Apr 1, 2023 – Romans 5:9 – we shall be saved from wrath through him
”Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Romans 5:9
Hi Everyone!
It is only by the blood of Jesus that we are saved. In the day of Moses, they had to slay a passover lamb and then take the blood and strike the lintels and door posts so the angel of death would see the blood and pass them over. Any having the blood on their lintels and door posts would be saved from the destroyer. The same rings true now, where the blood of Christ is on the lintels and door posts of our heart, covering us from the death that is certain to come. Too many people are selling goodness as the ticket to salvation, like if we act good enough, we can be saved, but it is only by the blood of Jesus Christ. How many people have been excluded because of their actions by our churches without being shown that it is solely by the blood that we are saved? This means that we all are on the same playing field and no one is above another, because salvation comes by Christ to all who believe. Today, we will look at Romans 5:9, justification by the blood of Christ.
”Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
The word ”justified” means ”to render innocent, just, or free, to acquit, to absolve from the consequences of sin and admittance into the enjoyment of the divine favour.” In Romans 3:24-25, the Bible says, ”Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”. What makes the blood available to us for our justification? The grace of God. Grace is divine empowerment, but grace is also the bridge over the canyon that bring us back to being who God called us to be. Grace is God bringing us into His presence when we have done nothing to deserve it. Isn’t it funny how God remits our past sins by the blood of Jesus Christ but we as people continue to hold others to their past sins? If the blood of Jesus Christ declares us innocent and acquits us from our sins, then why do so many of us still place our past sins upon ourselves?
The word ”blood” refers to atonement that is made by the death of Christ. In Ephesians 2:13, the Bible says, ”But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Our sin is what separated us from God, what set us up for destruction, but the blood of Christ brought those who believe back into the presence of God to experience life as children of God and partakers in the kingdom of God. In Ephesians 1:5-7, the Bible says, ”Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”. Think about this. God knew who were going to be adopted into the family of God, knew that Christ’s blood would be the price paid for our souls, knew that Christ’s blood would be sufficient for our forgiveness, and knew that His grace would facilitate it all.
The word ”saved” speaks of salvation from eternal death, sin, and punishment and misery consequent to sin. 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.” In believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not just believing in Him as the Son of God, as the Messiah, or as God robed in flesh, but we are also believing in His finished work on the cross, because if we don’t believe in the finished work of Christ, then we can’t partake in His salvation. 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.” God sent Christ into the world to provide the path to redemption and salvation by His blood.
The word ”wrath” means ”God’s divine judgement on the wicked”. The wicked are those who have not received the blood of Christ by faith in Christ. In Romans 1:18:-19, the Bible says, ‘‘For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.” God knows whose are His because the blood of Christ is upon them. God is not looking for ”perfect acting people”, but He is looking for people who are perfected by the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ begins our process of becoming more like Him.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 2, 2023 – Lamentations 3:25 – The LORD is good unto them that wait for him
”The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”
Lamentations 3:25
Hi Everyone!
Waiting can be the hardest part. It doesn’t always feel good to wait on things in our lives to change for the better, but waiting on the Lord is absolutely necessary in every believer’s life. There is a process between the seed being planted and the harvest coming, and there is a process between the faith we have and the promise we will receive. Sometimes, things can feel so difficult in the waiting that it becomes hard to understand how things can be good under so much strain. But, if our eyes are trained upon the process instead of God, we will constantly find ourselves absent of peace. When we understand that God has already ordained the process to be a part of His promise, it will change our perspective on the process. Do we seek after the Lord, waiting on Him especially in times of difficulty, or do we take refuge in our shell? Today, we will look at Lamentations 3:25, waiting and seeking after the Lord.
”The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”
The word ”Lord” is Jehovah, Yahweh, the Self-Existing God. It is God who created us and the purpose He designed for us, and it is Him who sustains us in the midst of difficulty. In Psalm 118:6-8, the Bible says, ‘‘The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.’‘ God is ready to step in and work things out on our behalf, and will allow us to stand and see Him fight our battles for us. Our problem comes in where we try to be our own god, fighting battles that were never designed for us to fight.
Sure we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, but doesn’t Zechariah 4:6 say, ”Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts”? There are some fights that God wants to handle on His own, His way, but many of us take the fight out of His hands.
I currently have been in a real battle with some of the staff in Redgranite Correctional Institution, and it has been incredibly heavy. It has been a rollercoaster ride of nonstop pressure, and many times, I have gone from discouraged to encouraged by encouraging myself in the Lord. One thing I have failed miserably to do is leave the fight in the Lord’s hands instead of trying to figure out the ”why” behind the injustice I am experiencing.
Doesn’t the Bible in Isaiah 26:3-4, ‘‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” I robbed myself of the peace of the Lord because I was focusing my mind on the hardship and not the Lord who empowers us to be seated in heavenly places in Christ under all circumstances. Could it be that we struggle longer than what God intends because we are too busy trying to be our own god?
The word ”good” means ”well-pleasing, beneficial, fruitful, or favorable”. The word ”wait” means ”depend on or hope in His promises to come to pass, to twist the strands of a cord”. We know what it means to depend on the Lord or hope in the Lord, but what does ”twisting the strands of the cord” have to do with this.
In Ecclesiastes 4:12, the Bible says, ”And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.’‘ So ”twisting the strands of the cord” is the process of allowing God to fortify us as we depend upon Him. When we try to fight battles on our own without the Lord, we don’t allow Him to fortify us, and many times, we become rattled and broken apart. The Bible says here that it is beneficial for us to allow God to fortify us in trial, because that is the only sure way the story ends in victory for us. We will bear fruit in trial if we allow the Lord to provide the victory for us.
The word ”seeketh” means ”to frequent, the follow, or to worship”. We must have a heart and attitude of worship in all situations, including the ones of great difficulty. In Isaiah 26:9, the Bible says, ”With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” Where are our hearts and minds in the midst of trial? Do our spirits cry out to the Lord? Is our first option turning to the Lord? I must admit,
I fall short in this area, because my instinct has always been to strive when I am under trial, but in Matthew 16:24, the Bible says, ”Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” We need to declare that our own ways and our own minds are untrue, and instead follow after the Lord. If He says , ”wait”, then we must wait.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 3, 2023 – Matthew 20:28 – to give his life a ransom for many
”Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28
Hi Everyone!
Service is a vital role in every believer’s life. We should be willing to freely give of ourselves to any in need, and we should also live our lives in a way to bring glory to God. We live in a very selfish society, a ”me first, then you” society, where many people are after gaining something solely for themselves. We live in a society where we ”clout chase”, meaning we try to build a name and reputation for ourselves, without promoting the Lord of our salvation, Jesus Christ. The disciples even had this problem, worrying more about who will be the greatest instead of worrying how to magnify the name of the Lord in the earth. Even the mother of James and John asked Christ that her sons would be able to sit at the right and left hand of Christ, the most prominent positions in the kingdom. They didn’t see the example of Christ, that Emmanuel, God with us, came to serve us, not to be a king in the earth. Today, we will look at Matthew 20:28 Christ came to serve.
”Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
The phrase ”Son of man” speaks of Christ, speaking of Himself. The phrase ”ministered unto” means ”to be waited upon, to be attended to, to be served”. So not only in title did Christ humble himself, but also in role on this earth. In Philippians 2:7-8, the Bible says, ”But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ took the low estate of flesh, experiencing the fallibly of mankind up close and personal, and He did so in order to be the atoning sacrifice for sin once and for all. It is unbelievable how people could come to Christ and ask for a position of prominence in the kingdom of God, but Christ came from the highest place of prominence to take the lowest place of humility. In Luke 14:11, the Bible says, ”For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.’‘ Mankind is in a collision course with puffing themselves up in society. It seems like everyone wants to have a name for themselves instead living by the name of Jesus Christ. Those who believe they deserve a position of prominence will find out that they aren’t as big as they hope themselves to be.
In Philippians 2:9, the Bible says, ”Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name”. Because Christ took the lowest estate, and made himself of no reputation, God gave Him the highest honor in the kingdom.
The word ”minister” means ”to serve, to be an attendant of, to wait upon”. When you serve someone, their needs are the priority. In Romans 12:10, the Bible says, ”Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”. Love should be the reason we will be willing to serve our brothers and sisters, and why we should be desirous to take the low estate. We are supposed to follow the example of Christ and prefer others above ourselves.
In Luke 22:26-27, Christ says, ”But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.’‘ Christ is telling us that greatness is not in prominence and titles, but it service, and He didn’t just tell us, but He showed us in His Word.
In John 13:14-15, the Bible says, ”If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Christ was not above rolling His sleeves up and serving mankind. Even the seemingly menial job of washing people’s feet was not above Christ. Why is it that we have so many false standards?
The word ”give” means ”to offer up, to bestow upon”. The phrase ”ransom for” means ”a redemption price for atonement as a substitute for our sin”. In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, the Bible says, ”For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Christ’s service included being our substitute for our sin, to bring us back into the presence of God, and abolish the curse of death.
In Titus 2:13-14, the Bible says, ”Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” It is because of the humility of Christ that we have access to redemption and salvation by faith in His name. He humbled Himself to serve when He should’ve been the one served. If our Savior can do this, then what is our excuse?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 4, 2023 – John 1:17 – grace and truth came by Jesus Christ
”For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17
Hi Everyone!
The law was given to us as a road map to show us the way to remain separate in a Godless world. The law was also produced to show us that we would be incapable of fulfilling the whole law, and something, or Someone stronger and better would have to come in order to make the difference between what we lack and where God is. All of our champions in the faith have fallen short in different ways, but they still became the champions in the faith anyway, because the blood of Christ covered their faults. People have the concept of grace misconstrued as a license to sin, actually having the audacity to believe that it is okay to keep living a worldly life because grace is going to make up the difference. Think about it, grace must be something extremely incredible if a person can believe that they can do anything and still be covered. Grace and truth teache us that God empowers us by Christ to walk a more fulfilling life of faith in Him, and empowers us to do better. Today, we will look at John 1:17, the grace and truth that came by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
”For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
The word ”Law” speaks of the Mosaic body of laws or codes. The law was God’s demand upon the Israelites for holiness, and He still demands holiness from us as well. God gave the Law to Moses to demonstrate the unrighteousness of mankind in order to show the need for a Savior, Jesus Christ. In Romans 3:19-20, the Bible says, ”Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” God designed the law to make us conscious of sin, for us to understand that no one but Christ has kept the law completely, and for us to not be so quick to judge each other’s shortcomings. In Romans 3:23-24, the Bible says, ”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.” The law made this obvious, that there would be no perfect person on this earth but Christ, and before we can look upon another’s sin, let us look upon our own sin, and understand that our justification can only come by the Lord.
In Deuteronomy 4:44-45, the Bible says, ”And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel: These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt.” The Law came after the children of Israel were set free from their Egyptian captivity, to establish holiness among a people that would dwell in the wilderness until they received their promise. Whatever God gave Moses, He gave to the people. In Deuteronomy 5:1, the Bible says, ”And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.’‘ God didn’t give Moses the law just for him to relay the information back to the children of Israel, but so they would listen with the intention of obeying and actually obey the Word of God.
The word ”grace” implies a divine influence upon the heart, exercised in conferring gifts, graces, and benefits on man, bestowed in and through Christ and His gospel. The word ”truth” refers to divine truth or the faith and practice of true religion, derived from God, declaring the existence and will of the one true God. Both of these came by Jesus Christ and were a ‘law unto itself’.
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.” Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and the Word of God is full of grace and truth, the very essence of our risen Savior.
In Romans 5:20-21, the Bible says, ”Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Grace became what we couldn’t be, what our sin wouldn’t allow us to be. When we allow grace to reign in our lives, it empowers us to obey the Word of the Lord, not using grace as a license to sin.
In Romans 6:1-2, the Bible says, ”What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” The idea of grace is to use the power God has given us through Christ to live a holy life. The law gave us a guideline that gave us the understanding of our need for a Savior. Christ came to bring grace and truth, to show us that His salvation has freed us from the law. Let us use our freedom to serve God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 5, 2023 – John 3:3 – except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
”Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
Hi Everyone!
In my prison environment, I occasionally hear a person say that there are many paths to God. We live in a cop-out, convenience heavy society, where people want the easy way out of things. People believe that we can sprinkle a little bit of Christianity, a little Islam, a little Stoicism, a little philosophy, or a little atheism, and still find our way to the Lord when our lives here are over. The world is becoming more and more Godless by the second because people are forsaking the Way into the kingdom of God, and instead, choosing to forge their own path. I have never heard of a person in an earthy kingdom being able to live in a kingdom by their own rules, gaining entry by their own way, instead of the way that the kingdom establishes one to enter. Why is it that people feel like they can set their own rules for entry into the kingdom of God? Today, we will look at John 3:3, the requirements for entry into the kingdom of God.
”Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The scene of this passage takes places as Nicodemus came to Christ by night. The word ”answered” means ”to conclude for oneself, or to begin to speak.” In order for us to understand the context of this passage we have to know what Christ responded to. John 3:2, the Bible says, ”The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Based on Nicodemus comment to Christ, he was acknowledging that God was with Him. Wasn’t Christ called Immanuel, ”God with us”? Christ’s response doesn’t really seem to ”line up” with Nicodemus’s comment. Doesn’t it appear that Christ is getting under the comment, to the heart of the matter?
