Apr 1, 2024 – Ephesians 2:14 – how Christ broke that wall down forever
”For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us”
Ephesians 2:14
Hi Everyone!
Too many people in the Church have an ”us vs. them” attitude, looking at the world like they don’t belong inside of it’s walls.
Yesterday at Bible study, there was a transgender person there who unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the guys completely shied away from.
When we first came in, we meet and greet each other, so it is very natural for brethren to say hi, especially to new people.
This wasn’t happening. I walked over to their group of three and shook all of there hands, telling them that I was happy that they were here with us.
When the volunteer leading the study began, he asked if anyone was new, and then asked them to introduce themselves.
After the transgender person introduced himself, the pastor said, ”You are welcome here”.
How can a person come to know Christ and change their lives if the Church erects a wall keeping them from the very thing that would help them change?
Today, we will look at Ephesians 2:14, how Christ broke that wall down forever.
”For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us”
The word ”peace” means ”metaphorically; peace of mind, tranquility, arising from reconciliation with God and a sense of divine favour”.
The word ”one” is an expression of unity in the faith, undivided.
In Micah 5:4-5, the Bible says, ”And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.”
It is because of what the Lord has done on the cross that has provided us the peace of God for those who believe, and this peace extends into eternity. When we are in peace, we can receive of the Lord everything that He desires to bestow upon us.
When the Lord Jesus Christ is our peace, there are no more worries.
In John 16:33, Christ says, ”These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
God has given us His Word so that we can know that Christ’s death provides us with peace because Christ overcame death, sin and the world.
No one can give us anything they don’t have, but Christ differs, He IS our peace; He doesn’t just have peace.
In John 17:20-21 Christ 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.”
Christ desires us to experience the same oneness in Him that He experiences in God, so we can then experience that same oneness with God.
The blood of Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us ensures we have access to this oneness.
God makes this available to all who believe, in the name of Jesus Christ, and who have received Him as Lord and Saviour.
Sadly, we put up dividing walls between ”us and them”.
This was no different in Jesus’ day, between Jews and Gentiles, where the Jews had no dealings with the Gentiles.
In Acts 10:34-36, the Bible says, ”Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)”.
Peter had to come to this understanding, God had brought a vision to Peter three times to break down his traditional biases. God put Peter together with Cornelius purposely to show him that salvation is truly available to the Gentiles as well, and that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
The word ”broken down” means ”to destroy or demolish”. The word ”partition” means ”barrier”.
Just as there was a barrier between the Jew and the Gentile, there is still a barrier between us and the world, and we need to become a Peter when we see a Cornelius.
In John 10:16, Christ says, ”And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
Just because a person isn’t of Christ’s fold right now, doesn’t mean that they won’t ever be.
The blood of Jesus Christ is capable of covering anyone who believes that He is Lord and Saviour; transgender, murderer, prostitute, thief, atheist, liar etc.
Our own rules and traditions are throwing up walls, hindering people from receiving salvation by faith in Jesus Christ and a oneness that should be increasing the body of believers. This shouldn’t be.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 2, 2024 – Psalm 61:4 – finding safety in the Lord’s wings
”I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.”
Psalm 61:4
Hi Everyone!
We need to abide in the Lord at all times, but we really need to abide in times of trouble.
We mostly don’t understand we have a real enemy trying their hardest to disturb what God is doing.
The enemy is trying to get us out of the safety of our Father’s protection, so we will become vulnerable to attack.
In times of trouble we must be like children who cry out to our parents for the safety that comes with their presence.
We must making dwelling in the Lord’s presence something we desire to do, but not out of some form of obligation or expediency.
We have to make our trust in the Lord something that becomes a habit, something that is so natural that it is actually disruptive to our peace when we don’t.
God is a real source of protection, the only protection where He won’t allow the enemy to prevail over us.
Today, we will look at Psalm 61:4, finding safety in the Lord’s wings.
”I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.”
The word ”abide” means ”to seek hospitality with, to sojourn, or to dwell as a foreigner”. The word ”tabernacle” means ”a tent, dwelling, or temple”.
Putting these two together, it means ”to be a welcome guest in God’s presence in worship”.
Remembering who I used to be, I really see it as a privilege to stand in the presence of God and worship Him where He is, and I am still one who doesn’t yet take full advantage of the beautiful opportunity God has given us to be exactly where He is.
In John 15:4-5, Christ says, ”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Our fruitfulness comes from where we are planted. If we are planted in the Lord, then He provides everything we need in order to grow into who God created us to be.
God is not going to allow us to be planted in Him and not be fruitful. We would have to seriously cut off God’s move in our lives.
In John 15:7-8, Christ also says, ”If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
Our requests for provision and protection will then be met because we are in the right place, with the right mind, and the right heart. When our hearts are one of worship, we bring ourselves low so God can be magnified in our lives.
In Psalm 27:4, the Bible says, ”One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
Is this our heart’s desire?
Sometimes, we treat God like He is no different than a helpline, only calling on Him from the midst of trouble, but having no desire to dwell in His presence for who He is.
In John 6:34-35, the Bible says, ”Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 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.’‘
After people heard about the miracle of the loaves and fish, they started flocking to meet Christ, not because He was the Son of God, but because they wanted the bread He offered. They essentially told Christ, ”We don’t care about your Word, but we care about your miracles.”
How many people share this mentality, where God is who to get something from, rather than One who deserves our worship? They had the true God robed in human flesh right in front of them, but they only wanted someone who produces what they want.
The word ”trust” means ”flee for protection, or to take refuge in”. The word ”covert” means ”a hiding place”.
In Psalm 17:7-9, the Bible says, ”Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.”
The thought just hit me, that if we truly abide in the Lord, we will never really have to ask for His protection. Under His wings, we have protection, but sometimes we need reassuring that His protection is indeed there.
In Psalm 91:4, the Bible says, ”He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
See, God provides us with the protection, but trust is up to us.
By trusting we will become sure in our hearts that God is there with us, in us, and for us, and that He has made every provision available for us to rest in Him.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 3, 2024 – Psalm 62:2 – a high place of trust in the Lord
”He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.”
Psalm 62:2
Hi Everyone!
In elementary school, we had this ”trust drill”, where we stood in front of one of our classmates, faced away from them, placed our arms across our chest, and free fell backwards. The person placed behind us was supposed to catch us.
Three things could happen. One, the person could fearlessly free fall and be caught. Two, the person could be scared of free falling, but ultimately do it anyway, and be caught by the person behind them. Finally, the person could refuse to trust, and not participate in the exercise.
All three factors weighed heavily on who was standing behind, because there was no way I was free falling backwards, trusting someone that I didn’t believe would catch me.
Isn’t this sadly a representation of the faith, where God is asking us to free fall into trust in Him, but many of us refuse in unbelief, thinking that God will not catch us when we fall.
News flash! God will never let us fall!
Today, we will look at Psalm 62:2, a high place of trust in the Lord.
”He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.”
The word ”rock” means ”strength or refuge”. The word ”salvation” means ”deliverance”.
Are we seeing the word ”only” here?
God is our strength, refuge and deliverance, and if we place our trust in anyone else but the Lord, we stand a real chance of finding ourselves gravely disappointed.
I remember the feeling of relief I got as a child after I had put my foot in my mouth and my brother came and rescued me.
Seeing my brother gave me this relief that changed my breathing, because I knew he wasn’t going to let something happen to me, and I had a confidence in that moment that I never had before.
Well, God is a million times better than my brother, as there was a time where I called on my brother, and he didn’t show.
Man will always fail us but God will never fail us.
In Psalm 59:7-9, the Bible says, ‘‘Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear? But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.”
Our enemies can have confidence in what their weapons can do but it is different with God. We serve a God who can turn their own weapons against them.
When we see our Lord as mightier than the enemy coming against us, God responds by giving us the victory.
In Psalm 59:16-17, the Bible says, ‘‘But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.”
When God delivers us, is our response praise? Do we testify to the goodness of God bringing us out of something that we could not bring ourselves out of?
The word ”defence” means ”a lofty or inaccessible place, a high and strong tower”. The word ”moved” means ”to waver, slip, shake, fall in decay”.
In Psalm 18:2-3, the Bible says, ”The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”
The word ”is” is key here, because if we don’t believe that the Lord saved people back then, and doesn’t save them now, then we have robed ourselves of seeing the salvation of the Lord.
God is worthy of our praise, a praise that comes from understanding that it is Him alone who provides the victory when the enemies mount offensives against us.
In Psalm 9:9-10, the Bible says, ”The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
God is always there for us, even at times where He seems to be absent. God is always working on our behalf, always changing hearts and minds to side with us.
God doesn’t have to destroy our enemies to get us the victory. God has changed hearts and enabled us to share the gospel with someone who had just tried to attack us.
In Psalm 37:23-24, the Bible says, ”The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
God doesn’t promise that we will walk away unscathed. Sometimes, the enemy can strike a blow that hurts deeply, and the resulting pain can cause us to believe the lie that God is not with us, but it is not true. That blow won’t consume us.
In Psalm 62:8, the Bible says, ”Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
God is definitely there for us at all times, and His deliverance is final.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 4, 2024 – Psalm 63:1 – seeking the Lord’s sanctuary from desert places
”O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
Psalm 63:1
Hi Everyone!
Do our hearts long after the Lord?
Do we crave to experience the fullness of His presence?
When hard circumstances pile up and leave us spent, is God our source of strength, comfort, and perspective?
I remember more than 12 years ago when I went to the hole on my last disciplinary infraction, and I poured into the Scriptures daily, missing being able to attend services with the brothers, being able to praise God in His sanctuary.
When I got out of the hole, I had a completely different perspective about attending church service; an excitement about being able to attend just one more time!
Praise God, I still have that desire, no matter how hard things get, or how rough the road appears, there is something about getting my thirst and hunger quenched by the Lord.
He can truly do what no one is capable of doing.
Today, we will look at Psalm 63:1, seeking the Lord’s sanctuary from desert places.
”O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
The word ”seek” means ”to painstakingly search for”. An early, painstaking search means that David sought the Lord as soon as he woke up.
David found himself in the wilderness, away from his home, and also away from the sanctuary of the Lord, where he loved to go to praise God. Think not?
In Psalm 27:4, the Bible says, ”One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
David had a desire that brought him peace, joy, and power. That was to go into the temple of the Lord, to fellowship in the building where the Lord’s name is worshipped.
Does our desire equal to this?
Covid came along, preventing most people from attending church, but when the decrease of Covid eliminated the prohibition on public church services, did we go back?
How deeply do we search after the Lord? How incredible is our hunger for him?
In Matthew 5:6, Christ says, ‘‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
When we hunger and thirst after the Lord, He meets us where we are with exactly what we need, but do we busy ourselves with life first, tending to the things of the world before we come to recognize our need for the Lord?
In Matthew 6:33, the Bible says, ”But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When we seek God early, when God comes first over what leads us into desert places, He will come and meet that need to be connected to Him.
The word ”soul” means ”the inner man with its thoughts and emotions” . The word ”flesh” means ”human frailty”. The word longeth” means ”to pine after”.
So looking at this clearly, David is craving to fellowship in the house of the Lord so deeply that it is a hunger and thirst coming out from his innermost being.
Every part of him wants to attend service, to fellowship with God in His temple. David is undoubtedly running for his life, but his desire from the first part of the day is to go to church.
In Psalm 42:2, the Bible says, ”My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”
This isn’t the first time David longed after God this way. Throughout his life he has been in situations where he has been unable to enter into the sanctuary of the Lord, which was his desire.
In 2 Samuel 22:5-7, the Bible says, ”When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.”
Does it make sense that David wants to be in the place where He knows God hears him, where his cries are noticed by God?
The word ”dry” means ”barren”. The word ”thirsty” means ”weary”.
David was in a spot that was breaking him down, and he knew the place that would build him up.
Do we give church that much credit in our minds, as the place where we can go to experience something that far surpasses our troubles and the damage being done?
In Psalm 143:5-7, the Bible says, ”I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.’‘
David remembered how God met Him where he was, became a deliverer to him, a protector, a sustainer to him when he was hungry, a comforter when he felt broken by life. God met him where he was with what he needed, and brought deliverance from the wilderness he was in.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 5, 2024 – Romans 6:1 – a clean slate because of saving grace
”What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”
Romans 6:1
Hi Everyone!
When we receive salvation from sin and death, it literally wipes our slate clean.
Being someone in prison, where I have been confined for over twenty years, I know a clean slate is something that is desired by everyone who is confined.
We are reduced from being people to an inmate number, a crime and the amount of time we have.
Even though my life is so much different, that is all many still reduce me to, like there can’t be anything more to me than what was done over twenty years ago.
God gives salvation to all who believe in the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour by His grace, not our goodness.
Even though He has given us a clean slate, a new identity, and made us into new people, what we do with our salvation is up to us.
Some go right back to living their sinful lives, knowing they’ve punched their ticket to heaven, while others use their clean slate to have the new life in Christ they have always wanted.
Today, we will look at Romans 6:1, a clean slate because of saving grace.
”What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”
When a verse begins with a question like this, it means it was asked to sum up a previous point made, so we need to look back.
In Romans 5:17, the Bible says, ”For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”
The sin of Adam caused us to be recipients of the penalty of sin and death, with no way, on our own, for us to be reconciled with God.
Christ Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for sin by God’s abundant love and grace bestowed upon us.
From this we became the righteousness of God in Christ. God’s Grace pays the price for what should’ve happened to us, and becomes the bridge between where we were, and where we are now spiritually, because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Having received such a powerful, life-changing gift, we now have a choice.
Some will use this gift to keep on sinning, knowing their sin is washed clean by the blood of Christ.
They are poor stewards of the grace of God.
Others will use God’s grace as the new chance to become everything God created them to be.
The word ”continue” means ”to abide or remain in”. The word ”sin” refers to actions, behaviors, and mentalities that are offenses against God.
In Romans 3:8, the Bible says, ”And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.”
Some people are looking for a free pass to sin, and they use the grace of God through Christ, the ultimate and final sacrifice for sin, as that license.
How can we squander away such a beautiful gift of a second chance by living an unchanged life?
In Romans 6:15-16, the Bible says, ”What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
The fact that Paul has to even answer this question, shows us the hearts of some people who are ready to bring shame upon their salvation by living the same life that they were saved from.
It would be similar to me being unconditionally pardoned from my homicide conviction, and then I get out of prison after all these years of bondage and start killing like nothing has changed.
Grace was designed to change us spiritually, not leave us unchanged in our lives.
Almost all people who know me, know that if I am pardoned or receive that second chance at freedom, I am going to serve the Lord even better in my new home environment.
The word ”grace” refers to the grace exhibited in the pardon of sins and admission to the divine kingdom, also referred to as saving grace.
The word ”abound” means ”to be abundant”. This can mean that there are people who will live in sin, actually telling themselves that the more they sin, the more they experience the grace of God.
In Romans 6:11, the Bible says, ”Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The grace of God gives us an image that our lives of sin are now gone and very much behind us, so we should live as such.
In Galatians 2:19-20, the Bible says, ‘‘For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
The saving grace of God gives us an incredible opportunity to bury our old man, and live our lives in the Lord, to do the will of God and use our salvation to win souls for Christ. Why not use our second chances to do the greatest amount of good?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 6, 2024 – Jeremiah 7:24 – not serving the Lord in obedience
”But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”
Jeremiah 7:24
Hi Everyone!
God is good to us, far more than any of us deserve.
He created us to bear His image and likeness, and gave us kingdom authority to reign on earth.
He placed all things under our feet, and gave us the ability to name things and they became what we named them.
Amid all of this, God gave Adam a command and he disobeyed, leading to the fall.
All throughout the history of our faith, God has had to deal with our disobedience, and watch us disregard His commands chasing after our own hearts.
He still gave us Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for sin once and for all, to all who believe in His name.
Even when we accept this wonderful gift of salvation, we still try to go our own way, and we still don’t obey the Holy Spirit’s leading.
This must change for us to experience the fullness of His promise in our lives.
Today, we will look at Jeremiah 7:24, not serving the Lord in obedience.
”But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”
The word ”hearkened” means ”to listen, to hear intelligently, with the intention of obeying”. The phrase ”inclined their ear” means ”to bend”, or to have a readiness to respond with obedience.
In Acts 5:29, the Bible says, ”Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
The council and the High Priest commanded the apostles to not teach the name of Jesus, and they clearly disobeyed it. When we have to choose between obeying man and obeying God, we have to always choose obedience to God.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, the Bible says, ”And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
Saul however, took God’s command and disregarded it, choosing to do what he felt was best. He was the king, so in essence, he was the person who gave commands, but when it comes to God he was supposed to obey God over anything he had in mind. Saul lost his ability to reign because of his disobedience, but sadly, we do the same thing, disobeying God’s commands, all while expecting to reign.
We can not stand in authority while walking in disobedience.
In Psalm 81:10-12, the Bible says, ”I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.’‘
God sees our heart, and He doesn’t force obedience on us. He lets us make our own choices, but they come with consequences, and we forfeit a lot by going our own way.
In Psalm 81:13-14, the Bible says, ”Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.”
We lose our protection by our disobedience, and are subdued by enemies that we should subdue, because God only fights the battles of those who are obedient.
The word ”walked” means ”to follow or follow after”. The word ”counsels” means ”purpose or device”.
In Deuteronomy 29:19-20, the Bible says, ”And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.’‘
I don’t want to pay the price of disobedience, nor do I want to experience any adverse circumstances because of deciding to go my own way.
I have done that long enough. I also don’t want to be subject to defeat because I refused to walk in obedience towards God.
The phrase ”evil heart” means ”wickedness from the innermost being”.
In Jeremiah 32:32-33, the Bible says, ‘Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.”
There will come a point in time where our disobedience will lead us into trouble, and from that trouble we will cry out to God for help.
Then, do we want Him to tell us to return to the things and people we turned against Him for in disobedience, and let them deliver us?
God is warning us to obey His word, but will we listen?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 7, 2024 – Jeremiah 7:13 – answering the Lord’s call
”And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not”.
Jeremiah 7:13
Hi Everyone!
God is calling us.
I remember being in the midst of the street life and its consequences, but God still called me.
This is evidence of the Lord’s love for me, when I was extremely unlovable, when I was still committed to nonsense.
Sadly, there are people who are saved, but use their salvation living just as the world does, yet God is calling them back home too.
Some heed the call, but others ignore the call while attending church service weekly, acting like they really live holy lives.
Jeremiah here is preaching to Judah, telling God’s chosen people that they must change their ways, and serve the Lord from an undefiled heart.
We are either serving the Lord or we are serving the world.
We can’t serve both.
Today, we will look at Jeremiah 7:13, answering the Lord’s call.
”And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not”.
The word ”done” means ”to fulfill, accomplish, commit to, or complete”. The word ”works” means ”action, transaction, or deed”.
When I look at the word ”transaction”, I immediately think of the word ”agreement”.
When we sin, we are entering into a transaction with the enemy, an agreement to serve him in our deeds and in our hearts.
We are saying with our actions that the enemy, not God, knows what’s best for us.
Looking at the context of this scripture, it says, ”all these works”, so in order to understand the context, we must go back.
In Jeremiah 7:8-10, the Bible says, ”Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?’‘
This is a heavy set of actions. Imagine this with me. Someone commits a murder, and when they are asked what authority gave them the right to take someone’s life, they say, ”I go to church so that I have a pass to do what I want”.
As ridiculous as this sounds, this is what some of Judah thinks, enough that Jeremiah, under the command of God, has to speak this word.
It is one thing if they left church to serve the world, but they are serving the world, AND attending church, using it as a pass to do whatever is in their hearts to do.
Sadly, this is a reality in the Church today. As society has gotten more permissible, the Church has lowered the standard down so much so, that everything now seems permissible within its walls.
In 2 Chronicles 36:15, the Bible says, ”And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place”.
God warns us when we are stepping outside of His will because He doesn’t want to see us punished. God’s compassion is far more precious than we realize.
The word ”spake” means ”announce or declare”.
Imagine your cars navigational system where directions are preset. It tells you where to turn, when you make a wrong turn, it tells you ”reroute”, meaning ”get back on track”, also it sets new directions to get you back on track.
Hello, this is what God does for us.
The phrase ”heard not” means ”disobeyed”.
So despite many warnings, we still choose to not obey. God has been calling us for a long time, but have we listened or obeyed?
In Jeremiah 11:7-8, the Bible says, ”For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do: but they did them not.”
Why protest against the word of the Lord when we disobey His commands. He continues to speak to His children, telling us to get back on track, but we continue to go away from His word.
The word ”called” means ”to accost a person, to address by name, or to invite”.
These are personal acts, so no one is without excuse.
The word ”answered” means ”to heed or respond”.
Basically, this is saying that God is calling our names, confronting us, but we are still ignoring him.
In Proverbs 1:23-25, the Bible says, ”Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof”.
This is an example of what is happening in our church, something that has to stop. Until we become a church walking in obedience, heeding the Word of the Lord, we can never be all we were created to be.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 8, 2024 – Psalm 71:12 – plea for God to hurry up and help
”God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.”
Psalm 71:12
Hi Everyone!
Sometimes, when things get difficult, it seems that God is furthest away.
It is an incredibly lonely feeling to look around and not feel God’s presence, especially when living expectantly for an answer from Him or His help.
During tough times we want God to speed up His timetable as the waiting can be incredibly difficult to bear.
I know this well with praying to God and entrusting my freedom to Him.
I know it is coming, but the agony of the wait, especially believing that I no longer belong in prison is a personal torture.
Many times, with tears in me and my wife’s eyes, we have wondered when our time is going to come, when will the wait be over.
The wait can be incredibly frustrating, and in impatience, we can begin to question whether God heard us at all.
This is where feelings need to be combatted with what we know, and we know God has heard us and the answer is being prepared for us even as I type.
Today, we will look at Psalm 71:12, a plea for God to hurry up and help.
”God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.”
The first thing to see in this short verse is who the writer is making his plea to.
Many times, we knock on the wrong door to receive the help we need from the Lord.
I have seen brothers place more faith in a lawyer than in God, only to find themselves without the help they need, and in a bigger hole. I have seen brothers spend over a hundred thousand dollars on lawyers still ending up with the same amount of time.
This writer knows who to call upon for help and he is calling upon the Lord.
In Philippians 4:6-7, the Bible says, ‘‘Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Another thing to be mindful of, if we do present our issue to the right source, we will still not necessarily feel the peace we would like in the waiting.
Many of us spend more time meditating over our anxieties, over our confined states, instead of meditating on the Word of God, which tells us to give God our anxieties with thanksgiving in order to receive the peace of God.
Now, this is easier said than done, even for the writer of this Psalm.
In Psalm 71:3, the Bible says, ‘‘Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.”
The writer of this Psalm knows that God is his only help, and his only strength. He knows that God has already responded to his prayer for deliverance with an answer, and he knows he can rest in the Lord, but he later tells God to hurry up and help.
Why? Because trusting in the Lord doesn’t exclude us from the rollercoaster of fear, anxiety and impatience. We are going to experience these things, but what happens next?
