Life, where people are becoming godless instead of Godly.
The word ”spirit” refers to a disposition or temper of mind influenced by Satan. The word ”worketh” means ”active, efficient in order to produce an effect”. The word ”disobedience” means ”disbelief, unbelief, or obstinate.” In Ephesians 5:6-7, the Bible says, ”Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” As believers, we have a choice and a standard to consider, but the world doesn’t. Until they receive the truth, they will walk closer and closer to destruction. This is why sharing the Gospel is so important, because the Word of God can break the spiritual blindness, and can restore life unto us.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 19, 2023 – Job 1:21 – blessed be the name of the LORD
”And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Job 1:21
Hi Everyone!
It is so easy to praise God when the well of blessing overflows in our lives. When we receive mightily of the Lord, there is a great feeling behind it, a comfort, and a joy behind God looking upon us with favor. When God blesses us abundantly, we have something in Him that the world could never give, and there is a peace that flows when the provision comes from God. When great things happen, we tend to think great things about God. What happens when we take a loss, when our money runs out, when we are laid off, when our friends leave, when family die leaving us broken? How do we think about God then? Is God still loving? Is He still sovereign? Does God care about us when our lives are being flipped upside down? Do we have the confidence in God to bless His name when our hearts are broken? Today, we will look at Job 1:21, blessing the name of the Lord in all circumstances.
”And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
The word ”naked” has a duel meaning. One speaks of a physical nakedness as a baby born out of their mother’s wound. All babies come out of the womb naked. Another definition for ”naked” is a figurative one, meaning ”one who has no possessions. In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, ”The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” The first thing we must understand is that everything we have belongs to the Lord. Even if it is in our possession, it still belongs to Him, but He entrusts it to us to steward it well.
In Job 1:2-3, the Bible says, ”And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.” Job was a man incredibly blessed by God, and he had tons of material possessions and ten kids to pass his wealth down to. In one day, he losses his ”money” and his kids, and he loses everything tragically. Any normal person would lose their mind after suffering like this in one day, but Job knew where his help came from.
In Psalm 121:1-2, the Bible says, ‘‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” When disaster strikes, we have a Father who is ready to hear us and respond to our cries. To look unto the hill is to look for God with expectancy, that He will hear and respond. What did Job do in the face of suffering? In Job 1:20, the Bible says, ”Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped”. Job grieved, and had no problem displaying that he was grieving, but He worshipped. How many of us can worship the Lord when we have lost everything we had? How could Job do it? In Job 1:1, the Bible says, ‘‘There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Job referenced the Lord and he hated evil. Job was complete in the Lord, so when disaster struck there was only one way to go for him: to the feet of the Father.
When Job says ”Naked I came out…and naked I shall return thither”, he understands that what he had belonged to the Lord in the first place. He understood that everything he accumulated through his life was a gift from God, he understood stewardship, and He also knew that no matter what he gained or loss, nothing would stop him from worshipping the Lord. In Psalm 49:16-17, the Bible says, ”Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.” We should not be amazed by material good, but we should be amazed in the Lord, who ”gave”, which means ”bestows upon or grants”, to us a measure of His bounty. That which is the Lord’s he can also take away at any point, which essentially turns us back to our starting point.
The word ”blessed” means ”to kneel to God in order to show Him reverence and adoration, to salute or thank”. In Job’s worship, He loved God, he reverenced the Lord, and he gave thanks. In Ephesians 5:20, the Bible says, ”Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. It is God that provides everything that we partake in, and He deserves our worship whether we have everything or whether we feel we have lost everything.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Bible says, ”In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’‘ It is God’s will for our lives for us to give thanks for everything we have and in everything we lose. It all belongs to Him!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 20, 2023 – Deuteronomy 8:18 – thou shalt remember the LORD thy God
”But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.’’
Deuteronomy 8:18
Hi Everyone!
God is our source, our provider, our sustainer, and He is our Father. Parents love their children, trying to make sure they don’t lack any good thing. However, God is more so, He provides us with all things to ensure that we don’t lack any good thing. Too many times, the Church can be really touchy about finances, and some teach erroneously that there is something wrong with a believer being in abundance. That is not true, but one thing wealthy believers have a problem with is not attributing their wealth to the mighty hand of God, but to their own efforts. It is God who provided the wealth and the means to obtain wealth in the first place. I was convicted by this, because when the Lord allowed me to be in abundance for a season five years ago, but while I knew it was the Lord who was blessing me, I often attributed the accumulation of money to my ability to save! How much of a fool was I! Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 8:18, honoring the God who give us the power to get wealth.
”But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
The word ”remember” means ”mark in order to recognize, think on, make mention, or to recount”. It is important for us as believers to remember the Lord and His Word because without the Lord and without His word, it is too easy for us to find ourselves off track. In Numbers 15:38-40, the Bible says, ”Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.” God had the Israelites wear a form of tassels at the bottom of their clothes as a reminder to always follow the word of the Lord. It is important that we are to remember the Lord in all things, especially in the midst of financial increase, because money can easily be an idol in the hands of those whose mind is not set on the Lord.
The word ”giveth” means ”to bestow, cause to be, or to grant”. The word ”power” means ”ability, means, strength, or substance”. The word ”wealth” means ”goods or riches”, but it can also extend to ”valour or virtue” as wealth. Don’t be deceived. Money is not the only way one can be wealthy. In Psalm 37:16, the Bible says, ‘‘A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” Righteousness is worth more to God than money, and we as believers are to set our priorities in order to place the righteousness of God above all other things. In Matthew 6:33, Christ says, ”But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Because God gives us the power to get wealth, that means our wealth comes from the kingdom of God. If we don’t seek God’s righteousness, then money will become an idol, when we fail to remember the Lord.
In Psalm 62:10-11, the Bible says, ”Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” Even when God blesses us with riches, we should always understand that it is God who provides it to us, not by our own doings. In Proverbs 10:22, the Bible says, ”The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.’‘ When we see God as our provider, it should change our perspective of the provision.
The word ”establish” to ”to rise, perform, confirm, accomplish, or to make sure”. The word ”covenant” means ”an alliance, compact, or agreement”. The word ”sware” means ”to charge an oath, or to repeat a declaration seven times”.
In Exodus 32:13, the Bible says, ”Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.” Just as the Lord remembered His covenant with us, we are to remember it as well. In order to multiply our seed in order for us to inherit the land forever, He has to provide the means for us to accomplish His Word. In Deuteronomy 7:9, the Bible says, ”Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations”. By understanding that God provides us with wealth and the means to get wealth, we will get the opportunity to appreciate His faithfulness, to understand that God fulfills His Word.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 21, 2023 – Matthew 25:34 – inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world
”Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’’
Matthew 25:34
Hi Everyone!
God has a place prepared for His children in heaven. Imagine with me serving the Lord on earth, learning to love, exercising courage to share the Word of the Lord, living to fulfill our God given purpose while Christ has already gone before us to prepare a place for us. Imagine the love of the Lord to already have us in mind before we were even born to know that we would experience salvation, and have a place prepared for us. We have an inheritance with God because of the death of Jesus Christ, and that inheritance begins now and extends into eternity forever. In Christ, we have a kingdom inside of us now on earth to give us a sample of the kingdom we are going to experience in heaven. God doesn’t want us to yearn for His kingdom without anything now as a reference. God is waiting to welcome us into His kingdom. Today, we will look at Matthew 25:34, a Godly inheritance prepared for us.
”Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
The word ”King” is referring to Jesus our Messiah, and it also refers to the foundation of power that He rests in. A King’s authority is irrevocable, and His decrees are law. In 1 Timothy 6:15-16, the Bible says, ”Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” Christ is the King of Kings, so that means all authority answers to Him, and no one can ever measure up to Him now and forever.
In Revelation 17:14, the Bible says, ‘‘These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” No one can overcome our Lord in battle, so when our Lord says anything, it becomes exactly what He says. Think not? In Genesis 1:3-4, the Bible says, ‘‘And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” God spoke and it was, and He did one further. He divided light from darkness! The problem isn’t ever in what God won’t do from His children according to His word, but what we believe.
The word ”come” means ”to bid, to invite, or to grant permission to enter”. In Revelation 22:17, the Bible says, ”And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Think about this. In order for Christ to tell us to ”come”, that means He is already where He is calling us. So our Christ is calling us from heavenly places for us to dwell there as well.
The word ”blessed” means ”distinguished with favour, or prosperous in the Lord”. In Matthew 25:21, Christ says, ”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.” The blessed of the Lord are those who have answered the call to salvation, who have received the kingdom of God by faith, those who at the right hand of the Lord, symbolizing His strength.
The word ”inherit” means ”to obtain, acquire, or possess, spoken of the friends of God as receiving admission to the kingdom of heaven and its attendant privileges.” In Romans 8:16-17, the Bible says, ”The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Because we are the children of God, we are the heirs of His kingdom, that God has is prepared for us to enjoy with Him.
In 1 Peter 1:3-4, the Bible says, ”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, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”. With this inheritance comes hope, and this hope has already been fulfilled in heaven for us. No one can take it away, no one can soil it, nor can any discredit it. It is ours, and it is reserved for us.
The word ”prepared” means ”to provide or make ready”. In John 14:3, Christ says, ”And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Christ prepared the place for us to dwell with Him forever. This was God’s plan from the conception of the world, and He does have a place prepared for us in heaven. This is the promise of our Lord, and we are the children of that promise.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 22, 2023 – Ephesians 6:5 – Servants, be obedient … as unto Christ
”Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ”
Ephesians 6:5
Hi Everyone!
It is not always easy to obey. If it was, then everyone would do it, and this world would probably be a much better place. As believers, it is especially hard to obey when laws are unjust, when the authority in place abuses the positions they have been given, and when the people in authority have no respect whatsoever for those they are in authority over. In my prison environment, the staff have become so antagonistic, so angry behind their job circumstances and so unreasonable when it comes to the application of the rules. It makes for a very hostile environment at its surface. Despite the happenings of my prison environment, I have a command to submit to governing authorities, and I must follow that command. It doesn’t matter who is in authority as long as God is in authority over them. By obeying them, I please God in the process. Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:5, obeying the authority in place.
”Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ”
The word ”servants” means ”slaves in a qualified sense of voluntary subjection and subservience”. This is the person who places themselves under the authority of another. The phrase ”be obedient” means ”to head under, to listen attentively, to heed or command of someone in authority”. In Colossians 3:22-23, the Bible says, ”Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”. Our obedience to people in authority should be exclusive to when they are standing right there. It is not true obedience to follow the rules when they are looking, but not when the are nowhere to be found. True obedience is when you follow the command as if they are standing right there at all times.