In John 2:25, the Bible says, ‘‘And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.’‘ God knows the answers to the question we ask, but He also knows what is under the questions we ask too, the stuff that we are too afraid to unearth. This is evidenced by John 3:4, which says, ‘‘Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?’‘ Right after Christ gave Nicodemus the requirement for entry into the kingdom of God, what was in Nicodemus’ heart came out. This is how well the Lord knows us!
The word ”except” means ”unless”. This is a statement that establishes that there is only one way into the kingdom of God. Nicodemus’s spirit was crying out for answers because Christ’s arrival changed something inside of him, and things that used to make sense, no longer made sense. Salvation and admittance into the kingdom of God did not come by physical lineage or by keeping the ritual of Jewish doctrine. The word ”born” means ”procreated”. The phrase ”born again” means ”to be procreated from above”. This is a spiritual birth.
In John 1:12-13, the Bible says, ”But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Nicodemus was trying to understand the kingdom of God from a physical perspective. Entry into the kingdom of God comes by faith in Jesus Christ, receiving His blood upon us. He gave us power to become the children of God because of this, born of Him, born into an imperishable kingdom. In Titus 3:5-6, the Bible says, ”Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour”. What Nicodemus knew was the works were the evidence of being a part of the kingdom of God, but entry into the kingdom of God has nothing to do with how well we kept the law, but about our faith in Jesus Christ. Our rebirth came through Him, not because of anything we have done.
The word ”see” means ”know or understand”. We know that the word ”know” implies a oneness, two things becoming one in Christ. The word ”kingdom” means ”realm”, so the ”kingdom of God” is the spiritual realm God inhabits, where a place is made for us.
In John 14:6, the Bible says, ”Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” There is no experiencing the kingdom of God apart from Jesus Christ. In John 10:9-10, the Bible says, ”I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Christ is the only way into the kingdom of God, and the entry point for us to participate in the kingdom of God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 6, 2023 – 2 Chronicles 20:6 – O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven?
”And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?”
2 Chronicles 20:6
Hi Everyone!
Sometimes, we have to encourage ourselves in the Lord. We face some moment of difficulty and we need encouragement from the Lord, so most of us turn to prayer for the help we need. This is a great idea, because all of our hope should be in the Lord, and He should be the one we turn to in our time of need. When we are under a state of warfare, who do we turn to? When our enemies mount a wicked offensive against us, and they build a wall on all sides, what do we say to the Lord? Do we call the Lord on His ability, do we call His record of victory into account, or do we panic and question God’s love for us? When we are in warfare, meditating on the faithfulness of God, on the power of God, and on the dominion of God can and will encourage us about our prospect of victory in Him. Today, we look at 2 Chronicles 20:6, an all-powerful God giving us an unmatchable victory in Him.
”And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?”
The name ”Lord God” says it all, meaning ”the Supreme God”. Are we praying to God in full assurance that He is in control of everything on earth? Is God supreme in our lives? The word ”fathers” speaks of human fathers, spiritual fathers, forefathers, and ancestors. This is another statement of faith because in Hebrews 13:8, the Bible says, ”Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” If the Lord God is the God of our ancestors, or spiritual fathers, and our birth fathers, then that means His power has been revealed in the earth since the beginning of time. Sometimes, the best way to draw confidence in what God will do is to look at what He has already done.
In this passage of Scripture, the Moabites and the Ammonites came together to engage Judah in warfare. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, received word of their offensive, and was afraid. It is perfectly normal to be afraid when an enemy comes in like a flood, but what do we do with our fear? In 2 Chronicles 20:3, the Bible says, ‘‘And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” Jehoshaphat did not operate in his own flesh, nor did he allow fear to have reign, but he humbled himself before the Lord and brought his fears to God in faith.
The word ”rulest” implies having dominion or power. The word ”kingdoms” means ”realms or reigns”. The word ”heathen” means ”Gentile or foreign nation”. Jehoshaphat begins his prayer to God by expressing that God is supreme, and He rules over everyone, including people who don’t believe in Him. In Deuteronomy 4:38-39, the Bible says, ‘‘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. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.” Just as God gave the Israelites victory over Egypt, God is beyond capable of giving them victory over the Moabites and the Ammonites. It doesn’t matter how great the multitude is or how strong they appear to be, when God is involved, the victory is ours.
The word ”hand” means ”means, capacity, or direction”. The word ”power” means ”ability, strength, or force”. If we don’t attribute the Lord God as having all of the power and ability to grant us the victory, then we will not pray in faith, and we won’t trust God to produce the victory. In 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, the Bible says, ”Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.” Jehoshaphat knew that his enemies were numerous and powerful, but He knew that they didn’t stand a chance against God. He knew that in God was the strength he needed for victory, and He knew that in the Lord was victory. He couldn’t lose by trusting in the Lord. The word ”withstand” implies a person, army, government, or anything being able to prevent God from getting the victory. Jehoshaphat proclaimed in prayer that none can prevent God from getting the victory. In Psalm 62:11, the Bible says, ‘‘God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” All power belongs to the Lord, and if we place our trust in the Lord, then He will give us the victory.
What do we trust in when the enemy mounts an offensive on all sides? How do we approach God? Jehoshaphat set a great example for how we should pray in warfare.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 7, 2023 – 2 Chronicles 20:15 – for the battle is not yours, but God’s
”And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
2 Chronicles 20:15
Hi Everyone!
Some battles are scary. The enemy mounts up countless people against us, the climb seems too strenuous to make it through, the weaponry used again us seems to be too mighty. It is really easy to retreat under the weight of warfare, under the strain of persecution, under the trials that God allows us to go through in order to sharpen our faith and strengthen our stance. Easy doesn’t mean better, nor does easy mean we get any closer to the destiny God has for us. To live this life of faith means that there will be warfare, and there will be an enemy who is trying to hinder God’s purpose for our lives. Sometimes, that enemy will be fearsome, but there is no reason to fear because the Lord is always with us, and will ensure that we will get the victory in Him. Today, we will look at 2 Chronicles 20:15, fearlessness in the face of battle.
”And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
The word ”hearken” means ”to prick up ears, to give heed, to incline our ears and obedience to the Word of the Lord. In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” King Jehoshaphat was terrified by the Moabites and the Ammonites’ offences but set his fear to the side to seek the face of God. Jehoshaphat prayed, not from a position of fear, but from a position of faith. He prayed to God and declared God’s power over his enemy, he declared his Word that compelled him to pray in the first place, and he made his need known to God. In 2 Chronicles 20:14, the Bible says, ”Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation”. Right after Jehoshaphat prayed before all of Judah, the Holy Spirit came in the midst of the congregation and spoke through His priest Jahaziel. So the person who is telling Judah to incline their ears to heed the Word of the Lord is the Lord! It is so powerful when God cares enough about our well-being to speak to our fear and our cry for help. God responds to our cries of help.
The word ”afraid” means ”fearful, frightened, or dreadful”. The word ”dismayed” means ”broken down by violence, confusion, or fear, to be scared to petrification”. Sometimes, warfare can make us so scared that we get stuck and downtrodden, essentially waiting to be defeated. God speaks towards the heart of the matter, towards the fear that He knows His children have in the face of battle. In Psalm 27:1-2, the Bible says, ”The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.” When God is our deliverance, there is nothing to fear, because when our enemies mount an offensive against us, they won’t be able to stand. I remember being afraid as a little kid and I hid behind my Dad and pointed to who I was afraid of. When Dad told me to not be afraid, that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me, I believed him, and came from behind him and stood confidently. Well, God is so much stronger than my Dad! In Exodus 14:13-14, the Bible says, ”And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Sometimes, in the midst of warfare, we will have to stand still, which is the hardest thing for us to do, especially me. When God tells us to not fear, it is because He already has the victory mapped out for us, and will fight in our place. There should be no fear when we have the privilege of watching our enemies fall right before us.
The word ”battle” means ”warfare, or engagement in fighting”. Sometimes, we have the hardest time distinguishing whether the battle is ours or it’s the Lord. Sometimes, God will literally fight the battle for us, and other times, He will empower us to fight. 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.” Just as Jehoshaphat received word that his battle was the Lord’s, Hezekiah also received this same word. No matter how strong the enemy may appear, no matter how he tries to break us down, nor matter how many people mount up against us, victory is the Lord’s.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 8, 2023 – Hosea 14:1 – O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God
”O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.”
Hosea 14:1
Hi Everyone!
Now is the time for salvation! Now is the time to depart from our sinful ways to receive the redemption that can only come by the Lord Jesus Christ. Now is the time that we exchange our sinful natures, our old lives, and our old ways of thinking for the nature, life, and thoughts of the Lord. In order for us to become who God called us to be, we must return into His presence to receive His Word about who we are, and what we are called to do in this life. I remember who I was when I walked in sin, when I deliberately disobeyed the Lord. I was desperately in need for a Savior but I didn’t know how to find my way to the Lord. Going to church wasn’t enough to change my heart, nor was it enough to cause me to return to the Lord. I needed a heart change, and I needed the Lord in order to have that heart change. Today, we will look at Hosea 14:1, repentance from the destruction of iniquity.
”O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.”
The word ”return” implies us turning back to the Lord to be reestablished, restored, redeemed. This term expresses repentance, a turning away from a life of sinfulness to turn to the Lord. In order to repent, there must be a desire within our hearts to change. In Acts 2:36-37, the Bible says, ‘‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 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?” When people heard the truth, it caused their hearts to be stricken, and within themselves they knew a change had to be made. Sometimes, people want to change but have no clue as to how. My family used to think that I could just flip a switch and stop sinning, but it was far from being that easy.
These were ”church people” who were asking Peter what should we do.
In Acts 2:38, the Bible says, ”Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.’’
Peter’s answer was to repent and be baptized.
In Luke 24:47, the Bible says, ”And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
The message of repentance was not a new message, but it was preached by Christ, John the Baptist and it was preached through the prophets.
In Hosea 12:6, the Bible says, ”Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.”
The point of repentance is to begin living our lives unto the Lord, to serve Him with everything we are.
In Joel 2:13, the Bible says, ”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.” People used to tear their clothes as an outward sign of grief, but those who truly mourn after the Lord, will have an inward tearing at their hearts. God is so gracious and merciful to be patient enough for us to turn our hearts over to Him. We are far less patient with each other than God is with us!
The word ”fallen” means ”to totter, waver, falter, stumble, ruin or overthrow by means of spiritual weakness”. The word ”iniquity” doesn’t just mean sin, but iniquity is a lifestyle of deliberate sinfulness, moral evil or perversity. I know firsthand what a life of iniquity is like, because I willfully served sin until it became what I was identified by.
In Hosea 13:9, the Bible says, ”O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.” Iniquity is something that destroys us from the inside out. When I was living in iniquity, I was so deep in it that I couldn’t see my way out of it.
In Hosea 5:4-5, the Bible says, ‘‘They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them.” Our behaviors come from the deepest places in us, and our behaviors testify as to what manner of people we are. Destruction comes to those who walk in iniquity, to those who won’t return to the Lord.
In Ezekiel 36:25-26, the Bible says, ”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.” Iniquity causes filth that must be cleansed, and a heart that needs to change. If we return to the Lord, He will most certainly cleanse us from our sin, and give us a new heart.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 9, 2023 – 1 Peter 3:15 – but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts
”But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
1 Peter 3:15
Hi Everyone!
As believers, especially those who share the Word of God with people, there will come a time when we must defend the faith we have. Imagine me being confined for twenty years, a convicted murderer, a former gang member who has been redeemed and made a new creation in Christ, having to explain to my former crowd who I am now in Christ. Not an easy feat! What about those who have to defend the faith to people who don’t believe, to those who won’t believe? That is an even more daunting task, but when people question our faith in Christ and our stance as believers, we not only have to be ready, but we also must have the right attitude when we do it. If our attitudes are not in step with the Word of God, and we are not operating with a state of humility, we run a risk of putting the Gospel to shame. Today, we will be looking at 1 Peter 3:15, a humble defence of the faith.
”But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
The word ”sanctify” means ”to make holy or pure, to devote, to set apart from common use to sacred use”. The word ”hearts” means ”the seat of one’s inner desire, feelings, affections, passions or impulses.” When we ”sanctify the Lord God in our hearts”, we bring ourselves into submissive communion with the Lord Jesus through our love and obedience. We set Christ apart as Lord, controlling our desires, feelings, affections, passions or impulses.
In John 17:17, Christ prays to God, ”Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The path to sanctification in Christ is through the Word of God, and it is in the Word of God that we understand truth. When we sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, we make ourselves available to receive the Word of God, the revelations of the Word by the Holy Spirit, and we position ourselves to speak what God ordains us to speak. I
n Mark 13:11, Christ says, ”But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” Christ was preparing the disciples for their defence of the Gospel, that when they are persecuted or delivered up, that they shouldn’t ever try to speak of their own accord, neither should we.
In Jeremiah 1:7-8, the Bible says, ”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. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.” If God commands us to makes ourselves available to receive the Word of God, and we are only speaking the Word that He gives us, then why do we pressure ourselves to fear to open our mouths?