In looking at this topic verse, it should make us question what brought this on, because how does someone go from professing that their trust is in the Lord, and they know the answer is already given, to telling God to hurry up and help?
In Psalm 71:10-11, the Bible says, ‘‘For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.’‘
Sometimes, the report of another person or an attack by another can cause us to then rush God, because their report makes us uncomfortable.
The phrase ”be not far from me” means ”please don’t remove yourself from me”. Where does this sound familiar?
In Psalm 22:1-2, the Bible says, ”My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.’‘
This is one of the Messianic Psalms, and from the cross, Christ asked God why had He forsaken Him?
Sometimes, the waiting, or the anguish from our trial can make us feel like God has walked away from us, but that is a lie. We should never rely on our feelings when we are under strain, nor should we ever feel like God is not listening.
In Psalm 22:11, the Bible says, ”Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.”
Sometimes, we feel like no one will help us, but God is our help, and He knows what we are going through.
Remember in Daniel 10:12, the Bible says, ”Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.”
God heard Daniel from the very first day He asked for help, even though it took three weeks for the response to come. God may not appear as soon as we would like, but we can guarantee that He heard us and the response is indeed coming!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 9, 2024 – Psalm 71:13 – bringing shame upon those who subject us to attack
”Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.”
Psalm 71:13
Hi Everyone!
Being a believer will sometimes lead to an attack from people.
I know this well, because my wife and I have experienced numerous attacks during the course of our marriage.
Some attacks are aimed at dividing what God has brought together, some from family, others from people we thought had our backs, especially as we reach after Christ.
No matter who has attacked us, God has allowed us to stand victoriously despite the offensives mounted against us.
They have always been brought to a level of shame when they have come against us, and we praise God for that.
We realized we couldn’t fight these types of battles, but we had to learn to entrust that to God, allowing Him to do what we couldn’t do in our own strength.
God does a much better job than we do handling those who mount against us.
Today, we will look at Psalm 71:13, bringing shame upon those who subject us to attack.
”Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.”
The word ”confounded” means ”put to shame, be ashamed, be disappointed, or be disgraced”. The word ”consumed” means ”to be destroyed fully, or utterly finished”.
The writer of this Psalm wants these attacks to end and the attackers’ offensives to blow up in their faces.
Remember, that this is a prayer, not a war chant, so the writer is asking God for the outcome he desires.
Too many of us would try to achieve this on our own, fighting battles God doesn’t give us permission to fight.
In 2 Samuel 5:19, the Bible says, ”And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.”
David was a mighty king and warrior, and he had an incredible army that was blessed by God. Even though he knew the odds were in his favor to win, he still enquired of God whether or not this was a battle he should be fighting.
Do we seek God’s perspective before we make war on someone who attacks us?
In 2 Samuel 5:22-23, the Bible says, ”And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.”
In the same chapter, David enquires of God should he take them to war again, but God says no this time.
God instead wants David to wait until He goes before them.
There is a time for us to confound the enemy with the strength and ability that God has given us, and there is a time for us to allow the Lord to go to battle before us. Either way, we should always seek the Lord for His plans.
The word ”adversaries” means ”attackers, slanderers, people who harbor animosity towards us”.
In Psalm 35:4-5, the Bible says, ”Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.”
The writer of this Psalm doesn’t necessarily want to be the instrument of wrath, but he is entrusting God with the result to make their offensive come to absolutely nothing. He wants God to provide the victory and totally wipe them out.
In Isaiah 54:17, the Bible says, ”No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
This word is truth, and no attack by the enemy will prevail when our trust is in the Lord. It doesn’t mean that it won’t hurt, but it means that when the smoke clears, we’ll be left standing and our enemies will be gone!
The word ”reproach” means ”barrenness or shame”.
In Psalm 40:13-15, the Bible says, ‘‘Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.”
There are people lying in wait, hoping we fail, hoping we lose our battle so they can celebrate our defeat.
People have been waiting on me to fall on my face for years, but God continues to keep me upright. The attacks haven’t been fruitful because we continue to trust and get stronger!
In Psalm 71:23-24, the Bible says, ”My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.”
Praise should be our offering when God is true to His word, delivering us from the attacks of the enemy.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 10, 2024 – Psalm 71:14 – a hope that praise comes from
”But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.”
Psalm 71:14
Hi Everyone!
Does God get the glory and praise in our lives?
See, it is an easy question to answer when we get something we want from God, because it is almost an instinct to praise God for a breakthrough, but does God get our praise when we are in the midst of the trial, and unable to see our way out?
In order for us to praise God in the midst of trials, we have to surrender every adverse feeling we have to the Lord and see the victory as if it is playing out right before our eyes.
Not as easy, and I find myself struggling to praise God when times get hard, even when I’ve prayed for the answer and am trusting Him to respond.
If I can’t praise God in the midst of trial, then that means I am still focused on the problem.
My wrong focus because I still have unbelief in my heart, or I am devoid of hope, or praise isn’t a habit I have built in my life.
However everything changes in our minds and lives when we praise God.
Today, we will look at Psalm 71:14, a hope that praise comes from.
”But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.”
The word ”hope” means ”to wait patiently”. The word ”continually” means ”in perpetuity”. This means forever!
In Psalm 121:1-2, the Bible says, ”I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
To wait patiently means we are living in expectancy that God is going to show up in that area of our lives where we have the need, and He will respond with provision.
If we are downtrodden we normally look down to the ground, but the Psalmist is calling us to change our perspective, and to look up and see the salvation of the Lord coming.
This isn’t easy to do, especially when we are under attack, but if God is telling us to do it, then it can be done.
In Colossians 3:1-2, the Bible says, ”If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
We have to keep our eyes fixed on things above, and have an upward trajectory to our perspective.
We have to see it in our minds before we can see it in our lives. If we can’t see God’s hand working the situation out for our good, then how can we praise Him for something we haven’t trained our eyes to behold?
In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible says, ”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Without hope, there is no image to attach our faith to, and one of the enemy’s biggest schemes is to strip us of hope, because he knows that if we can never see the light at the end of the tunnel, we will never reach after it. We will choose darkness as our normal.
The word ”praise” means ”a laudation”.
This means applauding God for His name, for His ability, for His majesty, and for His provision”.
Praise puts the attention on God, where it belongs, and off of our own circumstances. The Psalmist here knew where his mind needed to be, despite what he was facing.
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.”
At all times means exactly that, at all times; when times are great, when times are miserable, when we have peace on all sides and when we are in the midst of attack.
Our praise should be contagious, and should bring gladness to others.
Check this: Is our walk with the Lord attractive to others?
In Psalm 71:5-6, the Bible says, ”71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.’‘
This once again tells us that praise is a habit that comes from a trust in God.
Let’s look back and see how faithful God has been, even when we didn’t form the words to ask for help.
Let’s look at God’s record in our lives.
As believers can we see God’s perfect hand, and will, leading us to the ground we now stand on? This should be evidence that God has got our backs.
Sometimes, a very good way to build a habit of praise is to praise God for what He has already done!
In Psalm 71:22, the Bible says, ”I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.”
Other times, a very good way to build a habit of praise is to listen to some awesome gospel music, and come into agreement with the lyrics of the song.
I am listening to ”Something Has to Break”, by Kierra Sheard and Tasha Cobbs Leonard on repeat this morning, and it’s a statement of faith in opposition to the trials we face.
I am praising God for the victory right now, like it is right in my hands!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 11, 2024 – Psalm 71:15 – a daily declaration of of the goodness of God
”My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.”
Psalm 71:15
Hi Everyone!
Is the Lord good?
If we reflect on our lives do we see that God has worked out so many things for our good?
Have we ever tried to count all of the blessings God has bestowed upon us?
If we are honest, we would lose count. This is how much God has poured His love, kindness, grace, provision, healing and deliverance, even when we didn’t deserve it, which makes it another string of blessings we can try to count.
God’s record in our life is flawless, and just by me reflecting on what should’ve happened to me due to the sin in my life that didn’t because of the goodness of God, I have enough to declare for the rest of my life.
Do we look at God with the level of gratitude and adoration that we should, or do we live with an attitude of entitlement, where we don’t live with thanksgiving in our hearts?
Today, we will look at Psalm 71:15, a daily declaration of of the goodness of God.
”My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.”
The phrase ”shall shew forth” means ”to declare, to take a census, to score with a mark or tally”.
We keep score with our mouths, so putting this together, we would verbally acknowledge God’s goodness.
Doesn’t that sound a lot like praise? What comes out of our mouths has power, whether we acknowledge it or not.
In Proverbs 18:20-21, the Bible says, ”A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
What we declare comes back to us. When we declare of the Lord’s goodness, God honors our praise by being exactly what we declare Him to be.
We have the ability as God’s children to speak life or death, and sadly, many of us speak death to our futures because our mouths declare how big our circumstances are, and not how big our God is.
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.”
Who would’ve thought that salvation flows through what comes out of our mouths, and that our words hold the power for us to experience the goodness of God?
In these two reference verses lie even more things to understand, that God gives us the fruit of our lips, and that he saves us with our confession of Christ as Lord and Savior.
Let’s go to the beginning, because in Genesis 2:19, the Bible says, ”And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.”
God gave us authority to produce from our mouths the outcome that flows from our hearts, and when our hearts are full of the knowledge of the goodness of God, then that is what will flow out.
Remember in Matthew 12:34, when Christ says, ”O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
This declaration from the Psalmist wasn’t just lip service, it flowed from the depths of his heart, or he would’ve given up a long time before!
The word ”righteousness” refers to the justice, mercy, virtue, and prosperity of God, things He proudly showered upon us.
The word ”salvation” means ”rescue, deliverance, or help”.
Remember, the Psalmist isn’t writing this from some sandy beach, with nothing but paradise in front of him. He is writing this from a struggle, where people are mounting offensives against him.
In Psalm 35:27-28, the Bible says, ”Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.”
When our mouths praise God, we are magnifying the name of the Lord and not our circumstances. We are putting the atmosphere on notice that our God is mightier.
In Psalm 40:5, the Bible says, “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.’‘
When we come to an understanding of this in our hearts, we will have a desire to share this with others, and it keeps our minds focused on God in the process.
What can the enemy do when we are praising God with our mouths? How can He stand to be in a place where God’s record is displayed?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 12, 2024 – Romans 12:9 – genuine love breaking down the walls of wickedness
”Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
Romans 12:9
Hi Everyone!
A believer should always be in active pursuit of what pleases our God.
Being saved by faith in Jesus Christ, we no longer are slaves to wickedness.
But, we are servants to righteousness, living our lives to reflect the glory of God in this world.
We can look around and see a world void of love, and we definitely see that evil is abounding.
My family just received some internet post about some person who decided to threaten to shoot up a school full of children, citing politics in their threat.
Seriously? What do children, who can’t even vote, have to do with a political party or agenda?
So we made the choice to have our babies sit school out until they give us the all clear on the threat.
This is what our world is turning to without the love of Jesus Christ having reign in our lives.
Today, we are going to look at Romans 12:9, genuine love breaking down the walls of wickedness.
”Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
The word ”love” means ”benevolence, affection, a love-feast, spoken especially of goodwill towards others, the love of our neighbor, brotherly affection, which the Lord Jesus Christ commands and inspires.”
In Mark 12:30-31, Christ declares, ”And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
Love is the most important command because in it, it fulfills the law of God.
If love is the prevailing force in our society, then we wouldn’t have mass shooters and threats of violence. We wouldn’t have prisons full of people convicted of a plethora of crimes. We wouldn’t have poverty and hierarchies based on financial statutes. We wouldn’t have absentee parents, abuse, or fractured family units.
Wherever love is absent, the door is open for every harmful thing to enter, and the will of God is not fulfilled.
The phrase ”without dissimulation” means ”unfeigned or sincere”. How sincere is love without action, based on the fact that love is indeed an action expressing the affections one has for another?
The only way we will know love is real is if we experience it in action.
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 loved, so He gave. Christ loved, so He died for our sins. Love is present in the action, so when the words are uttered, there is evidence.
In 1 Timothy 1:5, the Bible says, ”Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned”.
Why do anything from an insincere place, especially love?
Eventually, our actions are going to bear the truth and we will destroy our credibility and witness with others in the process.
In 1 Peter 1:22, the Bible says, ”Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”
When we walk in sincere love, we walk in obedience to God. God looks in and is pleased by what He sees, and it brings glory to Him.
The word ”abhor” means ”to hate or detest”. The word ”evil” means ”morally wicked or corrupt”.
In Psalm 34:13-15, the Bible says, ‘‘Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
We have to be aware of what comes out of our mouths, so we speak words of life and love, that our words bring people into a deeper fellowship with the Lord God.
We have to make sure that our pursuits are in love and peace.
There is nothing that shuts up God’s ears faster than unrighteousness, unbelief, and wickedness.
The word ”cleave” means ”to glue or stick to”. The word ”good” means ”profitable, useful, virtuous, or beneficial to God and others”.
In Amos 5:14-15, the Bible says, ”Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.”
We receive the grace of God when we stick to the things that please God. We bring glory to God through our love for others.
Maybe, we can change the world’s problem if we approach everyone with love.
God doesn’t command us to do anything that would shame His name, but rather bring glory to Him. How hard is it to love?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 13, 2024 – Romans 12:10 – a brotherly love undefiled
”Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”.
Romans 12:10
Hi Everyone!
”They will know we are Christians by our love”.
This is a well-known hymn we sing in our church services, but do we live this out in our lives?
Is love the prevailing theme of our lives, and is the content of our hearts spilled out in the open before our brothers and sisters in Christ?
The way we treat people may be the only ministry we give others on a day to day basis, and if they don’t see love in us, then the Word we share with them will not be best fruit.
I remember having a discussion with another brother in Christ, and he didn’t like the fact that I cracked jokes with nonbelievers and talked to guys who are still in the streets.
I politely told the misguided brother that my jokes and speech are clean, and I try not to be a closet believer closing myself off to the world now I’ve found Christ.
Christ was among them, but not of them, so I aim to be also.
When people need prayer, or have a question about the faith, who are they going to approach?
Today, we will look at Romans 12:10, a brotherly love undefiled.
”Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”.
The phrase ”kindly affectionate” implies that we cherish the relationships we have, that we are fond of the people we share faith with, and we are fraternal towards our Christian community.
The phrase ”brotherly love” suggests that our love-feast for other believers comes out of a common spiritual life.
How the world sees believers working together in life and love provides a testimony of God’s love to the world, and it should be attractive to others.
In Hebrews 13:1-3, the Bible says, ”Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”
We never know who a person is or who they may know, so we should treat people the same way we would treat an angel or God Himself.
Sadly, this is not always the case, and the world sees believers who are divided, judgmental towards others, and closed off.
If we follow Christ, then His example is very clear in the Gospels; that He dwelt among us, fellowshipped with us, and loved us deeply.
In 1 Peter 2:17, the Bible says, ”Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
Everywhere I go, God positions me as this bridge between all the different people on our housing unit, where there are, older, younger, different races, and different faiths. He also wants me to be a leader among the Christian brothers in my environment.
I realized that love is the bridge, not me. So love is the way I can convey God equally and fully to everyone in our environment.
Love allows me to place myself in another person’s shoes, to see life through their eyes.
I try my best to love and honour all men, not just because it is commanded, but I want brothers and sisters to always know that if they don’t get anything else from me, they will get an abundance of love.
In 1 Peter 3:8-9, the Bible says, ”Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
How we treat people will be on clear display. If I am closed off to the brethren and the brothers who are in my environment, it sends a message to them all that I want nothing to do with them. How effective will I be for the kingdom if my conduct paints this picture?
The phrase ”in honour” means ”to esteem”. The word ”preferring” means ”to lead the way for others, or show deference”.
This is important, because the world sees how we treat our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and that gives them a template of how we will treat them.
If we mistreat someone we share fellowship with, that is a clear indication of what we would do to others.
In Philippians 2:3-4, the Bible says, ‘‘Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
This is a clear display of God’s love in our hearts pouring out before our brothers and sisters, an active, beautiful love.
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.”
The love we show each other will bear fruitfulness for the kingdom of God. How deep is our love?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 14, 2024 – Romans 12:11 – serving the Lord zealously
”Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord”.
Romans 12:11
Hi Everyone!
Are we zealous in serving the Lord?
As I am typing this devotional out, I am checking myself, to see if I am really zealous in serving the Lord.
Doing these devotionals every morning can surely give the appearance of zealousness, but habit can be easily mistaken for zeal.
As believers, we go to church every Sunday, and some go multiple times during the week, but does that amount to zeal?
Zeal isn’t in the going to Church or the putting together devotionals to help share the Word of God, but it is in the attitude we have about it.
Approaching God’s service with halfheartedness is worse than not doing it at all, in my opinion, because who wants to receive a gift from someone who really doesn’t want to give it?
God is no different, He wants our worship and service to come out of a sincere heart that desires to please and glorify Him.
We have to check out hearts, to make sure we are serving the Lord from the right place, and with the right intentions.
Today, we will look at Romans 12:11, serving the Lord zealously.
”Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord”.
The word ”slothful” means ”irksome, grievous, or tardy”.
It expresses an attitude that actually does more harm than good. When we think of slothfulness, we also think of laziness. This is the person who cuts corners, tries to find the easy way out, attempts things with the least amount of effort.
The word ”business” means ”eagerness or diligence”, and some translations give ”zeal” as translation for the word ”business”.
In 1 Corinthians 10:31, the Bible says, ”Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
The first thing we must consider in our attitude of service is: who we are doing this for.
If God isn’t first on our list, that should knock our eagerness down a few pegs, because if we truly knew we were giving our attitude, worship, and service to the Lord, then we would be prepared to give God our best.
I fail miserably at this sometimes, and I have to really check myself to make sure my heart is right, that it is focused on bringing glory to God.
In Colossians 3:17, the Bible says, ”And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Not only should we have an attitude of service that is zealous to bring glory to God, we should also have hearts of thankfulness.
I am thankful that God made me in His image and after His likeness (see Genesis 1:26), especially because I have been brought from the ashes of destruction to serve Him. I still have to check myself, because habit can make me lose sight of how I have been delivered from death and sin. Having the right attitude is necessary for service.
The phrase ”fervent in spirit” means ”to be boiling hot”, on fire for the Lord.
Once again, I have to check myself, because doing this for years can blind one from seeing the privilege of it.
The word ”serving” means ”to place oneself under voluntary servitude, to be a slave to, to obey, or be devoted”.
Devotion requires an attitude that we are going to serve the Lord with zeal no matter the circumstances. God doesn’t want us switching things up on Him when things are difficult. He wants the same heart, the same commitment, the same obedience.
Remember in Revelation 3:15-16, the Bible says, ”I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
God knows our hearts, and no matter how committed we appear to be, He knows if we are lukewarm.
This teaching is really checking my heart because I want serve the Lord all of the time with fire, and be someone who is zealous in attitude and in service. I see where I fall short, but that is what the Word shows, and I praise God for it.
Doesn’t the Bible say in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, ”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
The word of God is the template we fit ourselves into, so we weigh everything in our lives, including our attitudes, to the Word of God.
And to think, I was actually going to skip over this verse, because I first thought there weren’t any reference verses for it!
In Titus 2:14, the Bible says, ‘‘Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Jesus Christ gave Himself for us so that we can be God’s unique possession; purified and on fire to serve the Lord. The question is, are we?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 15, 2024 – Romans 12:12 – a believer’s journey through hope, patience, and diligence
”Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”.
Romans 12:12
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we are going to go through hard times, and no one is exempt from it.
We all experience hardships, we all have starting points at the beginning of our faith journey where we can’t see our way over this mountain in front of us, and we all have moments where quitting seems to be the best option for us.
It is exceptionally hard to hope, especially in the midst of trial, because we have to literally fix our brain on what we hope for instead of what is happening to us.
To remain rooted is hard, when drama unfolds, when haters surface, when attacks from the enemy abound, but there is real rest in the Lord.
The power of prayer in moments like this is a game changer, and when we constantly fellowship with God in the midst of trials, it shows God that we trust Him and puts the enemy on notice that our minds are fixed on the things that are above.
Today, we will look at Romans 12:12, a believer’s journey through hope, patience, and diligence.
”Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”.
The word ”rejoicing” means ”cheerful or happy”. The word ”hope” means ”to anticipate, expectation, or confidence, spoken especially of those who experience the hope of salvation through Christ, eternal life and blessedness”.
When we hope for something, we anticipate its arrival, which means that we don’t see a scenario where we won’t get it.
Rejoicing in the midst of it, shows an attitude of praise where we are celebrating the victory in advance!
In Luke 10:20, Christ compels the disciples to not rejoice in the gifts they were given for the kingdom, but instead says, ”Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.’‘
How excited are we about our salvation and what it means for us and our future?
We really have a secure future in Christ where heaven is at the end of it, but the beauty about a believer’s life is that we can experience a little of heaven on earth by walking in the Spirit.
In Romans 5:1-2, the Bible says, ”Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
We have great standing with God as believers, and this position we are in should give us an earnest expectation about what is to come.
We get to experience the grace of God right where we stand, the bridge that makes our ”not enough” become ”more than enough”! We have unlimited access to the presence of God, so why should we ever remain troubled if we are in the presence of the Lord?
The word ”patient” means ”to endure to the end, or to persevere”. The word ”tribulation” means ”pressure, affliction, or anguish”. See, God does not promise that we won’t go through tough things, and in fact, He prepares us for that reality.
If we are focused on His hope, that will fuel us to endure what is happening in the now.
In Hebrews 10:35-36, the Bible says, ”Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
We have to keep our confidence in the Lord intact. We pray to God, entrusting an answer from Him and then we have to remain confident through the waiting, until we receive the answer.
That is on us, because God is working out the answer.
In Hebrews 12:1, the Bible says, ”Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”.
Sometimes, watching others persevere can give us the confidence that we can make it too.
When many in my family were dying back to back, the brothers got a chance to see me cleave to God and they became encouraged that they can keep going too.
Our struggle may become a testimony for others.
God has already equipped us to endure, but we have to walk in the strength that He has given us.
The phrase ”continuing instant” means ”being earnest or having diligence or wait on constantly”.
The word ”prayer” definitely refers to our supplications and requests before God, but it also pertains to our worship, and our decreasing so God can increase.
In Luke 18:1, the Bible says, ”And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”.
The enemy would love to see our prayer stop under affliction, because it changes our focus.
Prayer keeps us in the presence of the Lord, and continues to keep us seeking God for the answers that we hope for.
God never told us that we wouldn’t struggle, but He provides us the way through it!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 16, 2024 – Romans 12:13 – looking out for those who walk in the faith with us
”Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
Romans 12:13
Hi Everyone!
If someone has a need around us, and we ignore their need, what type of testimony does that give?
If one of our fellow brothers or sisters has needs, do we overlook them as if we don’t notice their struggle, doing nothing to help them?
When the world sees believers working together, helping each other, meeting each other’s needs, it builds a strength within the body, but it also ensures that there will be no vulnerability within the body.