Also, we must understand that our obedience at the end of the day is to God, because Romans 13:1 says, ”Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” When we understand that our obedience to those in authority is like obeying God because their power comes from God, it should make us more willing to offer up obedience. In 1 Timothy 6:1, the Bible says, ”Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.” Our attitude has to be one where we believe that the people in authority are worth the honor we give them. It is not about them as people because some people are hateful, spiteful, racist, slimy, and sinister, making it incredibly hard to follow their leadership, but God wants us to look beyond them to see Him, and understand that when we obey them, we honour Him!! It was hard to obey when the staff here took my ring unlawfully, but I did, and God gave me the opportunity to witness to the same staff who took my ring in the first place! I got my ring back a couple weeks later, so was different except the opportunity for me to glorify God by my conduct.
The phrase ”fear and trembling” implies alarm or fright that cause a quaking within us. It should make us afraid to disobey those in authority, but reverence to God should always be our motivation. In 2 Corinthians 7:15, the Bible says, ”And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.” Our obedience is always going to bear testimony beyond our eyeshot, and that same thing happened when they took my ring. They expected a certain adverse reaction because of my life sentence, but when I was obedient, respectful, and courteous, it left them scratching their heads. God then allowed their confusion to make them curious, which caused them to try to figure out why I didn’t snap. Perfect recipe for a testimony, praise be to God.
The phrase ”singleness of heart” means ”sincerity, without self-seeking or dissimulation”. The phrase ”as unto Christ” means ”as if we are obeying Christ”.
God wants us to cut off the middleman and make it about us and Him.
When we see that we are ultimately obeying God, it should take some rebellion out of our minds. In 1 Chronicles 29:17, the Bible says, ”I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.” God knows our heart, whether our obedience is sincere our not. God knows that the authority in place can be racist, or abusive, but He also knows that they have to answer to Him for abusing their authority. Let our record be unblemished before God as we obey those in authority in sincerity.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 23, 2023 – Ezekiel 18:31 – make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
”Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
Ezekiel 18:31
Hi Everyone!
When God changes our lives, there are things that have to be cast away. For me, there was drugs, alcohol, violence, gang affiliation, lust, and anger to name a few. The old me could not go where God was taking the new me, and I had to do some cleaning of all of the filth I allowed to crowd my space and block God’s word from bearing fruit in my life. Some things were easier than others to break free from, but in all things, I had to accept the Word of God and what It said about me. Some of us feel powerless in our sinful existence to do anything to change, but the Word of God works in us to cleanse us from our sin, and empower us to let harmful, ungodly things go. I look back on my life and see clearly how jacked up I was, and I praise God for the changes He allowed me to make in my life, but I don’t become complacent because God is not done working in my life, nor is He done working in yours. Today, we will look at Ezekiel 18:31, a new heart and spirit in the Lord.
”Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
The phrase ”cast away” means ”to throw out or down”. The word ”transgressions” means ”to revolt in a moral or religious sense, to trespass or sin”. This isn’t something that just happens by chance, or by wishing it. It is an intentional act of tossing the trash out of our life. In Ephesians 4:22-24, the Bible says, ”That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Just as it is an intentional act to cast away our past sinful lives, it is the same intentional act to put on the things of the Spirit. There is no holiness in our flesh, nor can we become good people apart from God. We have to intentionally cast away sin, and intentionally receive the Word of God into our lives.
The word ”transgressed” means ”to break away from just authority”. Another intentional act. We don’t fall away by chance, not do we come to God by chance.
In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, the Bible says, ”(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”. If the weaponry isn’t carnal, then it is not by the flesh that we receive the things of God. God gives us salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, but it is our job to keep the filth out of our lives. We are to cast down every high thing, every thought, anything that will cause a separation between us and God.
The phrase ”make you” speaks of becoming, taking on, or putting on. More intentionality. The word ”heart” means ”center or anything, especially the will, intellect, or feelings”. The word ”spirit” implies the human spirit, depicted as the seat of the emotions, mind or will”. In Psalm 51:10, the Bible says, ”Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Our new hearts and spirits can only come from the Lord.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, ”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” With a new heart and new spirit, we become new people in Christ. This means we don’t have to answer to our old nature, nor do we have to carry on in life like we used to. God didn’t make us new for us to still live as if our lives aren’t new.
In Jeremiah 32:39-40, the Bible says, ”And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.” God does a permanent work in us, and unifies us because He gives us the same heart and the same Word of God to live by. God does this so we will remain in Him and never go back to our old lives again.
In Ezekiel 11:19-20, the Bible says, ”And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” When we receive our new heart and spirit from the Lord, it makes us available to receive His Word, to open ourselves to His leading, and to walk according to His truth. When we become new in Christ, we are no longer forsaken, abandoned, sinful, and scheduled for destruction, but we receive a Father who always positions us for Godliness.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 24, 2023 – Psalm 103:8 – the LORD is merciful and gracious
”The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”
Psalm 103:8
Hi Everyone!
When we think about the Lord God, what thoughts do we have? Do we see some fire breathing punisher who looks to devour us? Do we see a heartless spirit that allows horrible things to happen in it? Do we see a God who doesn’t hear His children, do we see a God who doesn’t care, or do we see a God that is too far away to ever want to do something in our lives? This is how the world looks at God, and that is because they don’t know Him. As believers, we have experienced God as a healer, as a deliverer, as a Savior, as a loving Father who adores His children immensely, and who desires us to dwell in Him and with Him. As believers, we understand the power of God’s salvation, an act of God’s grace and love, and we understand that God has patiently guided us into His presence. When we see God as He is, it should make us desire His presence even more, because in Him lies everything we need to be who He has called us to me. Today, we will look at Psalm 103:8, a gracious and merciful God.
”The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”
The word ”Lord” means ”supreme in authority, or controller”. In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, ”The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Everything in our world belongs to the Lord, but the world has perverted the uses of a lot of things that God has created for us. We are to look at creation and see God in it, but sadly, our attention is elsewhere. The word ”merciful” means ”full of compassion”. The word ”gracious” is such a beautiful word, because it implies that God gives us this bridge to Him even though we have fallen short of His standard. God’s grace is the bridge between where we are and where we are supposed to be in the Lord, and it is the bridge between what we have and what we need to have in order to fulfill God’s will for our lives. Look at first part of the verse, ”The Lord IS…”. God is not someone who ”was”, but He is someone always on the throne.
In Hebrews 13:8, the Bible says, ”Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” If this is true, what does this mean about God? If our God IS merciful and our God IS gracious, then that means He is still the same God today.
In Exodus 34:6-7, the Bible says, ‘‘And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” The Lord declared who He is to Moses, that His mercy, grace, goodness and truth extends through the generations. Looking at Israel’s history of turning their backs on the Lord, and God’s continual restoration of them back into His presence, is incredible evidence of this Scripture’s truth. I used to think I was too bad for God to do anything good with, but I am a living witness that God can forgive anyone if He could forgive me.
The phrase ”slow to anger” means ”patient or longsuffering”. Praise God for His patience because had it not been for God’s patience, I wouldn’t be alive today without God’s mercy.
In Psalms 145:8-9, the Bible says, ”The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” You see this? ”Good to ALL”! God just doesn’t say it, but He has shown and continues to show us His patience and His mercy.
In Joel 2:12-13, the Bible says, ‘‘Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” God looks at His children and extends forgiveness to us. He desires us to have a repentant attitude when we come before Him, understanding that we present our hearts before the Lord and He will change our hearts, and His penalty in the process.
The word ”plenteous” means ”great or abundant”. The word ”mercy” means ”favor, kindness, goodness or piety”. In Nahum 1:2-3, the Bible says, ”God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” God’s anger is towards His enemies, not towards His children. God’s grace and mercy is reserved for His children, and His love covers our faults. That is who our God is!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 25, 2023 – Colossians 1:12 – Giving thanks unto the Father
”Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”
Colossians 1:12
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we have an inheritance in the Lord. It isn’t something we received because we were ”good people”, or because we pay tithes, or even because we give to charity. It is a gift we received because of the life and death of Jesus Christ, a provision of salvation and entrance into the kingdom of God where all things have been made new. We didn’t deserve the right to partake in the divine nature of God, especially because our sin led to Christ having to die on the cross in the first place, but God’s love and grace made this beautiful gift available to us anyway. To receive such a gift should give us a completely new lease on life, and should make us curious to see everything God desires to reveal to us as being children of this inheritance. Are we thankful that we can go from people condemned to priests and kings who have access to the kingdom of God daily? Today, we will look at Colossians 1:12, being equipped to experience a divine inheritance in the Lord.
”Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”
The phrase ”giving thanks” means ”to be grateful, or to express gratitude”. What if you had a child who constantly received of your bounty but was never grateful? That is how a lot of us are as believers. God has given us such great things in Christ, has blessed us abundantly, has done some extraordinary things in our lives, but are we grateful?
In Ephesians 5:19-20, the Bible says, ”Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Do we honor the Lord with thanksgiving in our speech and in the songs we sing? Are our hearts in the right position for worship, to acknowledge the Lord in all things?
In Philippians 4:6, the Bible says, ”Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” In our prayer life, are we grateful to God? When we are frustrated, hurt, anxious, or fearful, are we giving thanks to God, or are we focused on our emotional state?
In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, the Bible says, ”We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth”. Are we thankful to God for allowing our brothers and sisters in Christ to increase their faith, and for the love they show each other? Do we thank God for what He is doing in someone else’s life, or are we only looking at ourselves?
In 2 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, ”Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” Do we give thanks to God for giving us the victory over things that have tried to overpower us, for allowing us to triumph over something that could’ve destroyed us? In all things, are we able to give thanks, but just how thankful to God are we?
The phrase ”hath made us meet” means ”to qualify, enable, to make sufficient, to empower or to authorize”. In 2 Peter 1:3, the Bible says, ”According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. When we understand that everything we are in the Lord is because of the Lord, it should change our attitude from one of entitlement to one of gratefulness. God gives us everything we need to live a Godly life, and He gives us His Word and revelation to show us who He is.
In Ephesians 2:17-19, the Bible says, ‘‘And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God”. God received us whether we were close to Him, or so far away that people never expected us to walk with Him. We can enter the presence of the Lord because of the provision of God through Christ.
The word ”partakers” means ”participants”. The word ”inheritance” means ”an allotment or portion as the result of the death of Christ”. In Acts 26:17-18, the Bible says, ‘‘Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” With this inheritance comes power, the power to live in the light of the Lord, to receive forgiveness of sins, and to experience a continuous purification process that brings us closer to the Lord. God has provided that to us as His children, but are we grateful?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 26, 2023 – Colossians 1:13 – and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
”Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”
Colossians 1:13
Hi Everyone!