The phrase ”be ready” means ”to be prepared”. The phrase ”give an answer” means ”to plea, to give defence, or to clear oneself”. In Psalm 119:46, the Bible says, ”I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.” When we make ourselves pliable, able to be formed by the Word of God, we will be willing to speak a Word that comes from the Lord without fear or shame. When we have the right attitude, God does the rest. People are going to ask us why we are believers, and we should expect it.
The word ”hope” means ”confidence or faith”. In Acts 4:8-10, the Bible says, ‘‘Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” When Peter healed the impotent man by the name of Jesus Christ, people wanted to know how it happened. The Scripture here said that Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost and then spoke, giving testimony to what power was at work that caused the man’s healing.
The word ”meekness” means ”mildness or humility”. The word ”fear” means ”deep moral reverence to God”. In 2 Timothy 2:24-25, the Bible says, ”And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”. Attitude is everything, and when we have a Godly attitude of humility, the Word that flows from us can reach people’s hearts, leading them into repentance.
Are we willing to be led by the Holy Spirit in Word, deed, and attitude, knowing that someone else’s salvation may come from our defence of the Gospel?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 10, 2023 – 1 Peter 4:13 – but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings
”But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
1 Peter 4:13
Hi Everyone!
Believers will find themselves going through trials. Trials are in no way pleasant, and they seem to rip and tear at us, making us feel weakened. This is the point where many people lose heart and back away from the promises of God, because we as a society have been conditioned to believe that we are to be exempt from hardship. Going through a recent season of my life where Jessica and I were tried harshly and consistently, we had to learn how to find our happy place in the midst of the struggle. That happy place is in the Word of God, which allows us to rest in the Lord and not in the circumstances that come our way. God wants to take us even further, and there is an attitude we as believers must have in the face of sufferings, one of rejoicing, one of faith, and one of love. Today, we are going to look at 1 Peter 4:13, finding unspeakable joy in the midst of unthinkable suffering.
”But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
The word ”rejoice” means ”to be cheerful or calmly happy”. This isn’t cheerfulness because of any outside circumstances, but it is because of what is working on the inside of us. In James 1:2-4, 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. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” This passage says ”when ye fall”, not ”if you fall”. A believer should expect a harvest of blessings, but also our share of trials. God commands us to rejoice in the face of trial, because there is something on the other side of this trial that is going to produce fruit in us for the kingdom of God. We are going to go through things, but we have to understand what the trial is producing, and also that we have to see it through to the end. It is common for the majority of us believers to find ourselves in trouble when we don’t endure the trial before we lose sight, lose faith, or our countenance breaks.
In Acts 5:40-41, the Bible says, ”And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” The apostles were beaten for doing the right thing, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Our minds think that if we do the right things that God won’t let anything happen to us, but that is not true. God will allow us to go through the trials so our patience can be refined and so that God will be glorified in our behavior. The apostles rejoiced to have suffered for the name of Jesus Christ. How can the enemy triumph over someone who is unflappable in trial, someone who gives God the glory?
The word ”partaker” means ”someone who shares in”. The word ”sufferings” means ”affliction, hardships, and pain undergone.” 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.” Just because we are the children of God, doesn’t mean we won’t go through suffering. There is something on the other side of our suffering, and that is glory. In 2 Corinthians 1:6-7, the Bible says, ‘‘And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” Our sufferings are effective and fruitful to produce the comfort and encouragement of God.
The word ”glory” implies that God shines His light upon us, highlighting us. The word ”revealed” means ”to disclose or manifest.” In 1 Peter 1:7, the Bible says, ‘‘That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” When we endure through trial in the manner God commands, our lives bring glory to God and He shines His light upon us. The phrase ”be glad” means ”to have joy”. This is a choice! In 1 Peter 5:10, the Bible says, ‘‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” This is why we should have joy, because on the other side of this thing, God is completing us, strengthening us, settling us in Him. Praise God that our sufferings reap such a great reward.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 10, 2020 – Luke 24:6 – He is not here, but is risen
”He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,”
EASTER SUNDAY
Luke 24:6
Hi Everyone!
Our Savior has risen! Over the years, we have allowed ourselves to become desensitized to what this really means, and resurrection Sunday has become more about new church clothes, Easter egg hunts, and everything this day doesn’t mean. Before Christ came to this world, the sacrifices made were lambs without spot or blemish, used to serve as atonement, rolling the sins ahead until the next year. The lamb was slaughtered, never to return again, but our Lord was slain, BUT He conquered the grave, and rose again! Our Savior lives, seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf. Our risen Savior sent the Holy Spirit in His name to be another Comforter, one who would be with us forever. We have the ability to do greater works than Christ did because He rose from the dead! This is Resurrection Sunday, and the same power that rose Christ from the dead now lives in us! Today we will look at Luke 24:6, our Savior has Risen!
”He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,”
The word ‘’not here” implies someone or something not being in this exact spot. Mary Magdalene was one of the women who came to the tomb early on Sunday morning, only to find the stone rolled away and Jesus nowhere to be found. What they did find was two angels in shining clothes, and before they could say a word, Luke 24:5 says, ”And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?” They were looking for Christ in a place He was no longer in. They were coming to finish the burial process, completely discounting the idea that Christ would live again, but Christ had news for them! In Isaiah 55:6, the Bible says ”Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near”. We don’t want to be a people waiting until it is too late to make the Lord our Savior and King, nor do we want to be somewhere the Lord isn’t. We live in a society that is trying to find the Lord in all the wrong places, and we are becoming more Godless by the second.
The word ”risen” means ”to wake or rouse from death”. The word ”remember” means ”to bear in mind, recollect, or be mindful”. The angels declared that the Lord has indeed risen and then asked them to remember the Word of the Lord taught to them concerning this very event. In Matthew 16:21, the Bible says, ”From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” This shows that when Christ was preaching to the disciples, Mary Magdalene, Mary, Joanna, and other women were there, being taught the Word as well. In Matthew 17:22-23, the Bible says, ‘‘And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.” Christ didn’t just tell them once, but told them repeatedly, because He wanted them to be prepared for when the day came. Doesn’t that sound like what good parents do, prepare their children to experience life, but always teach them to navigate around the periods of difficulty as well.
After the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, when Peter gave his first sermon, he mentions the death and resurrection of Christ. In Acts 2:23-24, the Bible says, ‘‘Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Just as the angels reminded the women who appeared at the tomb Sunday morning about Christ being risen, Peter reminded the Church that Christ rose from the dead and conquered death in the process. By His conquering of the grave, we have the power to live eternally by faith in His name.
In John 12:32-33, Christ says, ”And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” Christ didn’t die for nothing. He died to give us all access to life by His name.
There’s more! In Philippians 3:10-11, the Bible says, ”That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” We as believers have the privilege to be partakers in His sufferings, in His death, burial, and resurrection, but we also will be partakers of His power! In Luke 24:8, the Bible says, ‘‘And they remembered his words”. Will we remember the Word of the Lord in our own lives? Will we see that our Savior has conquered death so we would conquer life? Will we see that Christ’s resurrection gave us new life too?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 11, 2023 – Ephesians 4:24 – and that ye put on the new man
”And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:24
Hi Everyone!
When we received salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, we were made new creations in Christ. This means that our old lives as we knew them are now gone and we have the amazing ability to walk holy before a God who loves us immensely. We have the opportunity to become who God created us to be, and we no longer have to be imprisoned to our old natures, old conditioning, and old ways of doing things. We have the ability to live up to our true potential in the Lord, and there is nothing in our past that will stop God from using us. Too many of us hold on to things we have been delivered from, people we have been delivered from, and mentalities we have been delivered from, and that is the thing that hinders our growth in the Lord. We must accept our rightful places as children of God and live according to that truth, because we are no longer spiritually impoverished in our worldly attitudes. Today, we will look at Ephesians 4:24, becoming a new person in Christ.
”And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
The phrase ”put on” means ”to invest in clothing, to array, implying a sinking into a garment”. This is a choice, to put on the new man, to receive the newness God has for us. In 1 Corinthians 15:53-54, the Bible says, ”For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” Our old natures were corruptible, subject to the influences of the enemy, and there was nothing good in them. By putting on the new man, we have exchanged death for life, and we now live forever in Him.
In Romans 13:13-14, the Bible says, ”Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.’‘ We have to walk according to the light, living our lives for the Lord, not giving our old natures the opportunity to resurface and retake dominion. When we make provision for our flesh we have effectively put on corruption again, the very thing we have been delivered from.
The phrase ”new man” means metaphorically, ”Christians renewed and changed from evil to good by the Spirit of God.” 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.” If we believe in the Bible as the truth of God, then we must come to accept ourselves as new creations in Christ. We have to consider our pasts as dead and we must classify our lives as new. We can’t live new lives holding on to old skeletons, old deeds, and old attitudes.
The word ”created” means ”fabricated in a spiritual sense, to form spiritually, regeneration or renewal”. The word ”righteousness” implies justification before God, one whose heart is right with God, someone having piety towards God, virtuous, or uprightness”. In Romans 6:4, the Bible says, ”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 to live our lives as if there was a funeral to our old selves and we have been brought back to life as a new person in Christ. We have to treat salvation as the fresh start we have always desired. Sure, there are going to be people who will try to hold us to who we used to be, but we don’t have to see their opinions as truth. We have the ability to take God’s word for it over man’s, which can be hard to do, because sometimes our past has consequences attached that we are forced to live with. We still have to receive God’s testimony of us over the world.
In Colossians 3:9-10, the Bible says, ”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”. We are living a lie if we accept our old natures over God’s word concerning us. When we put on the new man, we put on what the Word of God says about who we are.
The phrase ”true holiness” implies piety manifested in the discharge of our duties as believers of Christ. In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says, ”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’‘ Our actions are representative of what is at work within us, and our actions should reflect Christ in us. 1 Peter 1:15 says, ‘‘But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” Instead of reflecting the world, let us put on the new man and reflect the Word of God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 12, 2023 – 2 Corinthians 12:12 – in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds
”Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
2 Corinthians 12:12
Hi Everyone!
When we are sent by the Lord to share the Word of God, there will always be evidence of the Lord’s power working in us. Sometimes, it can be as ”small” as a Word of confirmation, watering a seed that was previously planted, and other times, it can be something ”huge”, like a miraculous healing or a raising from the dead. Whether the instance is ”small” or ”huge” by our own small standards, there will always be something present for us to know that the person was sent by God. When the Church began after Christ’s death, there were signs and wonders that flowed from the apostles, and it left people with no doubt that their work was that of the Lord. No one could do the things the apostles were doing unless they were empowered by the Lord. Nothing has changed from then to now, but why has the Church lost some of its power to perform these same wonders? Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 12:12, the signs and wonders of those sent by the Lord.
”Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
The word ”signs” means ”supernatural indications, or miracles”. These are things done that leave no doubt that are out of the ability of humanity to do. In Romans 15:18-19, the Bible says, ”For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Paul was someone who previously persecuted the Church for their belief in Christ, when these same signs and wonders were being done, leaving no room to question whether this power came from God, but now that he is a believer, he had access to perform the same works.
The word ”apostle” means ”a delegate, a messenger, and ambassador of the Gospel, a commissioner of Christ, or someone sent by God”. The word ”wrought” means ”worked fully, accomplished, or performed”. An apostle is someone chosen by God and sent by God to accomplish the will of God. In Matthew 28:19-20, Christ commission the disciples when He said, ”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 His disciples the command to go and teach all nations to obey the word of the Lord, which was their primary goal. Before this commission was given, Christ told these same disciples in John 14:12, ‘‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” Christ was sent by God as the Savior of the world, and in fulfilling His purpose on earth, He also performed signs and wonders that He came from God. He told His disciples that they would do greater works if they believe. Could it be that the reason the Church has not performed like the Church did back then is that we stopped believing in the Word of God?
The word ”patience” means ”cheerful endurance or perseverance”. The word ”wonders” means ”omens”. The word ”mighty deeds” means ”miraculous power or force of God working through people”. In 1 Corinthians 9:1-2, the Bible says, ‘‘Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.” Paul is basically telling the Church at Corinth that the evidence of his apostleship is in the Church that God allows him to affect them with the power of God. There will always be fruit of apostleship and usually the fruit will remain on those God allows us to reach. In 2 Corinthians 4:2, the Bible says, ‘‘But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” When we are sent by the Lord, we won’t have to use tricks, slick talk, or anything to manifest the power of God. When our message is the Gospel, and our words are truth, it provides an unobstructed conduit for the Holy Spirit to move. In Luke 7:22-23, the Bible says, ”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. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” John the Baptist wanted to know if Christ was the Messiah, and Christ performed miracles, but also preached the Gospel, and sent both as a record of His truth. What will our record show?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 13, 2023 – 1 John 1:5 – God is light
”This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:5
Hi Everyone!
We can’t live without The Light. When we walked in darkness, absorbed in our sin, we hid from the light, wanting our sinful lives to be hidden in the shadows where no one could see. The light exposes what is in the darkness, and in my life, the darkness I walked in was exposed and I was left disgusted with myself. It is only by Christ, the Light of the World, that I have been blessed by God to walk in this light, experiencing new life, new freedom, and a new mind and heart. Being saved because of this Light, I want to share who God is with others so they can come out of the darkness and remain in the light of Christ. Being in the light, walking according to the light, and living because of the Light, I have a freedom in my life that I never had before. There is no darkness in God, and His Light has gives us a testimony to share with everyone. Today, we will look at 1 John 1:5, an announcement of light into a very dark world.