After Christ was crucified, the Bible in Acts describes when the Church began. Believers would travel from place to place, sharing the Gospel and fellowshipping with other believers. Many could not afford to stay in hotels, so they lodged with other believers.
What if they traveled a long distance to hear the Word of God, some for the first time, but are then turned away hungry in a worse physical state because no one considered their physical need?
Today, we will look at Romans 12:13, looking out for those who walk in the faith with us.
”Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
The word ”distributing” means ”to share resources with others”. The word ”necessity” means ”personal need”. The word ”saints” means ”those who are purified and sanctified by the influences of the Spirit; a believer in Christ”.
I love how the definition of ”distributing” includes resources. Everything is not always about money, but sometimes we can point a person in the right direction to someone who can meet their personal need.
We may know someone with a job available, or have a book that could help them in their current situation. We may be able to gather a few bodies together to physically meet someones need.
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, the Bible says, ‘‘But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Whatever it is, we must absolutely have the heart of giving, not out of some obligation, nor begrudgingly, but really giving out of the love in our heart for others.
When God sees His children giving to each other, working with each other, and helping to meet the need in the body of believers, He is very pleased.
In Acts 3:6-8, the Bible says, ”Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”
This man sat at the gate called Beautiful begging for money outside the temple.
He obviously had a financial need, because his disability didn’t allow him to make a living. Peter didn’t have money, but he had something better! If Peter had given him money he would not have leapt to his feet and run into the temple praising God.
He praised God because his real need was met. What if Peter, being a senior pastor of the Church, had walked past him and done nothing?
In James 2:14-16, the Bible says, ”What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
When we turn our backs on those in need, we are truly being counterproductive to the faith, giving a testimony that God must be a stingy God if His children are stingy. How can we help someone if we are unwilling to give?
The word ”hospitality” means ”to entertain strangers”.
My old church feeds the needy ever Saturday, and they also share the Word with them as well.
What happens if this same needy person comes to Church the next day, and is shunned because their clothes are dirty, or they smell filthy?
In 1 Peter 4:8-10, the Bible says, ”above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Love has to be the running theme to our hospitality. If we give to others and we really don’t want to, they will know it, no matter how we try to hide it.
If they receive our giving from a heart that desires them to have it, they are blessed and God is glorified!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 17, 2024 – Romans 12:14 – blessing those who curse us
”Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
Romans 12:14
Hi Everyone!
I was taught in the street life that revenge is a dish best served cold.
This taught us that revenge was inevitable, no matter how long it took.
Imagine the negative energy it takes to sit there and plot revenge on someone who has wronged us.
Is this how God wants us to think?
Just yesterday, someone trolled us on social media. My wife posted a picture of us on social media and someone attacked her for it, being disrespectful, borderline if not fully racist, and attacked the fact that I am in prison.
Naturally, the ”Momma Bear” came out of my beautiful wife, and she defended our love and marriage against the attacker, but she did it with love and understanding.
He still attacked nevertheless. What do we do when the good we try to do gets slapped back into our faces?
We continue to walk in love, but we also exercise discretion, understanding that an internet troll entertains themselves by antagonizing others.
We pray for them, because that’s what love does.
Today, we will look at Romans 12:14, blessing those who curse us.
”Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
The word ”bless” means ”to speak well of, to praise, or to pray for”. The word ”persecute” means ”to cause to flee or suffer; to afflict with torment or fear; to inflict harm upon”. I expand the definition to express that persecution is not an easy thing to experience.
Putting these two together, we are commanded as believers to speak well of and pray for those who cause us suffering, even those who intentionally cause us harm.
When the internet troll attacked our family, he invaded our safe space and tried to poison us with his hatred. We did no wrong to this man but he wronged us.
In Matthew 5:43-45, Christ says, ”Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
This means we must bypass our hurt feelings, ignore the desire to attack back, and walk in love towards the one who just dogged us out.
Believers do not have the ”luxury” of revenge, nor should we ever desire it because our conduct, especially towards others, is a testament of the God we serve.
When people see our love when we are attacked it not only bears witness that we are children of God, but it also shows those facing a similar situation how to respond under attack.
We are living epistles, and our actions bear record of what is in our hearts.
In Luke 6:27-29, Christ gives this command, ”But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.”
I know firsthand that it takes more strength to resist doing evil than to take revenge.
Being able to love someone who does us wrong is no easy task, and turning the other cheek to potentially be struck on that one too, does not sound like a good plan, but God is concerned with the end result, what testimony is revealed in 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.’‘
Christ was beaten mercilessly, tortured, nailed to a cross, and experienced one of the most brutal deaths imaginable.
From this position Christ called for God to forgive them.
If Christ can do this, then we can face our attackers from the same level of love.
Some will make the copout comment that they aren’t Jesus, but in Acts 7:60, the Bible says, ”And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Stephen was being stoned for being a Christian, and as he was being attacked, he was asking God to forgive his murderers. We can do it too.
The word ”curse” means ”to wish ruin, evil, or doom upon another”.
In 1 Peter 2:23, the Bible says, ‘‘Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously”.
Christ had the power to rain down curses for what mankind was doing to Him but He poured out forgiveness, despite what was happening to Him.
Our internet troll didn’t just attack us, but he tried to attack those around us as well. We pray this brother experiences the peace of God in a way he never has before.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 18, 2024 – Matthew 11:15 – having the ability to trust, learn, and obey
”He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Matthew 11:15
Hi Everyone!
Sometimes, we are hardheaded, and we don’t position ourselves to learn what God is trying to teach us.
God desires us to learn His Word, so we can understand and carry it out.
God has equipped us with the ability to learn His Word, but the choice is up to us.
Remember being sick as a child? The medicine our parents wanted us to take tasted horribly, and we would rather stay sick than to take the nasty medicine. We couldn’t see how something so nasty was actually helping us!
Some of us are grown up and still resist the very thing that we need to make us well.
Giving ear to God’s Word isn’t merely about doing what He commands us to do. It is about putting ourselves in a prime position to learn what God wants us to know.
God gives us a simple command, and a very clear teaching, which many of us resist, unappreciative that God knows what is best.
Today, we are going to look at Matthew 11:15, having the ability to trust, learn, and obey.
”He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
The phrase ”hath ears” implies one having the ability to do something. The word ”hear” means ”to give audience, to learn, to listen, to heed, or to obey”.
God will never command us to do something that is outside of the possibility of our abilities.
If he commands it, we are well able to perform the Word of the Lord.
God is making this call in this verse to whosoever is willing to listen, willing to learn, and willing to obey.
In this text, John the Baptist has heard about the work of Jesus Christ, and the work his disciples have done under His headship. Word made it to the prison John the Baptist was housed in, so he sent his word through his own disciples to find out if it was The Christ.
When they came to Christ, Christ allowed them to see the work of the Lord, and instructs them to take John the Baptist back a report. Christ then speaks highly of John the Baptist, and that He is the fulfillment of Scripture.
This is when Christ tells everyone listening, ”He that hath ears, let him hear”.
Christ wants us also to pay attention to that message He gave them.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says,
”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Christ is using this message to establish a few things. First, He is establishing that the Messiah has indeed come, and second, that John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elias (Elijah) to pave the way for Him.
This is why in Matthew 11:14, Christ says,
”And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.”
Notice how Christ says ”if” here? It is up to us to heed the Word of the Lord and believe it as truth.
Christ is teaching us that this is the fulfillment of the prophecy given in Malachi 4:5-6, the last two verses of the Old Testament, which says,
”Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
John the Baptist came making the way for the Lord, positioning people to receive the Lord.
In Matthew 17:12-13, Christ says,
‘‘But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”
Here is the whole point of God making sure that we are taught the Word of God, for us to make the connection that will lead to us understanding the Word of God.
In John 6:45, Christ says,
”It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
Just because we are taught doesn’t mean that we will all listen.
That will be the sad thing, because when placed right in our face it is our job to receive the Word of God as truth, and as a result come to Christ.
This is where James 1:5-7 comes in, which 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. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.’‘
We can desire to learn what the Lord wants us to know, but if we don’t ask the Lord for wisdom and faith, we can’t expect to receive anything.
Are we positioned to receive the Word of God in such a way that we will be taught, that we will understand, and that we will walk it out?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 19, 2024 – Hebrews 3:19 – the power of belief
”So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
Hebrews 3:19
Hi Everyone!
How many opportunities does God want to bless us with that our lack of faith does not allow us to seize?
How much time have we lost because we allowed fear, or our lack of trust in God to block what He has prepared for us?
How many people are in danger of the lake of fire because of their unbelief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?
God is so merciful to us, and He has paved the way for us to experience an abundant life of promise, where we can experience the fulfillment of our faith, but we operate in a state of unbelief.
We are unwilling to receive God’s promises because we fear the opposition, or we hate the challenges, or because some of us walk away from our faith journey as we try to remain close to those we love and are friends with.
As believers, we have an obligation to do something that may seem obvious: believe!
In order to receive God’s promises, we must believe.
Today, we will look at Hebrews 3:19, the power of belief.
”So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
This passage in Hebrews is dealing with the first time God commanded Israel to seize the promised land, and His rest from the wilderness.
In Numbers 13:1, the Bible says, ”And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.’‘
The spies go out, and they indeed see a land flowing with milk and honey, but they also see a people standing in opposition to their seizing this promised land.
Rule number one, expect opposition when you are seizing the promises of God, because we always have an enemy who doesn’t want us to experience the goodness of God.
The spies had to give a report on what they saw, and no one denied that the land was everything they wanted, but ten of the twelve spies brought an evil report.
In Numbers 13:32-33, the Bible says, ”And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”
This report struck fear into Israel and they moved in fear, and refused to seize the promised land. Only two believed in God, Joshua and Caleb, seeing past the opposition, trusting that if God told them to seize it, they could seize it.
In Numbers, 13:30, the Bible says, ”And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.’‘
Caleb and Joshua saw beyond the opposition, because they knew that with God, all things are possible, and they saw His faithfulness.
Long story short, they all went back into the wilderness for 40 years, because of their unbelief, until that generation had passed away.
Want to know who entered into the promised land? Joshua and Caleb! Why? Because they believed!
The word ”unbelief” means ”faithlessness, distrust, disbelief, or apostasy”. Unbelief is directly linked to disobedience, because unbelief will cause a person to walk away from the promise of God.
In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Our faith is attached to the Word of God, which is something that is concrete and will never fail us.
If God speaks it, He will fulfill it, and there’s no circumstance we face that He won’t bring us through when we trust in His Word.
God prepared Israel to receive what they walked through the wilderness for, and He commanded them to seize, but fear led to unbelief, which led to disobedience.
In Mark 11:23-24, Christ says, ”For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’‘
That mountain can be anything, person, place or thing, but it is the thing that stands in opposition to the fulfillment of our promise.
If we will speak what we belief according to this text, we can receive what we believe according to the Word of God.
This verse is not an all-inclusive pass for us to name and claim anything, but it is based on the Word of God.
When we believe in God’s promise over our lives, we will enter into that rest!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 20, 2024 – Acts 3:16 – having the faith to be whole
”And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
Acts 3:16
Hi Everyone!
Do we believe that through faith in Jesus Christ that the kingdom of God has been made available to us to experience what God desires of us?
Do we understand that we are recipients of the same power that Christ walked in while He was on earth.
Many times, our unbelief is the reason why we are unable to receive what God has for us.
We will say the right words, but in our hearts we lack the faith to see miracles happen in our lives.
Many of us have become so broken by life that we have accepted a lower standard for our life and expectations, and because we have had hard knocks all throughout our lives, we should only expect more of the same.
It is time to change that thinking, because placing our faith in the name of Jesus Christ will break the chains and curses over our lives.
Today, we will be looking at Acts 3:16, having the faith to be whole.
”And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
The word ”name” refers to the appellation, authority and character of Jesus Christ.
There is power in our names, which is why we should be ever so careful what we name our children.
Jesus is the Greek variant of the Hebrew Yeshua, which is Joshua as we know it, meaning ”the Lord saves”.
When we look at the character and authority of Jesus Christ, we understand that He has full authority because He is God, robed in humanity, so in Him lies the power to save, to heal, and to change hearts.
In Acts 4:12, the Bible says, ”Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
If we seek any name other than Jesus Christ for salvation, healing, and transformation, we will not get what we are truly seeking.
In Philippians 2:9-10, the Bible says, ”Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth”.
Christ’s name has authority over every other name in the earth, and if we truly believe that, then things will really begin to change in our lives.
The word ”faith” means ”assurance, belief, reliance on Christ, trust”.
Do we understand that when we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are believing in His authority to heal, in His character, and in His love that wants to see us well?
This is a heart issue, and many of us skim over this without realizing that this is the most important thing.
Would we ever go to someone who is incapable of doing what we are asking of them? Would we go to Walmart if we just got hit and seriously injured by a car?
In Matthew 9:21-22, the Bible says, ‘‘For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”
This woman was so desperate for healing that she wasn’t going to ask! She knew that Christ had so much power that if she touched Him, her health problem would be over with, and the minute she did, her issue of blood dried up.
Remember the account in Luke 8:43, where the Bible says, ‘‘And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any”?
She went to another source first, which is what many of us do, but when she saw Christ, she came to Him with full assurance, with undeniable belief that a touch would heal her. Jesus responded by telling her, ”You can chill now, it is done by your faith”, in my own language of course.
The word ”perfect soundness” means ”physical wholeness”.
At the gate called Beautiful, the man who is the subject of the text was crippled and begged for alms from those going in and coming out of the temple. This is a prime location, because who would turn down a beggar in front their own church!
His physical condition caused him to be conditioned to receive money from church people, but not healing. He never walked, so he has been conditioned from birth to accept his mat as his place, and he begged to survive, making the best out of a bad situation.
In Acts 3:6, the Bible says, ”Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
It was the name of Jesus Christ that enabled him to walk, just like it is going to be by the name of Jesus Christ that I regain my freedom. This man’s life changed with a name.
Our lives can change with the name of Jesus Christ, but where is our faith to be made whole?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 21, 2024 – Luke 12:4 – having nothing to fear when we are friends of God
”And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.”
Luke 12:4
Hi Everyone!
Our God loves us so much!
He wants us prepared for everything that comes our way, and He gives us His Word to ensure that we can face those things that do come our way.
He goes even further, gifting us His Holy Spirit, as a living, active, guide through the things we encounter in life, giving us information, direction, warning, and peace allowing us to know how we should proceed.
God doesn’t paint some magical picture of our faith.
Sometimes, we are going to experience persecution, even death, for the faith.
As believers, we belong to the kingdom of God, and we have all the benefits of the kingdom that the Lord provided including walking in kingdom authority in the earth.
There is also another realm at work in this earth, defeated but highly influential in trying to disrupt the purpose of God from being fulfilled.
We will face opposition and persecution, but we have nothing to fear.
Today, we will look at Luke 12:4, having nothing to fear when we are friends of God.
”And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.”
The word ”friends” means ”to be fond of as an associate or neighbor”.
Friends, true friends, are extremely close. They bond together, they know each other’s secrets, and in trouble, such a friend can be called and they will come to help.
These friends will also tell us the truth, no matter how we will take it, because the truth is more important than flattery.
Our God is such an amazing friend, Someone who desires us to know everything we need to know in order to live in victory in this earth.
In John 15:14-15, Christ says, ”Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.’‘
Obedience is a condition of the friendship we experience with the Lord.
We can’t say that we are friends with the Lord and then ignore Him when He speaks to us.
We can’t effectively walk in a successful friendship when we severe our communication with God when we don’t want to hear Him.
Christ calls us friends, not only for our obedience, but because He tells us every secret He has received from God! We have a living record of those secrets, and we have the Holy Spirit who continues to teach us all truth.
We are in a prime position to succeed against anything that comes our way because of God’s friendship with us.
The word ”afraid” means ”to be frightened, alarmed or terrified”. The word ”kill” means ”to slay or destroy”.
Let’s look at the context here. Christ is speaking to a crowd of people, but He was speaking especially to His disciples.
Remember, by being a friend of God, we have access to information ahead of time. Christ is preparing the disciples for that day they will experience persecution and even death, just as He knew that He would.
If He is telling them to not be afraid, it is because He knows they will be!
In Isaiah 51:7-8, the Bible says, ”Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.”
When we are friends of the Lord, we are going to experience opposition, and it will not be uncommon to experience people trying to greatly disadvantage us to stop us being fruitful.
Fortunately for many of us, we don’t have to experience the test of death for sharing the Word of God, but there are still a lot of people in the world that do face certain death by just being believers of Jesus Christ.
In Isaiah 51:12-13, the Bible says, ”I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?”
In the midst of persecution, our Creator God will be there to comfort us and we will experience His presence right in midst of those situations.
Our opposition didn’t create the earth and all things and us, so while they can inflict harm, they do not control where we go when this life on earth is over.
This is why Paul and Silas praised God from their stocks in prison, and why Peter slept in prison between four quaternions of soldiers!
Life truly begins when this life is over, so there is nothing to fear!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 22, 2024 – Proverbs 7:2 – placing high value on the Word of God
”Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.”
Proverbs 7:2
Hi Everyone!
How much to we value the Word of the Lord?
Is obeying God’s Word easy to do?
Not always, but obedience is necessary in the life of every believer.
Our faith hedges on our obedience because when we follow the Word of God in belief, we are operating in faith.
How much are we willing to compromise, how much have we compromised by trying to keep going our own way?
When the Bible tells us to not be anxious, but focus on the things that will keep us in a great state of thankfulness, do we heed it?
It is not always in the big things, but it is in the details, that show us how much we value God’s Word.
Anyone can profess their faith from a bullhorn, but what about in the wee hours of the morning when no one is looking?
Until we come to value the Word of God and the commandments He has given us to live abundantly in this world, we will keep finding ourselves at a deficit.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 7:2, placing high value on the Word of God.
”Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.”
The word ”keep” means ”to observe or take heed”. The word ”commandments” means ”the laws, ordinances, or precepts of God”.
When we keep the Word of God, we store it inside us, so we can act on it in all circumstances.
In Psalm 119:11, the Bible says, ”Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’‘
If we are not studying the Word of God, it is not being planted within us, and if it is not planted within us, it makes it that much harder to keep.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, the Bible says, ”And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
God doesn’t care about our outward methods of praise if there is no obedience within us, if there is no desire in our hearts to follow God’s Word.
Saul found this out the hard way and he was rejected as king because he chose to go his own way rather than obeying the Word of God. We could look on the surface and say, ”Saul sacrificed to God. What’s the problem?” The problem was God told Saul to kill everyone and everything, and spare nothing, but Saul took the king hostage, and kept the best sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord.
Obedience is not taking out what we don’t want to obey and keeping in what we do. It is taking God’s Word and obeying all of it, no matter what we think or feel.
In Leviticus 18:4-5, the Bible says, ”Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.”
God doesn’t want lip service out of His children. He wants us to obey. The great life God has in store for us is attached to our obedience.
The word ”law” means ”statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch”. This is where we get the word ”Torah” from.
Now here is where modern day Christians would try to fight against this because as believers in Christ, we are no longer under the law, but we are under grace.
The phrase ”apple of thine eyes” refers to the pupil by which we have our sight, the thing we value to set our eyes upon.
The law contains God’s plan for mankind, the creative intent God has for us, and if we understand the grace we walk in, we really experience the gift we have been given to see that everything we are as believers started there.
In Genesis 1:26, the Bible says, ”And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
God always intended mankind to walk in kingdom authority, personifying Him in the earth, and the law was designed to set His children apart from the world.
Through grace by faith in Jesus Christ, we can be who God intends us to be from creation, a people who bear His image and likeness, walking in love towards God and man.
Remember, we fulfill the law by our love, because in Matthew 22:40, Christ says, ”On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
God has made it as easy as possible for us to keep His commandments, but do we do it?
In Deuteronomy 32:10, the Bible says, ”He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”
God fixes His eyes upon us as His children as we follow His instructions. God does his part, but many times over, He is waiting on us to do ours.
When we value the Word of God as we are supposed to, we will obey it.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 23, 2024 – Romans 6:18 – free to serve
”Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Romans 6:18
Hi Everyone!
Reflecting upon the significant sin debt I built, in the street life, living apart from God, I completely understand deliverance in a way I never had before.
I experienced salvation, knowing that for my sin, someone actually died so that I could live and have eternal life.
I don’t always have this first in my mind, but it is always still there, still available, and God has given me true freedom from the sin that controlled my life.
A brother couldn’t fathom my getting up at 4:50am every morning, even after only sleeping three hours the night before, to break down the Word of God so that I could put these devotionals together, but I see this as the least I can do for all I have been given.
God has taken me, set me free from sinfulness, and positioned me for service, to be a blessing to others.
If God did it for me, then He will undoubtedly do it for you.
Today, we will look at Romans 6:18, free to serve.
”Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
The word ”free” means ”to liberate or exempt from moral liability”.
Being in prison where I am currently sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, freedom is something I highly desire.
Going home is something I richly crave with everything I have in my soul.
One thing I fully comprehend is that all the physical freedom in the world will never amount to the spiritual freedom God has given me through Christ.
In John 8:32, Christ says, ”And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’‘
The truth of Christ dying on the cross for my sins, His precious blood being the atoning sacrifice, making me one with God, and Him seated at the right hand of the Father in victory as my Lord and Saviour has made me free.
This was all done for me, and the fulfillment of this was done before I was even alive to sin! God knew I would jack my life all the way up, but He provided salvation for me.
Being out of prison before I ultimately came to prison, I clearly see that I was out, but not free. There is a big difference!
In John 8:36, Christ says, ‘‘If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
Free indeed, not just having a state of perceived freedom, where I can do what I want. That is what society deems to be freedom: to live without standards, rules, or judgment. That is not the freedom God had in mind when He sent Christ to die for our sins. He desired for us to walk free from the bondage of sin and death.
The word ”sin” means ”offenses against God or sinfulness”.
This is much deeper than us just having a slip, sinfulness is a lifestyle of living in sin. He not only delivered me from the offense, but the whole lifestyle I lived that kept me separate from Christ!
In 1 Corinthians 7:22-23, the Bible says, ‘‘For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”
We have been delivered by such a great salvation, far greater than anything we deserved. Some people receive this salvation and then place themselves under subjection of the same sinfulness they were just delivered from.
That shouldn’t be. We should use this clean slate as an opportunity to be everything God has created us to be. The greatest in the kingdom, Jesus Christ, was the biggest servant as well.
The word ”servants” implies those who are voluntarily enslaved to God, placing themselves under willful subjection to Him. The word ”righteousness” means ”Christian justification”.
In Romans 5:1-2, the Bible says, ”Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
We have salvation, redemption, freedom, grace, and access to the kingdom of God because of what Christ did for us on the cross. We have the ability to honour the Lord by living a life that is pleasing to Him.
In Galatians 5:1, the Bible says, ”Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Living in sinfulness for those who are saved is really a choice made against all truth and logic.
If we somehow end up living in sin again, then that means we have allowed ourselves to be wrapped up in the same nonsense God set us free from.
This would be similar to me getting out of prison and then placing handcuffs on myself, living again in a state of bondage amid the freedom God has provided.