I remember when I was in the world. I thought I was enjoying life, and making my own rules, but what I didn’t consider was that I was in a kingdom of darkness, and my reward was going to be destruction. I knew what I was doing was wrong, because I grew up in church, and I knew right from wrong, but when I lived my sinful existence, I never once considered that I was giving Satan my worship. Before I realized I needed deliverance, I was already trapped, and it was a hole I couldn’t dig myself out of. Praise be to God for rescuing me from a place that was destined to destroy me, and not only rescuing me, but He delivered me into the kingdom of heaven. God doesn’t just fix our folly, but He also presents us with the permanent solution, and that is being children of God, saved and redeemed from the penalty of death. I could never have done any of this on my own. Today, we will look at Colossians 1:13, a Godly transfer of power.
”Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”
The word ”delivered” means ”rescued, or rushed from”. In Acts 7:34, the Bible says, ”I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.” Whether we know it or not, when we were in the world, there was a groaning within us that took place. There were many times I broke down and cried, because the world that was supposed to be so awesome couldn’t really bring me joy. God didn’t just deliver the Israelites from Egypt, but He guided them through the wilderness, and led them into the promise.
In Daniel 6:14, the Bible says, ”Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” Man can have the desire to deliver, but it is not within man’s power to deliver us. Many people tried to help deliver me from the darkness I was under, but I sank deeper into sin, and became worse. Only God can deliver us from such a power and kingdom.
In Isaiah 50:2, the Bible says, ”Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.” Instead of looking to the same world to deliver us from the darkness we are under, and looking to man, we should look to our Lord, whose arm is definitely long enough to redeem, and is empowered to deliver us.
The word ”power” means ”authority, jurisdiction, influence or strength”. The word ”darkness” is spoken figuratively of moral darkness, the absence of spiritual light and truth, including the idea of sinfulness and consequent calamity, spoken of wicked people who are under the influence of Satan. In Ephesians 6:12, the Bible says, ”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Imagine a person in the world. They have wrestled and lost the battle against Satan. Think about the person who is battling substance abuse, infidelity, anger, or crime. Those people, if they felt safe enough to be vulnerable, would tell us that they have tried to change but keep falling short, or would say they want to change, but don’t know where to begin. It is easy for people to count themselves out as wrongdoers without understanding they are under the influences and authority of Satan.
In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the Bible says, ”But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” People in the world who are lost are blinded by the enemy from experiencing the gospel message of salvation, redemption and freedom.
The word ”translated” means ”moved into, or transferred”. This term suggests a move from our worldly state into the kingdom of God. In John 3:16, the Bible says, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In the world, we only had death to look forward to, no matter how sweet life appeared to be, but in Christ, we have life everlasting.
In John 5:24, Christ says, ‘‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are enabled to enter into the kingdom of God, to no more experience death again.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 27, 2023 – 1 John 1:9 – if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
Hi Everyone!
Looking back on my life, I thank the Lord for healing me, for forgiving me from every vile thing I set my affections on. I will never be in a position to judge because I have been delivered from some pretty awful stuff during the course of my life. What set it in motion was me finally coming to the complete understanding of what I had become as a result of the sinful life I lived. Most people would’ve thought that the minute I got arrested for murder, that would’ve been my moment of confession, repentance and restoration, but mine didn’t come to five years later, when I had my ”David-Nathan moment”, and came to a full understanding of who I was. Praise be to God for being patience enough to allow me to be stripped in order to see my need for a Savior. When I confessed my sins, it was the first time I genuinely meant it, and God responded by receiving me into Himself as His child. Today, we will look at 1 John 1:9, confession leading to the cleansing of God in our lives.
”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The word ”confess” means ”to admit, concede, or acknowledge”. In Romans 10:9-10, the Bible says, ‘‘That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Confession leads to some incredible stuff in a believer’s life, and will open the door to salvation, and entrance into the kingdom of God. Look at where it begins. It starts in the heart and flows from our mouths, and salvation comes as a result. After salvation, our continual confession unto God for our sin is a real indication of the genuineness of our salvation. It should grieve us when we sin against God and that should compel us to confess that before the Lord. The word ”sins” means ”offences before God, trespasses.”
In Psalm 32:5, the Bible says, ”I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” The beauty of this moment in Scripture is that David called His sin exactly what it was: an offence against God, so he had to present His sin to God in confession, entrusting God to forgive him. When we sin, especially when we hurt people in the process, it grieves the people we hurt, but it hurts our God more.
The word ”faithful” means ”trustworthy to one’s duty”. The word ”just” means ”equitable, or kind”. Life doesn’t always seem fair, but our God is beyond fair. Some people peg God as some heartless tyrant that imposes His wrath on the world, but how can God be that kind of person, and give His only begotten, sinless Son as the atoning sacrifice for the whole world. God sent Christ to the world with the purpose of being that sacrifice.
In John 1:29, the Bible says, ”The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’‘ God knows our sin better than we do, and knew that there would be no permanent substitute for our sin, so He sent Christ to be what we couldn’t be for ourselves.
The word ”forgive” means ”to remit from the penalty of, to pardon, to let go from one’s power or possession.” In Psalms 51:1-3, the Bible says, ”Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.’‘ Is this our heart when we ask God for His forgiveness? Do we have enough faith to understand that God forgives us of our sin, and that it is in-total?
In Matthew 9:6, Christ says, ”But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” Christ had the power to forgive sins while He walked the earth, so why wouldn’t God have all power to forgive all sin?
The word ”cleanse” means ”to free from filth or to purify in a moral sense”. The word ”unrighteousness” means ”wrongfulness, wickedness or iniquity”. In 1 John 1:7, the Bible says, ‘‘But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Our God has a permanent fix to our sin problem, and He makes provision for our cleansing, no matter how filthy we are. Trust me, I know this firsthand. When the blood of Christ was shed for the remission of sin, it covered all sin, so we have the privilege to have a new life in Him because of His forgiveness. When we confess our sins, He will forgive us and cleanse us as good as new!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Feb 28, 2023 – Colossians 3:5 – mortify therefore your members
”Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry”
Colossians 3:5
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we have been given a new identity in Christ, making us a new creation, sealed with the promises of God. We are now free from the penalty of sin and death, and we are of the kingdom of God, so the enemy no longer has authority over us to cause us to be destroyed. God has given us such a precious gift in salvation that cost Him his only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. In Christ, we have power, and in that power we have the ability to make decisions for our lives according to this new nature. As our old nature had died with Christ, we have to continue to put the flesh to death, so we don’t feed the sinful nature we have been delivered from. Whatever nature we feed, it will grow while the other one dies. We want the sinful thoughts, deeds, and nature to remain dead in our lives, so we can experience the life God created us to experience. Today, we will look at Colossians 3:5, continuing to put our sin to death.
”Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry”
The word ”mortify” means ”to deaden, subdue, or put to death”. In Genesis 1:28, the Bible says, ”And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Why do people say they have no power over sin? Why do we act like we are so helpless to overcome the sinful nature that tries to exercise reign in our lives? Could it be because we have accepted what the world has said about our strength and not what the Word of God has said about the dominion we have in the earth.
The phrase ”your members” implies the parts of the body that lead us to sin.
In Romans 8:11-12, the Bible says, ”But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” As believers, the Holy Spirit dwells in us and He is what empowers us to live holy lives in the Lord. Because we are alive in Christ anything that wars against that life that is in us needs to be put to death. We have been delivered from the power of the flesh, so we don’t owe Satan anything anymore, nor do we have to answer to him. He is already defeated, but when we feed our sinful nature, we empower him to reign in our lives.
In Galatians 5:24-25, the Bible says, ”And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” See, when we have been buried and risen with Christ, we don’t have to consider the power the flesh used to have over us. We don’t have to look back. All we have to do is continue to walk according to the Spirit.
The word ”fornication” means ”harlotry, including adultery or incest”. The word ”uncleanness” means ”impurity”.
In Galatians 5:19-21, the Bible says, ”Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The work we do on this earth is revealed just as the nature we live by is revealed. Being free from Satan’s hold on us, we don’t have to live lives of fornication and uncleanness anymore.
In Romans 6:12-13, the Bible says, ”Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Being saved allows us the privilege to live our lives unto the Lord and forsake the way of the world.
Yielding ourselves to God is the only way.
The phrase ”inordinate affection” means ”an affliction of the mind for irregular lust or passion”. The phrase ”evil concupiscence” means ”longing for what is forbidden by God”. The word ”covetousness” means ”greediness for gain, and a will to have more, even if it means committing fraud to do it.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:4-6, the Bible says, ”That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” God gives us the ability to manage what He has given us, this new nature, this new mind and heart.
It is our job to allow God to continue to keep them clean by putting to death anything that will hinder our walk with the Lord.
The word ”idolatry” means ”image-worship”.
In Ephesians 5:5, the Bible says, ”For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” We rob ourselves out of our inheritance when we continue to live a life that we have been delivered from. Anything that causes us to walk away from the Lord is an idol, and anything we replace God with is idolatry. Let us always be mindful of how we walk, that we live according to the Word of the Lord, putting to death the flesh.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 1, 2023 – Colossians 4:3 – praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance
”Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds”
Colossians 4:3
Hi Everyone!
Do we pray for our pastors, our evangelist, our ministers, the people who spread the Word of God to people far and wide? When the Church prays for the servants of the Lord, God responds with His grace, empowering His ministers with what they need to continue to spread the Word of God. Somebody has to be praying for me, because I couldn’t fathom having over two years of compiling and posting Bible devotionals. The fact that the Holy Spirit continues to teach me the way He does is the reason why I understand the power of the prayers over my life. Paul was one of the chief preachers in the Church, and He is responsible for 2/3 of the New Testament, but he was asking for prayer, because he knew that he was no army of one. The ministers need the prayers of the Church for not only the ministers, but for the people who are receiving the Word of God as well. Today, we will be looking at Colossians 4:3, praying over our pastorate, that the mystery of God spread throughout the world.
”Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds”
The word ”withal” means ”at the same time”. This is a continuation of a previous Scripture. In Colossians 4:2, the Bible says, ”Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;’‘ Paul is urging the Church to be earnest in prayer and to be vigilant in thanksgiving, meaning that we should look for reasons to be thankful. The word ”praying” here means ”petitioning or requesting from God”. Paul is now asking the Church to pray for the ministers, for the pastorate, for the people responsible for delivering the Word of God. In Ephesians 6:18-19, the Bible says, ”Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel”. Paul doesn’t want the Church to just pray for them once, but for them to continue to pray for them, because Paul knew that in order for him to do what God was empowering and commanding him to do, he would need the prayers of the saints.
One may ask, ”If God is the one sending and empowering him, then why does he need prayer?” In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, the Bible says, ”Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.” Paul knew he was going into hostile territory, and he would be preaching to people who have never heard the gospel before, people who are accustomed to living an unholy existence. This is now three different Churches, in three different cities where Paul is asking for prayer, that the Word would reach the people and their hearts would turn to the Lord.