”This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
The word ”message” means ”an announcement of a divine assurance of good, or a promise”. I love how the definitions expand our comprehension of words! We hear the word ”message” and we make the association to the Word of God, but do we make the association that it is a promise or a divine assurance of good? 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.” We can only declare what we know, and knowing means that we have become one with it. How can we declare that the Lord works things out together for our good?
In Psalm 34:8, the Bible says, ‘‘O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” We have to taste and see! We have to not just hear the word of God, but we have to experience the Word at work in our lives for ourselves.
In John 6:35, the Bible says, ”And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” We have to taste the Word of God to know that it is good, but it begins with what we hear.
The word ”heard” means ”to give audience, with the intention of heeding the word given”. The word ”declare” means ”to report in detail”. 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.” When the Church formed after Christ’s death, they didn’t have Bibles to pass out. The Word was given through preaching, teaching, and also by revelation by the Holy Spirit. We have such amazing access to the full report of the Lord, yet is the sound going into all the earth?
In John 17:7-8, the Bible says, ”Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 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.” When we hear the Word of God and receive God’s Word as truth, it begins a chain reaction where we declare what we have heard, and someone else receives the Word of God as truth. Lives can change, oppression can break, sickness can be healed, salvation can be received, and lives can be lived in power because the Word of God goes out.
The word ”light” means ”luminosity, speaking of God, the Author and dispenser of moral and spiritual light” . In John 1:4-5, the Bible says, ‘‘In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The life of Christ is the light of men, so the only way we can receive the light is if we receive the Word of God. People loosely use the term ”enlightened” but to be enlightened is to receive the Word of God so that it will be the testimony we live in. 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.” Cleansing from all sin comes because we walk in the light, according to the Word of God.
In John 8:12, the Bible says, ”Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” When we walk in the light, darkness does not have the chance to overcome us, and the one way we can receive darkness is if we step out of the light. We have an amazing opportunity to walk as Christ did on earth, and bear witness to all of the good things He has done for us. Why wouldn’t we, after receiving such an amazing gift, neglect to declare God’s light to the world?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 14, 2023 – John 15:8 – herein is my Father glorified
”Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
John 15:8
Hi Everyone!
Do our lives glorify the Lord? Do we attribute to God the power working within us, allowing us to do the unprecedented? I know in my life, I can not help but to acknowledge God as being the Author of everything happening in my life, and even as I reflect on how things came to be, I see God’s hand sending the right people at the right place and at the right time for His will to be done. Even when I met Jessica, who wasn’t my wife at the time, but my boss in prison, where of all places God’s hand authored our coming together. There would be no ”Redgranite Daily Devotions” had God not brought us together, because Jess found Peter online while just scrolling. We are living our lives to bear fruit that will bring glory to God, because He positioned us to be where we are in order for us to do what we do. Praise be to God who gives us the power and permission to be His disciples. Today, we will look at John 15:8, fruit that glorifies the Lord.
”Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
The word ”glorified” means ”to celebrate with praise, honor, and worship”. Our lives should be lived to bring glory to God. Too many of us, especially in this social media driven society are so busy promoting ourselves, building our own clout, and trying to make a name for ourselves instead magnifying the name of the Lord. In Philippians 2:10-11, the Bible says, ”That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Does the Lord have our submission? Do our mouths confess that Jesus is Lord? Do our words and deeds bring glory to God?
In Matthew 5:15-16, Christ says, ”Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The light God gives us in Christ is meant to be shone. There is not supposed to be such thing as a silent, closet believer. Our light is supposed to shine, so when people see our light, we an show them where our light comes from.
In Luke 5:24-25, the Bible says, ”But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.” This man was confined to his bed, unable to walk. His friends brought him to he Lord to be healed, and when they couldn’t get inside due to the crowd, they tore the roof off the building and lowered the man before Christ. Christ healed him and the first thing he did was obey and then he gave God the glory. In Luke 5:26, the Bible says, ”And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.” The man glorifying God set a trend, because the other people there began glorifying God for what He has done. Does God get the glory for what He has done or do we give glory to another?
The word ”bear” means ”to carry or bring forth, to produce”. The word ”fruit” implies the outward manifestation of the work done within us. Fruit is what we see that gives us indication of what type of tree it is. The same rule apply to us. In Matthew 7:18-20, Christ says, ”A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” There are no gray areas for the fruit we bear, and we will know what manner of people we are by the fruit that is revealed in our lives. In John 15:16, Christ says, ‘‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” God created, ordained and chose us to bear fruit in the earth, God’s fruit only, so if we are bearing this kind of fruit, we are fulfilling the Word of God over our lives.
The word ”disciples” means ”learners or pupils”. In John 8:31-32, the Bible says, ”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.” Deliverance and freedom comes to those who remain in the Word of God, and also will bear fruit that shows we are the disciples and children of God. We will bear the attributes of what God teaches us. People should be able to look at us and know who our Lord is, and they definitely should hear it in our speech. This brings glory to God!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 15, 2023 – 1 John 3:16 – the love of God, because he laid down his life for us
”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.”
1 John 3:16
Hi Everyone!
When we experience the love of the Lord, it creates a reference point, a gauge for how our love should be for others. God loves us dearly, and desires us to be His children. In order to establish that as a reality and not just a possibility, He sent Jesus Christ to the world as the atoning sacrifice for sin once and for all. He gave us His Son to die on the cross, to endure suffering on our part, and He did it knowing full well that we would need His blood to cover us thousands of years later. As believers, we are supposed to receive this truth, and give ourselves to others as Christ gave Himself for us. The vast majority of us will never have to give our lives to save another’s, but we can make ourselves living sacrifices, people willing to help others in any way we are able. God loves us, so we must love others. Today, we will look at 1 John 3:16, extending God’s love to others.
”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.”
The word ”perceive” means ”to know, or to understand”. The word ”love” means ”love feast bestowed upon us by God.” To perceive the love of God is to experience the love of God, so the only way we can know the love of God is if we are believers, those who have experienced the love of God and received the gift of salvation for our sins.
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 set His love out for us to receive, He gave us Jesus Christ to give Himself for us to have everlasting life, and the work was done long before we came to the world. All we have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ! This exchange further proves the love of God because He puts our burdens upon His Son, makes all the provisions for the promise, and leaves us with one small condition. Believe! By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, we now can become one with the love of God and begin to understand how deep it runs.
The phrase ”laid down” implies Christ giving His life for us. Let us look at another component of God’s love. In John 10:18, the Bible says, ”No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” No one had the power to take Christ’s life. This was a choice Christ made to give himself up for us. At any time, Christ could’ve said no, but in Philippians 2:8, the Bible says, ‘‘And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” God knew His Son was going to obey His word, becoming the atoning sacrifice for sin, and a true testament of God’s love in giving us a choice. Christ had a choice and still chose to die for the same people whose actions strung Him on the Christ and also for the people whose actions try to leave Him at the cross.
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 is speaking about the level of love one has to have in order to lay down our life for someone else. Wait a minute! So we have been talking about God’s love, how His love caused Him to give Christ up for the sins of the world, but what about the love of Christ that led Him to be obedient, even knowing He had a death sentence coming. Christ loves us too! 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.” Christ knew what His death would produce, and having the power to lay down His own life, He chose to die to obey God and save us.
Knowing this, we should be eager to lay down our lives for others. In Romans 12:1, the Bible 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.” Now that we have been delivered and set free from our sin, God is commanding us to be living sacrifices, meaning that we sacrifice our own will for our own lives in order for someone else to be set free. Isn’t it odd that God can do so much for us, giving us Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us, and we think that the little God asks of us is too much for us to handle?
In 1 John 4:9, the Bible says, ”In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” God designed Christ’s death so that we could live. God allows us to be living sacrifices so that others can have access to life. God’s love should promote our love for others!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 16, 2023 – 1 John 5:20 – this is the true God, and eternal life
”And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
1 John 5:20
Hi Everyone!
The Word of God gives us a detailed report of the life of Christ. The Gospel was written so we may understand that Christ was sent to this world as the atoning sacrifice for sin once and for all, that Christ came as the Savior of the world, and that Christ is God robed in flesh. The Word of God was given to us so we would believe in the name of Jesus Christ and have life in His name. God truly desires for us to know Him as His children, to be partakers of His word so deeply that we will represent Him in the earth. God wants us to know His Word so we will be of the truth, and the lies of the enemy won’t shake us from our sure foundation. God wants us to know His Word so that we can operate in power as children of God and heirs of the promise instead of paupers and degenerates. Today, we will look at 1 John 5:20, a powerful understanding of an even more powerful God.
”And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
The word ”know” expresses oneness. Knowing isn’t about receiving information, but it is about the information being planted inside us until it grows and bears fruit. In Genesis 4:25, the Bible says, ”And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.” In order for something or someone to be conceived, their has to be seed planted. The seed has to be one with the soil, and from it, life comes. In John 6:63, the Bible says, ”It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” We receive the Word of God by the Spirit of God, and what is birthed in us is life, more seed able to be sown in others. Just as Adam sowed seed in Eve and produced Seth, seed continued to be sown all the way to Christ. God never plants His Word within us, causing for us to know Scripture, in order for us to stand silent and not cast seed ourselves. Knowing is only half the battle, because as believers, we have to share what we know with others.
The word ”given” means ”to bestow or commit”. The word ”understanding” means ”power of thought, intelligence, or insight”. God doesn’t just want us to read His Word or listen to His Word being preached or taught. He desires for us to understand His Word. 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.” If we stumble in our understanding, we can ask the Lord for wisdom and He will give us what we need to understand His Word.
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.” When we ask God for understanding, we will be able to rightly divide the Word of truth, which is another way of saying we understand the Word on the surface and in its depths. In Luke 24:45, the Bible says, ”Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” Just as Christ wanted the disciples to understand the Scriptures, God wants us to have that same understanding. Why is that? Because the Word spreads because of our understanding and willingness to share the Word of God with others.
The word ”true” means ”unfeigned or genuine”. God wants us to know Christ as true, and understand that if we are in Christ, we are true as well. In John 17:17, Christ prays, ”Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The truth is what separates us for a divine purpose, and understanding the Word of God allows us to be meet for the Master’s use.
In John 17:3, Christ prays, ”And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” God wants us to receive His Word so we will know God, and know God in Christ, knowing that they are one. In John 17:20-21, the Bible says, ”Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 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.” The Gospel with reveal that Christ is in fact God robed in flesh, and as believers, we are one in Him.
In 1 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, ‘‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.’‘ If this is our testimony in the earth, then we will bear fruit for the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the one true God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 17, 2023 – John 15:5 – I am the vine
”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.”
John 15:5
Hi Everyone!
We must abide in the Lord. This world is crazy, becoming more violent and Godless by the second. There are people racing after ”their own truth”, trying every new philosophy, becoming more distant from the kingdom of God, the source of all truth. As believers, we must understand that we are branches on the vine of Christ. A branch only survives as long as it remains on the vine, for the branch is provided all the things it needs to live, and bear fruit. The branch can never tell the vine what it is to become, nor can the branch dictate to the vine what type of fruit to bear. A life without the vine is a life of a believer without Christ, because death is all but certain to a branch that is apart from the vine. Too many people think they can live without Christ, but they misconstrue living with existing. Life is only through Christ. Today, we will look at John 15:5, a branch fed by the vine.
”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.”
The ”vine” supplies nourishment for the branches. The word branch means ”a limb or shoot”. 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 as believers must understand is who the earth and its occupants belong to. When we see ourselves as members of God, when we see ourselves as participants in the kingdom of God, and when we see ourselves as being in need of God for all things that pertains to the life we live, then we should seek Him for perspective, guidance, provision, healing, direction, and grace to cover where we fall short.
In 2 Peter 1:3-4, 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: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” It is only by the power of God that we are able to live a Godly life, but so many people are living with the inaccurate view that there are many paths to God. There is only one path to God and that is Christ. The only way we can partake in the kingdom of God, is by being attached to The Vine.
The word ”abideth” means ”to dwell, remain, or stay in a given place or relation.” Abiding in the Lord expresses communion, a oneness in Christ, a dependence upon Christ, and our obedience to the Word of God. It is the act of presenting ourselves to God as an empty vessel desiring to be filled. In John 15:10, the Bible says, ”If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” By receiving the Word of God and carrying it out as the Lord commands, we will remain in Him and His love. When we disobey the Word of the Lord, we cut off our own supply of ‘kingdom provision’ from God. The phrase ”bringeth forth fruit” refers to the Lord’s manifestation of the work happening within us. In Philippians 1:11, the Bible says, ‘‘Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Let’s look at this for a minute. Fruit naturally shows on the outside, giving indication to what type of tree it is. In order to be ”filled with the fruits of righteousness” this suggests that fruit bearing begins on the inside and then extends out. How can we bear fruit for the kingdom of God while being disconnected from the vine? In John 15:16, Christ says, ”Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” This shows us something even deeper, that the work in us as believers to bear fruit for the kingdom of God began long before we came to earth. We were God’s choice, set apart for divine use, and His design for us is to bear fruit that lasts.