We waste such a beautiful life that God provides when we use our salvation as a stepping stone to more wickedness. God has called his children to walk in freedom!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 24, 2024 – Luke 17:19 – saving faith that makes us whole
”And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Luke 17:19
Hi Everyone!
Faith is something we must have as believers.
Our faith comes from our belief in the truth of the Word of God, and by the Word we place our trust in its promises.
Faith isn’t all-inclusive, for it must be in accordance with God’s Word and it must align with God’s will.
The ”name it, claim it” prosperity doctrine suggests that we can put our faith to anything and get it, but that is not contextual to Scripture. God is not a cash machine, but He is a heavenly Father so deeply in love with His children, and He loves meeting true faith with answers.
I have seen God do the impossible, and I have seen the faithful have their prayers answered. I have witnessed God change a convicted murderer into a minister, giving him everything he never had before, responding to his faith with answered prayer after answered prayer.
Our faith is more powerful than we understand.
Today, we will look at Luke 17:19, saving faith that makes us whole.
”And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Ten lepers were in the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. They have this ”chance meeting” where they see Jesus, and ask Him for His mercy.
In Luke 17:13, the Bible says, ”And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’‘
Obviously, they heard about Christ, as the word of His healing power had spread to them. When they saw Christ, they weren’t bashful! They called out to Jesus and asked for healing.
Christ didn’t tell them they were healed, but told them to show themselves to the priest, which was customary for dealing with lepers. The priest would have to declare them clean. Now, what Christ said didn’t line up with what they asked for, because the last time they saw a priest, they were declared unclean, but they obeyed the Word Christ gave them, and began their journey to the priest.
Along the way, they looked at themselves and saw that they were indeed cleansed.
In Luke 17:15-16, 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.”
Only one person out of the ten glorified God, and fell down at Christ’s feet to worship him. Remember, lepers have to keep their distance from people. He knew he was healed!
How many times has God shown Himself faithful, answered our prayers, and pulled us out of dry spots, and we never stopped to give God the glory?
How many times has God given us some impossible blessing and we never said ”thank you, Lord”?
The leper who was cleansed and came back to worship was a Samaritan. According to the custom, Jews and Samaritans had no dealings with each other due to the Samaritans not being full-blooded Jews.
The person who was least did the most in this case. This also shows that God doesn’t acknowledge our biases when His hand moves, He is richly available to all who call upon His name in faith and truth.
The word ”arise” means ”stand up”.
Christ told the cleansed man that it is time to stand up, that the work is finished and the healing has taken place, but there is still something he has to do, because he hasn’t shown himself to the priest.
The phrase ”go thy way” means ”to depart on one’s journey”. The word ”faith” means ”assurance, belief, persuasion, or reliance upon Christ”. The phrase ”hath made thee whole” means ”to heal or save”.
In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, ”But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’‘
The Samaritan exercised faith, he came to God, and actively pursued Him in faith, and He was rewarded. He didn’t ask for a million dollars, a fancy house and cars, but he wanted to be healed so he could live again.
In Matthew 9:21-22, the Bible says, ”For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”
Christ also told the woman with the issue of blood that her faith made her whole.
She also came and worshipped Him when He asked her to reveal herself as the one who touched him.
It the Lord declares us to be whole, this means that the healing is complete, but this goes much deeper because of the definition ”saved”.
Christ didn’t just make them whole physically, but spiritually as well, because how can a person be truly whole absent salvation?
Most commentaries will point to spiritual and physical healing, the cleansed man walked away with salvation too!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 25, 2024 – Romans 8:3 – a powerless law in the face of a powerful Saviour
”For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”.
Romans 8:3
Hi Everyone!
When God instituted the Law, He did it to cause us to become aware of the sin that aims to disrupt our whole lives.
Israel had just experienced the exodus from Egypt, where they had been in bondage for 430 years. Over that time, the idolatry of the Egyptians, their polytheism of serving multiple gods, had rubbed off on Israel.
Having no law before their Egyptian captivity, God desired to reestablish a right relationship with His creation by making holiness the standard for Israel.
The Law had another purpose; to rid Israel of Egyptian influence once and for all.
Because the Law itself is incapable of cleansing a person from sin, sacrifices had to be made yearly and frequently for sin, and of course, Israel continued to rebel against God.
Christ was sent into the world to fulfill the Law and become the atoning sacrifice, so we could stand before a God in righteousness, as God had intended for us since creation.
Today, we will look at Romans 8:3, a powerless law in the face of a powerful Saviour.
”For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”.
The word ”law” here refers to the Mosaic Law, comprising over 600 laws designed to produce a high standard of holiness in Israel, introducing them to what holiness truly is.
The word ”weak” means ”feeble, without strength, or powerless”. The word ”flesh” means ”sinfulness, proneness to sin, the carnal nature, the seat of carnal appetites and desires, sinful passions and affections whether physical or moral”.
What makes the Law powerless is not because God made it powerless, but because of our propensity to sin. We are incapable of fulfilling it.
God made a perfect law for imperfect people, but the Law was never intended to be a permanent fixture for God’s children.
In Acts 13:38-39, the Bible says, ”Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.’‘
While God planned to send Christ to be the atoning sacrifice for sin once and for all time, the Law would tide Israel over until He came.
In Christ came the perfect fulfillment of the Law, and through His sacrifice for sin, God gave us something the Law could never give; forgiveness, salvation, redemption and eternal life.
In Romans 3:20, the Bible says, ‘‘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.”
The Law made us conscious of our sinfulness, which should bring and keep us at the feet of the Father.
Most people break under the weight of the rules and feel like it’s not worth following because it’s impossible to fully keep. Then when we come to the end of ourselves, Christ is right there, His blood atoning for what we could not do on our own.
The word ”sending” means ”dispatching”. This establishes that Christ was already in heaven, ready to be sent by God. To be sent you have to already exist, right?
The word ”likeness” means ”resemblance or a form of”. The phrase ”for sin” means ”by a sacrifice for sin”.
Jesus Christ robed himself in human flesh, experiencing everything we experience on earth but without sin.
In Hebrews 7:19, the Bible says, ”For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”
Christ’s sacrifice for sin was designed for us to come into a saving faith relationship with God, and to become one with Him in His presence.
This is what Christ came for.
In Hebrews 10:1-2, the Bible says, ”For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.”
If the Law was perfect in forgiving sin, washing us clean, and redeeming us from the curse of sin and death, then our first sacrifice would have done it.
Christ is our hope of redemption for all who believe, and His finished work has made the provision of salvation available.
In Hebrews 10:10, the Bible says, ”By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
The Law is aimed at physically setting us apart from idolatrous nations and people surrounding us, but the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ ensures we then become spiritually set apart.
Only by the blood of Jesus Christ can the Law be fulfilled in us, and give us an ongoing relationship with Him.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 26, 2024 – Psalm 147:5 – surrounding ourselves with the Lordship and understanding of God
”Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
Psalm 147:5
Hi Everyone!
Our God is awesome, and I praise Him for everything that He has done for me, to make sure that I am getting to the exact place that He has destined me to be.
Even when I messed up big time, He still poured His love upon me, redirecting me, correcting me, and even punishing me when I got out of line.
I also praise Him for His framework, securing me around His borders, so I wouldn’t find myself completely eliminated from His plan for my life.
Sometimes, this road has been incredibly tough and filled with hit after hit, but God has always sustained me in the midst of trial, allowing me to experience His presence when I couldn’t see my own hand in front of my face.
I can boldly tell anyone that God knows exactly what He is doing because I marvel at how He brought me to Him after I thought it was all over for me.
Today, we will look at Psalm 147:5, surrounding ourselves with the Lordship and understanding of God.
”Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
The word ”great” here means ”mighty or exceeding”. The word ”Lord” means ”sovereign controller”.
This is our God, who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and very intentional in directing us into the purpose He has for us.
In Jeremiah 29:10-11, the Bible says, ‘‘For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
The Lord was not going to stop Judah from being imprisoned by the Babylonians, but He had a set time and date for their release, and He assured them that this was actually for their good. God was going to sustain them, because within Judah lay the bloodline to Christ.
In Jeremiah 29:5-6, the Bible says, ”Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.”
God told Judah to continue to grow as if they weren’t confined, because they still had to prepare themselves for freedom, for God had already appointed that day for their suffering to end.
God not only sustained Judah, but He made sure that His people were somewhere near the top, providing Godly influence over the ruling party there.
Then, God also ensured that the right king, King Cyrus, would release them at the appointed time, because Isaiah 44:28, the Bible says, ”That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.”
150 years before King Cyrus was born, this Scripture was written about him. God knew his name, his role, and already ordained that he would set Judah free. Why him of all people? What made him so special? Cyrus was the king of the Persians and when a king of the Medes and Persians decreed something, it was final and couldn’t be revoked!
This is our sovereign God, working an amazing work of redemption with so much intentionality that the prophecy about King Cyrus came before the 70 year captivity prophecy in Jeremiah 29.
The word ”great” here means ”abundant”. The word ”power” suggests strength, might, ability, or capacity”. The word ”understanding” means ”wisdom, discretion, skillfulness, or reason”.
In 1 Chronicles 16:23-25, the Bible says, ”Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.”
What do we do when we experience the awesome power of God? We know He is powerful, but should we keep it to ourselves? Absolutely not! We are to share this truth with any and all that we can!
In Psalm 145:1-3, the Bible says, ”I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”
God’s greatness should be heralded everywhere we go because someone might be experiencing a moment of hopelessness, and may not have the certainty that God is still moving, especially when things seem to be going in the opposite direction.
How can freedom come by captivity? How can life come through the death of Christ?
Things don’t always appears as they are, but when we lift up a praise, we let God know that we entrust our security to Him.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 27, 2024 – Ruth 2:12 – the rewards of faithfulness to God
”The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
Ruth 2:12
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we experience a grind that causes us to reach out to people, mediate situations, give to people in need, counsel people in need, and be a resource for others to find their way.
Sometimes, being a believer who fully involves themselves can appear to be a thankless job.
This is especially true in my prison environment. I have experienced at times going into the fire with someone to pull them out, and working with countless brothers who then leave. And of course they forget all about me, but remember the people they couldn’t trust in while confined.
To the untrained eye, it seems like I would be doing this for nothing, but in God’s eye, there is always a purpose, and all of the work ”done in the dark” is seen by God and it is by Him our reward comes.
There is always a reward for our faithfulness, and I know this firsthand, because God sent me my wife Jessica, who I am now in ministry with.
Today, we will look at Ruth 2:12, the rewards of faithfulness to God.
”The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
The word ”recompense” means ”to reciprocate, repay, or make prosperous”. The word ”work” means ”acts or deeds”, usually making a record of one’s service.
First, as believers, please trust that our work is always being watched.
Second, please don’t look for mankind to provide recompense for our work.
The first three words of this verse say, ”The Lord recompense”, so our reward, repayment, and benefits come from God.
What act or deed did Ruth do? Well, in Ruth 2:11, the Bible says, ‘‘And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.”
Ruth joined Naomi’s family by marrying her son, and tragically Ruth’s and Naomi’s husbands both died, along with her other son. Seeing that Naomi couldn’t provide another son for Ruth to marry, she tried to send her away, but Ruth said that she wasn’t going anywhere, that Naomi’s God was now her God and Naomi’s people now her people.
She committed to serve Naomi for life, and going back to her old home was not an option in her book.
Ruth and Naomi set out to return to Naomi’s homeland, and once there Ruth gleaned in the fields to provide a living for both of them. The work she did for Naomi, the commitment she made to God, and her virtue became evident to all, and a record of her service reached Boaz. What we do will always provide a record.
The phrase ”full reward” means ”wages paid completely”. Ruth wasn’t looking for rewards in this. She just wanted to serve God and take care of Naomi.
In Ruth 1:16-17, the Bible says, ”And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
Ruth only wanted to be of service. She experienced the Lord in such a way that completely changed her and she put God above finding another husband, over her home in Moab, over her family, and over her future. She wanted God and was not going to leave Naomi.
The word ”trust” means ”to flee for protection, to take refuge in or to confide in”. Placing oneself under God’s wings so telling God that we entrust our future to Him, that we trust Him for our reward, that we count Him as faithful.
In Psalm 17:7-8, the Bible says, ”Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.”
God responds to our trust in Him by rewarding our faithfulness with what we need. Our God is going to reach us right where we are. Because of Ruth’s faithfulness, it established her in a place that was not her home, and gave her favor with the people there.
In Psalm 63:6-8, the Bible says, ”When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”
Sometimes, a look into our lives will reveal the mighty hand of God at work, and we will understand that His faithfulness has held us up at times we didn’t know what we were going to do.
Ruth had a heart of service, and because of it, God rewarded her with everything she ever needed and wanted. He will do the same for us too!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 28, 2024 – Matthew 20:26 – the greatness of service
”But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.”
Matthew 20:26
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we should aspire to a level of moral excellence in our lives.
We should want to shine the precious light of Jesus Christ in our conduct, our interactions, and in our speech.
Since I received salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, I developed a standard for my life, and now that I know what I am called to do, there is a high standard in place. Even if my wife and I were to have a worldwide ministry, that platform would have nothing to do with position.
At the end of the day, I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and my job is to use everything He has given me to win souls for the kingdom.
We all have greatness in us, but we don’t have to have some great position of notoriety and prestige to share that greatness with others.
God plants us where He does, not so we can rest in status, but so that we can be servants to a greater purpose.
Today we will look at Matthew 20:26, the greatness of service.
”But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.”
The word ”will” means ”choose, prefer, or desire”. The word ”great” means ”big or mighty”. This is the person who chases status, titles, and societal impressions of grandeur. This is their ambition, far above the kingdom or being truly effective, and this person will typically step over people they are supposed to help in order to get to a higher level.
This shouldn’t be, but sadly, this happens a lot in the church. In this text, the mother of James and John asked Christ to grant it that her two sons would sit at the right and left hand of Christ, essentially having the best seats in the kingdom.
In this moment, status became more important than the business of the kingdom. I love how Jesus doesn’t make them feel horrible for making such a request, but guides them into the right attitude. Jesus Christ is Lord over all and was God robed in flesh, but He came not to reign, but to serve.
In 1 Peter 5:2-4, the Bible says, ”Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
Many people want the crown first before they even serve anyone, but God wants our focus to be on those who have the need who are in the church and in our communities.
God wants our attitudes right behind our service, so we can focus solely on the ministry and not the rewards. The reward will come, but if we will fix our minds on service, we may very well see reward by being there for someone else in need.
The word ”minister” means ”attendant, waiter, a Christian teacher or pastor, or a servant”. This may mean that we may be appointed to clean bathrooms at the church while we have a heart to serve God in ministry, or we may be appointed to be an usher when we want to be the choir director. We have to serve where we are appointed, and serve that position from an attitude like it is exactly what we wanted.
In Matthew 23:10-12, Christ says, ”Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
Too many of us want a title with prestige, and refuse to exercise the humility that such a title requires.
Christ gives us the example of the attitude we need to have in service.
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 a huge ”pay cut” to come down to earth, taking on human flesh when He was in sinless glory, and he came down here, taking the lowest seat in the house.
It was His service that put Him in the spotlight, not His intentions, and many times, He chose to leave before they tried to elevate him to a place he didn’t come to fulfill.
If Christ could shed off glory to come to serve us, then why do we have a problem shedding our desire to be great in the kingdom in order to take a low position and serve with the fullness of our hearts?
In Mark 10:45, Christ says, ‘‘For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Christ, who we follow, came to serve the needs of people, not to be great, and at the end of his life, he took the punishment we deserved and hung on a cross for our salvation. Think twice before you want to be great!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 29, 2024 – Proverbs 24:17 – compassionate for our fallen enemies
”Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth”.
Proverbs 24:17
Hi Everyone!
It is far too easy to kick someone when they are down.
It is easy to celebrate the failures of someone who has incessantly prayed for our downfall, but easy isn’t right.
I remember when I was sentenced for my homicide convictions and the viewing gallery erupted in applause, some thanking the Lord among the cheers.
Inmates in the county said ”A’ha” through the vent when I came back from court, people who had no dog in that fight whatsoever, just wanting to join the bandwagon against me.
In our lives right now, someone who has proven himself to be a nemesis to us is going through something heavy and he is hurting. Last night, my wife and I prayed over him, neither of us wants anything bad to happen to him despite the fact that he spoke death over our marriage.
We are never to celebrate when bad things happen to those who oppose us.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 24:17, compassionate for our fallen enemies.
”Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth”.
The word ”rejoice” means ”to brighten up, Gleesome, or to be glad.” The word ”enemy” means ”adversary or hater”. The word ”falleth” means ”fail, cast down, or overthrown”.
Imagine this with me. Your worst enemy has tormented you emotionally and psychologically, but you walk past and his house is on fire and he is standing there crying. What are we supposed do as believers? We are supposed to love him and open up our kindness and generosity to him. Think not?
In Romans 12:19-20, the Bible says, ”Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
In that moment, the Word of God commands us to help them, because this is the same thing Christ did for us. The same people who strung Him up on the cross were the same ones His blood atoned for. God doesn’t delight in our celebrations over the ruin of our enemies, but when He sees love, He is pleased.
In Mark 12:31, Christ says, ‘‘And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
Would we want someone celebrating over our misfortune? If not, then we are not supposed to do that to others.
God’s perfect law of love would call for us to try to step in in some way, to be of service to those who have plotted our evil. The heart we have towards others is not fully evident when they are agreeable with us, but rather when we are mistreated, gossiped about, or victimized.
In Job 31:29-30, the Bible says, ‘‘If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.”
Job was trying to figure out why his misfortune was happening, and he was taking inventory, to make sure that he didn’t celebrate the failures of others. He knew what wasn’t right, and he’s talking to a bunch of friends who seem to be kicking him while he is down.
News flash. When you are successful, people are waiting to salivate when you fall on you’re face.
The word ”heart” refers to our innermost being with its thoughts, emotions and desires. The word stumbleth” means ”to totter or waver in weakness, to suffer ruin or decay.”
In Psalm 35:14-15, the Bible says, ”I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not”.
We should understand the very real fact that people are not going to treat us the way we treat them in the same situation. Even if someone would throw a party for our demise, we are still supposed to look upon them with compassion, and love them despite their lack of love.
In Psalm 35:19, the Bible says, ”Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.”
This indicates that people celebrating our failures do not feel good, especially if the Psalmist here is concerned about this happening to him.
In Proverbs 17:5, the Bible says, ”Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.”
Our celebrations over the downfall of others is very displeasing to God, we should beware lest we find ourselves in the same spot. Let us look upon our enemies with love!
Who knows, the testimony of love may change their lives forever.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Apr 30, 2024 – Proverbs 24:19 – breaking the stronghold of envy towards the profits of the wicked
”Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked.”
Proverbs 24:19
Hi Everyone!
When I was heavily involved in the street life, I was a part of a community of individuals who made their living illegally.
I experienced making more money in a day than some people made in a month back then, and I knew people who made more in a day than people make in a year!
I remember being the poor kid who idolized those who ”got it from the mud”, and I also remember my inadequacy coming forth.
When I became a believer committed to serving the Lord faithfully, I became the person devoted to doing everything the right way, but I was around a bunch of people who still did the wrong things to make a living.
I remember being a poor prisoner who was now disgruntled because I was doing all of this work serving the Lord, but they were the ones who had everything.
I became jealous and displeased God in the process. Little did I know, God was preparing an amazing blessing for me, and has blessed me richly ever since.
When our minds are truly focused on the Lord, then what others have will become an afterthought.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 24:19, breaking the stronghold of envy towards the profits of the wicked.
”Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked.”
The word ”fret” means ”to blaze up in anger, to become vexed, or to be incensed”. The word ”evil” means ”wicked, morally bad, or good for nothing”.
This implies an attitude of jealousy or an angst where we tell God, ”Why does that person have this thing and I don’t? He makes a fortune selling drugs and I go to church!”
This attitude is the person who looks around and doesn’t see value in what God has given them.
In 1 Timothy 6:8-9, the Bible says, ‘‘And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
The problem comes in when we look at what we have as being not enough, and our lack of contentment makes us look at the possessions of others, and then we long for what they have, causing us to become angry at our lack.
Those who have such a passion to be rich will definitely find themselves on the wrong side of things, and because of that passion, rules will gradually begin to be bent until they ultimately break.
In Philippians 4:11,12, the Bible says, ”Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
No matter what state we find ourselves in, God gives us the ability to find contentment with what we have been blessed with.
Sadly, many of us lose sight of that, exchanging it for jealous anger towards people in the world, and we long for the proceeds from a lifestyle we have been delivered from.
God gives us enough and when we find contentment in Him, then the smallest thing we possess will be received with gratefulness.
The word ”envious” means ”jealous, having a strong desire for the possession of something.”
In Exodus 20:17, the Bible says, ”Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
God is speaking to safeguard us from fretting about the wealth and possessions of those we envy by commanding us to not desire what belongs to someone else.
In James 4:1-2, the Bible says, ”From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
Our fretting can lead to some pretty disastrous circumstances and consequences if we don’t keep our desires in check.
I have seen this happen and I have definitely been this person before, and it is not becoming of someone who desires to serve the Lord faithfully.
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.”
What we don’t see in the midst of jealousy is that God has an ending planned for them.
Some of these same guys I fretted over went home and went back to selling drugs and were indicted again shortly after being released.
Some got caught doing illegal stuff in prison and went into the hole and were charged criminally for their indiscretions.
I look back and I see that the wealth of the wicked is very short-lived, so there is nothing to be jealous over.
What God has for us is so much better!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 1, 2024 – Proverbs 29:18 – the vision of God that sustains our very life
”Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Proverbs 29:18
Hi Everyone!
As a believer, I see the importance of receiving a Word from the Lord.
Unlike many believers, I am subject to say or do something incredibly stupid if I am not guided by the Word of God, and I seriously can’t imagine a day without receiving some form of Word.
I cringe at the thought of being left to my own devices, forced to figure this world out on my own.
I know that I would be completely vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks and I wouldn’t know if I was stepping into dangerous territory.
The more I study God’s Word, the more victory I receive because the Word planted inside me gets watered and will increase, but living a life without any of that is scary.
We should want the pipeline that funnels God’s Word to us to be unobstructed so His Word can get to us freely.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 29:18, the vision of God that sustains our very life.
”Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
The word ”vision” means ”a divine communication from the Lord, a guiding communication from God, revelation, or mental sight given by God”. The word ”perish” means ”to loosen, to suffer, or make naked”.
Unlike in the beginning, where Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed, we must be armed and clothed with Christ, so we know how to live in this world.
In Ephesians 6:11-12, the Bible says, ‘‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.”
Many of us will put on part of the armor of God, but leave off the most important piece to our armor. This is the sword of the Spirit, also known as the Word of God.
Without the Word of God, there is no protection, because there is no truth to stand on when the enemy mounts offensives against us.
We need the Word of God planted in us.
In 1 Samuel 3:1, the Bible says, ”And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.”