The phrase ”open unto us a door” implies an opportunity being presented for the Word of God to be shared. The word ”utterance” implies preaching. Look at the Scripture against in Colossians 4:3. It says, ‘‘that God would open a door”. This shows us that we don’t make the opportunities for ourselves, but it is God that makes the opportunity for us to share the Word with people. In 1 Corinthians 16:8-9, the Bible says, ”But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” When we realize that God is doing all of the work, maybe we won’t be so fearful or apprehensive with sharing the Word of God with people. God gives us His Word, gives us His Holy Spirit to discern what to say and to whom, and provides the door for us to walk through. In 2 Corinthians 2:12, the Bible says, ”Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord”. Do we see that there is a connection between the Church praying for a door to be opened for Paul to preach and the doors being opened in all of these different places. God is answering prayers!
The phrase ”mystery of Christ” means ”the gospel, which was long hidden but now revealed, something that must be initiated and instructed before it can be known, something above human insight.” The mystery is that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is God incarnate Himself. In Colossians 2:2-3, the Bible says, ”That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” When we receive the Lord, we receive it all, and this is why Paul wanted the prayers of the Church that a door would be opened for Him to share the Gospel. This is why we must pray for our ministers.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 2, 2023 – 1 Thessalonians 1:3 – remembering … patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father
”Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.”
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Hi Everyone!
What type of witness are we in this world? When people see us, can they tie our behavior, our character, and the things we do to the God we serve? Is our faithfulness to God evident, or are people surprised to know that we are believers? It is important for believers to bear fruit in the earth, because fruit is the identifier of the tree. If our work in the Lord isn’t bearing a strong enough witness to incite some level of change in others, then we have to check ourselves to make sure that we are living in the manner that pleases our God. People will always be affected by our impact. My wife, before she was even my girlfriend, decided to write me because of the impact God allowed me to make in her life. If we are serving the Lord faithfully, people will always remember the mark we leave behind, the testimony of God’s work in us. Today, we will look at 1 Thessalonians 1:3, a Godly labour of love.
”Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.”
The word ”remember” means ”to exercise memory, or to recollect”. The phrase ”without ceasing” means ”permanently, or without intermission”. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, the Bible says, ”For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” Are we thankful to God when we see the Word of God bearing fruit in the lives of people who believe? Paul saw what the Word of God was doing in the Church at Thessalonica, how they received the Word of God from the ministry as truth coming from God, and how they allowed that Word to reap a harvest in them. Paul was thanking God for what the Word was able to do, but also that they received the Word of God as truth. There is no real ministry, nor is there any real kingdom fruit without the Word of God being at work.
The word ”work” means ”toil, labor, or deed.” The word ”faith” means ”constancy, assurance, or reliance in God.” In John 6:28-29, the Bible says, ”Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Our faith begins with our belief in Christ, and our reliance upon the Word of God. To do with works of faith, we have to receive the Word of God by faith.
In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’‘ There is no faith without the Word of God, so how can we do a work of faith without the Word of God? This is why Paul thanked God for the believers in the Church of Thessalonica, because they believed in the Word of God and it worked mightily through them, so much so that a report came back to the Paul who wasn’t there anymore! In Galatians 5:6, the Bible says, ‘‘For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.’‘ The work means nothing without faith and love, because that infuses God into what we do. Religion will not cause us to bear fruit, but a relationship with the Lord will, where we allow Him to work mightily through us.
The word ”labour” means ”wearisome effort”. The word ”love” means ”affectionate regard, a love feast, goodwill toward others, our neighbors, brotherly affection, which the Lord Jesus commands and inspires.” In Hebrews 6:10, the Bible says, ”For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Our work in the Lord bears witness before Him and and our God will never forget our labours of love. The Word of God didn’t say a labour of love would be easy, but He is always looking out for us while we labour in the Lord. In Galatians 6:9-10, the Bible says, ”And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Even though our labour of love can be difficult at times, it will reap a harvest.
The word ”patience” means ‘’steadfast waiting, endurance’’. The word ”hope” means ”expectation or confidence, spoken of those who experience the hope of salvation through Christ, eternal life, and blessedness.” In Romans 8:24-25 the Bible says, ”For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” When we work in the Lord, we work in hope, and we live in expectancy that the work in he Lord will bear fruit that will remain in those we reach. May our work always leave a reminder of our work in the Lord.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 3, 2023 – Psalm 118:8 – it is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence …
”It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Psalm 118:8
Hi Everyone!
Who do we trust in? Do we trust in man, our jobs, the system of money, government, things that are unstable without God? The truth of the matter is that if we trust in anything but God, we are headed for a destructive path of disappointment. I remember when I used to trust in my hands to provide me with everything, until I reached a point where my hands could do nothing. I remember days trusting in a lawyer, thinking having one spelled freedom, only to find out that no lawyer, no matter the reputation, would ever be able to free me without the Word of God. I remember trusting in the provision of man, thinking that it would help me get closer to the goals I had set, but it only positioned me to see that their provision means nothing without God’s hand opening the door for provision to have any effect. It is only by trusting in the Lord that we can be who we are created to be, have what He created us to have, and live how He desires for us to live. Today, we will look at Psalm 118:8, trusting in the Lord, Creator of the universe.
”It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
The word ”better” means ”morally correct, well-pleasing, fruitful, good”. The word ”trust” means ”to flee for protection, to confide in, to take refuge.”
In Psalm 40:3-4, the Bible says, ”And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” Being delivered from sin, having a new life and mind, being able to live in kingdom authority should put a new song in our mouths. That song should be heard and should ultimately cause people to turn their hearts to the Lord. The person who trusts in the Lord, trusts in truth, and has no desire for how the world operates. Trusting in the Lord produces a testimony within us that can be shared through our words, deeds, and character.
The word ”Lord” means ”supreme in authority, or controller”. In 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, the Bible says, ”Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” If we have an enemy mounting an offensive against us, we don’t have to fear their offensive, their power, or their army. They are only flesh, but our God is spirit, and He has not only created man, but He is in control of what man is allowed to do in a believer’s life.
In Psalm 108:12-13, the Bible says, ”Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” Only through God can we have victory over our enemies, and have rest in the face of trouble.
A perfect example of someone trusting in the Lord is found in Mark 4:37-38, which says, ”And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” A storm came while Christ and the disciples were on a ship. Christ was asleep on a pillow, and the disciples were planning their deaths! Christ placed His full trust in God and even a storm didn’t hinder him from having rest. We can have that same rest as we trust in the Lord, but the question is, will we?
The word ”confidence” means ”to hie for refuge, to hope, or safety and security from relying in man”. The word ”hie” means ”to run towards instinctively when in danger”. What is our instinct when we we in danger, when we are unsure, when we are afraid, or when we lack provision? Do we trust in man?
In Jeremiah 17:5, the Bible says, ”Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” If we trust in man, our hearts have turned away from the Lord and we have considered man to be our strength over God. Trust me, it is a very humbling experience trusting in man.
In Jeremiah 17:7-8, the Bible gives us the other side of the coin by saying, ”Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
When we trust in the Lord, we place our hope in Him. God will show Himself faithful, and respond by ensuring that our need will be met continuously, and in a fashion where we know it could only be Him. May our trust be in the Lord instead of man.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 4, 2023 – Deuteronomy 6:7 – and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children
”And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
Deuteronomy 6:7
Hi Everyone!
What do we do with the Word of God we receive? Too many of us keep the Word of God to our chest, and are too afraid, or too disobedient, to share the Word of God with people. Some of us don’t know where to begin, and see ministry as this daunting task that we are unqualified for, and that would be better suited to someone else. I remember thinking like this, and running from my call because I knew I was jacked up, and there was no way I could preach and teach anyone the Word of God. It was my seventeenth birthday when I received my call, but the beauty about it was God saw who I am now at 41 back when I was seventeen, and He also knew every road I would take to get here. One thing I have learned about the faith is that is not the preacher’s job exclusively to teach the Word of God, but that is our responsibility as believers to share the Word of God at home, at work, in the community, and in prison. Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 6:7, teaching the Word of God right where we are.
”And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
The word ”teach” means ”to sharpen, or to instruct incisely”. The word ”children” means ”builder of the family name”. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Bible says, ”Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We have to teach from the level we study. If we aren’t rightly dissecting and expounding on the Word of truth, then we are not going to teach well and our witness will suffer because of it.
In Hebrews 4:12, the Bible says, ”For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God is power enough to break down our thoughts and the contents of our hearts. This is what leads to the change, but if we don’t rightly divide the Word of truth, then we hinder people from experiencing the Word from reaching their innermost parts to cause the change where it needs to go.
In Acts 2:37, the Bible says, ”Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The Word rightly divided will stir hearts, and in this case, prick hearts to make them see that they are in need of change. What if Peter didn’t rightly divide the Word of truth? How many souls would have been converted out of the 3,000 souls that were added that day if Peter went off-script?
It begins with us. In Deuteronomy 4:9-10, the Bible says, ”Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.” We have to remember the Word of God we receive, and we have to put it into practice so it will be ingrained into who we are. It is easier for us to teach Scripture when we have become Scripture. When we live Scripture out, we become Scripture.
The word ”talk” means ”to rehearse or arrange”. This is a requirement in a believer’s home to share the Word of God, especially the men in the home. The phrase ”walkest by the way” implies a person living their lives, facing challenges, relationships, jobs, etc. The word ”way” means ”course of life or road”, so we are to teach our children how to live as believers in a world of unbelief. In Proverbs 22:6, the Bible says, ‘‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” We have to not only train our children up, but we have to train our family up, our community up, and our friends up in the way they should go. By us following the Word of God, it makes it easier for others to see in us how to live the same way.
In Ephesians 6:4, the Bible says, ”And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.’‘ Christ didn’t encourage people to live ungodly lives, but He gently led His disciples into the love of the Lord. Approach is important when sharing the Word of God, because how we convey the Word can make the difference in how it is received. We have to make sure that we share the Word in love, and also in a desire to see the Word bear fruit in other lives. We want God to be glorified in our witness, through the people we reach, and through the people they reach.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 5, 2023 – Deuteronomy 8:2 – the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee
”And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”
Deuteronomy 8:2
Hi Everyone!
When we enter a wilderness, a lot of times we don’t understand why God designated this season for our lives. A lot of times we don’t see a good enough reason for us to ever have to enter a dry place, and some of us feel perplexed when our lives take such strange turns. God created the land of the promise for us, but we must understand that He also created the wilderness for us as well, to teach us, to prepare us, to try us, and to establish us. He allows us to go through the wilderness for our own good, to make sure that we can seize the promise for ourselves. God knows what He is doing and the believers that allow themselves to be trained up in the wilderness will be grateful for it when they experience the promise. God didn’t promise that the wilderness was going to be pleasant, but what God does in the wilderness prepares us to receive His promises. Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 8:2, a wilderness well traveled.