We can’t accomplish anything of this without being attached to the vine. In Psalms 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.” The vine provides us with everything we can’t do on our own. Our own strength will fail, following our heart will lead us astray, but abiding in the Lord will get us everything we need to be everything God intends us to be. In Philippians 4:13, the Bible says, ”I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
We have grossly limited God’s power in our lives by trying to live outside of the vine. It is only by abiding in the Lord that we can become the fruit filled branches God desires us to be.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 18, 2023 – 2 Chronicles 20:17 – ye shall not need to fight in this battle … fear not, nor be dismayed
”Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”
2 Chronicles 20:17
Hi Everyone!
Some battles we need not fight. For a long time, that was my biggest problem, trying to push back against everything pushing at me. I fought a lot, accomplishing nothing but setting myself further back. I realized over the years of hitting my head against the wall that I can pick my battles, that I don’t have to wage war against a person because they opposed me. Sometimes, the best way to fight a war is to do nothing. There are no winners when we fight battles the Lord is requiring us to stand still on. Being in my prison environment, since I have committed my life to the Lord, there have been many times I had to stand still when I wanted to react, and I have watched God turn everything for my good right before my eyes. Even in my current environment, amid a heavy offensive mounted against us, God is calling for me to be still, which is the hardest thing to do. Today, we will look at 2 Chronicles 20:17, standing still in the face of warfare.
”Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”
The phrase ”fight in this battle” means ”to engage in warfare, to war against”. Do we notice how Jahaziel, having the Spirit of God come over him, speaking the Word God commanded him to speak, told Judah that they need not fight ”in this” battle? This means that we don’t have to fight everything that comes our way! Maybe we should inquire of the Lord what battles we should fight. In 1 Chronicles 14:8-10, the Bible says, ”And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them. And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.”
When he enemy becomes aware of God’s anointing over our lives, they mount offensives against us, to take us away from that anointing or keep us from experiencing it. David knew he was a mighty man of war and valor, and he knew God was with him, but he still humbled himself and asked God if he should fight against the Philistines. Even when his wife and the wives and children of his men were kidnapped at Ziklag, he still inquired of God if he should go fight against them. In 1 Samuel 30:8, the Bible says, ”And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” David was a man after God’s own heart, and he knew better than to fight a battle that God didn’t send him to fight.
The phrases ”set yourselves” and ”stand ye still”, both imply remaining right where we are, digging our heels in and fixing our position. This suggests we should have no intention whatsoever of moving. In Psalm 46:10-11, the Bible says, ”Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” When we fix our position and do not interfere with the Lord’s fight, our God will definitely show us who He is. God is our place of safety against anything that comes our way.
The word ”see” means ”to behold or experience”. The word ”salvation” means ”deliverance, help or victory.” In Psalm 91:1-2, the Bible says, ”He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” When we dwell in the secret place, that means we have made a residence with the Lord, and will experience His protection. From that position of safety, we can say with certainty that God is our resting place and our place of protection.
The word ”fear” means ”to be frightened or afraid”. The word ”dismayed” means ”broken down by confusion or fear”. God knows our hearts and knows that some warfare will make us terribly afraid. Fear will cause us to move when the Lord requires us to be still. In Deuteronomy 31:6 the Bible says, ‘‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Just knowing the Lord is with us should make a world of difference, and should still our hearts from being hasty to move without God. I have been in situations where I have had to trust in the Lord and not make one move. Everything in us may want to move but sometimes, being still is the best thing we can do.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 19, 2023 – Ephesians 4:25 – speak every man truth with his neighbour
”Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
Ephesians 4:25
Hi Everyone!
The truth is so important to the life of a believer. When we lived according to the world, we lived according to a lie, according to the influences of the enemy. When we live according to a lie, we give the enemy power in our lives, and we leave the atmosphere open for the enemy to shape our environment as they see fit. Sure, we look at lies as things we say that are untrue, but a lie is so much deeper than what we say. Sometimes, the biggest lies we tell are when we don’t say a word, when we lie by the way we live. We say we are believers, but we live defeated, even knowing that the Word of God says that God always enables us to triumph. We say we believe in the Word but have no peace when adversity comes, even knowing Christ left us His peace. What do we speak to our brothers and sisters in Christ, Word or world? The world doesn’t see truth in the Word, but the Word of God is truth. Today, we will look at Ephesians 4:25, putting to death the lies of the enemy.
”Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
The phrase ”putting away” means ”cast off, give up, or lay down”. The word ”lying” means ”falsehood, exaggerations, or fabrications to something that is true.
Thus an intentional act of rejecting lies, and receiving truth in our lives.
In Ephesians 4:21-22, the Bible says, ”If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” Receiving the truth as believers in Christ, we now have the truth as the standard for our lives. We now have the ability and power to lay that part of our former lives down, and reject it from having dominion again.
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.” There are too many believers who allow themselves to be held hostage to the old man and who allow themselves to be imprisoned by the nature they have been delivered from. To say that we are powerless to sin would be to tell a lie, because we no longer have to live according to our old nature.
In Ephesians 4:31, the Bible says, ”Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice”. In order to let anything from our old nature be put away from us, we must allow another power to be at work in us. Remember in Matthew 12:26 when Christ says, ”And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?” This shows us that we can’t put away our sinful nature, by our old nature, especially if we walk in falsehood,. Satan can’t cast out Satan.
The word ”speak” means ”to utter words, to talk, or even to preach”. The word ”truth” is as evidenced in relation to facts. This means that the truth is always going to provide evidence.
In Zechariah 8:16-17, the Bible says, ”These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.” The Lord hates lies, and He also hates when His children don’t walk in the truth. The word ”neighbor” means ”fellow, especially Christians”. As His children, created in His image and likeness, living a lie is to insult the image of the very same God who created us. When we don’t live according to the Word of God, we don’t represent our God in the life we live. Our deeds and words should reflect the truth of God. In Ephesians 4:15, the Bible says, ”But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”. When we speak, truth and love should flow from us because our God is truth and love.
The word ”members” means ”a limb or part of the body”. In Romans 12:5, the Bible says, ”So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” When we see that we are one body, and we are members of each other, it should put us in the mindset to desire for others what we desire for ourselves. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, the Bible says, ”For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” Let us never forget that we are in this together as believers, and together, we will shine in love and in truth. Let us always remember that the truth frees, the truth changes lives, and the truth is the only way to God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 20, 2023 – Jonah 2:9 – Salvation is of the LORD
”But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”
Jonah 2:9
Hi Everyone!
When God tells us to do something, what do we do? I hope that most of us obey, but many times, we are in disobedience to God, especially when God commands us to do something that is far outside our plans. I remember when the preacher pointed at me on my 17th birthday in a church service at a juvenile detention center, and yelled, ”Preacher!” He prophesied about my call and I very promptly ran. Along the way, I experienced hardship after hardship, and others experienced hardships as the result of me fleeing from my purpose. I was imprisoned, sentenced to life without parole, and from my prison environment, I committed my life to the Lord, and promised to fulfill His call for my life, and God is on the verge of spitting me out of my prison. Sounds familiar? I am experiencing the same thing Jonah did, and just like he fulfilled his vow, I will fulfill mine. Today, we will look at Jonah 2:9, salvation is of the Lord.
”But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”
The word ”sacrifice” means ”to offer up, or die to self”. In Matthew 16:24-25, the Bible says, ‘‘Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Denying ourselves means that we declare ourselves to be untrue, and our plans, thoughts, ideas and ways are subject to God’s authorization. It means that if God comes and throws a monkey wrench into our plans, we still remain obedient of God. In Romans 12:1, the Bible 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.” Making ourselves a living sacrifices means that God’s plans come first, and we are totally available to the Lord to be used however the Lord wills.
God is reasonable in His commands, but do we see it that way? I thought God was ruining my life before I could have any real fun, but is it odd that I fled from God because I wanted to sin a little while longer?
In Jonah 1:2, the Bible says, ”Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” Jonah was given a command by God, but went the opposite way. Jonah thought his will was more important than God’s will, as did I. Jonah’s disobedience, his refusal to be a living sacrifice led to his confinement in the belly of the great fish.
The word ”thanksgiving” means ”an extension of the hand in adoration or praise”. From the depths of his imprisonment, Jonah praised God. He couldn’t do what God called him to do from where he was, so he praised the Lord, and in that moment died to self to become one with the Lord. Where does this sound kinda familiar?
In Acts 16:23-25, the Bible says, ”And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Paul and Silas were in the will of God, but when they were confined, thy sang praises to the Lord right from where they were.
We pray and ask God to change our circumstances but until we are willing to praise God from the depths of our confinement, we can’t expect our situation to change.
In Psalm 50:14-15, the Bible says, ”Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” We want the deliverance first without the thanksgiving. We want God to change our circumstances while we stay in a state of agony and fear, qualities that keep us out of the presence of the Lord.
Thanksgiving comes before the deliverance!
The word ”pay” means ”to perform or complete”. The word ”vowed” means ”promised”. This gives us context that wasn’t directly articulated in the Word of God when God gave Jonah the command. Jonah had to tell God he would go to Nineveh. In Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, the Bible says, ”When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” We must give God what we promise and say we would do. When we tell God we will go out and do what He commands, He expects obedience from us. The word ”salvation” means ”deliverance, or rescue from physical harm or the penalty of our sin. In Psalm 3:8, the Bible says, ”Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.”
Just as Jonah was rescued from the belly of the great fish, so will I be rescue from the belly of this prison. I have a vow to pay!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 21, 2023 – Revelation 4:11 – Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power
”Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Revelation 4:11
Hi Everyone!
We don’t serve a God who doesn’t have power. We don’t praise a God who is not responsible for creating the entire world. We don’t honour a God who didn’t provide salvation, redemption and eternal life to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. Our God has done amazing things in our lives, directly and behind the scenes, and all of our praise needs to go to Him. This should make us more desirous to share the Gospel wherever we go, in our words and our deeds because being recipients of such a great gift, we should want as many people to receive this Word as possible. Is God worthy of our adoration? Is God worthy to be served with everything we are? Is our God worthy of our time, our loyalty, and our commitment? How do we honour God when things are going extremely well, and how do we honour Him when we don’t feel like things are going our way? Today, we will look at Revelation 4:11, a God worthy of all honour, glory, and praise.
”Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
The word ”worthy” means ”deserving or suitable of a reward of praise”. Is God worthy? In Revelation 5:12, the Bible says, ”Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Do our mouths utter praise to the Lord or do we just receive all the good stuff from God and keep living without as much of a thank you?
The word ”receive” means ”to obtain, attain, or take hold of something offered”. The word ”glory” means ”dignity or worship”. The word ”honour” means ”to esteem or value”. In Luke 17:15-18, the Bible says, ”And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” Ten lepers begged for the Lord’s mercy and healing, and Christ responded, healing them without touching them or telling them they were healed. All Christ told them to do was show themselves to the priest, which was the law. They obeyed, and on the way, they were healed, but only one ran back and fell at the feet of Christ. One person gave glory and honour to the Lord.
Only ten percent, but what if that was the reality in the Church, that only ten percent give God the glory and honour?
The word ”power” means ”miraculous power or force, strength or ability”. 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.” Christ wasn’t given some of the power. He was given all of the power, which made His every word applicable to us. If he said we could do it, we can do it.
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.” How many of us give God the glory and honour for the power He bestows upon us? How many of us actually believe that we have this power?
In John 1:12, the Bible says, ”But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name’‘. The power Christ has, he willingly gives to us, so we would work the work of God and give glory to God as being the only one empowering us. See, Christ didn’t receive this power for Himself, but to bring glory to God.
In John 17:1-2, Christ prays, ”These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” We must understand that God empowers us to bring glory to Him and draw others to Him to receive eternal life. There is purpose behind the power we have been given.
The word ”created” means ”to fabricate, establish or produce from nothing”. The word ”pleasure” means ”determination, purpose, desire or will”. 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.” Do we give glory to God for making us and everything we see? Do we give God glory for nature, for the foods we eat, and for the way our lives are intentionally set together?
What do we give the Lord glory for? The only answer is that we give God glory in everything and for everything.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 22, 2023 – 2 Timothy 4:4 – they shall turn away their ears from the truth
”And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
2 Timothy 4:4
Hi Everyone!
I look around me and see an unstable environment. Just a couple of weeks ago, a brother in my prison environment died from a Fentanyl overdose, and two days after, another brother had a Fentanyl overdose, but lived. We got a dose of what is happening in the world at much more heavier numbers. People are racing after drugs at astronomical rates, racing after a feeling that takes away the truth from their hearts. It doesn’t have to be this extreme, because there are people who have never touched drugs before who are trying to experience anything but the truth. The Church has been losing its power in the world because some of its members would rather receive the lies of the enemy, instead of the truth that is in the Word of God. In this society, people want to hear what they want to hear, and this also pertains to what they hear in the Church. It saddens me how we as a Church have robbed ourselves out of experiencing the power of God, because lies sound so much sweeter. Today, we will look at 2 Timothy 4:4, striving back into the truth.