The Word of God was especially precious then because sin completely blocked the Word of God from getting to the people due to Eli’s sons being evil, operating unchecked in their office.
Because Eli didn’t correct his sons with the Word of God, he was just as guilty.
So God raised up a prophet in Samuel that would unblock the signal between Him and His people. Sadly, we see a world that is continuing to block God’s Word from reaching the world due to the wickedness in this earth.
In Amos 8:11-13, the Bible says, ”Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.”
We don’t want to live in a world where the Word of God is not going out. It is bad enough right now, with violence in every country, wars raging, babies slaughtered, humanitarians bombed, mass shootings, and even violence in our homes and schools.
We will never know how good it is until it’s gone, and we surely don’t want to live in a world that Amos describes, where God is fed up, at least, we don’t want to find ourselves on the wrong side of it.
The word of God serves as a vital warning system.
In Numbers 22:20-22, the Bible says, ”And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.’‘
God gave Balaam strict instructions, which he disobeyed, and God resisted him from making his journey. We sadly think that we can make progress apart from the Word of God, but we are setting ourselves up for failure. Balaam could’ve lost his life for his disobedience.
The word ”keepth” means ”to observe or take heed”. The word ”happy” speaks of the bliss we experience from a relationship with God.
In James 1:25, the Bible says, ”But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
When we obey God’s Word, blessings flow into our lives. But if we stop God’s word from flowing in our lives, we can expect disaster to result.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 2, 2024 – 2 Corinthians 8:11 – having the right mindset for the work we are doing in the Lord
”Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.”
2 Corinthians 8:11
Hi Everyone!
I have come to learn that in my spiritual walk, that potential is only a gauge of what a person can do, not what they are actually doing.
Some of us have the God given ability to truly be profitable for the kingdom of God, but we either don’t apply what we know, or we mistakenly believe that what we have isn’t enough.
God has made sure that we can fulfill the purpose that He has created us to experience, so that we can do what He has planted inside of our hearts.
Another problem comes when our desires don’t line up with what God desires, and that we want to do things our way.
That will almost always ensure that we won’t fulfill what God desires of us, because if we don’t desire to do the work, then odds are, it won’t be done.
The attitude of heart typically will be matched by the work we do.
Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 8:11, having the right mindset for the work we are doing in the Lord.
”Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.”
The word ”perform” means ”to fulfill, complete, or execute”.
God doesn’t want us to start something and not finish it, which is why Philippians 1:6 says, ”Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.
If God created us in His image and likeness, and He finishes what He starts, then He certainly expects the same from us as well. Too many of us spend so much time constructing an excuse factory instead of producing the results that God knows we can accomplish.
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.”
God has already provided us with everything we need to do His will, and He has also equipped us to do an incredible job at it as well.
God obviously wants us to accomplish our work here on earth, because He wouldn’t have ever equipped us for something that He doesn’t want to see fulfilled.
The waste comes in when someone has everything and uses nothing, not when a person has little and uses what they have.
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, the Bible says, ‘‘But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
When we have a lot but give a little, then that really implies a lack of joy about what we are doing, and it is counterproductive to the purpose God has for us.
When our hearts desire to do the work of the Lord, there is going to be an excitement doing it that will drive us to want to see it accomplished.
When our hearts are in the right place, our actions will more easily line up with our intentions.
The word ”readiness” means ”a predisposition”. The word ”will” implies active volition or purpose”.
This simply means that we have an already made up mind to do what God is calling us to do.
This means we don’t need someone encouraging us to do it, because our intentions are clear. Being in school for Biblical Studies, I am accustomed to working ahead, and I am working when most of the guys are in leisure. I enjoy my classes and I want to get the work done, so it takes ‘the work’ away from the equation.
In 2 Timothy 4:2, the Bible says, ”Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
In order to do this, it requires a desire to see the Word go out, to see the world change into a kingdom fit for the Lord Jesus Christ, and to see hearts change for the better.
In Matthew 25:14-15, Christ teaches, ‘‘For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”
God gives us the gifts we have and the means to use those gifts, according to what we have.
In Matthew 25:21, Christ says, ‘‘His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
We want to present to the Lord a record of what we accomplished with what He has blessed us with. May our hearts intention become evidenced by the work we do.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 3, 2024 – Hebrews 13:3 – loving those who are imprisoned
”Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body”
Hebrews 13:3
Hi Everyone!
Yesterday, my wife Jessica read a post one of her friends made on Facebook.
There was a woman who wore all the ”church attire” but when it came to displaying her faith in the presence of a prisoner under guard, she began to interrogate the officer to find out the charges against the woman, and whether she was dangerous.
Another lady present did the exact opposite; instead of criminalizing her further, she told her that she loved her, and showed her compassion in her moment of confinement.
Even the officer allowed for this display of love.
It should be noted that the woman who actively displayed the faith and love of God was a former prisoner herself, having experienced the turmoil of prison life and the negative stigmas prisoners suffer. She refused to allow that moment to pass without showing Godly love and compassion.
Do we show love to people in prison, or do we judge them mercilessly for their crimes?
Today, we will look at Hebrews 13:3, loving those who are imprisoned.
”Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body”
The word ”remember” means ”to be mindful of, or recall to mind”. The word ”bonds” refers to captives or prisoners.
In Hebrews 10:34, the Bible says, ”For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”
I am going to be brutally honest here. When I was arrested on July 28, 2003, and subsequently charged a couple days later with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon, most of my family were at the first and second court date.
That’s the only time I saw them because almost all of them turned their backs on me.
They didn’t write or visit, and it would be five years into my time in prison before I got my first visit from any of them. Some family members have shown up once or twice since then, then went back to Milwaukee after a wonderful experience, but didn’t show up again.
They forgot about me, leaving me behind. The phrase ”as bound with them” means that we should look at prisoners as if we are right there with them.
God did something wonderful when my family turned their backs on me. He built a community of prisoners around me who knew what I was going through, knew I had potential and helped me navigate around my life sentence.
My family and friends didn’t remember me.
In Matthew 25:36, Christ says, ”Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
When the people asked Christ when did they not come through for Him when He needed them; He then said in Matthew 26:40, ”And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Christ spoke this, knowing that there were going to be prisoners, knowing there were going to be rejects, knowing there were going to be homeless people, and knowing there were going to be sinners.
What do they experience from the Church? Shame? Judgement? Banishment?
Christ says it plainly that whatever a person does unto us, whether it be ostracize us, judge us or love us, we are doing this to the Lord directly.
The phrase ”suffer adversity” means ”to experience torment, persecution, or hardship”.
We also have to learn as believers to put ourselves in the shoes of others.
In 1 Corinthians 12:25-26, the Bible says, ”That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
When we put ourselves in another’s shoes and try to understand them on their level, we will find out things we would never have considered.
It took 9 years before I sat with my uncles for the first time on a visit, and 14 years before I sat with my aunties for the first time, and they finally asked questions.
Then, they came to a real understanding of the brokenness I had experienced in youth that they had no clue of.
In Romans 12:15-16, the Bible says, ‘‘Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
In both visits, they were finally able to place themselves in my shoes, and see life through my lens. I am so grateful for those experiences because we all walked away with real closure.
How do we view people in prison, as people to toss away like bad trash, or like people who are deeply loved by God?
Let us turn our eyes towards the prisoner.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 4, 2024 – Luke 17:21 – the kingdom that lives within us
”Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:21
Hi Everyone!
Jesus came to this earth, sent by God to bring the kingdom of God to us.
He came and showed us that the kingdom moves in power in the earth, and because of it, the dead rose, the blind regained their sight, the lepers were cleansed, the sick were made whole.
Because of the kingdom of God coming to earth, redemption was made available to the sinners, restoration was available to the backslider, and salvation was extended to all who believe in the name of Jesus Christ.
Believers are no longer a part of the world’s system, but we are a part of the kingdom of God, having the same power at work within us that Jesus did when He walked the earth.
The Holy Spirit is that power, and when Jesus came, He ensured that the Holy Spirit would be here for us forever, to dwell in us, perfecting us, and making us more like Him.
The kingdom of God has definitely come!
Today, we will look at Luke 17:21, the kingdom that lives within us.
”Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
The word ”behold” is a proclamation for us to fix our attention to the truth that is about to be spoken, or to highlight someone that is coming.
In John 1:29, the Bible says, ‘‘The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
John the Baptist saw Christ coming, but it wasn’t until the Holy Spirit revealed to him who Jesus Christ was that he knew.
Imagine this with me. John the Baptist’s mother Elizabeth and Jesus’ mother Mary were cousins, which made Jesus and John the Baptist cousins as well.
Certainly, if John the Baptist knew that Christ was who He was, he would have proclaimed it to the mountaintops, but there was an appointed time.
In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, the Bible says, ”But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
People were caught unaware when the kingdom of God came to earth robed in human flesh, but when the Holy Spirit revealed who Christ really was among them His ministry on earth began.
John the Baptist served God faithfully and was always attuned to the Word of God, his purpose was the pave the way for the Messiah, to reveal to the world who Christ was.
The phrase ”kingdom of God” speaks of the royalty, rule or realm of God.
This is what Christ came to preach to us, the kingdom of God.
In 1 Corinthians 4:19-20, the Bible says, ”But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”
The kingdom of God is not only revealed, but it is displayed in power. Christ did things that defied logic, science, health, and intelligence, all bearing record of the power of God working in the earth.
In Matthew 12:28, Christ says, ‘‘But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
Because the kingdom of God came down, they were able to see mighty moves of God, far beyond their understanding. Because we are in the kingdom, we are supposed to see the same things happening on earth through us.
Christ confirmed that the kingdom is now among us, but praise God, the kingdom dwells in us!
In Matthew 6:9-10, part of the Lord’s prayer says, ”After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
It doesn’t say ”Thy kingdom is coming”, but it establishes that the kingdom of God has indeed come, and the will of God is being accomplished in the earth.
This is why Christ was able to heal the sick, because there is no sickness in the kingdom of God. This is why He was able to raise the dead, because there is no death in the kingdom of God.
This is why it is written ”on earth as it is in heaven”, because through Christ, God brought the kingdom down to us to experience so we can have the same things on earth that exist in heaven.
In John 14:16-17, Christ says, ‘‘And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
The kingdom is in us by the Holy Spirit, and in this kingdom, we have the ability to live in power in the earth, so that God’s power in made manifest in us.
God desires that our lives bear witness that the kingdom of God has certainly come.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 5, 2024 – 2 Timothy 2:11 – sanctification through death and life
”It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him.”
2 Timothy 2:11
Hi Everyone!
The person I used to be is dead and long gone, and I praise God for the sanctification process that has taken place that has made me more and more like Christ over the years.
I undoubtedly still have a terribly long way to go yet, but I am blessed to see a sizeable distance made from who I used to be.
I truly consider the old me to be dead, and it is my job daily to die to myself so that I can live in Christ.
As believers we have to take our salvation to task, and recognize we have a standard to live according to.
Sometimes, it is hard when as in my prison environment, things can turn on a dime, people can turn into enemies unawares. But is it really any different for you people out there, who may face the same dynamics in your jobs, and sadly, in your own homes?
Christ came to die so that by dying with Him, we can fully experience the kingdom of God on this earth and in heaven to come.
Today we will look at 2 Timothy 2:11, sanctification through death and life.
”It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him.”
The word ”faithful” means ”worthy of belief, trust or confidence”.
This is something that we can absolutely be confident in and I am absolutely certain that Paul experienced this a time or two in his life.
This text is taking place nearing the end of Paul’s ministry and life on earth, and he is sharing some final thoughts with Timothy, the person who is raised up to take his place.
He wants to make sure that Timothy is ready to attend to the ministry and to also live as a pastor of the Church. It is pointless to take the on title of pastor and not live out Bible truth in our lives.
In 1 Timothy 1:15,’ the Bible says, ”This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.’‘
Paul is really emphasizing to us to remember where we came from and Who ensured that we could experience salvation and eternal life through faith in His name.
I still remember as clear as day who I used to be, and that makes me even more grateful that God loved me so richly to make eternal life available to me, knowing that I had taken life.
I know how Paul feels when he calls himself a chief sinner, because there are many days I have felt like there is no one worse on this earth than me.
Christ died so that people like me, the worst of the worst, could have a second chance in Him, and to forsake our past life and live the way God ordains us to live.
The word ”dead” speaks of the death we experienced in our salvation, where the old person, the old mind, and our old life have died and have been replaced with a new life in Him.
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 this is another trustworthy saying, and it is, then why do so many of us find ourselves still considering that old man as a very present reality? Why do we see ourselves the same way, even when we know that the blood of Jesus Christ has washed us clean?
This is a process as well.
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 the privilege to walk away from our former selves with the knowledge that Christ died to pay the cost for us all, so that we can experience a new life.
God never designed salvation for us to keep our old natures on standby. That is similar to us carrying a corpse on our backs to bear the weight of our sin.
No one would do that in real life, yet we carry our own corpses, that old nature, on our backs like it still belongs to us. This shouldn’t be.
In Romans 6:5, the Bible says, ‘‘For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”.
As we come into a relationship with God in Christ, we will begin to learn more about Him, and from this knowledge, we will begin to resemble Him in the way we speak, and in the things we do.
Being in a relationship with someone, we will begin to take on their attributes and resemble them in character. This is what we are supposed to do with God.
In Romans 6:6, the Bible says, ”Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
We now have the ability to walk free of the sin that has stripped us of fellowship with God, and live a life that is abundant and free.
The old life is done in God’s eyes, and with this second chance, we have the blessing of being able to live lives pleasing to God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 6, 2024 – Romans 15:13, – an unshakable hope in the Lord
”Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 15:13
Hi Everyone!
God is so faithful, possessing an undeniable record of fulfilling His Word in us.
As I am typing out this devotional, God is showing Himself faithful in the lives of me and my wife, and bringing about something we have prayed for diligently.
I have true rest because I know that He is working, because He has taken our prayer to task, and He’s bringing about the solution that will absolutely bring glory to Him name.
God comes through for us so that we can see that our hope is in Him, and also understand that our hope isn’t in anything that works have to offer.
My wife and I could easily look to the gift and hope in the gift’s ability, but our hope is in the Lord, who has already empowered the gift to do something truly amazing.
When God shows His faithfulness, it is necessary for us to see where our hope needs to be, where we need to bring our requests, cares, and problems.
Today, we will be looking at Romans 15:13, an unshakable hope in the Lord.
”Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
The word ”hope” means ”confidence or faith”. The phrase ”God of hope” establishes God as the source and author of the confidence and faith we have.
In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’‘
In the Word of God, He tells us who He is, what He’s done and He also tells us what He will do on our behalf.
The beauty of the Bible is that it also teaches us the power He has given us as His children and what we have access to now that we are a part of the kingdom of God.
Without the Word of God, we wouldn’t have something completely concrete to place our trust in because the Word of God is truth.
In John 17:17, Christ says, ”Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
If our faith and confidence is in anything other than the Word of God, then we are trusting in something that has a record of failure.
God never fails.
The word ”fill” means ”to furnish, supply abundantly, or to impart richly”.
God doesn’t do a partial job in giving us the things we need because 2 Peter 1:3-4, 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.”
God provides us with everything we need to live a Godly life, including the promises that allow us to be a part of the kingdom of God and manifest that in our lives.
Only by the Word of God do we know that we have this, and God has supplied us abundantly with what we need.
The word ”joy” means ”cheerfulness or calm delight”. The word ”peace” means ”rest”. The word ”believing” means ”faith as entrusting one’s spiritual well-being to God.”
To be able to have calm delight and rest in the Lord is one of the most amazing positions to be in. We just know things are going to work out, and we know who is going to bring it all to pass.
In Romans 5:1-2, the Bible says, ”Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
For me, knowing what God has delivered me from, that in itself is enough, but God desires to do so much more in our lives, far more than we could ever comprehend.
We have access to the Word of God and that gives us access to the things that we should hope for. That is such a powerful position that WE live from as believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The word ”hope” means ”expectation”. To abound in hope suggests that we are beyond confident in the answer to our prayer.
In Psalm 121:1-2, the Bible says, ‘‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
To look to the hills means that we are waiting on the arrival of what we are looking for.
Living with expectancy is knowing that God is going to move and it is not a matter of ”if” but ”when”.
Knowing God assures us and makes us ready to experience the shift that is going to happen in our lives.
The word ”power” means ”miraculous power or force”. The Holy Ghost facilitates the power by which we have our hope.
In Romans 14:17, the Bible says, ‘‘For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
God has provided us with what we need to trust in Him, and with a flawless record of faithfulness.
It’s on us now to do our part in faith.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 7, 2024 – Psalm 81:10 – an open mouth filled by the Lord
”I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
Psalm 81:10
Hi Everyone!
Our God’s loving is beyond our understanding, and His compassion for us is constantly on display.
Not only has He delivered us from a life of sin and the consequence of death, but He is concerned about the things that we have and need.
Good earthly parents see our needs and don’t turn their backs. God is even greater than they are meeting needs that we don’t even know we have.
The enemy has largely tricked the Church into believing that our God is not deeply concerned with the things that we need, and many of us have grown silent in trials, and have stopped asking God for help.
The enemy loves to see us in this position, because he aims to stunt our growth by cutting off our supply.
We have a God who deeply desires to bless our lives abundantly, how can we expect to be filled when we don’t open our mouths because we don’t trust Him enough.
Today, we will look at Psalm 81:10, an open mouth filled by the Lord.
”I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
There is an old street adage that I believe comes from this verse originally. It says, ”Closed mouths don’t get fed”.
Babies cry when they are hungry, and in Christ, we are babes.
Keeping our mouths closed when we need something from the Lord is very counterproductive.
Trust me I know, because I am frequently silent when I know I have need of something, even when I know I would have it if I just asked.
In Matthew 5:6, Christ says, ”Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
God is very ready to give us what we need, and it doesn’t mean just material things.
If we need to be better husbands, better fathers, better wives, better mothers, better believers, or if we desire to be better people, we can come to God who is more than able and more than willing.
In James 4:2-3, the Bible says, ‘‘Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
God will provide for our needs according to His will, but if our desires don’t line up with His will, then we shouldn’t expect to receive anything from Him.
God will not provide things that don’t bring honor to Him.
The word ”brought” implies deliverance is rescue, just as God rescued the Israelites from the Egyptian captivity.
In Exodus 20:2, the Bible says, ”I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
God has delivered us from our captivity of sin, and He is telling us the same thing and to ask for help, to open our mouths and express our needs to Him.
In 1 Peter 5:6-7, the Bible says, ”Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
When we come to God humbly, bringing our concerns to Him, bringing our needs to Him, and bringing our dreams to Him, He responds like a loving Father who is excited to give us what we desire.
When we humble ourselves before the Lord, we position ourselves to receive of the Lord what He desires us to have.
In Psalms 37:3-4, the Bible says, ”Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
God doesn’t desire us to go without anything we need, whether it be something material or something spiritual.
God wants His children thoroughly equipped in this earth for everything that will come our way.
When we allow God to form us into the people that He calls for us to be, then what we ask for will line up with His will, and He will respond with the provisions we need.
To ”open thy mouth wide” suggests that we shouldn’t be bashful about our needs, but be willing to ask God for what we need.
The word ”fill” means ”accomplish or fulfill”.
In John 5:15:7-8, Christ says, ”If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
When we are one in the Lord, our requests will line up with what God desires and we will be in a position to bear fruit, when He blesses us.
In Ephesians 3:20, the Bible says, ”Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
Do we believe that God is able to do beyond what we ask Him for?
Our God desires much more for us than what we can ever ask for, but will we open our mouths and ask?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 8, 2024 – Isaiah 12:2 – trusting in God for our salvation from the bondage we find ourselves in
”Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2
Hi Everyone!
In my prison environment, you frequently hear someone speaking about acquiring a lawyer for their appeal.
Guys in prison hold a lawyer to such a high esteem, and will place all of their trust into a lawyer, to vindicate them and help them get their convictions overturned.
I have heard some hold lawyers to a God-like standard, like having one solve all of their problems, leaving God completely out of the equation.
The man that trusts in man for deliverance is the man who is subject to a lifetime of failure, even if they get out.
When God is pushed out of the equation the enemy has free reign to come in and flip things upside down.
Surely no believer desires their life to be upturned for refusing to place their trust in God for deliverance.
No matter how badly I want to come home, and it is badly, I will never give mankind the trust for my deliverance that only belongs to God.
Today, we will look at Isaiah 12:2, trusting in God for our salvation from the bondage we find ourselves in.
”Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”
The word ”behold” suggests that we fix our attention towards what is being said because of its importance. The word ”salvation” means ”deliverance from harm, or rescue from distress or danger.’
Isaiah makes clear who is our deliverance, and it surely isn’t mankind and it definitely isn’t in a lawyer. Isaiah knew that only God truly delivers, only God truly saves, and only God truly rescues us from the dangers in life.
The word ”trust” means ”to hie for refuge, to be confident, safety or security is felt when one can rely on another.” The word ”hie” means ”to instinctively flee towards”.
This establishes that God has to be our first call, not our last call when all of our plans blow up in smoke.
In Proverbs 21:31, the Bible says, ”The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.”
We can put together things that appear to give us an advantage, but it can still leave us wallowing in defeat.
In Psalm 20:6-7, the Bible says, ‘‘Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
When we entrust our deliverance to the Lord, we will experience overwhelming victory in our lives, but despite this truth: some people will trust in stuff, in people, in weaponry, in money, in everything but the Lord.
In Psalm 37:3, the Bible says, ”Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”
If we keep everything in the Lord, He will establish us and bring us the deliverance we seek. The problem comes in when we replace God with what He created, and entrust something created to produce something that only He can.
The word ”afraid” means ”to be startled or to experience dread”.
Do we notice that Isaiah says that ”the Lord Jehovah IS my strength”? This means that the same deliverance God provided the Israelites from Egypt, He still provides today through His Son Jesus Christ. There is no reason to fear when the Lord is on our side.
In Psalms 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 our trust is in the Lord, the opponent can look scary and the circumstances can look bleak, but God can bring us out of anything. When ”God is”, great things happen, because our God loves to cause us to experience victory, just as He does.
In Exodus 15:1-2, the Bible says, ”Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
Do we praise God for the victories we experience? That is another indication of who we are placing our trust in, who we credit for the victory.
In Isaiah 45:17, the Bible says, ‘‘But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.”
God is the same God so if He delivered them with an everlasting salvation, He will deliver us the same way.
That Way is Jesus Christ, and in Him lies victory that no man can stand up to. If we trust in the Lord, we will see His mighty hand move amazingly in our lives.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 9, 2024 – Isaiah 12:4 – declaring the goodness of God in the earth
”And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.”
Isaiah 12:4
Hi Everyone!
God deserves our praise.
He is so wonderful, and His hand is mighty, working things together for our good, bringing things to pass that completely blow our minds.
Our God has healed our bodies, delivered us from harm, given us salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, and has graciously given us the Holy Spirit, so that we can live in Him forever.
No matter how good God is, and has been in our lives, do we declare this into the earth?
Many of us are far too silent, choosing to keep what God has done for us, which is counterproductive to the growth of the faith.