”And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”
The word ”remember” means ”to mark, to mention or recall silently, verbally, or by means of a memorial sign or symbol; to bring to memory or bring to attention.” In Deuteronomy 5:15, the Bible says, ”And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.” We must always remember what God has done for us, how He saves us, how He delivers us from bondage, how He restores us into freedom, and receives us as His children. We are to honor the Lord because we remember where we have come from.
In Deuteronomy 7:17-18, the Bible says, ”If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt”. Even when we are afraid by opposition, by some Goliath who tries to come against us in battle, we have to remember the victories God has given us before, and also the victories God has won, as told in the Word of God.
What did David do before he went against Goliath, when people questioned his youth and ability? In 1 Samuel 17:37, the Bible says, ”David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” David remembered when God gave him victory over two beasts that could have easily tare him to shreds. Lions and bears typically don’t hunt together, so it is safe to assume that these are two different instances where God delivered David. David uses that record to encourage himself in the Lord that God will deliver him from Goliath the same way.
The word ”wilderness” implies a driving into a desert place. God led Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness. Why? In Exodus 13:17-18, the Bible says, ”And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” God knows us inside and out, and knows whether we are ready to endure warfare in order to seize the promise. God uses the wilderness to build in us a strength and resiliency to seize our promise without going back.
The word ”humble” means ”to depress, bring low, or afflict”. God humbles us so we then rely on His grace, His power, His direction and His Word to guide us in the wilderness and into His promise. In 1 Peter 5:5-6, the Bible says, ”Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”. God gives us His divine empowerment once He has humbled us.
It is going to take the power of God to seize His promise but we have to submit ourselves completely over to Him.
The word ”prove” means ”to test or try”. A trial usually happens by fire, where we go into the fire of the Lord to have all the impurities burned from us, so we can be a vessel of purity, meet for the Master’s use. In Job 23:10, the Bible says, ”But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job knew that his wilderness producing trial was where God was making Him as gold, something of immense purity and value.
In Deuteronomy 13:3, the Bible says, ”Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” God allows us to go through trials so He can show us what we are made of, to show us where our hearts are aligned. It is not a pleasant experience, but it is an experience that builds us in ways that we have never been built up before. The word ”keep” means ”to observe, heed, protect, or obey”. The word ”commandments” means ”laws or ordinances”.
In John 2:24-25, the Bible says, ”But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” God knows us inside and out, and He allows us to go through wilderness and trial so He can refine us and make us fit for the promise that He has for us.
The wilderness equips us to receive the promise!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 6, 2023 – Deuteronomy 7:9 – the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments
”Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations’’
Deuteronomy 7:9
Hi Everyone!
We serve an awesome God. We have a God that is a deliverer, a healer, a Savior, a teacher, and He blesses us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. We also serve a faithful God, who always desires to fulfill His purpose in us. When we were in our filth, God saw us right where we were, and knew who we were to be, so He continues to position us to be aligned with His will. Most people, especially in this cancel culture we live in now, will discard someone if they aren’t who they hope them to be now, instead of staying the course and seeing God work in their lives, but God isn’t like that. I know what it feels like to have a whole family give up on me, and amount me to incorrigible, but praise be to God that He has never left my side, even when I left His. It is the love of God that keeps Him faithful, that keeps Him present, and allows Him to keep His covenant with us. Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 7:9, faithful and merciful God.
”Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations”
The word ”know” is a relational term that expresses oneness. In Genesis 4:1, the Bible says, ”And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.” When oneness happens, something is conceived. God wants His creation to be His children, and He desires to be one with us.
In John 17:22-23, Christ prays, ”And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” Christ wants us to be one with Him, the same way He is one with God, so we can be one together.
Knowing God is much more that head knowledge. It is entering into an amazing relationship with a loving God, where He dwells in us. Our thoughts become His thoughts, our ways become His ways, so when people see us, they know we belong to the Lord.
In John 14:17, the Bible says, ”Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.’‘ When we know the Lord God, He dwells in us and He continues to teach us more and more about Him.
The word ”faithful” means ”trustworthy, supportive, or nurturing”. This speaks of a Father being attentive to His children’s development. Everything matters to the Lord when it comes to His children, and a Good Father positions His children to fulfill their purpose in the Lord.
In 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, the Bible says, ”Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” When we enter into this amazing relationship with the Lord, God intends to see this relationship all the way through into eternity. No matter how many times we have slipped along the way, God helps us find our feet and allows us to walk with Him restored.
The word ”keepeth” means ”to observe, heed, or protect”. The word ”covenant” means ”a compact, league or alliance made by the cutting of flesh in two, and the parties in the covenant passing through the pieces of flesh”. God just doesn’t make covenants with us and not fulfill them.
In Genesis 17:7-8, the Bible says, ”And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” When God made the covenant with Abraham, He established that covenant to last forever. It is just the same when God makes a covenant with us.
The word ”mercy” means ”lovingkindness, goodness, or piety”. The phrase ”them that love Him” means ”to have affection for, to friend”.
In Romans 8:28, the Bible says, ”And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” When we love the Lord He shows Himself faithful and causes everything that comes our way to work together for our good.
The word ”generations” implies a period of time from the birth to death of a person. A thousand generations implies forever.
In Nehemiah 1:5, the Bible says, ”And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments”. God will remain a faithful God to His children, especially loving us when we are faithful to Him by keeping His Word. His covenant has no ending with us, so His promises still remain active in us.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 7, 2023 – Deuteronomy 9:1 – Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day
”Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven.”
Deuteronomy 9:1
Hi Everyone!
God has a promised land for us to seize for ourselves. It is a land flowing with milk and honey, a land that has been prepared especially for us. This ”land” is in the form of our lives; the opportunities He provides for us, the people He prepare us for, the moments He allows us to seize, and the purpose God has for our lives. When we are set to embark on our promise, we will face opposition, the goal may seem too great to overcome, the balance may seem impossible to fulfill, but when God tells us to seize our promise, His Word is all we need to understand that we will live in victory over anyone or anything appearing to be greater and mightier than us. It is not about our opposition, but it is about our God who always triumphs over our opposition. Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 9:1, passing over into our promise.
”Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven.”
The word ”hear” means ”to listen intelligently, to give attention to, to heed, or to listen with the intention of obeying”. In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When we hear the Word of God, meaning listening with the intention of obeying, we receive the Word of God by faith, and the Word can then exercise great power in our lives. The Word of God already lays the groundwork for our promise. There is no faith in the promise that is not attached to the Word of God.
In Genesis 17:7-8, the Bible says, ‘‘And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” When Abraham was alive, God’s Word established His covenant in Abraham, and even told him what land would belong to his descendants. The land of Canaan belonged to the children of God, and the people of Canaan had no clue that they were building a land up for the Israelites to seize as their promise. The Word of God spoke, and at first, when spies were sent into the land, they were afraid to seize the land, so the majority of the spies gave a report of fear, a report of defeat, and a report that discouraged Israel from believing that they could seize that promise. Only Joshua and Caleb gave a report of faith, being certain that they could seize the promise. They believed in the Word of God and in His empowerment. They heard the Word and were ready to carry it out.
The phrase ”pass over” means ”to cross over”. The word ”possess” means ”to occupy, to drive out previous tenants, to seize, to rob, to inherit, or to expel”. We may have to pass over an obstacle of two to possess our promise, and we may even face some opposition, but the Word of the Lord is victory. In Joshua 3:15-16, the Bible says, ”And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.” Before, when the Red Sea parted, Moses held up his rod and the sea parted. This time, the priests had to step into the water, and then the Jordan parted. Sometimes, we have to step into our promise fully trusting in God to clear the way for us to cross.
The word ”greater” means ”elder”, implying that they are more established. The word ”mightier” means ”powerful or numerous”. In Deuteronomy 4:37-38, the Bible says, ”And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.” God has always destined Israel to seize the promised land, to receive their inheritance as promised to Abraham. God knew the people who occupied the land were powerful and numerous, but the Israelites had the Word of God.
In Joshua 2:9-10, the Bible says, ”And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.” Before they received their promise, there was a report that reached Jericho, and Rahab knew that God gave them the land already, so she helped the spies.
God always sends people to help us fulfill His will for our lives, and we don’t have to worry about the ”how” and ”why”. God just wants us to go where He sends us, and do what He tells us to do. In His Word, we have victory. The Israelites seized the promised land because they heeded the Word of God. We too will seize our promise if we heed what God tells us.
God Bless!
Marshall and Jessica
Mar 8, 2023 – 1 Thessalonians 5:9 – to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
”For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”
1 Thessalonians 5:9
Hi Everyone!
People who don’t know the Lord have Him pegged as some brutal tyrant who inflicts His wrath upon the earth. They see God as someone that is going to set the whole world on fire with everybody on it, and they see God as a heartless judge, jury and executioner. The people who think of God in this fashion have never experienced Him, because if they did, they would have experienced a loving Father who is completely merciful, a God who loves His creation exceedingly and love His children with the utmost care. They would see a God who wants us to succeed, who desires us to experience salvation, and they would see a God who went as far as to send His only begotten Son to the world to sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world. He did this, knowing some of the same people He died for would reject Him despite His sacrifice. Today, we will look at 1 Thessalonians 5:9, a God who appointed us to salvation.
”For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”
The word ”appointed” means ”to conceive, to ordain, or to purpose”. The word ”wrath” means ”punishment, indignation, the anger of God, the vengeance of God”, spoken of the punitive wrath of God, and the divine judgements to be inflicted upon the wicked. Wait a minute, don’t people think that God only has some insane desire to punish and kill off His creation? This term for wrath is not speaking of a temporary punishment here on earth, but an ultimate punishment for eternity.
In 2 Peter 3:9, the Bible says, ”The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Doesn’t this paint a different picture of the Lord God, one of more patience with us than we are with Him. This verse means God is going to take as long as He possibly can to ensure we all have access to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, and that God will continue to chip away at us, leaving us with no excuse when eternity comes.
God didn’t purpose us to experience His eternal wrath, but God will not force us to choose Him.
In John 3:16-17, Christ says, ‘‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” In one of the most famous passages in the Bible, it speaks of who God really is, how loving He is, and that He is willing to go to the brink of sheer insanity by sacrificing His Son, so that we can exercise our free will to choose Him.
On yeah, God gave us free will too, so the choice wouldn’t be one of force, but one of love.
In Romans 9:22-23, the Bible says, ‘‘What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory”. When He sees what we can be like, confined to our mess, God could take us out, counting us as lost causes and hopeless investments, without giving us the opportunity to serve Him. But, God’s mercy gives us the opportunity to receive salvation, something He prepared for us before we were even born! He doesn’t give us His wrath, because He wants to show us His love and mercy.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, the Bible says, ”For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” God’s mercy is designed to take us from our sinful states that leads to wrath to salvation, redemption and eternal life.