”And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
The phrase ”turn away”, means ”to reject, refuse, or stop listening”. The word ”truth” refers to the faith and practice of Gospel or divine truth, truth that can only come by faith in Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, the Bible says, ”Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The world thinks that there are many paths to God. They think we can sprinkle a little Christ in, a little paganism, a little philosophy, and fill in the rest of the gaps with our own rules and conventions. There is only one way to the truth and that is by Jesus Christ. Most people would then ask, ‘What about the Bible? Isn’t that the truth?’
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.” Jesus Christ is the Word of God, full of grace and truth, so if we turn away from the truth, we have essentially turned away from Christ.
In Judges 3:12-13, the Bible says, ”And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.’‘ Israel had a history of turning away from the truth. Reading in Judges, the only times Israel served God was when a judge was set in place. The minute the judge died, they turned away. Are we willing to trust in the Lord and remain in the truth when seasons change, when our leadership changes, when things appear as if they are going in the opposite direction. In my prison environment, I have seen brothers on fire for the Lord while their appeals were in the court, or while they were awaiting trial, but the minute they lost their appeal, or lost their trial, they turned away from God.
Whenever a verse starts with ”And”, that means there is a continuing point that is made in Scripture. This means we have to look back. In 2 Timothy 4:3, the Bible says, ”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” Paul was instructing Timothy the same way God is instructing us with this Scripture that the time ”will come”, when people’s ears will desire what they want to hear, and they will no longer be hungry for the truth. Look at our society now. That time has come! The word ”fables” means ”fictional, mythical tale that leads people from the truth”. In 1 Timothy 1:4, the Bible says, ”Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” Fables create questions designed to tear down a person’s faith instead of build them up. God never tears us down, nor does he ever want us to walk away from His truth.
In 1 Timothy 4:7, the Bible says, ”But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” When we live Godly lives, they are lived in truth. The believers who receives the truth reject the lies of the enemy.
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.” The only way we can know the truth is if we pour into the Word of God and receive the Holy Spirit’s teaching of the Word. The Secret Service can spot a counterfeit bill by studying the real bill extensively, and so must we study the truth extensively so a lie can be detected more easily. The world is turning away from the truth because they have not received the Word of God as truth. It is time to come back to the truth!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 23, 2023 – Acts 5:12 – and they were all with one accord
”And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”
Acts 5:12
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we have power. Most people in the Church may agree with this statement, but they don’t believe it in their hearts. The same power and ability the apostles had when the Church formed is the same power that we have today, but the reason the Church isn’t operating the same way is because most believe that this power came and left. Could it be that it is not the power that has left, but that faith has become so depleted in the Body that we can no longer fathom the Church operating in Holy Ghost power again? At the same time people are saying the works of the Spirit are no longer, someone is being healed by that same power. If the Holy Spirit isn’t still alive and active, then who is drawing people to the faith? Not only is the power still active, it is available to all who believe on the name of Jesus Christ. People are praying for revival, but will they believe it when it comes? Today we will look at Acts 5:12, working the works of the Spirit.
”And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”
The word ”hands” means ”means, or power”. It expresses that we become instruments meet for the Master’s use, allowing His power to work through us. Too many of us try to work the works of God in our own power, and wonder why we don’t produce the results like the Church can and did back then. The word ”apostles” means ”delegates, ambassadors of the Gospel, and commissioners of Christ, those sent to deliver the Gospel.
In 2 Corinthians 5:20, the Bible says, ”Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” An ambassador is someone who goes to a different country while representing the interests of the country they come from. An ambassador of the Gospel is someone that goes into the world with the agenda of the kingdom of God. In Matthew 28:19-20, 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.” In the Great Commission, Christ commands us to teach them to ”observe”, which means ”to practice, obey, or take heed by action”. To be a commissioner of Christ, implies that we are carrying out His charge to those who believe in Him.
The word ”signs” means ”indication of miracles”. This is something that is shown. The word ”wonders” means ”omens”. The word ”wrought” means ”to perform, accomplish, or finish”. The kingdom of God is not in Word only but also in the Word being at work in His children. In Acts 2:43-44, the Bible says, ”And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common”. When we have Godly reverence, it opens up the door for the Word of God to take residence and the power of God to work through each of us.
If we were as a Church each would begin to operate like this, and collectively we would become as one and the Church would move like it did when it was formed.
In Acts 19:11-12, the Bible says, ”And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Just because the miracles, signs and wonders are being worked through us, doesn’t means that we have any right to pat ourselves on the back. It is God who gives us power to perform these works. When we allow God to work in us, supernatural things take place.
Some people will actually believe that this type of work is only designed for the disciples and apostles, which is why we ”can’t” operate in kingdom power nowadays.
In John 14:12-13, Christ says, ‘‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The word clearly says, ”he that believeth on me”, so that includes any who believe on Christ.
In Luke 9:49-50, the Bible says, ‘‘And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Someone who wasn’t of the 12 disciples was working the works of God and the disciples tried to discourage him, believing this work was exclusively for the disciples. Christ told them to not discourage him because he is for Christ, not against Christ. In this world, we have the ability given by God to perform the works of Christ, but do we believe?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 24, 2023 – Psalm 30:5 – but joy cometh in the morning
”For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we are going to experience difficulty. Sometimes, this difficulty can be the result of life’s circumstances, other times it can be a tactic of the enemy, and then again, sometimes it can be because of poor decisions we have made that have made God displeased with us. Praise God that His anger is for a moment, because this is another thing that shows us how loving and how merciful our God is. God will turn our weeping to joy, and He will turn our captivity into freedom. Sometimes, when burdened by a heavy weight upon our shoulders, it can be exceptionally hard to find joy, or experience the Lord’s peace. When affected by trial, it becomes hard to see ourselves making it through, but when we turn our eyes to our Lord, we will experience the power of His comfort, and we will experience a God that sees us through hardship, even ones caused by us. Today, we will look st Psalm 30:5, experience favour in the midst of trial.
”For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
The word ”anger” means ”the wrath of God”. God’s anger is both reluctant and fierce,. No parent wants to discipline their children or withhold something good from them. It hurts us to punish our children, because we always have their joy in our minds. God is no different. The word ”moment” means ”an instant, or very short space of time”. In Psalm 103:9-10, the Bible says, ”He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Nobody can tell me God isn’t merciful, nor can someone sell me on the idea that God is brutal and unloving. I know what I deserve for the sins I committed, and it surely isn’t sharing the Word of God with others. The fact that I am blessed to be doing what I am doing is further testimony to how awesome our God forever is. God doesn’t want to stay angry with us, neither does He take pleasure in the suffering of His children.
In Isaiah 26:20, the Bible says, ”Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” God knows that His anger doesn’t last long and there is purpose in God’s anger; to redirect us back into His holiness. David is writing this Psalm so we know this truth, and Isaiah is confirming this truth. If we see God as this angry God who is fire-breathing, salivating for the opportunity to punish us, then we have the wrong picture of God. In Isaiah 54:7-8, the Bible says, ”For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” If we looked at the history of the Bible, no matter how many times Israel turned their backs on the Lord, He was quick to restore them back as His children when they humbled themselves before Him.
The word ”favour” means ”delight, acceptance, or good pleasure”. In Psalm 63:3-4, the Bible says, ”Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.’‘ When we see God as He is, we see a loving God who desires the best for us. We see a God worthy of our praise, and we see a merciful God who us willing to forgive our sins. In Psalm 34:1-2, 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.” The favour of the Lord should incite praise within us, and it should make us see God from a position of thanksgiving. In Psalm 118:1, the Bible says, ”O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.” Look at this verse. It says, ”for He IS good”. Present tense. If God wasn’t good, then we would never experience His favour.
The word ”weeping” implies grief. The word ”endure” means ”to tarry, stay or abide.” In Matthew 5:4, Christ says, ‘‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” God responds to our tears with comfort, and I know by experience that He responds quickly. I remember when I found out my sister died, and I was devastated. I was walking with a brother who was letting me vent, and within minutes, I was encouraging him in his situation! Only God can comfort like that. The word ”joy” means ”shouting, singing, gladness, and triumph”. In Psalm 126:5-6, the Bible says, ”They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” How we start is not how we will end. I came into prison broken and now I have joy, peace, power, and love because our my loving God!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 25, 2023 – Ephesians 4:32 – even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you
”And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32
Hi Everyone!
As believers, forgiveness is something that isn’t always easy for us to extend to someone else. When we have been hurt by others, forgiveness is the last thing we tend to think about, because we typically want the person who hurt us to express their remorse before we will forgive them. If our example is Christ, then we know that forgiveness has to come first. The Bible requires us to treat people with love and kindness, to consider Christ as we interact with people. If people don’t see the attributes of Christ in us, don’t see Christ in our behavior, or our forgiveness, then how will people know that we belong to Him? Being a believer means that we enter into a oneness with God, and by doing so, God’s express character is projected from us. What does the world see when they look at us, a reflection of them, or a reflection of Christ? Today, we will looking at Ephesians 4:32, living out the character of Christ.
”And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
The word ”kind” means ”useful to each other, good, good natured, or gentle”. I love the word ”good” as a definition, because the word ”good” implies that God’s intended will is being performed. 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.” When God declared for something to come forth, it did and it was good because it fulfilled God’s intention. Kindness is something God requires out of His children.
The word ”tenderhearted” means ”compassionate or sympathetic”. In 2 Samuel 9:7, the Bible says, ”And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” David was a man after God’s own heart, and he was always trying to show kindness to someone. Because of his relationship with Jonathan, and more importantly, his relationship with God, he desired to show kindness to Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth.
In Ephesians 2:6-7, the Bible says, ”And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” God gave a a position of prominence and power through Jesus Christ, all in God’s desire to show us kindness, to allow us to sit at ”His table” the same way David allowed Mephibosheth to sit at his table.
Kindness is not about who the person is, but about who God is and who we are in Him. We should desire to show others kindness because of the Spirit that is at work in us.
In 2 Peter 1:7-8, the Bible says, ”And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God equips us with the ability to live a Godly life, and with a Godly life, are Godly attributes. Godliness, kindness, and love are three things that please our God, but are we willing to show our brothers and sisters this level of character?
The word ”forgiving” means ”gratuitously in pardon, remitting sin”. In Matthew 6:14-15, Christ teaches, ”For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” The forgiveness we extend to others is the forgiveness that God extends to us. If we harden our hearts, and refuse to forgive others of their offensives against us, then how can we expect God to forgive us?
Do we consider Christ as we look at each other? If we do, then we have hearts of love, kindness and forgiveness, because that is exactly what Christ has in His heart towards us.
In Luke 23:34, the Bible says, ”Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” While Christ hung on the cross, watching His tormentors take pleasure in His demise, with thieves casting lots for his clothing, He asked God to forgive them, and even went further by explaining to God that they don’t have a clue. How many of us would be willing to be hurt by someone else, and while they are still hurting us, forgive them? Some of us have a problem forgiving an offensive from when we were kids and we are well into our 40’s, 50’s or even 70’s!
In 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, the Bible says, ”To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Where unforgiveness is present, so is Satan. Where forgiveness is present, so it God!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 26, 2023 – Acts 10:35 – he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness
”But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Acts 10:35
Hi Everyone!
The Jews were the chosen people of God, to bear His name in the earth. Because our God knows all things, He knew the Jews would reject His Christ as Lord and He already prepared to graft the Gentiles into the vine. It doesn’t matter what religion you had before Christ, the life you lived, the wrong you’ve done, how you grew up, or anything else, because when we came to God and received Christ as Lord and Savior, we became children of God. God is concerned with us believing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, with us living our lives in victory, with us working the works of the Spirit. When God sees us stewarding our salvation and place in the kingdom well, He approves of us. We have our own impression of what is required for us to be approved of God, most of which is not what God considers. It isn’t where we came from but where we are now in the Lord. Today, we will look at Acts 10:35, being approved of the Lord.
”But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
The word ”feareth” means ”to reverence, worship, or adore the Lord”. Reverence means that we position ourselves under the Lord’s headship, and we submit ourselves to His will for our lives. In John 4:23-24, the Bible says, ‘‘But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” In order to begin to reverence the Lord, we must know the truth about who He is. Will we ever submit to someone or something we have no knowledge of? Reverencing the Lord can only be done through truth, which is through Christ, the Word of God. 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 truly begin to know anything great, it requires we reverence our Lord, making ourselves available to learn of the Lord. In Romans 10:3, the Bible says, ‘‘For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” When we don’t know our Lord God and we don’t know the truth, we will then come up with our own truth, being self-governed, instead of governed and directed by the Lord. In Psalm 37:23, the Bible says, ”The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” The person who is becoming who God created them to be is the person who submits to His will. To ”delight” implies us inclining to the Word of God, bending towards the direction of God. Do we notice that the topic verse in Acts 10:35 says, ”every nation”? This means that the invitation is extended to all of us, no matter where we have come from.
The phrase ”worketh righteousness” means ”to do, engage, perform or produce Godliness and piety towards God.” This is an action. It is cool to believe, but who sees our fruit unless it flows through what we put our hands to? 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”. By faith in Jesus Christ. This is the qualifier for everyone to partake in Godliness, because when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we will become empowered to live Godly lives as His children. People can try to do right, and there is nothing wrong with that, but if that replaces our faith in Jesus Christ, if that becomes our righteousness, then we truly don’t understand what God has provided to us. Our faith in Christ produces grace for where we fall short, truth to know the will of God, and redemption to leave our old lives behind. God is not concerned with who we were before.