Many people can receive our testimony and reach after God as well, but if we are silent, then who hears about a God who freely delivers all who call upon His name?
Receiving such an amazing testimony can be powerful for kingdom building, but we have to be courageous enough to open our mouths.
Today, we will look at Isaiah 12:4, declaring the goodness of God in the earth.
”And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.”
The phrase ”in that day” implies that we must first understand why we are praising God.
This means that we have to go backwards, to glean context for this Scripture.
In Isaiah 12:2, the Bible says, ”Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”
When we receive salvation, true deliverance from danger, true rescue from the life of sin and death, it should make us thankful.
I remember being shot multiple times in 2001, and I don’t remember thanking God once for saving my life.
I got shot by two different guys, with two different guns at the same time. One guy emptied his clip out, put another one in, and kept shooting, and at the time I couldn’t give God any thanksgiving for saving my life.
God saves us because He loves us, but He also does it for His good purpose so that when we tell our story God will be glorified.
The word ”praise” means ”revere or worship with extended hands”.
This is both praise and surrender, extending our thanksgiving openly before the Lord.
In 1 Timothy 2:8, the Bible says, ‘‘I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
When we extend our hands and praise, we are basking in the Lord’s goodness, acknowledging His power and our lack thereof.
When we praise God, we are putting things in their proper perspective, that it is God and not us who provides our salvation.
The word ”call” means ”to accost a person, to address by name”.
In 1 Chronicles 16:7-9, the Bible says, ”Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.”
Was this our praise report when we experienced deliverance from the Lord?
Do people hear about the goodness of God from us, especially when we have received such a powerful move of God?
We can’t be silent after receiving such an amazing gift from God, because He didn’t have to do it, and most of the time, we didn’t deserve the deliverance He proudly bestowed upon us.
The phrase ”declare His doings” means ”to recognize His deeds or acts”.
The phrase ”make mention” means ”to remember or recall”.
In Psalm 105:1-2, the Bible says, ”O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.”
Do other people know that God is working in our lives? Do they know that we serve God?
Too many of us are too quiet after receiving so much, and it compels the question, are we really thankful for what God has done?
In Psalms 145:3-5, the Bible says, ‘‘Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.”
I know that I have had my live saved but I know that my soul has been saved too.
Knowing this, I am able to live from thanksgiving, as I know that God has done these amazing things for me.
So I should have no problem speaking about my deliverance to other believers and to unbelievers as well.
In Psalm 34:3, the Bible says, ”O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
Praising God is contagious and if someone hears us praise God proudly, then it may help them develop the courage they need to praise God too.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 10, 2024 – John 5:19 – becoming a chip off of the old block
”Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
John 5:19
Hi Everyone!
I remember when I was a kid, and I watched my Uncle Jay shaving in the bathroom. Him and my Tee-Tee raised me since I was a child, so they were my parental unit growing up. I watched him expertly glide the razor over his smooth skin, his double-bladed, double-sided razor doing exactly what He purposed it to do.
I remember joining him in the bathroom, and when he was finished shaving, he took the razor out, and let me ”shave” with his razor, following His instructions, trying to look just like him.
It was a pretty cool ”rite of passage” moment.
One day, when a uncle Jay was no where to be found, I took his razor, lathered up my face, and began shaving, with an actual razor in there. At seven years old, this was not a good idea, and I quickly cut myself.
When Uncle Jay saw my face, he smiled and asked, ”You’ve been messing with my razor, haven’t you?” I laughed and said I was trying to shave. He laughed and said, ”Welcome to the club!”
As children of God, we aim to mimic what our Father is doing and He is pleased when He sees us performing the same way He would.
Today, we will look at John 5:19, becoming a chip off of the old block”.
”Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
The word ”answered” here tells us that there is more to this story.
Jesus encounters a man at the pool of Bethesda, who had suffered an infirmity of paralysis for 38 years. He has tried to go about healing his own way, trying to be the first in the water when the angel stirs the water, but has been unsuccessful.
Jesus heals him instantly by just telling him to get up, take up his bed, and walk.
This man waited 38 years by a pool, waiting for healing while that one sentence from Christ changed his life forever.
This was done on the Sabbath Day, which didn’t go over well with the Jews, who were more concerned with keeping the Law than working the works of God.
In John 5:16-17, the Bible says, ”And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
Jesus has established with the Jews that not only is He doing what God would’ve have done in the exact same situation, but He also is demonstrating to them that healing doesn’t have to wait.
The Jews were being too literal about the Sabbath, which is why He performed so many healings on the Sabbath.
The word ”Son” means ”the Messiah, the Saviour, the Head of the gospel dispensation, as proceeding and sent forth from God, as partaking of the divine nature and being in intimate union with God the Father.”
Christ was God robed in flesh, and it still makes me laugh when I think about the Jews who were telling God what the rules were! Because Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He has the power to do what God does, to bring the power and good news of the kingdom through His Word and through His deeds.
Here’s why. In John 5:20, Christ says, ”For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”
The love God has for Christ causes Him to freely and willingly show Christ everything He knows, which is no different than we are as parents, trying to prepare our children for life by giving them everything we know.
This is the love that always positions us to experience success.
This isn’t limited to just Christ though, because 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.”
God has also empowered us who believe in the name of Jesus Christ with the title and deeds to bear fruit that we are His children as well.
In John 14:12, Christ says plainly, ”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.”
God declares that we will not only work the works of God, but we will do greater things. Why is that? Because through Christ being with the Father, and through the presence of the Holy Spirit with us doing the works of God, and we receiving the Word of God as truth and faith.
In John 14:11, Christ says, ”Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.”
There will always be testimony of where our deeds come from, and it will show that God is at work in us. What our Father does, and He allows us to do! It pleases God for us to do what He equips us to do!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 11, 2024 – Proverbs 29:25 – breaking the snare of fear with unwavering trust in the Lord
”The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
Proverbs 29:25
Hi Everyone!
There are so many believers who never make it to where God desires them to be.
There are so many people in the Church who have some of the most incredible talents, people who are innovators, people who are extraordinarily gifted.
Within the Church are all kinds of people with different professions, socioeconomic statuses, and people of multiple intelligences.
One thing I’ve learned over these past years is that there is a big difference between potential and realized potential.
Fear is something that completely incapacitates people, preventing them from getting to the place where God desires for them to be.
Fear is not from God, and it is a tactic the enemy uses to keep us from stewarding our gifts while on this earth.
It is time to take this fear back, and go after what God has for us.
Instead of trying to address the mountain of fear, we can adjust our perspective to trusting in the Lord, and to realizing that what He has given us is enough to get us where we are ordained to be.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 29:25, breaking the snare of fear with unwavering trust in the Lord
”The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
The word ”fear” speaks of trembling, quaking fear, but it also speaks of anxiety, something many people suffer from.
Bouts of anxiety can render everyone stagnant, lost in perpetual waves of fearful thoughts, stuck exploring all the things that can go wrong.
It is usually during this time where we will begin to listen to the lies of the enemy.
If the enemy can get us to analyze our worth, our ability, or our knowledge, then he has us hook, line, and sinker.
Do we see that the Word of God says, ”bringeth a snare”?
This means that the snare, which is ”a noose for animals or trap” wasn’t there to begin with. When we picked up the fear and anxiety, we picked up the trap that will get us into and keep us in bondage.
In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, the Bible says, ”Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Paul is instructing Timothy, and us, to operate in the gifting that God has bestowed on us, and to forsake the fear that will keep us from walking in the freedom of our ability.
Fear doesn’t come from God, and He is fully aware that our fear can trap us from getting to His promise.
In Joshua 1:8-9, the Bible says, ”This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua was now the leader of Israel, in charge of ushering the Israelites into their promised land. This is the same Joshua who was bold, who believed that they could seize the promise the first time they sent the spies into the land.
Naturally, one would think that Joshua has his fear mastered, because in Numbers 14:9, the Bible says, ”Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”
40 years before, Joshua was one of the two people who tried to get Israel to ignore their fear, and focus on the Word of God.
This is the message God is now giving to Joshua, to not be afraid, but be courageous, to meditate on the Word of God, and to not allow the fear that tries to stand in place of the Word of God.
I believe Joshua was terrified, because God told him to be strong and courageous three times in the first 9 verses of Joshua 1.
Fear is a natural human emotion, but fear is not to have reign, especially when instructed directly God’s Word.
The word ”trust” means ”to hie for refuge”. The word ”hie” means ”to instinctively run towards”. This means that when we are fearful or anxious, we have to turn our fear back to the Lord. The phrase ”shall be safe” means ”inaccessible or set on high”.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, the Bible says, ”Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
God has to be the first place we turn to when our fear mounts an offensive against the Word of God in us.
When we succumb to our fear rather than trust the Word of God, we have effectively set ourselves up for a disappointing end.
When we try to work it out on our own, bad results will occur, but if we trust in the Lord, fear is defeated!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 12, 2024 – Psalm 101:3 – keeping ourselves in the right path
”I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”
Psalm 101:3
Hi Everyone!
Walking in the Lord Jesus Christ carries a standard.
I remember running from this standard, actually believing that I was losing something by serving the Lord, seriously thinking that the sacrifice was too great.
But gradually I realized I was gaining life and losing destruction.
While serving the Lord carries its ups and downs, it is in the Lord I walk in a peace that is far greater than my circumstances.
So much so that people are shocked to find out how much time I have served, and am still sentenced to serve.
Along the way, God put it on my heart to walk away from things that are far too unhealthy for me, friendships that didn’t help me be the person God called me to be, and mentalities that were self-destructive at best.
When we constantly keep our minds and hearts settled on the Lord, there won’t be a deviation from the Word of God, and we can walk securely in Him, fully aware that we are in His will.
This is how we are supposed to live on earth, and this is how we are to lead on earth as well.
Today, we will look at Psalm 101:3, keeping ourselves in the right path.
”I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”
The word ”set” means ”to place, appoint, or bring”. The word ”wicked” means ”ungodly, evil, unprofitable, or worthless”.
When we let ourselves set a thing before us, there is an intentional act on our part for this thing to occupy our space.
As believers, we have to be so so careful to not allow the wrong things into our space, because we can easily be distracted from God’s Word and easily defiled.
In Psalm 1:1-2, 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. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night”.
The child of God is conscious of the path they are taking, who they align themselves with, and where they are seated.
The believer must make decisions continuously that affect their spiritual development, and sometimes, it is essential to place ourselves at a safe distance ‘away’ from the world.
In Psalm 97:9-10 says, ”For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.”
When we are serving Belial and Satan, we are loving them and their things.
I know I have lived for this way of life, against the Word of God.
However, once we serve the Lord, we must love what God loves and serve Him the way He desires to be served.
The word ”hate” means ”to loathe or detest”.
This is an attitude of disgust, where the sight of evil is abhorrent to us.
The word ”work” speaks, of deeds, actions, accomplishments, and things fulfilled.
If we are living according to the world, we have turned aside from the Word of God.
In Joshua 23:6-7, the Bible says, ”Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them”.
It is dangerous ground to remain close to the world after we have been delivered from it, because of the real possibility that the world can rub off on us and we will turn back and again walk the way it does.
This is the same command God gave Joshua before leading Israel into the promised land, and this is the message Joshua lived by in the authority God gave him.
As believers, we have to live by the Word of God and also lead from that position.
The word ”cleave” means ”to stick to, or adhere”.
In 1 Samuel 12:20-21, the Bible says, ”And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.”
When we serve the Lord with our entire heart, we leave no room for the enemy to invade our space. We must stick to the Word of God, because our help, strength, provision, and salvation comes from Him.
In Psalm 40:4, the Bible says, ”Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”
There is a standard for our lives when we serve the Lord: to abstain from evil, to walk in the Spirit, to love God and people, and to experience the kingdom of God right now.
When we live according to a Godly standard, the enemy doesn’t have room to operate.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 13, 2024 – Isaiah 53:10 – the bruising of One leading to the healing of the world
”Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”
Isaiah 53:10
Hi Everyone!
When we think about the will of God, we tend to shift to a positive connotation about it.
If it is the will of God, then there is something good waiting for us right around the corner, right?
We don’t automatically make the association between the will of God and suffering, because how can a loving God allow His children to suffer?
Many people aren’t deeper into the faith because of this and sadly, many have gone astray under the weight of affliction because they couldn’t fathom that affliction may come at the will of God.
Too many people have conditioned their minds to believe that all good circumstances come from God and all bad circumstances come from the enemy, but we do need to know that this isn’t true.
Sometimes, as believers we will experience difficulties in life that will feel like God has completely removed Himself from us, but in fact, God has allowed this to happen in order for a better outcome to come as a result.
Today, we look at Isaiah 53:10, the bruising of One leading to the healing of the world.
”Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”
The word ”pleased” implies that it was the will of the Lord, and we know that the will of God being fulfilled brings glory and delight to God.
The word ”bruise” means ”to crush physical and mentally”.
So it was the will of God to crush Jesus Christ, to allow for Him to be the atoning sacrifice for sin. This was something that was know by the prophets and by Christ.
In Isaiah 53:4, the Bible says, ”Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
There was an ultimate purpose God had for sending Christ to the cross for our sins, and it was so that we could experience salvation, redemption, and eternal life by faith in Him.
What Christ endured was in no way ideal, nor was it what He may have wanted personally at the time, but God’s will was more important than the sufferings He would endure.
The phrase ”put him to grief” implies that He was rubbed or worn, and afflicted.
This means that Christ was broken down so that we can be built up.
Many people depart from the faith when they are afflicted, and never get to the part where the will of God is understood, accepted and fulfilled.
In Acts 9:15-16, the Bible says, ”But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
The Lord is having a conversation with Ananias who is commanded to go pray over Paul for him to receive back his sight. Ananias is afraid because he has heard about Paul’s history, how he has persecuted the Church.
The Lord said that Paul was going to suffer things for the name of Jesus Christ.
Paul didn’t, but if I was Paul, I would have liked to have been a part of that conversation about what I would have to suffer.
What does Paul say about suffering?
In Romans 8:16-18, 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. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
His suffering was light compared to what He received from God, because the glory of God was revealed in Him.
The word ”seed” means ”child, offspring, or descendant”. God sees us the same way He sees Christ, knowing that He has a greater plan that far exceeds the suffering. The word ”pleasure” means ”purpose or will”. The phrase ”prosper in his hand” means ”to be the executors of God’s will, plan, and power”.
In 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 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. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
The will of God allowed for the suffering of Christ, so that He could establish Christ in power at His right hand.
Because of the sufferings of Christ, we who believe have been made righteous before God.
The worst circumstance provided the greatest redemption. Who are we to ever question the Lord?
Who ever saw suffering as the means to redemption?
God did!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 14, 2024 – Proverbs 4:14 – entering the right paths and avoiding the wrong ones
”Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.”
Proverbs 4:14
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we are constantly confronted with the tactics of the enemy.
We live in a world that seems to beg for the presence of sinfulness, and sin has abounded in the earth.
I have been in situations where I was the only believer in the presence of a bunch of people that we doing a bunch of stuff that sorely displeased God, and I used to be called ”The designated driver” by guys in my prison environment because I was the only one who was sober!
I am seeing that in my walk, I have to be very intentional about the relationships I forge and the things I involve myself in.
I also have to be intentional with the things I allow in my mind as well, because most battles against sin usually begin in the mind.
The enemy loves to see us make horrible choices, and he also enjoys to see us
live in fear and discontentment, and he will try to develop roads for us to walk down that will lead to our destruction.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 4:14, entering the right paths and avoiding the wrong ones.
”Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.”
The word ”enter” means ”to follow or go”.
The word ”path” means ”the characteristics of a lifestyle”.
The word ”wicked” means ”moral wrong or ungodly”.
When I was free, there were certain streets I would not walk down, especially at night.
When I frequented Chicago, a wrong turn onto the wrong block could end my
life.
In Milwaukee, there were certain gas stations it was not wise to go to at night unless you had strength in numbers. You had to be a wise traveler, knowing where to go and what places to avoid in order to experience success.
Why don’t we govern our spiritual walk the same way, where we intentionally choose not to walk down the wicked path because we know that it leads to destruction?
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.”
We are blessed when we make the right decisions about the path our feet go, who we align ourselves with, who we entertain in our company, and with what thoughts we think.
We live in a world where trends are being followed heavily, including those that lead to destruction.
I just saw a video on the news where people pulled baby bears out of a tree to take a selfie with them! Not a great idea, especially if the Mama Bear would have come back!
Well, we do the same thing with sin, snatching things we have no business touching to be seen in the presence of them.
The word ”go” means ”to walk”.
The word ”way” means ”a road or course of life”.
The word ”evil” means ”unwholesome, disagreeable, or harmful”.
In Proverbs 1:10-11, the Bible says, ‘‘My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause”.
There will always be someone who will try to lead us in the wrong path, who will try to get us to act in a way that is not becoming of our faith, or our character in the Lord.
It may not be crime related, but it can be something where someone tries to convince us to stop going to church, or walk by faith, or trust in God, or stay faithful in our relationships.
The enemy’s job is to keep us off-balance by influencing us to make stupid decisions.
In 1 Peter 5:8-9, the Bible says, ”Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
The enemy’s job is to try to keep us in a state of vulnerability, where we get isolated and unguarded, and many in the faith fall for this everyday.
We step out from the covering of the Word of God to embrace something that God doesn’t approve of.
The minute we try to go at it without God, we have effectively entered into the path of the wicked.
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 path we choose can mean life or death for us if we are not mindful.
In Isaiah 1:27-28, the Bible says, ”Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”
Jesus Christ offers salvation and redemption through faith in His name, and in Him lies the power to make great choices, choices that will lead to our success and not our destruction!
Let us plan our route accordingly from this point forth.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 15, 2024 – Proverbs 4:18 – the just basking in the light of the Lord
”But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”
Proverbs 4:18
Hi Everyone!
As believers in God, we reflect the light of the Lord in our behavior, in our words, and by the choices we make with our lives.
Our lives should be directed in continuous worship of God in all we do, so that this beautiful light continues to reflect through us.
Many of us, me included, tend to allow the circumstances of life, the conflicts that come our way, and the heaviness of our situations to take some of the light away.
It is hard walking in the light with a broken heart, or with a mounting level of stress on our shoulders, but the Word of God tells us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us.
God provides everything we can ever need to be able to walk in His light, but the choice is completely on us, whether or not we are controlled by stress, conflict, or circumstances.
The more we project the light of the Lord, the brighter we get and the more God is magnified in the process.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 4:18, the just basking in the light of the Lord.
”But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”
The word ”path” means ”the characteristics of a lifestyle, or course of life”.
The word ”just” means ”the righteous, those who live in conformity to the standard of God in His Word.”
In order for us to walk in the light of the Lord, we must first conform to God’s standard.
Light makes us visible, and if we are visible, then our actions are on clear display, showing the fruit of what is inside of us.
In my prison environment, Christians that are open in their faith, proudly walking in the Lord are the most watched people in the prison. Literally everyone, including fellow Christians, are waiting to have their ”aha moment” where they can catch us doing something ungodly.
This is what the light does, and it is in no way comfortable, but it is not about me.
In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, ”And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
When we conform to renewing our minds, we are placing the Word of God as the standard by which we gauge everything in our lives.
In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the Bible says, ‘‘Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
We have to continue to look at ourselves to make sure we are walking the way we are supposed to walk. If we are not, we must check ourselves and make the necessary changes.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says, ‘‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
If the Word of God is not our standard, it is going to be virtually impossible for us to walk in the light of the Lord. We can’t pursue our own holiness and call it holiness.
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.”
We have Christ as the example of how we are supposed to live on earth, and walking in the light will undoubtedly increase our fellowship, and thus our reach for the kingdom.
The phrase ”shining light” means ”the manifestation of the splendor of God”.
Living as believers is way bigger than just us.
When we walk, we are supposed to show others who our God is, and people should see us and know who we belong to.
In Matthew 5:14-16, Christ says, ”Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 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”.
As we walk in the light of the Lord, He raises us up in Him, making us visible from all directions. It should be impossible for us to deny that we are believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, because even those who don’t know, will ask us what is so different about us.
In Matthew 5:45, Christ says, ”That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
How we live shows whether or not we are living as children of God. The phrase ”shineth more and more unto the perfect day” simply implies that our light will be ever-increasing, that we will continue to radiate God’s light daily.
This should be our aim as believers. Is it?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 16, 2024 – John 10:11 – our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ
‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11
Hi Everyone!
Our God is beyond awesome, far greater than we can ever know.
Christ who died a horrific physical death so we can have the privilege of spiritual eternal life, and this was ordained by the love of the Lord God.
Some people don’t fully comprehend the magnitude of this sacrifice because they have lived a moderately clean existence, but for me, I was the worst of the worst, and I know without a doubt that I didn’t deserve the salvation and redemption that God gifted me through Christ.
Not only did Christ die on the cross for my sins, and for the sins of mankind, but He also gave us an example of how to live holy in this earth.
Sometimes, we want everything without realizing that God gave us everything in Christ.
Today, we will look at John 10:11, our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
”I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’‘
The word ”good” means ”beautiful, valuable, virtuous, worthy, honorable, or distinguished”, but it means something so much different for me.
In Genesis 1:3-4, the Bible says, ”And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”
God determined that light was good because it became what He commanded it to be.
Christ is calling himself ”good” because He has become what He was created to be, the Shepherd and Saviour of the world.
The word ”Shepherd” means ”a pastor, one who generally cares for the flock, spoken figuratively of Jesus Christ as the Great Shepherd who watches over and provides for the welfare of the Church”.
So Christ identifies Himself as being in charge of the flock, the Church of God, and He is charged with our care.
Let’s look at another thing. The first two words Christ uses are ”I am”. Where have we heard this before?
In Exodus 3:13-14, the Bible says, ”And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
Christ uses the words ”I am” freely because He is the same God who was present and speaking to Moses.
Remember, His name Immanuel means ”God with us”, and in Isaiah 9:6, the Bible says, ”For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’‘
Over 600 years before Christ appeared, Isaiah prophesies that He would be ”The Mighty God” and ”The Everlasting Father”. Christ is also teaching that He is indeed God.
In Isaiah 40:11, the Bible says, ”He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
Isaiah also prophesies that Christ will serve as a Shepherd to us, who are the sheep. Christ is fulfilling this prophecy in the topic verse! This further shows that the Word of God is true.
In Ezekiel 34:11-12, the Bible says, ‘‘For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”
This is what God in the Old Testament did for His children, and nothing has changed from the Old Testament to the New.
God is still seeking His flock out, ushering us in with labors of love, and going to the darkest places to pull us out.
I know this for a fact, because God went to some pretty dark places to deliver me, and I am in awe that I am still living, let alone standing for the Lord like I am.
In 1 Peter 5:2-4, the Bible says, ”Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
God was our Shepherd in the Old Testament, leading us in His love and fellowship.
When Christ came to this earth, He became our Shepherd, ultimately sacrificing His life for us, who are His sheep.
Now we, who are the Church, are charged to shepherd the flock by being an example of the faith.