The word ”obtain” means ”to acquire, or possess”. When we look at the word ”acquire” we understand that we receive something that was not originally ours. The word ”salvation” means ”rescue, safety, or deliverance”. In Romans 5:8-9, the Bible says, ”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” In our sinful state, we had no real clue that God already provided us with a provision of salvation, a Substitute for sin, the Atoning Sacrifice named Jesus Christ. We were slated for destruction, but we now have salvation.
In Thessalonians 2:13, the Bible says, ”But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”. Doesn’t this change the narrative, because the Word of God says God chose us for salvation, not wrath!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 9, 2023 – Deuteronomy 13:4 – Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him
”Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”
Deuteronomy 13:4
Hi Everyone!
In the Lord God, lies everything we need to love victoriously in the earth. In the Lord, we learn how to love our neighbors, be better partners to our wives and husbands, be better parents to our children, and we learn how to walk in faith, operating according to the Word of God. We can not seize the promises of God following our own mind, heart and desires. We can’t build a life in the Lord listening to our own voices, and we can’t be people of faith and then operate outside of the commandments of God. When we become believers, we cleave to the Lord like husbands cleave to their wives, the two become one flesh. When we are one flesh with the Lord, serving the Lord is second nature, because we make ourselves of service to the Lord. Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 13:4, walking after the Lord in obedience and service.
”Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”
The phrase ”walk after” means ”follow, or pursue”. In Psalm 63:7-8, the Bible says, ”Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” God will always be there for us, to help us in times of need, to protect us when the enemy becomes too much to deal with, and knowing this should produce praise within us.
How relentless are we in our desire to pursue the Lord?
In Psalm 1:2, the Bible says, ”But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Is it our pleasure taking in the law of the Lord and meditating on His Scriptures day and night?
In Psalm 119:11, the Bible says, ‘‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Do we store the Word in our hearts, so that when the time comes to make a decision, we make it from the Word that is in our hearts, and not the impulses we have? When we walk after the Lord, we place His Word in our hearts, we meditate on His Word, so we can always live by Scripture in every facet of our lives.
In Matthew 12:35, Christ says, ”A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” What we place in us in abundance will come out of us, and that is the best record of what is inside of our hearts.
The word ”fear” means ”to revere morally, to respect, to be held in esteem”. People who feared God were considered faithful and trustworthy. In Proverbs 1:7, the Bible says, ”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Before we can become fully knowledgeable, we must revere the Lord, because it is only through the Lord that real wisdom and knowledge comes. Think not?
In John 16:13, the Bible says, ”Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” All truth rests in the Lord, and we receive truth when we receive the Lord. In Ecclesiastes 12:13, the Bible says, ”Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” It is our duty as the children of God to exercise Godly respect and reverence to Him and to obey His Word.
The word ”keep” means ”to attend to, or to take heed”. The word ”commandments” means ”laws, decrees, or precepts of the Lord”. The word ”obey” means ”to hear intelligently with the intent of heeding”. In 2 Chronicles 34:31, the Bible says, ”And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.’‘ If the king made a covenant before the Lord to obey the Word of the Lord, then how can we be exempt? If we have to keep the commandments of the Lord with all of our hearts and souls, then doesn’t that imply a total commitment to the Word of God?
The word ”serve” means ”to work, toil, our labour for”. In word or deed, we must serve the Lord with our whole hearts. The word ”cleave” means ”to join together, to cling, adhere, to follow hard after, or to stick to.” In Deuteronomy 30:20, the Bible says, ”That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” The same reason we serve the Lord is the same reason we fear, obey and cleave to Him. All of these things express an attitude we must have about the Lord. May our attitudes reflect our fear and obedience to the Lord.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 10, 2023 – 1 Timothy 1:12 – I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me
”And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry”
1 Timothy 1:12
Hi Everyone!
Some of us look at the word ministry and break out into hives, thinking we are the furthest thing away from something so powerful, something so important. Many of us, like me, will run or tell ourselves that we are the last people on earth that should be trusted to handle the Word of God, let alone teach and preach it. We, by our actions, tell God, who created us for His purpose, that He make an egregious error when He selected us! How crazy is that? When we begin to understand that God knows exactly who we are and what we are capable of, we will be less likely to fight against what God is perfecting in us. We will understand that when God elects us for ministry, He already put ministry within us, and His Holy Spirit is what is empowering us to perform the will of God. It is not us, but it is Him! Today, we will look at 1 Timothy 1:12, a powerful God enabling ministry in Him.
”And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry”
The word ”thank” means to ”extend gratitude and appreciation in return for benefits or favor.” How grateful are we as believers for what God has done for us? In 1 Corinthians 1:4-6, the Bible says, ”I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you”. Paul was grateful to God for what He was doing in the Church. How grateful are we when God moves on someone else’s behalf, that people are made better by the divine empowerment of God? In Ephesians 5:19-20, the Bible says, ”Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God wants us to have an attitude of thanksgiving when it comes to all things, because God is in all things in a believer’s life.
The word ”enable” means ”to empower or increase in strength”. This is so important because many of us feel like we have to summon up the strength or knowledge to do what God is asking us to do.
That is nowhere near the truth. In John 17:8, Christ prays, ”For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” Even Christ preached and taught from the Word given to Him by God. Isn’t it incredible that we place some incredible expectation upon our own capability when Christ fully relied on the Word of God to teach us?
In Jeremiah 1:6-7, the Bible says, ‘‘Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Jeremiah panicked when He was called by God and didn’t see God’s empowerment. He only saw his incapability, but God told him that he would speak whatever God commanded him to speak. Doesn’t that take a load off? We don’t have to even have and use our own words?
The word ”counted” means ”to deem, to consider, or to think of as”. The word ”faithful” means ”reliable, or trustworthy”. In Acts 9:21-22, the Bible says, ‘‘But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.” When we can be trustworthy before the Lord, it will always bear fruit, and leave a real testimony as to God’s work in our lives. As we show ourselves faithful, God empowers us to continue to speak a word on His behalf. In Philippians 4:13, the Bible says, ”I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” We are not alone when God puts a Word on our hearts to share in ministry, when He calls us to preach and teach. He gives us the power, whether we are a Bible scholar or a beginning student.
The word ”putting” means ”to ordain, place, appoint, or commit”. The word ”ministry” means ”attendance or service”. In 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, the Bible says, ”Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” It is not about us and what we can do, but rather what Christ has done and what the Holy Spirit will do in us. When we realize that it is the Lord who works in us, we become more willing to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives as ministers.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 11, 2023 – 1 Timothy 6:6 – godliness with contentment is great gain
”But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
1 Timothy 6:6
Hi Everyone!
We live in a world where many people are trying to be rich. This is a society that has been churning out more millionaires and billionaires now than any time in history, and people have the audacity to look down on someone who is worth one million dollars like they are actually broke! In a growing monetary and materialistic society something has been lost in all of the gains, and that is godliness. We are becoming more wealthy as a society but less Godly, and that is a huge problem that is going to hurt society for years to come. How many times have we seen the news coverage of someone wealthy taking their own life, living in a state of brokenness that no amount of money could cure. Society has relied on money and power to establish identity and not recognized God who has created us for ourselves as well as for Himself. And then we then wonder why we can’t seem to hold on to what we have, or be satisfied by what we think the world will supply. Today, we will look at 1 Timothy 6:6, the gain of Godliness, the mystery of contentment.
”But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
The word ”godliness” means ”piety or holiness”. The word ”godliness” is used in three places in the New Testament, in Paul’s letters to Timothy, in Paul’s letter to Titus, and in Second Peter. This doesn’t include the word ”ungodliness”. Paul’s letters to Timothy were essentially his parting words, and Godliness was a strong subject in Paul’s preaching.
Why is godliness so important in a believer’s life? In Genesis 1:26-27, the Bible says, ”And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” God intends us to bear His image and likeness, so that when people see us, they can tie us directly to our Father. If we live in godliness, we are bearing our Father’s image and likeness in the earth, which means we are being exactly who we are created be.
In 1 Timothy 2:2-3 the Bible says, ”For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour”. If God wants His leadership to live in godliness, then He definitely wants us to! Godliness is ”good and acceptable”, meaning that it fulfills God’s purpose. In Psalm 37:16, the Bible says, ”A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” God is more concerned with who we are than what we have. God gives us the ability to live Godly lives, but we have to receive that from Him.
In 2 Peter 1:3, the Bible says, ”According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. God will never command us to do something that He doesn’t equip us for. Everything we need to live a Godly life is in His Word.
The word ”contentment” means ”self-satisfaction, or sufficiency”. Such a person is unflappable and unmoved by external circumstances, more concerned with their state of spirit, who takes pleasure in what God provides, whether it is a lot or a little.
In Philippians 4:11-13, the Bible says, ”Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Paul wrote much of the New Testament, and a huge percentage of his letters written from prison! Paul was more concerned with God’s will than what was going on around him.
In 2 Corinthians 9:8, the Bible says, ”And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”. When we learn to be content with what God has provided, it will make our lives centered about Him, and then we can do the things He calls us to do.
When we value who we are in the Lord over what we have in the world, our lives will reflect our God more.
The word ”gain” implies winning, so ”great gain” implies a huge win for our lives, and for the kingdom of God. In Matthew 16:26, Christ says, ”For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” It is not a win when we walk away from the Lord and pursue financial gain. There are too many people selling their souls daily to make a quick dollar. God must be our prize, now and forever.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 12, 2023 – Lamentations 3:24 – The LORD is my portion
”The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
Lamentations 3:24
Hi Everyone!
We have an inheritance in the Lord, one that will last forever. In Christ we not only have salvation and eternal life, but we also have been given power to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit while we are on earth. Receiving such a valuable inheritance, one that came as the result of a brutal death of another, we should really live our lives in appreciation for what we have been given. Knowing that the Lord is our inheritance, our trust should always be in Him, and we should always look to Him to provide the things we need to fulfill His Word. Living in a world where the world trusts in money, people, and materialistic things before they trust in the Lord, one can see why there is so much unhappiness, so much discontentment, so much division in our world. When the Lord becomes our inheritance, we have the ability to walk in salvation, love and power. Today, we will look at Lamentations 3:24, hoping in the Lord of our inheritance.
”The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
The word ”Lord” refers to the Self-Existent God, also know as Jehovah or Yahweh. We want to be clear on where our inheritance comes from, and where to place our hope. The word ”portion” means ”allotment or inheritance”. If we notice that this verse says, ”The Lord IS”, we will see that our God is still alive and active, still bestowing upon us His blessings. This is something we had access to before but the door closed. We have access to our portion today.
In Hebrews 13:8, the Bible says, ”Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Because Christ is the same, His inheritance is the same, and because Christ is the same forever, that means our access to this inheritance will never run out. In Romans 8:15-17, the Bible says, ”For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Instead of bondage, we receive adoption, giving us the ability to call out to our God and be heard as children. If we are children, then we have been made heirs, people who receive a portion as the result of the death of someone.