And there is no difference between us in God’s eyes.
The word ”accepted” means ”to approve, or decide favorably for”. 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 just welcome us into His kingdom, but He considers us to be His chosen just like He did with Abraham’s seed. He makes us one in Him, and by putting His Holy Spirit in us, He shows us that He approves of us. 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”. When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are able to draw near to God, and anything that separated us before is no longer there!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 27, 2023 – Revelation 3:3 – Remember
”Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
Revelation 3:3
Hi Everyone!
Tomorrow is not promised to any of us! We have a series of ”todays” while we live on this earth, to fulfill God’s call for our lives, and become exactly who we were created to be. God positions us for the place He calls us to, but it our job as believers and children of God to hold fast to that position. It is our job to keep our minds and hearts fixed upon the Lord and stay on guard against the tactics of the enemy. We can’t use salvation as our free pass to relax and essentially do whatever it is we want to do, just because we are saved. We have to use the moments we have on the earth to establish everything God built in us. What if the Lord comes tomorrow? What should we do, knowing that He is coming? What we would do in that moment should be what we are doing anyway, now in our lives, each day. Today, we will look at Revelation 3:3, watching for the coming of the Lord.
”Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
The word ”remember” means ”to exercise memory, to recollect, to be mindful, to rehearse”. These are all intentional acts to keep the Word of God present in our minds and hearts. In Psalm 119:11, the Bible says, ”Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” We must be a body of Christ who hides the Word of God in our hearts, so it is His Word that will flow out of us.
The word ”received” means ”to seize, or obtain”. The word ”heard” means ”to give audience or understand”. We must handle the Word of God as something of immense value, something we cannot live without.
This is the way to exercise our memory using the Word of God. It is not just necessary being triumphant against sin, but also so we can bear fruit for the kingdom of God.
In Psalm 1:2-3, the Bible says, ‘‘But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” When we take pleasure in the Word of God enough to incline ourselves to it, we will want to receive as much of the Word as we can.
The word ”meditate” hear implies that we turn the Word of God over in our minds and from our mouths, so that we will ultimately commit it to memory. This is important as we never know what can happen. I remember going to the hole five years ago because of mistaken identity. For the first three days, I didn’t have a Bible. I had to focus on Scripture I could remember, and praise God, they we loaded in peace and comfort, suffering and having victory in trial. It took them five days to look at the cameras and see that I was nowhere near the incident, I was grateful for that time because I realized how important it is having Scripture memorized.
The phrase ”hold fast” means ”watch or guard from loss or injury”. The word ”repent” means ”to think differently or to reconsider”, implying a change of direction. Repentance is a change that begins within us and extends outside us.
In 2 Timothy 1:13-14, 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. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” God is always going to make sure we are able to receive the Word of God, but it is our job to treasure it and allow the Holy Spirit to continue to grow the Word or God in us. We will be taught the Word by teachers, preachers, and of course, the Holy Spirit, but no one is going to force us to carry out the Word of God, or steward His Word well.
In Revelation 3:11, Christ says, ”Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Crown implies royalty, which validates who we are as children of God. There is someone, the enemy, who is trying to take our crown from us, who is trying to separate us from our place in the kingdom of God. Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, the enemy can’t take it but he can try to convince us to walk away from it.
The phrase ”shall not watch” means ”to not be vigilant”. The phrase ”come on” means ”to arrive or appear”. To come on as a thief implies that Christ will come back suddenly and without immediate warning. The Word of God is telling us that if we don’t remain fixed on the Word, we will look up and Christ will be back for us.
In 2 Peter 3:10, the Bible says, ‘‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” Tomorrow is not promised. We must remain in the Word today.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 28, 2023 – 2 Corinthians 5:18 – God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ
”And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”.
2 Corinthians 5:18
Hi Everyone!
Reconciliation is a heart change towards someone that brings them back into fellowship with you. One of the biggest reasons for divorce is ”irreconcilable differences”, where fellowship is irreparably broken because there is no longer anything there to bring them back into fellowship. When we lived in sin, we broke off the possibility of fellowship with God, but praise be to God, Jesus Christ’s shed blood brought back us into fellowship with our God. To be reconciled with God gives us access into the kingdom of God, where we will be received by God as His children, and not just His creation. Because we have been reconciled with God, it should then be easy for us to be reconciled with others, making it easy for us to forgive people when they have wronged us. The same spirit that allowed us to be reconciled with God is the same spirit that lives in us, but do we show it? Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 5:18, the reconciliation that promotes reconciliation.
”And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”.
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.” Our God set creation in motion, and everything that we partake in as believers is all a part of God’s purpose for our lives. Too many times, we think that we are in control of things in our lives like we were the ones that birthed the things that we partake in. All things are of God, and we wouldn’t have anything if it wasn’t for God.
In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, ”The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” When we understand that the world and God’s purpose for the world belongs to God, we will be more inclined to stay out of God’s way by imposing our own will over our lives. Even Christ, knowing He was going to be crucified, prayed to God in Luke 22:42, ”Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Christ put God’s will over His own, so what are we expected to do?
The word ”reconciled” means ”to change towards”. In this case, this is God changing His heart and mind towards us. We were set for eternal death in the lake of fire without Christ, and it is by Christ that God changed His mind towards us.
In Romans 5:10-11, the Bible says, ”For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Do we really understand that when we lived our lives in sin, apart from God, we were the enemies of God?
There are enemies on earth, people we wouldn’t want to know, so imagine our being enemies with God! What if we had an enemy of ours in our cross hairs, what would we do? God had us in His cross hairs, and instead of finishing us off, He sent Christ to earth, that if we believed in Him we would no longer be enemies. It goes further than this, because we not only won’t be the enemies of God, but we abecome the children of God and heirs of the promises of God.
In Ephesians 2:16-17, the Bible says, ”And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” God wanted to reconcile those who were close to the kingdom, and people who had no clue what the kingdom of God is. God, by Christ, made redemption and salvation available to everyone, but we have to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
The word ”given” means ”bestowed upon”. The word ”ministry” means ”service or attendance”, implying the ministration of divine things, spoken of apostles and teachers. The word ”reconciliation” means ”atonement or restoration into divine favor”. In 1 Peter 2:9-10, the Bible says, ”But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
Reconciliation and atonement go hand in hand because both suggest a bringing back into oneness with God. In 1 John 2:2, the Bible says, ”And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world.’‘ God gave this amazing gift of atonement and restoration by Christ, but will we be willing to receive it?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 29, 2023 – Micah 7:8 – the LORD shall be a light unto me
”Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.”
Micah 7:8
Hi Everyone!
I remember when I was sentenced for the homicide convictions I am currently confined for, there was an eruption of cheers in the courtroom that resembled something out of a football game. I knew it then, and I still respect it now, but people are entitled to their anger, especially if they were wronged. I understood their anger and outcry for justice, so to this day, I still hold no ill feelings towards those who cheered when I was sentenced to life without parole. What struck me was when I went back to my pod in the county and a couple of inmates heard about my sentence and cheered, yelling ”Aha!!” These were guys still facing time themselves, cheering for what they believed was my destruction, but God has news for them. Not only has God changed my heart totally, but He has made me completely unrecognizable to my past. I was broken down, I was cast off, I was condemned, by praise be to God I live risen with Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places. Today, we will look at Micah 7:8, fallen but risen with Christ.
”Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.”
The phrase ”rejoice not” means ”don’t brighten up, be filled with glee, or be merry”. The word ”enemy” means ”an adversary, foe, or a hater”. Someone who does wrong would expect the victim to hate their guts at some point. In contrast believers live in a world that hates them for loving the Lord, for having a desire to serve Him. I am in a prison environment where some people literally hope I do something wrong so they can say, ”Aha! I told you he wasn’t a real Christian”, or they hope I fall on my face in defeat.
In Matthew 5:44, Christ says, ”But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. God never promised us that everyone was going to like us, and that we would live our lives without adversaries, foes, or haters. If we are doing something wrong, of course we should expect it, but we should also expect it if we are doing something right.
In Luke 6:22, the Bible says, ”Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.” God considers us blessed when we have haters that are deliberately trying to knock us off of our path in the Lord, but when it happens, we don’t feel too blessed do we? In John 15:18-19, Christ says, ”If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” Christ prepared the disciples for the level of hatred they would encounter and prepared us as we read the Word of God. It is inevitable that we are going to have enemies who celebrate when they think we have ”fallen”, meaning ”cast down, judged, or failed”.
The phrase ”shall arise” means ”to succeed, stand, be established, endure or continue”. The testimony God has for our lives will cause us to rise even as our haters salivate over our perceived downfall. In Proverbs 24:17-18, the Bible says, ”Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” I clearly experienced this happen in my life. As people celebrated my demise, cast me down as stricken, and cheered over my consequences, God knew He was rebuilding me for Godly use, and a divine purpose. The more they hated my guts, the more God continued to look upon me with favor, and restore my life.
In Psalm 37:24, the Bible says, ”Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” God didn’t promise that we wouldn’t fall, but His Word promise that this won’t be our final resting place in Him. By Him holding us up, we won’t stay down!
The word ”darkness” means ”misery, destruction, wickedness or sorrow”. The word ”light” means ”illumination or clarity”. When we are cast down, it becomes a very dark place, one that we can’t always see our way out of. I didn’t know how I was going to make it serving a life sentence, nor did I know how I was going to handle myself when I changed my life and people desired my downfall. In Psalm 27:1, the Bible says, ”The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” In the midst of my darkness, God shined His precious light upon me, directing me right into His restoration, forgiveness, redemption and love. In the midst of darkness God showed me He wasn’t done with me yet, even when the world I knew cancelled me out. The world may rejoice when we fall, but God causes us to rise again better than ever!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 30, 2023 – Acts 3:26 – unto you first God
”Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”
Acts 3:26
Hi Everyone!
God sent Jesus Christ to His chosen people, the Jews, but His own didn’t receive Him. Knowing this, God made provision for the Gentiles, who were cast offs, to receive the Word and promises of God. Christ came to this world to become the greatest blessing we would ever need, the greatest blessing we could ever receive. Sometimes, we want so much from God, but what about what He has already provided? Could it be that the reason we haven’t gotten to the ”more” is because we haven’t developed an appreciation for our salvation, for our cleansing, for our redemption? I am so appreciative to God for saving me and changing my heart, and allowing me to turn away from my old ways and old life. I praise God that He loved me so much that He would sacrifice His own Son, to ensure that I can live a new life in Him. Today, we will look at Acts 3:26, the blessing of a new direction.
”Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”
The word ”raised” means ”to cause to exist or appear”. The word ”Son” means ”a servant, minister or ambassador, called and beloved, sent by God to perform any service”. In Matthew 10:5-6, the Bible says, ”These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Christ had a mission before He was to die on the cross, to go unto Israel and preach the Word of God. There was a purpose behind the preaching, teaching and miracles, and in John 20:30-31, the Bible says, ”And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” God sent Christ so they would believe, and the same purpose for Christ coming rests with us, to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this text in Acts 3, Peter is addressing the Jews in the temple after healing the lame man at the gate called Beautiful, and he is emphasizing the fact that they are missing the opportunity God has given them to receive salvation by faith in the name of Jesus Christ. Christ came to Israel first, but didn’t find faith.
In Matthew 15:24, the Bible says of Christ, ”But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This woman was desperate to see her daughter healed of this demonic possession and came to Christ, even though she wasn’t a Jew. Christ told her that His focus was Jews, that His mission was Jews, but the woman worshipped Him and still asked for help. The woman ended up getting what she asked for because she believed that even though Christ came for the Jews, there was still enough available to heal her daughter. Christ looked for faith and found it, but not where it should have been.
The word ”sent” means ”set apart, spoken of people sent as agents, messengers, teachers or prophets”. Christ was all of these things and more. The word ”bless” means ”to distinguish with favour, to prosper, make happy, or speak well of”. Christ came set apart by God, to set apart His people, and now this purpose belongs to us as well! In Romans 1:16, the Bible says, ”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” God desires for His children to be blessed with power and salvation, to walk in this power as the ambassadors of Christ Jesus. We received the blessing that came from the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the power lives inside of all who believe.
The phrase ”turning away” means ”to forsake, reject, or refuse”. The word ”iniquities” means ”wickedness, or evil nature”.
So wait a minute, God sent Christ to bless us, so we would forsake the wickedness that we used to live by.
In Matthew 1:21, the Bible says, ”And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” We are too busy trying to cleanse ourselves from our filth, but God ensured that the blood of Jesus Christ was enough.
In Romans 4:6-7, the Bible says, ”Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” We can’t see just how blessed we are, that what Christ did, not us, provided the way for us to be forgiven and receive by God as the children of God. What God did for us through Christ made His power available to us who believe. God sent Christ to the Jews first, but He didn’t send Christ to them only. We can now forsake our old way because Christ is now the way.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 1, 2023 – Proverbs 1:31 – therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way
”Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.”
Proverbs 1:31
Hi Everyone!