Will our hearts set this truth within us, and serve God and His people with8
the same type of care?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 17, 2024 – John 10:16 – an outsider becoming an insider because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ
”And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
John 10:16
Hi Everyone!
I know how it feels to be an outsider, to not belong no matter how hard I tried.
I experienced abandonment by my parents, bullying at school, and as a child constant home moving, frequently becoming ”the new kid” in the neighborhood.
I remember in certain neighborhoods I had to physically fight my way into the social order for a ”respectable” place among its people.
I remember joining a powerful street gang to belong to a ”family”, to feel less like an outsider.
I also remember being arrested for murder, becoming someone ostracized and banished from free society.
This whole time I was fighting to belong,
God already had a permanent place prepared for me, and all it required was that I receive the free gift of salvation by salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.
I finally found a home where I would be welcome forever.
Today, we will look at John 10:16, an outsider becoming an insider because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
”And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
The word ”sheep” refers to the people of God who are attentive and submissive to His headship and direction.
The word ”fold” means ”a yard, court, or mansion”.
This is similar to saying that someone, who was not in a family, was welcomed in to be a part of the family in full right and title.
Too many people are outsiders, believing that they can’t get their lives right enough to come to God for forgiveness and salvation.
There are people who believe that they have to clean themselves up first before they go to church, but according to this passage, the place was prepared for us long before we arrived, with full consideration for the choice we made, the stupid things we have done, and the sin that threatens to destroy our lives.
In Romans 8:14-16, the Bible says, ”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”.
See, we have the mistaken belief that we found the Lord, but the truth is, He was leading us the whole time!
Imagine a loving God who is so merciful, knowingly leading a complete outsider, an enemy of the faith, and a murderer – leading me to Him at a time when I didn’t feel I deserved it.
In John 6:44, Christ says, ‘‘No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Like a loving Shepherd, God is leading us into salvation long before we even make the choice. Many of us receive salvation, then mistakenly try to ”earn” that gift, of salvation that was freely given, by living righteously, but God does it, we can’t and don’t.
The price has been paid and redemption is available to all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ.
The word ”bring” means ”to lead or induce”. This term implies that God leads us from where we were to where we now stand in salvation.
This shows us the love of God.
Because, where I was before was a horrible existence – I was completely apart from the Lord.
The word ”hear” means ”to give audience”.
God positions and prepares us by His leading to hear His Word, to receive His invitation.
In Isaiah 56:8, the Bible says, ”The Lord GOD, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.”
An outcast is someone that no one wants, and I was that person!
God took an outcast and gave me the name of ”son”, knowing my past more deeply than I do.
God saw who I would be by the blood of Jesus Christ long before I did, and I still don’t see who I am going to fully be in Him.
In Ezekiel 37:22, the Bible says, ”And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.”
God is taking outsiders, outcasts, people who don’t belong, and people no one wants, and is inviting them to experience the beauty of His family, which is indeed a kingdom!
In Ephesians 2:12-14, the Bible says, ‘‘That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 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”.
God knows we are outsiders and people living with no hope or future, but He welcomes us in anyway!
We belong to Him!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 18, 2024 – Proverbs 17:9 – respecting the powerful bond of friendship
”He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
Proverbs 17:9
Hi Everyone!
Friendship is a powerful form of relationship.
In my opinion, friendship is the deepest form of relationship, and the key to a happy, blissful marriage.
If we look at couples who have been married happily for 40-50 years, they will tell you that their spouse is their best friend.
God intended for friendships to carry deep intimacy, where we can be vulnerable and weak in the presence of another, but society today has forsaken and diluted the powerful experience of friendship so much that many have violated the people they profess to be friends with.
Our daughter has a person who she has been friends with since she was little who has broken her trust more the she can count, and now, she desires to break off the friendship because her forgiveness did nothing but expose her to more hurt.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 17:9, respecting the powerful bond of friendship.
”He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
The phrase ”covereth a transgression” means ”to conceal in order to dissolve the shame that covers the guilty”. This is the person who protects their friendship by making sure they are not subjected to personal scrutiny.
Matthew 1:18-19, the Bible says, ”Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”
Mary was more than someone espoused to Joseph, and in his righteousness, he loved her so much that even though he was hurt by what he thought was infidelity, he still didn’t want Mary to be seen in a negative light.
The first thing many of us do when we are offended by a friend is expose the hurt, but true love will want someone to not be scrutinized for the offense.
In John 13:21, the Bible says, ‘‘When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”
Jesus never directly told the disciples who was going to betray him, even though there is no question that Christ was hurt by a close friend’s betrayal.
The phrase ”seeketh love” implies an active desire or striving after or affection and faithfulness.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the Bible says, ”Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
This is love, a quality of being that pursues fellowship with others through a body of work, not through words without meaning.
In this cancel culture society, many people cancel friendships because of an offense that can be forgiven and corrected.
Marriages have dissolved over things that are fixable, but the person offended refused to forgive.
The friend always sees beyond the moment, and covers their friends’ fallibility.
In Proverbs 10:12, the Bible says, ”Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
When love is present, we will always desire to make things square with people who offend us.
In James 5:20, the Bible says, ”Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
It is a Godly thing to cover offenses in love, to free our friends from guilt. They may experience our forgiveness and it may cause them to deepen their relationship with God as a result.
Of course there are going to be people that we forgive who will only use our forgiveness as a license to continue their bad acts.
In Matthew 18:21-22, the Bible says, ”Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Peter was trying to understand what is the breaking point of forgiveness and Christ responded by telling him essentially that he should lose count before his forgiveness runs out.
Forgiveness and maintaining a toxic friendship are two different things.
Psalm 1:1 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.”
God never told us to remain in a place that will lead to our destruction for the sake of friendship.
In the moment of offense we have the option to love and provide cover or be angry an expose the offense.
I hope we choose love!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 19, 2024 – Psalm 97:11 – walking in the light of the Lord with joy and authority
”Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.”
Psalm 97:11
Hi Everyone!
The light of the Lord is a testament of God’s favour upon us, that we truly belong to Him.
It is also an awesome experience when our lives can radiate His light, when people can walk up to us and see God’s light upon us, because we can explain to them the cause of the joy we have.
Being a believer is not merely about following rules that society falsely passes down as truth, but it is about building a relationship with God that will cause us to bear His light in the earth.
It is our job to look like where we come from.
It would cause us to scratch our heads in confusion if a billionaire lived as a derelict, picking through the garbage for food, but it should cause us to scratch our heads in the same confusion to see a believer in God who is without joy, is void of peace, or who is spiritually impoverished.
Today we will look at Psalm 97:11, walking in the light of the Lord with joy and authority.
”Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.”
The word ”light” is representative of God’s guidance for a life that is good and healthy. The light of the Lord provides us so many amazing things.
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.”
Salvation comes with those who walk in the light, and the beauty about this is that when we walk in the light or by guidance of the Lord, we are exactly where He is!
In Psalm 119:105-106, the Bible says,“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.”
God is deeply concerned about us and He desires us to experience great success in the kingdom. He lights our path so that we can know our way, and by it, He ensures that we won’t experience failure.
In Matthew 5:16, Christ says, ”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Another thing God’s light does is give us a testimony of His glory to share with others and in turn, they will glorify God because of it.
The word ”sown” means ”to be conceived or planted”.
The word ”righteous” means ”just, those who walk in conformity to the standard of God”.
When we walk in conformity to the Word of God, it shines a light upon us, and causes us to bear God’s image and likeness in the earth, as He intended for us from creation.
Too many people want God’s light and favour, but have no desire to live by His standards.
In Job 22:26-28, the Bible says, ”For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”
Job’s friend knew that conforming to God’s standards leads to a blessed life, and to the light, and that our words have power.
He has the right understanding of the righteous bearing the light of God, but he is mistaken that Job has done something wrong to experience what appears to be God’s wrath.
Sometimes, bad things happen to believers, but that doesn’t mean that God has removed His light. It means that His light will follow us in our circumstances to show us and others that He is still on the throne, leading us with love.
The word ”gladness” means ”blithesomeness or joy”.
The word “upright” speaks of the righteous in God.
The word ”heart” refers to the seat of one’s inner nature.
God provides joy to those who are just in heart.
This isn’t for the one who looks the part but really isn’t.
It is for the person who lives by God’s standard from the deepest place within them.
Some people will say that they aren’t righteous so this verse doesn’t apply to them, but 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, ”For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Those who are believers have been made righteous in Christ by God, so this verse definitely applies to us.
In Proverbs 4:18, the Bible says, ”But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
When we walk in the light of the Lord, it will be noticeable to all who come into contact with us, whether they know the cause of it or not.
Believers who walk in God’s light experience a joy that doesn’t always match the circumstances they are under.
When brothers encounter me, they can’t believe that I have been locked up for over 20 years, sentenced to life without parole.
It is the light of the Lord that changes our appearance and defies our circumstances.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 20, 2024 – John 15:11 – an unspeakable joy available to us
”These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
John 15:11
Hi Everyone!
In this world, it is a real job to maintain our joy.
We watch the news and we see reports of babies being killed by reckless drivers or by stray bullets.
We see a war between Israel and Hamas, where civilians, who are not a part of the conflict, have paid the ultimate cost of their lives.
There is a explosion of drug use and fentanyl is killing more people everyday.
If we look at this picture of the world, the outlook is not joy-inducing.
In the Lord, we have a joy that can’t be stolen by life’s circumstances, nor is it contingent upon everything working well in our lives.
In Christ, we have a joy that defies our circumstances, something that will also give testimony about God’s presence and power in our lives.
Many brothers are shocked to hear that I currently have a life sentence or that I have been in prison for nearly twenty-one years.
My joy doesn’t make sense, but praise God that my joy comes from the Lord.
Today, we will look at John 15:11, an unspeakable joy available to us.
”These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
The word ”spoken” means ”to preach, teach, utter, or declare”.
When the phrase ”these things” begin a verse, that means there is more context to consider, which means that we have to go back to glean the message behind ”these things”.
In John 15:5, Christ says, ”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.”
Christ is teaching here that a oneness in Christ is the key to fruitfulness for the kingdom and in life. We can’t get too far without being joined to the Vine, which is Christ. The Vine provides the nutrients for the branches (us) so that we can grow and bear fruit.
In John 15:8, Christ says, ”Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
When we abide in the Lord, our lives will bear evidence that we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God is glorified by our lives.
In John 15:10, Christ 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.”
When we abide in the Lord, we will live in obedience to the Lord and we can also live in the love of the Lord.
When we live in God’s love, it is a place of real security, a place of great rest, and we are at our best when we can operate from a place of rest.
So fruitfulness, being followers of the Lord, bringing glory to God, and living in the love of the Lord are ”these things”, the blessings and benefits of being the children of God.
In Psalm 103:2, the Bible says, ”Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”.
When we remember His benefits, joy overflows in our lives, because we know that God has our back and is bringing the best outcome for us.
The word ”joy” means ”cheerfulness, gladness, or calm delight.”
The word ”remain” means ”to stay or dwell”.
God doesn’t want to give us something that can be taken away from us.
We can relinquish joy when we break away from the Vine, but it can’t be taken under any circumstances.
Even as I type this devotional, the enemy is trying to get into my mind, to display my circumstances openly before me right in this moment! He knows that if I break fellowship with the Lord, I will be free to consider his lies, but the devil is a liar!
In John 16:22-24, Christ says, ”And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
Christ rose from the dead with all power. This means that the enemy has been stripped of power, so how can he take anything away from us that God has provided.
God doesn’t want us approaching Him like beggars, or like people who don’t know that what belongs to the Lord, belongs to us as well.
The word ”full” means ”accomplished, perfected, or completed”.
In 1 John 1:3-4, the Bible says, ”That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
We received the gospel of Jesus Christ, which has led to fellowship and oneness with the Lord, the best gift besides salvation that we could ever receive.
In this fellowship, there is a joy that dwells in us that can never be taken away!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 21, 2024 – Romans 12:5 – the power of oneness in the Church
”So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
Romans 12:5
Hi Everyone!
The Church is one, one in Christ, and one in each other.
We are a body, the body of Christ, where He reigns as the head.
This is the same power that the Church walked in, from the accounts of Acts we have, which means that we have the power today that can heal the sick, raise the dead, to set the captives free.
The problem with us, because of separate denominations, deviations from the word of Truth, and other methods, we have become more and more divided as a body.
The Church in Acts saw the importance of unity, despite the different gifts and callings, despite race and despite the different tax brackets they were in.
Through our petty divisiveness, we have stripped ourselves of the power to be whole.
Imagine a human body without kidneys, or without a pancreas, and we can see how difficult it would be without those key parts of the whole body.
Why can’t we see this the same way in the Church.
Today we will look at Romans 12:5, the power of oneness in the Church.
”So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
The word ”so” starting a sentence suggests that a previous point that was made is being summed up. In order to understand the context of this verse we must go back until we see the foundation for this point.
In Romans 12:3-4, the Bible says, ”For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office”.
Could it be that the reason why we haven’t come into a place of oneness in the Church is because individuals in the Church somehow have believed the lie that they in themselves are the body instead of a part of the body?
Could it be that the arrogance we have with regards to our roles is robbing us of the privilege of oneness in Church?
The same measure of faith that calls one to preach, is the same measure of faith that calls one to the nursery, but we have gauged significance by how much we are in the forefront. That shouldn’t be.
When we look at the word ”body” we should immediately go to the word ”whole”. This means that there are no exclusions among those who are in Christ, because we are all necessary for the building up of the kingdom of God.
Christ is the head and is also the reason we are one in Him.
Remember, we are the answer to a prayer Christ prayed in John 17:20-21, where He 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.”
Christ was establishing us into a people of God, one in Him and one in each other, because we believe in the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Christ goes even further, because He also prays in John 17:22-23, ”And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
We together as one, can receive the glory of God in a way that we can’t receive alone, neither can we be fully perfected unless we are one.
Divided we are stripping ourselves of power, and when we are selfish with what God has given us, we have effectively diminished our own impact in the Church.
Christ desired us to be one so the power of God can flow through us as a body and make the greatest level of impact.
Within a church building, we have a Church that is from all walks of life, with all kinds of gifts, working all different types of positions, with all different kinds of testimonies.
The Church should be able to meet anyone right where they are and help them forward, because it’s members are planted with the gifts to help.
When we look at the phrase ”members of one another”, we should see ourselves as parts of a whole.
In 1 Corinthians 10:17, the Bible says, ”For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
We are all partakers of Christ and we need Him to become whom He wants us to be. This is the common thread in the Church, and if we believed His Word, then we would believe the truth that we need each other.
In 1 Corinthians 12:18, the Bible says, ”But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
Oneness is much bigger than us. It is a design by God, and when He sees it in us, then He is pleased.
What does God see when He looks at the Church today?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 22, 2024 – Psalm 102:2, a speedy answer to a call of distress
”Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.”
Psalm 102:2
Hi Everyone!
Believers are going to experience trouble in their lives in some way, shape, form or fashion.
It is unavoidable, but sadly, many in the faith will fall away when a hard time comes.
God has planted His strength in us to sustain turmoil when it comes, but He also promised to be there with us, so with Him by our side, we can make it through anything that comes our way.
It is not always easy to trust God, despite how incredible His record of deliverance has been in history and in our personal lives.
I guess it is easier to panic, or try to figure our way out by digging ourselves even deeper in the mess.
In the Lord, there is deliverance and God is more than
willing to see us through the situations that try to threaten our peace.
Today, we will look at Psalm 102:2, a speedy answer to a call of distress.
”Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.”
This psalm was written by someone who experienced a degree of trial where his soul was afflicted.
This is a prayer for help, because the Psalmist here understands that the world can not deliver him from what’s afflicting him.
In Psalms 121:1-2, the Bible says, ”I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
It really does make a huge difference to know where our help comes from.
In the midst of trial, the person who seems to be a friend and deliverer can really be an enemy unawares to us. So we have to know where to go to for help.
I have found myself seeking a worldly remedy for a problem that only God could save me from, and I wasted a bunch of time in the process.
This psalm is not only an effective roadmap of what to do in a trial, but we will also see that a real security in the Lord was built by the end of this psalm.
In Psalm 102:27-28, the Bible says, ”But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.”
By the end of the Psalm, the Psalmist has the privilege of seeing God as He is, and he testified that he and his seed are safe in Him.
It is certainly a process getting to that point of Truth where we know that God has us covered. Our beginnings aren’t that clear!
The word ”hide” means ”to conceal or to be absent”.
The word ”trouble” means ”a tight place, distress, tribulation, or anguish”.
In Hebrews 13:5-6, the Bible says, ‘‘Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
There is a big difference in what we know and what we feel, in what we feel and what is actually real.
The Psalmist is pleading with God to show Himself in the face of His trouble.
Why would he ask God to not hide Himself if He knows that God is always there?
Sometimes, when we go through trials, we don’t always feel God’s presence, which can lead us to question whether or not God is actually there. We all go through it.
In 2 Kings 6:15-16, the Bible says, ”And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”
We have two people here, Elisha and his servant. His servant saw the hosts encamped against them and immediately got afraid, but Elisha knew that God was with them not with the encamped enemy, and tried to assure him of this truth.
Sometimes we can seem to be outnumbered, but that is not true. If God is with us, the enemy is always outnumbered.
In 2 Kings 6:17, the Bible says, ”And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.’‘
Sometimes, God will allow us to see that we are covered, but will we trust Him?
The word ”call” means ”to summon, invite, accost, or address by name”.
The word ”answer” means ”to pay attention, or respond”.
In Romans 10:13, the Bible says, ”For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
We have to believe the Word of God over the feelings of insecurity we may have at times.
In Psalm 71:1-2, ”In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.”
The Lord is ready to deliver us from the things that come our way.
Will we let Him?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 23, 2024 – John 3:18 – avoiding condemnation by experiencing salvation
”He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
John 3:18
Hi Everyone!
At the end of our lives, we have to stand before our Lord and give an account of the life we lived.
Those who have believed in the name of Jesus Christ, declaring Him to be both Lord and Saviour, will experience entrance into the kingdom of heaven, where we will be in the presence of our Lord forever.
Those who refuse to believe upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will find themselves facing eternal damnation, entrance into the lake of fire, where death and hell are.
God makes is so easy for us; believe in the name of Jesus Christ and experience salvation.
We don’t have to worry about cleaning ourselves up first, or having our sin issues first taken care of, all because His blood washes our sin away, and His Holy Spirit teaches us how to live a Godly life in Him.
These are the easiest terms, to receive the greatest gift in life, but sadly, many won’t believe.
Today, we will look at John 3:18, avoiding condemnation by experiencing salvation.
”He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
The word ”believeth” means ”to have faith in, or to entrust one’s spiritual well-being to”.
This is an active belief that is followed by action, because in James 2:20-22, the Bible says, ”But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”
Faith is going to always require trust, and when we give our lives over to the Lord, we are telling God, ”I’m yours. Have your way”.
That is not an easy thing to do, especially in this world, where much teaching is to ”follow your own truth” and ”be your own person”.
God is being left out of the equation because the world has gotten so self-centred, so self-conscious, and so self-absorbed.
Self has replaced God, but in order to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have to come to the end of self and to the beginning of Christ.
In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, ”But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ isn’t some flippant response to an amazing invitation, but this is God telling us, ”I want to make you brand new, and give you the clean slate that the world is incapable of providing”.
God gave me that clean slate, and my life has been transformed ever since.
Faith is then displayed through a diligent pursuit of the Lord.
The word ”condemned” implies a judgment of punishment applied for wickedness.
Consider a condemned building, something declared uninhabitable, something worthless and slated for destruction. This is who we are without the Lord Jesus Christ, without salvation by faith in Him.
In Romans 8:1-2, the Bible says, ”There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
When we receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, we now have another ‘law’ applied to us.
This means that, ‘sin and death’, the former law that applied to my life has been overruled, replaced by the law of life, salvation and redemption by faith in the name of Jesus.
A new law governs our lives as believers and we no longer have to follow the law of death, living for the world.
I praise God for giving me another law to live under because gang member, murderer, robber, and criminal isn’t how my story ends.
In John 5:24, Christ says, ”Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.’‘
I used to be dead in my sins and faults before God and had a very bleak outlook for my life.
Before I was arrested for my homicide charges in 2003, I thought that there was no way I would live through the year.
I was already saying my goodbyes. By the grace of God, I am still alive, and by His love, I am saved, transformed into a new creation in Christ.
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 gave us His plan for salvation in His Word, and through His free gift of salvation we can live in Him forever.
I am no longer condemned, but redeemed!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 24, 2024 – Proverbs 3:33 – a blessed life for those made righteous by God in Christ
”The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”
Proverbs 3:33
Hi Everyone!
I want to be someone who is blessed by the Lord in all I do.
I have gone through a lot of turmoil in my life, made a lot of horrible decisions, and for the most part, don’t feel like I deserve the Lord’s best for what I have done.
When bad things happen, or something doesn’t work out the way I hoped it would, I kinda feel like I am getting what I deserved for all of the wrong I have done.
I can honestly admit that I have the wrong attitude, and I am living like I am still under a curse.
Jesus Christ became a curse for me, so that I can live a blessed life as a son of God, but I have to unlearn the garbage I have accepted as truth for so long, and accept my rightful place as the righteousness of God in Christ.
I can’t live with that head knowledge, but I really have to live in the truth that I have been washed clean and am a new creation in Christ.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 3:33, a blessed life for those made righteous by God in Christ.
”The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”
The word ”curse” implies a blockage from producing fruit.
The word ”wicked” means ”ungodly, condemned, an enemy of God”.
If a womb is cursed, then no baby will be birthed. If land is cursed, then there will be no harvest. If a home is cursed, then it will crumble to the ground.
A curse blocks the flow of the blessings of God, and affects His creative intent for mankind.
In Genesis 1:28, the Bible says, ”And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
God blessed us from creation to be fruitful and multiply, to make a worldwide impact, to have dominion in the earth. Sin ruined that intent.
In Genesis 4:11-12, the Bible says, ”And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.”
Sometimes, I feel like my fruitfulness is blocked too, but that is a lie that the enemy wants me to believe, so that I don’t partake in the fruits of the kingdom as I should.
In Leviticus 26:14, the Bible says, ”But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments”
Disobedience is the easiest way to place oneself under a curse, and in Leviticus 26:17, the Bible says of Israel ,
”And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.”
A consequence of being under a curse is being completely vulnerable to the attack of the enemy.
In Psalm 37:22, the Bible says, ”For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”
So just as the people in the Old Testament who obeyed God were blessed and those who disobeyed God were cursed, such curses cause us to be cut off from God.
Well, then things changed when Jesus Christ came!
The word ”blesseth” means ”to bestow a benefit upon”.
The word ”just” means ”righteous, upright, someone who conforms to the standard of God.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible says, ”For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
The death of Christ on the cross changes the nature of those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and the righteousness of God is bestowed upon them.
In Galatians 3:10-11, the Bible says, ”For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
The death of Christ broke the curse for all who believe in His name. We are no longer under the law, where we have to strive and fail to meet God’s standard. Faith is the key to pleasing God and it is the standard that we live by as believers.