In Hebrews 9:16-17, the Bible says, ”For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” The promises that came as the result of our inheritance in the Lord were activated when the blood of Christ was shed on the cross. In Psalm 16:5, the Bible says, ”The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.” God doesn’t just give us an inheritance but He also makes sure we maintain what He has given us. We serve a God who desires us to live in victory, and the way we live in victory is to walk according to the Word and the promises of God.
In Psalm 73:25-26, the Bible says, ”Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Our problem is when we try to live a life without the Lord, when we think we can do it on our own, despits having been saved. We take His gift, but not His Lordship, we receive His inheritance, but leave out His guidance. When our strength fails, God’s grace fills our deficits.
The word ”hope” means ”to wait patiently for, or to trust in.” In Jeremiah 17:7-8, the Bible says, ”Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” There are blessings in store for those who trust in the Lord, for those who place their hope in the Lord. The Bible is speaking of continuous growth and provision under all circumstances. We can’t do that on our own.
In 1 Peter 1:3-4, the Bible says, ”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, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”. A lively hope is one that is still active, not one given because of who we are, but because of who our God is. Our inheritance is reserved in heaven for us, but the beauty is that we have access to walk in some of our inheritance right now! This is why our hope should be in the Lord, because we have an inheritance in Him that will never fade away!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 13, 2023 – 2 Timothy 2:2 – the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men
”And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
2 Timothy 2:2
Hi Everyone!
The Word of God must spread everywhere we go. God ensures that we as believers are taught the Word of God, and we must extend that same teaching to others so the Word we are given by the Lord can spread and change lives. When a stone is thrown into the water, it creates ripples that spread in all directions, and that is what is supposed to happen with the Word of God. This means that we have to pay attention to the Word when it is taught and plant it in our hearts, because we cannot teach what we haven’t received ourselves? Paul took the Word He was given and spread it so far and wide and he continued to build and establish churches from prison! How far will the Word go that we will teach? Today, we will look at 2 Timothy 2:2, the ripples from the taught Word of God.
”And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
The word ”heard” means ”to give audience unto, or to understand”. This is an intentional act, not something that happens by chance. We must intentionally align ourselves to receive the Word of God with our full hearts and minds, meaning we have to give the Word our undivided attention in order for it to do in us what God wills it to.
In Romans 10:14-15, the Bible says, ”How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” It is extremely important that we receive the Word of God. If we wouldn’t have received the Word of God, we wouldn’t have called upon the Lord for salvation, and our lives wouldn’t be sealed by Him. God is intentional in getting the Word to us, just as we have to be intentional in receiving the Word of God as we are taught. He equips and sends preachers to preach the Word for us to hear, we believe the Word we hear and call out to the Lord. If any step in this is taken out, the design God has for His Word going forth may not occur the way He intends.
In Romans 10:17-18, the Bible says, ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” Faith comes as the result of our hearing the Word of God, and the ministry of sharing the Word of God goes into all the earth until the end of time.
The word ”witnesses” means ‘’one who is a spectator, or by analogy a martyr” implying someone who can testify to the truth that is in Jesus, the truth of what they have seen, heard, and know. I
n Matthew 28:19-20, Christ says, ”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Christ gave the disciples a command to teach the Word of God to all nations, also commanding that they teach people to observe all He has commanded. This should take a ton of pressure off us, because we only have to teach what we have been given.
In 2 Timothy 1:13, the Bible says, ”Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” We must guard the Word we have been given by the Lord. The enemy would love to take the Word we receive out of our hearts and minds, because he knows what happens when it grows in us. We want to be true witnesses who testify to what God has done and what His Word is doing in our lives.
The word ”commit” means ”to pledge or bind to a certain course or policy”. The word ”faithful” means ”trustworthy or reliable”. In Matthew 7:6, Christ says, ”Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Do we value the Word of God enough to receive it in full and also be careful to entrust it to people who are going to value it enough to spread it?
In 1 Timothy 1:18, the Bible says, ”This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare”. Paul entrusted the gospel to Timothy and he told him that he gave him the ministry that he would fight the good fight.
The word ”teach” means ”to instruct, tutor, or advise.” In Titus 1:9, the Bible says, ”Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” We are to spread what we are taught, so they can spread what they are taught, so the Word of God can go everywhere God ordains it to.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 14, 2023 – Galatians 6:3 – if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself
”For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
Galatians 6:3
Hi Everyone!
Humility is absolutely necessary in the life of a believer. Humility is the attitude we must have before God, and of how we measure up to our God, who is everything. Humility is our emptying our vessels before the Lord, and making ourselves available to be filled by Him. As believers, our salvation comes by Christ, our faith comes by the Word of God, our power comes by the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of us Our ability to live according to the Word of God comes from God equipping us to do so. When we look at our lives, we are the product of God’s vision and purpose for our lives. Everything we are and everything we have comes from the Lord. There is no reason for us to inflate our egos, or act like we are bigger and better than we are, because it is in the Lord that we have our value. Today, we will look at Galatians 6:3, a humble spirit of lowliness in the presence of an all-powerful God.
”For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
The word ”think” means ”to seem or suppose”. These are ideations that we form in our own minds, not something we are given by God. The word ”something” means ”great, of importance, or of weight”. So putting this together, we get the person who forms the thought in their mind that they are important, or they are a great person.
In Romans 12:3, the Bible says, ”For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Paul begins this verse by talking about the grace of God, God’s divine empowerment, given to him to share the word of truth with the Church. Paul understands that even his teaching comes by the empowerment of God. He is trying to implore the Church to be humble, to not live in arrogance, believing they are better than anyone else. We are to understand that God gives every believer something, and He gives us His Spirit, so we all are given something of importance. But it comes from God.
In Acts 5:36, the Bible says, ”For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.” This is an example of what happens when someone puffs themselves up, and believes their own hype. A great loss incurred because he decided to vaunt himself up. In Luke 18:14, Christ says, ”I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” We will always be brought down a peg or two when we try to exalt ourselves over others, especially when we try to exalt ourselves over God.
How do we exalt ourselves over God? By acting like we can do it without Him.
The word ”nothing” implies that someone has no importance, no weight or value to them. In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, ‘‘The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” We must realize that everything on this earth, including us, belong to the Lord, and we are nothing on our own.
In Psalm 73:25, the Bible says, ‘‘Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.’‘ When we come to an understanding that, apart from God, we can do nothing, and we have nothing, we will entrust our lives to Him to do with us as He wills. We will understand that the power we walk in comes from Him, and the fruit that is born in us comes because He allows it to grow.
In 1 Corinthians 8:1-2, the Bible says, ”Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” The person who knows that God is everything, will understand that what they know is relatively as nothing at all, realizing everything we know comes from God.
In 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, the Bible says, ”Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Even as ministers, we have to always understand that our abilities come from the Lord, and it is only by His Spirit that we are able to reach or teach anyone.
The word ”deceiveth” means ”to mislead the mind, to seduce”. In 1 Corinthians 3:18, the Bible says, ”Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” We have to get back to the Word of God, and empty our cups before the Lord so He can fill us with everything we need to live our lives in Him.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 15, 2023 – Deuteronomy 20:4 – the LORD your God is he that goeth with you
”For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
Deuteronomy 20:4
Hi Everyone!
The Lord fights our battles. Too many times in our lives, we try to get the victory without the Lord, and suffer some catastrophic failures in the process! We need to lean on the Lord and entrust that He is mightier than anyone and or anything that will come into our path. David gained victory after victory by entrusting the battle to the Lord. The Israelites won victory after victory after leaving Egypt because they gave the Lord free course to annihilate their enemies. It is only when they sinned against the Lord and violated His directive that they lost battles. No matter what we go through, no matter what we face, no matter how hard the road seems, our God is right with us every step of the way, to ensure that we will get the victory.
It is not about the size or the number of our opponents, it is about the faithfulness of our God.
Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 20:4, a victorious God giving us victory in Him.
”For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
The word ”goeth” means ”to walk alongside”. This ensures us that we are never alone. In Psalm 139:7-10, the Bible says, ”Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” God is everywhere, and there is not a place we can go that He isn’t right there.
The reason I know the for certain is because when I was submersed in the street life, God kept sending people to speak to me, to pray with me, and He kept me on people’s hearts so they would continue to pray for me. When I was shot in 2001, He kept me from dying that night because two guys with two guns tried to shoot me until I stopped moving. God was with me right in the trenches, making sure I made it through. God is still covering me now, through the racism I experience in prison, through attacks Jessica and I experience as a couple, and through my race for freedom.
In Deuteronomy 1:29-31, the Bible says, ‘‘Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.” God doesn’t want us to fear, nor worry about our opposition. God wants us to entrust Him, and He wants us to remember the previous victories He has given us. People always say that it is not good to look back, but when we are seeing the goodness of God as an indication of the victory we can have, then why not?
The word ”fight” means ”to consume, battle, war, or prevail”. In Deuteronomy 1:21-22, the Bible says, ”Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.” God doesn’t want us to be overwhelmed by our opponent, but He desires us to know that he has set the victory in our hands.
The word ”enemies” means ”an adversary or foe.” In 1 Samuel 23:3-4, the Bible says, ”And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.” The men had fear in the face of a formidable foe, but in the face of fear, David inquired of the Lord again and the Lord assured David that He had given them the victory over Keilah.
The word ”save” means ”defend, deliver, or rescue”. When we trust in the Lord to fight our battles, that is our pathway to victory, because God is more powerful than anyone.
In Joshua 23:9-10, the Bible says, ”For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.” It doesn’t matter the size of our enemies, or the numbers behind their forces. When God is involved, He will push our enemies away from us, and make it to where no one will be able to stand against us and prevail. God is going to fight for us. I don’t care if it is an addiction, a sickness, depression, a racist prison system, or a life sentence. God will deliver us into victory!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 16, 2023 – Romans 5:8 – while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Hi Everyone!
I have been delivered from A LOT! The people that knew me knew that I was headed for death or destruction on a bullet train with no brakes. I messed up my life in every conceivable way, sabotaged every form of success, and violated every standard I had learned in Church. I grew up in Church and I participated well. I was in the choir, youth department, I always participated in the services at the Church doing anything asked of me, and I looked the part. In my adolescence, I started engaging in the street life, and Church became this thing I did every now and then when I became ”too dirty”. I was the worst sinner I knew, and I felt at many points that it was pointless to keep trying to do right because nothing would erase what I had done. It wasn’t until I genuinely received the blood of Christ and accepted His free gift of salvation that I was cleansed from my sin. Now, I am not the worst sinner I know anymore, praise be to God. Today, we will look at Romans 5:8, a provision of salvation made when I was nothing but a sinner.