Our God is a gentleman, not a brutal dictator imposing His will upon His children. God doesn’t force us to choose Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior any more than He forces us to live a holy life pleasing to Him. God gives us the tools, power, and abilities to live a holy life, but what we do with that gift is totally up to us. Whatever we do with our lives, there are consequences and outcomes that are going to take place. If I choose to live the street life, then the consequences of drama, shootings, robberies, death or imprisonment are highly likely.
But if I choose to live in the Lord, the consequences of salvation, restoration, redemption, admittance into the kingdom of God, the ability to live in resurrection power on earth, and the privilege of the Holy Spirit living within are promised.
God wants us to choose Him, but He knows that people will choose to go their own way. Today, we will look at Proverbs 1:31, the choices and consequences of a life without the Lord.
”Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.”
The word ”therefore” implies a conclusion of a previous point made, so in order to understand the context of this verse, we must go back and find out what this verse is speaking on.
In Proverbs 1:29-30, the Bible says, ”For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.” So this verse is dealing with those who are disobedient to the Word of God and the commandments of the Lord. As these two verse highlight, these people made choices to not fear the Lord, not hear His counsel, and reject His admonishments. Think about this with me. God goes through extraordinary lengths for us to receive His Word, and then comes back to redirect us, or correct us according to the Word. We don’t just reject the Lord once in disobedience, but according to this verse, there has to be a number of times we have rejected the Word of God to go our own way.
The word ”eat” means ”consume, devour, or ingest”. No one can force us to eat something we don’t want to eat. We have to make the choice to feed on the world or the Word. The word ”fruit” means ”reward”. The word ”way” means ”a road, course of life, or mode of action”. In James 1:14-15, the Bible says, ”But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Just like the sinful will eat the fruit of their own way, every one gets dragged away by their own list.
We have choices and we can make the right choices.
In Job 4:8-9, the Bible says, ”Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.” When I lived in sin, I thought I couldn’t get caught, that I wouldn’t get caught, but all I did was open myself up to the consequences of my actions.
In Proverbs 14:14, the Bible says, ”The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.” A lot of times, people think that they can handle the consequences when they come so they gladly sin. I hear some people talk about getting back in the street life when they go home and say things like, ”I can do that time standing on my head.” When I was in the street life, people sensationalized negative consequences like prison, or getting shot, like they were rites of passage. The potential consequences aren’t something that will deter people from living that kind of life, but a game gets played where a person lives to beat those odds. Most lose.
The word ”filled” means ”to be plentiful, or satisfied”. The word ”devices” means ”purposes or counsel”. In Proverbs 22:8, the Bible says, ”He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.” A hard road is in store for those who try to live according to their own laws, and people who order their own steps become their own god in their own right.
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.” Just as when we sow into the kingdom of God, what grows are the things of the kingdom, when we sow into sin, horrible consequences follow.
In Galatians 6:7-8, the Bible says, ‘‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” God is so loving that He gives us the chance to choose the path our feet tread. Whatever path our feet take, those consequences follow. Tread carefully!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 2, 2023 – Acts 4:32 – but they had all things common
”And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”
Acts 4:32
Hi Everyone!
God desires His children to be one in Christ, thus one in Him. In this world we live in, it’s ”dog eat dog”, and selfishness abounds, so heavily that people will climb over their own mother in order to get ahead. The unity that God desires for His Church is being affected by divisions, dissensions, hierarchy, and the Church turned into this body that is not showing care for its members as it was in Acts. We have millionaires in Church who won’t offer their minds to the Church to teach financial literacy to the people in Church, and we have employers in Church who serve God where people who have been unsuccessfully looking for a job for months. What made the Church so successful in Acts is because those in abundance shared what they had and what they knew with people who didn’t have, so that they all grew together as a body and a movement. We must be the same. Today, we will look at Acts 4:32, oneness of The Body of Christ.
”And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”
The word ”believed” means ”to entrust one’s spiritual well-being to Christ, or becoming a believer in Christ”. The phrase ”one heart” implies a shared sense of value, affection, passion, desire, mind and understanding when it comes to the Lord. The phrase ”one soul” implies the Church being all led by the Spirit of God, all moving by the same Spirit. Believers are all one according to the perspective of God, whether we see that as true or not.
In John 17:11, Christ prays, ”And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” Christ was interceding on our behalf to God that we may be one the same way He and God are one. It is God’s design for His Church that we operate as one but our own selfishness has distorted His design, making it something foreign.
In John 17:20-21, Christ also prays, ”Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 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.” Our oneness has an amazing purpose, to show the world the power of God in Christ, so the world would believe on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Our oneness is so important to the ministry of the Word of God in the world.
In Acts 2:1-2, the Bible says, ”And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” When the Church comes together as one, as God intends, His Spirit will move in such a supernatural way that that it will begin a world change. Oneness is where everyone seizes the purposes of God, where truth and Spirit leads us, where God’s power can move unobstructed through us.
In Acts 5:12, the Bible says, ”And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.” When the Church comes together as one, it becomes a powerful force in the Lord and the hand of God moves mightily. Oneness is essential in so many different ways.
In Romans 15:5-7, the Bible says, ”Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” God empowers us to be one with each other, so we are without excuse. We make choices to defect from The Body to do our own thing. That shouldn’t be. Our oneness glorifies God.
Oneness also ensures that there are no deficiencies within The Body. If one has abundance and another lacks, their coming together balances them and ensures that neither lack. In Acts 2:41-42, the Bible says, ”Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” When we receive the Lord together, study the Word of God together, and share provision with each other, we grow into the family God desires us to be.
In Acts 2:44-46, the Bible says, ”And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” When The Body of Christ moves in this fashion, not only is The Body sustained, but the world is reached for the kingdom of God. Then no one would be about self because we have a world to reach for God!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 3, 2023 – Proverbs 24:1 – be not thou envious against evil men
”Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.”
Proverbs 24:1
Hi Everyone!
I remember when I idolized the guys in the street life, allured by the material possessions they accumulated. Fancy cars with fancier rims, watches, loads of money, and an appearance of happiness. From a position of poverty, it was easy to become attracted to things that are harmful and sinful in its core. As I got older, my attraction to the street life ultimately led to me engaging in the street life, wanting to be just like the ones I saw growing up. I became a version of those I was so envious of, but I also became a gang member, a drug dealer, a robber, a killer, gunshot victim, and a prisoner too. Everything I was so envious of have been are the things I now despise. Society is envious of the lives of sinful people, and the Church must not be envious of the world, or to desire to be in its company. There is nothing good that comes from evil, nor does anything Godly come out of the world. Today, we will look at Proverbs 24:1, removing ourselves from the presence of evil.
”Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.”
The word ”envious” means ”jealous, or moved to jealousy”. The word ”evil” means ”mischievous, miserable, or wickedness”. In Psalm 1:1, the Bible says, ”Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” The person who is counted blessed is the one who sees the wicked and goes in the opposite direction! There are people who live in the world who actually believe that they are blessed, who account their ill-gotten gains as blessings!
In Proverbs 10:22, the Bible says, ”The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” There are a ton of people who are in the world that have a lot of money, but they are not blessed. In Psalm 37:1-2 the Bible says, ”Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” Destruction is reserved for the people who practice wickedness. This is why we shouldn’t be jealous of what they have nor should we desire to be in their company.
In Psalm 73:1-3, the Bible says, ”Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” The psalmist saw the ”prosperity” of the wicked and was frustrated, jealous, and angry. A heart of envy can cause us as believers to slip in our own walk, when we set our eyes on the material possessions of the world instead of the priceless Word of God.
In Proverbs 3:31-32, the Bible says, ”Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.” We are to choose the ways of the Lord and not the ways of the world, carrying about as they do. In Matthew 6:19-21, Christ says, ”Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” What we value comes from our hearts, and makes itself evident by what we set our minds on. We are supposed to store in our hearts the Word and righteousness. This is real treasure, and leave behind the treasure of the world, which are temporary and easily destroyed.
In Proverbs 1:10, the Bible says, ‘‘My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.’‘ The world is going to try to convince us that their path is the path to take, but we have to hold our position in the Lord and trust in Him. They know how to make it look attractive, but don’t fall for their tricks. In Proverbs 1:15-16, the Bible says, ‘‘My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.” The world is headed for the destruction of themselves and others. We must stay away from that.
The word ”desire” means ”to lust after, wish for, or covet”. We shouldn’t long after the company of the world. In Proverbs 4:14-15, the Bible says, ”Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.’‘ Not only should we not entertain the world, but we shouldn’t align our steps with the movements of the world.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14, the Bible says, ”Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” We have nothing in common anymore with the world, so our desire should be the fellowship of the Lord, not being a member of the world.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 4, 2023 – Romans 13:12 – let us put on the armour of light … NOW
”The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
Romans 13:12
Hi Everyone!
Now is the time for salvation. Now is the time to leave the work of sin behind us in order to receive the work of the Lord. Now is the time to leave fear, doubt, anger, and any weight that renders us stagnant in the faith. Now is the time to receive Christ as Lord and Savior, and live our lives in the light of the Lord. We live in a world that is so inclined to sin, a world that is cold and violent, a world that has become more and more Godless. We have to put on the Lord, we have to establish the Word of God as truth everywhere we go, and we have to resist the enemy on all fronts. Their are souls in jeopardy and lives at stake, and if we are lax in our faith, it will disrupt our lives. Today, we will look at Romans 13:12, putting on the armour of light in a darkening world.
”The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
The word ”night” refers to wickedness, man’s depravity, and Satan’s dominion. This is a world system without Christ. In 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5, the Bible says, ”But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” Believers are in the light and do not have to worry about the day Christ comes back for His Church, because we are going to be ready for His arrival. My Tee-Tee used to always say that if I did the right things, I would ever have to worry getting in trouble for doing something wrong. The same dynamic is available to the believer. If we live our lives making every attempt to obey the Word of God, instead of living our lives to not sin, then we’ll walk in victory and not fear.
The word ”spent” means ”well along or driven forward”. The enemy’s days on this earth are numbered, the days of sin are numbered as well. In James 5:8, the Bible says, ”Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” We must understand that the time is now for us to have our hearts right before the Lord. We have no clue when Jesus is returning, so we must live as if the Lord is coming today.
The word ”day” refers to the light of true and higher knowledge, or moral light. This speaks of Christ’s return and reign. In Hebrews 10:24-25, the Bible says, ”And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” As believers, we must come together as one and share the Word of God, encouraging each other to walk in the light of the Lord. Christ should come back to see His bride together as one, living according to the Word of God.
In 1 John 2:8, the Bible says, ”Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” The same truth, the same Spirit, the same power that lived in Christ lives in us! This ensures that our darkness has gone, which paves the way for us to walk in the light.
The word ”cast off” means ”put away”. The word ”therefore” before this establishes a condition change that gives us the power to carry out what’s to come next. Too many people think that we are powerless against the darkness, but because we are children of the day, darkness has already lost its power over us! The phrase ”works of darkness” means ”deeds that are absent of spiritual light and truth, acts that are sinfulness and invoke calamity.”
In Ephesians 5:11-13, the Bible says, ”And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” When we are in the light, it automatically exposes the darkness. Darkness can’t hide from the light, and light will cause us to dispose of the darkness that used to have reign in our lives.
The phrase ”put on the armour of light” refers to the protection that practical righteousness provides. This is us robing ourselves with the Word of God.
In Ephesians 6:12-13, 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” The armour of light will continue to give us power over the enemy, over the darkness that used to have reign, and will allow us to live in the power of the Word of God.
Let us robe ourselves in the light of the Lord, so our Lord will see a bright and glorious Church!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 5 to May 20: Warfare In The Spirit Series: 16 Episodes – see May 19, 2021 to June 3, 2021
NOTE ON MAY SRD:
Apologies, due to our move preparations there will be no postings from May 21st to May 25th – you already know about May 21 and 22 – it’s been tremendous and challenging – Praise The Lord.
I trust Marshall will forgive me – we had an agreed plan but I was overwhelmed – we will be replaying some previously published series – requests will be honoured
Bless you all, and Marshall and Jessica.
Peterwill
NO POSTINGS FROM MAY 21 TO MAY 27 – LISTING / MOVING HIATUS
MAY 28, 2023 UPDATE:
COMING BACK ONLINE TODAY: I completely underestimated the interruption involved in preparation and in listing our home.
Marshall and I a few days ago discussed running a number of his earlier series through the summer to the end of August.
He is working on his personal educational program (so inspiring) and it will give Veronica and I the transition time until we are resettled.
Bless you all, and Marshall and Jessica.
Thank you for your understanding
Peterwill and Veronica
THE SUMMER SERIES INSERTED DURING OUR LISTING / MOVING – MAY JUN JULY
The SUMMER SERIES WILL BE:
Loving You (originally published: Jan 28, 2021 to Feb 26, 2021)
30 days May 28, 2023 to Jun 26
The Fearlessness of Faith (originally published: Mar 13, 2021 to Apr 2, 2021)
21 days Jun 27, 2023 to July 17
Jesus Christ – The Mystery Uncovered (originally published: Nov 28, 2021 to Dec 29, 2021)
31 days July 18, 2023 to Aug 17
The Forgiveness Of God – Psalm 51 (originally published: Aug 13, 2021 to Aug 27, 2021)
15 days. Aug 18, 2023 to Sep 1
Have a JOYOUS SUMMER BASKING IN THE GLORY OF OUR AMAZING TRIUNE GOD
I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah.