”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The word ”commendeth” means ”to set forth, to make known, to desire, or to exhibit”. The word ”love” means ”benevolence, a love-feast, and affection that can only come from God that extends to man”. God made His love known to us, and put His love towards us on display. God wants people to know that He loves us, that He proudly dotes on us, that He wants to show the world who we His children are. In John 3:16, the Bible says, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God loves unlovable people, and I know for a fact that I was one of those unlovable people. Who I used to be is not lost on me. To this day, there are people who still only see a convicted murderer, a lifer, someone condemned to prison justly for his crimes. God saw me then and He sees me now and His love gave me the only path to change my life for His glory. He gave us Christ, His only Son, because He loves us so much that He wants to make the kingdom available to a bunch of people who deserve death itself.
In John 15:12-13, Christ says, ”This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’‘ God is not like us, waiting for us to love Him before He loves us. Christ laid down His life for the ungodly, but in this verse, it says that He laid down His life for ”his friends”. For someone who has been squeaky clean their whole lives, committing ”little” sins, this may not mean a whole lot, but for someone like me, who has deliberately served sin, who bragged about his dalliances in the streets, this means everything!
In Romans 3:22-24 the Bible says, ”Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” God made this provision of love and salvation available to all who believe, and He doesn’t see one above another. We may be are ones who look down our noses at those who struggles in sin, but God is looking at us all in love. We all have sinned and missed the mark. The word ”sinners” means ”those who deviate from God’s commands, those who err from the Way, those who are sinful and unsaved.”
In James 2:10, the Bible says, ”For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” No one is exempt, and there is no such thing as big and little sins when someone is an unbeliever. The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin! In 1 Peter 3:18, the Bible says, ”For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit”. God’s concern with us, even in our sinful state, is to bring us before the Himself so He can put our flesh to death by the blood of Christ.
In 1 John 3:14-16, the Bible says, ”We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” When we receive salvation for our sins, we receive eternal life, and our past sin is gone! Being cleansed from our sin, and being delivered from our iniquity by the blood of Christ now gives us the power to help others find their way to the Lord. God’s love makes provision not only our for salvation, but for us to share the same love!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 17, 2023 – Hebrews 2:3 – how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation
”How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him”
Hebrews 2:3
Hi Everyone!
God is calling. The sound is going into the whole earth, and the hearts of people are being spoken to. Most people ignore the voice of the Lord, choosing to live their own way and follow their own path, but that doesn’t nullify the fact that God is calling us to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. I remember when God was speaking to my heart, telling me to get my life back in order, to seek His face, but I ignored my Lord, choosing to go my own way. People try to equate God as some unmerciful God that will let people ”burn in hell” in the end times, but is God merciful. Are we just so stubborn that we spent our whole lives ignoring His call? If we are so careless with such a powerful gift, then we have brought upon ourselves the very thing God does not desire for us. Today, we will look at Hebrews 2:3, taking hold of the salvation God has set before us.
”How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him”
The word ”escape” means ”to flee out”. This word implies that we will look for a way out of the destruction that is sure to come our way, but fail to find refuge. In Matthew 23:33, Christ says, ”Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.” Christ is speaking to the Jews, the scribes and Pharisees, telling them what they will do to the people God has sent to them to share the Word of truth with them. He speaks in future tense, knowing they will not only ignore the Word of God shared with them, but they will also kill the messengers.
In Amos 9:1, the Bible says, ”I saw the LORD standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.” When the day of reckoning comes, there is no escape, no place a person can flee from the wrath of God. However, God doesn’t want it like this, to see His creation suffer judgment.
In 2 Peter 3:9, the Bible says, ‘‘The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” When people paint God as this brutal warlord who deals out His fiery wrath on ”good people”, we are not seeing the fact that God has given us chance after chance to hear and follow His Word unto salvation.
The word ”neglect” means ”to not regard, make light of, to be careless of”. The word ”salvation” means ”rescue, or moral deliverance”. In Hebrews 12:24-25, the Bible says, ”And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven”. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross, and it also is by the death of Christ that the new covenant was activated with all of its promises. Christ didn’t come to this earth with empty words without power. He came to make us ready to receive the kingdom of God. In Mark 1:14-15, the Bible says, ‘‘Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” John the Baptist’s salvation message to the people was repent, and Christ didn’t change John’s message. God wants us to turn back from our relationship with the Word to receive salvation.
The word ”confirmed” means ”stabilized or established”. This verse says the word that was spoken by the Lord was confirmed. Where have we heard this before? In Matthew 18:16-17, Christ says, ”But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
The word ”hear” or ”heard” means ”to give audience to”. God is going to confirm the Word He speaks unto us through others. In Luke 1:2, the Bible says, ”Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word.” God gives us His Word to lead us to salvation, but we also must use that Word to help others receive salvation. If they don’t receive salvation, there is no escape.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 18, 2023 – Deuteronomy 30:3 – then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity
”That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.”
Deuteronomy 30:3
Hi Everyone!
I have been imprisoned for nineteen and a half years. I was teeming with disobedience when I first came in, I was angry, lost, and I had no clue how my poor decision severely damaged lives. During the course of my incarceration, I have been blessed to see what I have become. I saw my need for a Savior, I saw my sin as too much for me to bear. I cried out to the Lord and He heard me, and began changing my life over the last fourteen plus years. God has changed me so much that I somehow now am able to teach the Word of God, counsel brothers in my prison environment, and I have become a leader who is humbled that God chose me. I boldly say by faith that my physical freedom is coming and the Lord is going to return me home to fulfill His purpose for my life. I know my remaining days in prison is numbered. Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 30:3, the compassion of God providing freedom to the captives.
”That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.”
This passage is a word of prophecy, letting the Israelites know that their disobedience will cause them to be carried away captive. This is God preparing His people to enter into the promised land, for not only the good that will come to them, but also the punishments that will come as well. This shows that our God is all-knowing, as this came true exactly as prophesied. The word ”turn” means ”to cease, withdraw, or reverse”. Every person in prison looks forward to hearing three words: release, pardon, or reverse. God promised to reverse the captivity of the Israelites despite their previous disobedience. It wouldn’t be Pharaoh, Cyrus, Darius, or Pilate that would give them their freedom, but it is their obeying the Word of the Lord.
The word ”captivity” means ”exile or imprisonment”. In Isaiah 39:5-6, the Bible says, ”Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.’‘ Even in Hezekiah’s day, Isaiah prophesied that they were going to be carried away captive. Israel and Judah had a storied history of disobeying the Lord, and God had them carried away captive. In Jeremiah 29:10, the Bible says, ”For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.” God even had a set time where they would be in captivity, and when they would be released. God knows everything, including what it would take to make sure they would be free indeed.
The word ”compassion” means ”love, have mercy on, to fondle”. It is the love and mercy of God that gives us freedom from our confinement, and turns us loose from His bondage. Sometimes, we think God doesn’t have these things figured out, but in Jeremiah 29:11, the Bible says, ”For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” An expected end means that God has every detail figured out, down to the day, and God thinks the most of us, to bring us into a state of peace and fellowship with him.
In Psalm 126:1-2, the Bible says, ”When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.” Their release was met with joy, laughter, singing, and their mouths professed God’s goodness, the same way mine will be! My freedom will be met with laughter, singing, and my mouth will tell the world how great my God is.
The word ”return” implies God is going to come back and see about us. The word ”gather” means ”to collect, to assemble or grasp.” The word ”scattered” means ”to cast abroad, drive, or disperse”. In Jeremiah 32:37-39, the Bible says, ”Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them.”
God has a purpose for driving us out into captivity, and He has a purpose for reversing our captivity. Our disobedience will lead us into captivity, but He will look upon us, keep us safe, and release us from our bondage, so that we can serve the Lord with everything we are and with everything we have. God wants our freedom to be used for good, so that we may fear the Lord and cause others to do the same!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 19, 2023 – Hebrews 6:12 – followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises
”That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Hebrews 6:12
Hi Everyone!
God created us to fellowship with Him. He created us to be one with Him and to bear His image and likeness in the earth. In His Word, He has given us the plan of salvation, detailing all of the steps taken from creation to the end times, to ensure that we have every opportunity to becomes heirs to His many promises. Throughout our lives, we are faced with the representation of God, people who are preaching and teaching the Word of God, living it out in truth. God establishes these examples so we can see that living for the Lord is doable, and so we can see God’s power clearly moving through them. As they follow Christ, we follow them. It is important to make sure that we are following the right Gospel, the right representatives, and that we are looking to be in fellowship with those who are patterning themselves according to the Word of God. Today, we will look at Hebrews 6:12, following those who are heirs of the promise.
”That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
The word ”slothful” means ”lazy, dull, slow, or stupid”. This is the person who is not active in their faith, but the people who do the bare minimum while expecting the greatest results. Because this is written to the believers, it is safe to assume that the slothful are those who go to Church but their lives don’t bear fruit of their faith. I remember being a ”churchgoer”, and I enjoyed being in service, but that three or four hours on Sunday was all the Christ I had. In Ecclesiastes 10:18, the Bible says, ”By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.” When we are inattentive in taking care of the building God entrusted to us, the building will deteriorate. My family experienced that happen with my Granny’s house, where inattentiveness to its upkeep ultimately led our family having no real choice but to sell it.
What does a building have do with our faith, with our laziness or dullness as believers? In 1 Corinthians 3:9, the Bible says, ‘‘For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” So God created, or constructed us just as someone would a building.
In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, the Bible says, ‘‘According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Our foundation is the most important thing in our building process. God created us, but we have to allow God to build the foundation of Christ in us.
This doesn’t happen by chance or by default. In Proverbs 24:30-31, the Bible says, ”I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.” Our lives will become a disaster if we are slothful in the Lord, if we don’t treasure our relationships with the Lord enough to allow God to build us up in Him.
The word ”followers” means ”imitators”. In 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, the Bible says, ”And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.” When we will put ourselves under the leadership of people who walk in faith and truth, we position ourselves to learn how to live, how to operate our faith and even how to teach. In this learning, we then are positioned to becomes examples ourselves able to teach others how to follow the Lord.
In 1 Corinthians 11:1, the Bible says, ‘‘Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Paul followed Christ, so he became an example that we should follow.
The word ”faith” means ”belief, constancy, reliance, or persuasion in the truth of God”. The word ”patience” means ”fortitude or forbearance”. In Hebrews 10:35-6, the Bible says, ”Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Many of us face trials that try to shake our confidence, but fortitude under strain is essential to receive the promises of God. We learn that from our examples.
The word ”inherit” means ”to be an heir of”. In order for us to be heirs, someone had to die. In Galatians 3:29, the Bible says, ”And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
A ”promise” is ”a divine announcement or assurance of good”. When we are diligent in our relationship with the Lord and in our pursuit of His Word, we will be positioned to receive the promises of God as children and heirs.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Mar 20, 2023 – Mar 31, 2023 – 12 Part Marital Bliss Series – see Aug 21, 2022 to Sep 1, 2021