In Galatians 3:13-14 the Bible says, ”Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.’‘
Christ’s death broke the curse, but also insures that we can live a blessed life in Him. We are then no longer cursed and fruitless. We are blessed and fruitful.
Let us receive this truth into our spirits and live accordingly.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 25, 2024 – Proverbs 3:27 – being gracious with what we are given to give
”Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”
Proverbs 3:27
Hi Everyone!
Would you turn a blind eye to someone in need?
Would you look at another believer in the face when you know they have needs and not help them get themselves back on track?
God has made us a body so that we can cover each other when one has fallen upon hard times.
Someone has an abundance, someone has a lack, and the two come together so they don’t lack anything.
Before you begin to clutch your wallet extra tight, understand that money is not the exclusive premise of my previous thought.
Time is more important than money. Compassion is better than money. Truth is better than money. Fellowship is better than money.
Many of us watch people struggle and won’t take five seconds out of our lives to help them to not feel less alone in this world.
Do we give people what God has bestowed upon us, or are we stingy with what God has blessed us with?
Today we will look at Proverbs 3:27, being gracious with what we are given to give.
”Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”
The word ”withhold” means ”to debar from benefit, to deny, or to keep back”.
The word ”good” implies God’s intention for creation being fulfilled, because Genesis 1:3-4 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 saw His word fulfilled, He declared it to be good. Well the same rules apply when He sees what He has called forth to be produced in us manifested before His eyes.
In Matthew 19:20-21, the Bible says, ”The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
The rich man robbed himself of the blessings from the Lord, the true riches of God, because he refused to give. What are we willing to give in order to follow the Lord?
I am not inviting people to clear their bank accounts and give everything away in order to please God.
The person in this passage has built enormous wealth for himself that he was unwilling to sacrifice in order to experience salvation.
The money became his God, and that attitude in him was the thing Christ was calling out.
In Matthew 10:8, Christ says, ”Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.’‘
God freely gives us the things that will affect the kingdom of God with positive change, but too many of us refuse to share what we have with others, even as Romans 12:1 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.”
God says our service to mankind that He requires is a reasonable service because we are using what God has already given us, and all we are doing is making the blessing available to someone else.
This is much bigger than money, because no dollar amount can physically open your mouth to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone else.
The word ”power” implies strength and ability.
The word ”hand” also means ”strength or might”, but it also implies means and direction.
When God has given us what we need to live the Gospel out by being there for others, sharing the Word, and comforting someone in need, and we don’t share what He has given, then God has blessed us for nothing.
In Romans 13:7-8, the Bible says, ”Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
Not only are we to pay what we owe, but if love is owed, then why do we withhold that from people in need? If love is the manifestation of God in this world, the divine expression of God’s presence, then why do we walk over people that we should be walking with?
In Galatians 6:9-10, the Bible says, ”And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
We should never grow tired of being there for others and for doing things in love that pleases God, especially to our fellow believers.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Bible says, ‘‘Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
God looks at the heart, and we have to be willing to give from a place that desires others to have what we share.
Are we too stingy to see that we are given to give?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 26, 2024 – Ephesians 2:9 – putting an end to dead works in order to seize a living faith
”Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Ephesians 2:9
Hi Everyone!
I, like a lot of believers, have tried to work for my salvation, only to find myself crashing and burning time after time.
I tried to change so many times before I really accepted the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, but I did not have the power in my own strength to change.
My futile efforts only dealt a blow to my confidence that I could change at all, and my broken confidence caused me to give up and fall away.
Being saved, I needed to truly understand that Christ died on the cross for my sins and because of this, I am a new creation in Him by faith, not works.
Here’s where I and most believers have a problem, because we try to do works to ”stay saved”, or we do works for God to see us as holy and to get answers to our prayers.
My life then becomes a futile attempt to work works in order to produce something from God, without realizing that I am leaving faith behind once again.
Today, we will look at Ephesians 2:9, putting an end to dead works in order to seize a living faith.
”Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Looking at this verse, we should understand that there is something else connected to it, because the word ”not” to start a verse suggests another perspective that counters the one in this verse. This means we have to go back.
In Ephesians 2:8, the Bible says, ”For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”.
Now verse 9 makes sense because in these two verses we understand how we receive our salvation, which is by grace through faith, and how we don’t receive salvation, which is by works.
This should set a bunch of people free, but it sadly doesn’t, because we live in a society where we typically don’t get something for nothing, and it is hard to fathom a free gift that completely wipes our sin away.
Well that is exactly what God gave us through the death of Christ, a free gift, a love offering, that only requires us to believe in Him who died on the cross.
The word ”works” means ”deeds or acts that are required and conformable to the Mosaic Law”.
Where we have it twisted is that we don’t have to do good works for salvation or to please God.
He is already pleased with us, because when He sees the blood of Jesus Christ upon us, He sees Christ. Then we do good works from salvation, because this then is our nature to do good in the world.
In Romans 3:20, the Bible says, ”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.”
Trying then to pick up the law again, falsely believing our salvation can actually give us the ability to keep the whole law, completely nullifies what Christ did on the cross. This is like telling God, ”What Christ did was not enough. I have to do more”.
In Romans 3:27-28, the Bible says, ”Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
If works have nothing to do with salvation, then why do we try to work works to somehow keep our salvation? Could it be that we have to examine ourselves, whether or not we be of the faith?
In Romans 9:11 the Bible says, ”(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)”.
God chose us for salvation, before we could even do right or wrong. Adam’s fall brought sin to us that only Christ could cleanse fully, and He called us to experience this free gift of salvation. We did not choose God on our own. He drew us to Him, so once again, there is nothing we could have done, nor is there anything we can do to receive or keep the salvation we have except have faith the Lord Jesus Christ.
The word ”boast” means ”to vaunt oneself up, to rejoice in oneself, or glory in oneself”.
In 1 Corinthians 1:29-31, the Bible says, ”That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
Works were never a requirement for salvation. God gave us Christ as the atoning sacrifice for sin so that there wouldn’t be any of us able to pat ourselves on the back for being good enough for salvation.
In Titus 3:5, 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”.
Our salvation has nothing to do with what we have done, but only what Christ has done.
Let us get out of God’s way, trying to forge our own path for salvation, because The Way has already been made!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 27, 2024 – 2 Corinthians 10:18 – seeking the approval of the Lord
”For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”
2 Corinthians 10:18
Hi Everyone!
Being humble is a trait we believers should exemplify in our lives.
What do we really have that we can pat ourselves on the backs for?
We couldn’t follow the law, nor could we make up for the sin debt we incurred, so God sent Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for sin once and for all.
Our only condition to receive the gift of salvation is to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, believe that He died on the cross for our sin and receive Him as Lord and Saviour.
The work has already been done for us.
As believers, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us, giving us all power, who was sent by God when Christ ascended to the Father, which is another thing that God has given us.
The blessed Holy Spirit wasn’t given to those who are great on the earth, but the Holy Spirit is given to all who receive the free gift of salvation by faith in the name of Jesus Christ.
Once again, we have nothing to pat ourselves on the back about.
Humility is an understanding that we have no right to glorify ourselves for where we stand in the faith, but we must glorify the Lord for making all of this possible.
Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 10:18, seeking the approval of the Lord.
”For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”
The word ”commendeth” means ”to introduce or present as worthy”.
This is the person who is commended by the Lord’s approval.
The word ”approved” means ”to be tried, proved, and found acceptable, thus received”.
As believers, we can’t live as if we have arrived, because if we do, we are pushing God out of the equation.
This verse begins with the word ”for” so that means that this verse is summing up a previous point. This means we go back.
In 2 Corinthians 10:17, the Bible says, ”But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
Paul is writing the church at Corinth in order for them to take a look at who is really responsible for their growth in the Lord, and that it is the Lord. He is admonishing the church to look to God as the cause of their growth and not anything that they have done.
I read the Bible for an hour or two daily, but that is not the reason I know as much Scripture as I do. I know it because the Holy Spirit keeps teaching me what the Scripture means.
I can’t know it on my own, because 1 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, ”But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
I sadly know people who wear their Scriptural knowledge as a badge of honor and actually look down on people who don’t know, but the only way they know what they know is because the Holy Spirit revealed it to them. The person who commends themselves is the person who is out of touch with reality, because God is responsible.
In Luke 18:11-12, Christ says, ”The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”
This is the person who commends themselves before God. He prays about himself, he turns his nose up at people he believes to be of low estate, and he brags about what he does.
In Luke 18:13-14, Christ says, ”And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Christ tells this parable to express to people that it is not wise to exalt ourselves, especially before God, nor is it good for any of us to act like we are better than anyone else.
The publican who humbled himself walked away esteemed as righteous in the sight of God.
When we exercise humility, there is no room for us to act like we have it all figured out.
In 1 Peter 5:5-6, the Bible says, ”Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”.
God will respond to our humility by lifting us up, and extending His grace to us.
In Proverbs 27:2, the Bible says, ”Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.”
We have nothing to brag on in ourselves. Even if we make it to the pinnacles in the faith, we were brought there by the Lord.
We are only who we are because of the Lord!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 28, 2024 – Psalm 56:3 – trusting in the Lord when we are afraid
”What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
Psalm 56:3
Hi Everyone!
Sometimes in life, we are going to be afraid.
It may come as the result of an enemy that stands in opposition to us or where God is taking us.
It can also come in the form of a bad report, something that shakes us at the core.
No matter what comes to strike fear in our hearts, we have a sure refuge in the Lord and His hedge of protection ensures we will be safe at all times.
We must remain under the covering of the Lord, where no attack from the enemy can consume us.
It is not easy to trust in the Lord when the enemy has us terrified, because fear strips us of hope that things will ever get better, and that we are forever relegated to a state of defeat.
This is why we have to trust in the Lord, if we don’t then we can’t walk in the victory God has provided for us.
Today, we will look at Psalm 56:3, trusting in the Lord when we are afraid.
”What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
The word ”time” implies a season or occasion.
The events of this Psalm mark a time in David’s life when he had every right to be afraid. He was running for his life from King Saul, who knew he was going to be king after him, because God rejected Saul as king.
In 1 Samuel 20:31, the Bible says, ”For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.”
David is a threat to Saul and his family maintaining the kingdom, and Saul wants to kill him. He even threw a javelin at his own son Jonathan for letting David leave! So it is safe to assume that David has a whole kingdom after him at that point.
As if David’s problems couldn’t get worse, he fled to the land of the Philistines, to a town called Gath.
If you are not familiar with why this is a bad place for David to flee, let’s look at 1 Samuel 17:23, where the Bible says, ‘‘And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.”
David killed the giant Goliath, who was from Gath, who was a Philistine, who were the enemies of Israel! So David had essentially left the frying pan and entered into the fire, because the Philistines would love to kill him too.
In 1 Samuel 21:10-13, the Bible says, ”And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.”
David knew he was a sitting duck and also knew the Philistines would likely kill him, so he played like he had completely lost his mind, so they might not see the need to retaliate against him.
It worked because in 1 Samuel 21:15, the Bible says, ”Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?”
The King of Gath not only did not kill David, but he rejected him altogether!
The word ”fear” means ”to be afraid, to be frightened, or to be terrified”. The word ”trust” means ”to hie for refuge”.
The word ”hie” means that in the midst of danger, one instinctively runs toward someone or something”.
So David’s instinct is to run to the Lord when he is afraid.
In Psalm 54:3-5, the Bible says, ”For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.”
When we have fear which David had of a legitimate enemy who was trying to cut him off, we must remember, our God is our helper and our defense. He will fight our battles so we don’t have to.
In Psalm 57:1-3, the Bible says, ”Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.”
The mercy of the Lord will keep us safe when the enemy tries to mount an offensive against us, because we have a covering to take refuge in, under His wings.
We are always covered when we trust in the Lord.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 29, 2024 – Psalm 111:2 – taking pleasure in the mighty hand of the Lord
”The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.”
Psalm 111:2
Hi Everyone!
If I ever need some encouragement, I can always take a stroll back into the archives, where I can recall countless times where the Lord has proven Himself to be faithful.
Some people tell us that is not wise to look back, like we are not supposed to recall the goodness of God?
If we don’t have a view of the goodness of God, then what do we have to draw from today?
Recalling the love of the Lord, His many blessings bestowed upon me, the many times He has delivered me from dangers, including myself, there is a profound record to praise God for, even if He never does anything else.
Beholding the works of the Lord should incite praise and worship within us because it shows a very loving God who actively loves and pursues, His creation and as His children.
Do we meditate on the works of the Lord?
If not, maybe this would be a good place to start.
Today, we will look at Psalm 111:2, taking pleasure in the mighty hand of the Lord.
”The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.”
The word ”works” mean ”actions, product, or workmanship”.
This is a display of what the right hand of God has produced.
Do we notice that this verse says ”the works of the Lord ARE great, not ”were” great?
Some people have the mistaken belief that the works of the Lord that were produced in the early church age aren’t happening today, but that is a lie, because in Hebrews 13:8, the Bible says, ”Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
God has not changed so neither have His works.
In Psalm 92:4-5, the Bible says, ‘‘For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.”
God does what He does so that we can glorify Him, but also to produce an evidenced-base joy within us. God does His works so that we can experience victory in Him. God’s intentions for His children extend way further than our comprehension of His hand.
In John 16:24, Christ says, ”Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
God desires us to experience the blessings that flow from His hand so we can live with limitless joy, He therefore performs His works to ensure that we have every ability to live in complete joy.
In Psalm 139:13-14, the Bible says, ”For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
God performed an amazing work in His design for mankind, but He took it a step further when He secured His good purpose in us from our mother’s womb.
Just take a look into the mirror and see the perfection of the Lord, and see that as you are right now, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. 8 billion people on this earth and there is only one you!
No-one can tell me there is no God.
The word ”sought” means ”frequented, followed, or inquired of”.
We know these terms because we have social media platforms that are grown by followers. A good Tik Tok video can produce millions of followers who take pleasure in the work of our hands. Well, this dynamic should exist with God, far more than any social media platform.
In Psalm 143:4-6, the Bible says, ‘‘Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.”
Sometimes, when we are in a tight spot, we can reflect on the goodness of God, on His mighty hand, on His past deliverance, and it will give us the evidence and the pleasure within us that He is right here with us.
The phrase ”have pleasure” means ”to desire or place value in”.
God displays His mighty hand so that we can put our trust, our desire, and our worship in Him.
In Psalm 119:44-46, the Bible says, ”So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.”
As we dwell in the Word of God, we live in true freedom, which can only be found in the Lord. This will give us the desire to speak about what we take pleasure in, giving our testimony of God’s sovereign hand.
In Psalm 119:93-94, the Bible says, ”I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts.”
From the depth of this desire, we can establish that we are the Lord’s, that He is worthy to be praised. He has brought us back to life.
What an amazing testimony that is, to benefit so greatly from the work of God’s hands!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 30, 2024 – Psalm 111:10 – God the Good starting point for wisdom
”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
Psalm 111:10
Hi Everyone!
We have some brilliant minds in our world now: chief innovators, designers, engineers, and executives that are sending us to new heights in technology.
We have had philosophers from old that whole college curriculums are taught from.
Even in the midst of all of this advancement, the world is becoming more and more Godless, more cruel, and more wicked.
All the intelligence in the world has not contributed to us becoming wiser in any regard, because wisdom only comes from a deep respect for God.
Without the fear of the Lord, wisdom can never be applied to one’s life because the main ingredient, the fear of God, is becoming more and more absent from people. Imagine these amazing thinkers if they also had saving faith relationships with God!
Today, we will look at Psalm 111:10, God the Good starting point for wisdom.
”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
The word ”fear” in this case doesn’t mean ”to be frightened, afraid, or terrified”, but it means ”a deep moral reverence and respect for the Self-Existent God”.
The word ”beginning” means ”the first fruits or the chief part”.
The word ”wisdom” means ”skillfulness, experience, or manifested knowledge”.
Wisdom is found and exhibited in its application of Godly knowledge, because how can one fear the Lord and then not use what He has given us to live the life that we live?
In 2 Peter 1:3, the Bible says, ”According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”.
God has given us the knowledge we have and the road map for how to manifest it as wisdom, so that we as His children can live in His light, and also in moral excellence. We are not wise on our own, but we become wise when deep moral reverence for God is the main ingredient for our lives.
In Deuteronomy 4:5-6, the Bible says, ”Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
Having a deep moral reverence for God means that we position ourselves in obedience, readying ourselves to carry out the Word of God. A person can be super smart but if they decide to disobey God, it doesn’t make them too wise.
God makes sure that if we are taught His Word, and if we make sure we know it, when we walk in it people will see that there is something truly unusual about us.
In 1 Kings 4:34, the Bible says, ”And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.”
When we walk in the Lord’s commandments and live by His wisdom, people are going to want to hear what we have to say, and will position themselves to hear us.
What if we are living in disobedience? Then we have effectively led people astray.
Wise people lead people to the Lord, not away from Him.
The word ”good” refers to things being beneficial or profitable, and it also implies that it falls within its Godly intended purpose.
The word ”understanding” means ”sound insight into God’s moral order for the world”.
The person who receives the Word of God in reverence and obedience receives a clear picture of what should be happening in the world.
The phrase ”do his commandments” means ”to put God’s Word into practice”.
In Job 28:28, the Bible says, ”And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
When we fear the Lord, we have no desire to walk in wickedness, nor do we desire to be in the presence of it. When we are free of wickedness, we can clearly see the will of God in this world.
In Proverbs 1:7, the Bible says, ”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
The person who is wise will always be receptive to the Word of God, even when it doesn’t line up with their ideas.
In Proverbs 3:3-4, the Bible says, ”Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”
Truth is the Word of God, and when we are obedient to truth, we will be met with the grace of God and the ability to show this world the wisdom that can only come from God.
When we walk in the Lord’s wisdom, we position ourselves to be a testimony that brings glory to God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
May 31, 2024 – Acts 4:13 – becoming an unexpected resource of biblical truth by the Holy Spirit
”Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
Acts 4:13
Hi Everyone!
I am currently in Trinity International University’s Biblical Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program here at Fox Lake Correctional Institution.
In this program I am learning a lot about the Bible and that is a beautiful thing, because I am being taught a deeper knowledge of scriptural and historical context.
The goal of having this degree is to ultimately teach and preach the Word of God, but I am actually doing that right now, and have been doing it for years.
The Holy Sprit has been teaching me sound truth and doctrine since I was saved, and He continued to teach me new things about the Word of God.
Bible college is a nice addition, but even if I didn’t have it, I have always had the Holy Spirit unlocking doors of knowledge to me in ways that no college curriculum can produce.
College means nothing without the Holy Spirit’s teaching us.
Today, we are going to look at Acts 4:13, becoming an unexpected resource of biblical truth by the Holy Spirit.
”Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
Acts 4 is a continuation of a dialogue that is taking place from Acts 3, when Peter, by the name of Jesus Christ, healed the lame man at the gate called Beautiful.
People, beholding the healing of this lame man who is now leaping and praising God, are confounded and want to know how this happened.
Peter preaches Jesus Christ to them causing many of them to believe.
The Sadducees, who don’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, gather a team together to oppose the preaching of Peter. Now, Peter gets to preach to the team of people who came together against him, because they want to know how the lame man was healed.
In Acts 4:7, the Bible says, ”And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”
Peter doesn’t pat himself on the back, but in Acts 4:8-9, 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”.
The Holy Ghost fills Peter and he then preaches Jesus Christ to them in such a clarity and truth that it leads us to see them marvelling at the education level of people who were never formally taught.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we have to go to college to learn the Bible, because in John 14:26, Christ says,
”But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Peter is led by the Holy Spirit and this verse spoken by Christ has been fulfilled in Peter after Christ’s death. The Holy Spirit is solely responsible for what Peter knew, for what I know, and for what to know as well.
The word ”boldness” means ”frankness or bluntness”.
When the Holy Spirit speaks, the message is direct and Peter spoke with confidence because he knew what he spoke was the truth.
In John 17:17, Christ prays, ”Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Peter has been set apart for a Godly purpose and it is evident in his speech.
The word ”perceived” means ”to seize with the mind or to comprehend”.
The word ”unlearned” means ”unlettered or illiterate”.
So none of the disciples were ”formally taught”, and some of them may have been unable to read at all! Peter was a fisherman, so it is likely that he couldn’t read. None of the disciples were taught in the synagogue, but received their teaching from Jesus Christ Himself, who is God robed in flesh.
In Matthew 11:25, the Bible says, ”At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
God chose unlearned men for a purpose, so that the power of God could be revealed, not by knowledge, but by the Holy Spirit.
The word ”marvelled” means ”to be astonished, to be filled with wonder or admiration”.
The phrase ”took knowledge” means ”to recognize or acknowledge”.
All roads point to Christ because He is the reason that Peter knows what he knows.
In John 7:15-16, the Bible says, ”And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.’‘
They said the same thing about Christ, that He was unlearned! They told God that He wasn’t taught! When we speak as the Holy Spirit gives us utterance, people are going to be shocked and will want to know how we know what we know.
Be ready to point to Christ!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 1, 2024 to Jun 21, 2024 The Fearlessness of Faith – see DAILY DEVOTIONS – 2021 2ND QUARTER
Jun 22, 2024 – 2 Corinthians 4:7 – finding treasure in regular places
”But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7
Hi Everyone!
As human beings, we are not powerful in ourselves.
We live in a society of self-professed ”self-made successes”, but they don’t appreciate the fact that all of God’s creation has being given common grace: the abilities, talents, and strengths that allow us to do what we do best.
Believers and unbelievers have this common grace, but this doesn’t give us the right to pat ourselves on the back.
It is because of God’s provision that there is anything in us that can be construed as greatness.
As believers, we have this excellency in us, but it is not merited from human ability, but it is the product of the light and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that lives in us.
We are but mere shells without the Holy Spirit in us, and without this amazing knowledge, we will never be able to tap into our full potential.
Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 4:7, finding treasure in regular places.
”But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
The word ”treasure” means ”a deposit, or wealth”.
When we look at the phrase ”But we have this treasure”, it expresses that an explanation of what the treasure is will be found in a previous verse. This means we have to go back to get the full context.
In 2 Corinthians 4:6, the Bible says, ”For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
God has shined His light in our hearts, we can behold His glory through Jesus Christ, and experience the fullness of the gospel within us. Do we see the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be treasure? How much do we value the gospel?
In Luke 12:32-34, Christ says, ”Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
God wants us to change our values now that we have received the gospel of Jesus Christ, to turn our minds on the treasure that truly counts, treasure that will last forever, and treasure no one can steal away from us.
This world is money-centred, and there is every ”get-rich-quick scheme” imaginable. People are more concerned with getting rich than they are with Godliness.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1, the Bible says, ‘‘For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
There is more to life that what is happening outside of our bodies. When this life is over, will the riches we amassed matter, or will the impact we’ve made for the gospel matter the most?
We have the kingdom of God inside us, yet we place more value in what the kingdom outside us is providing.
The phrase ”earthen vessels means ”frail apparatuses”. An earthen vessel is similar to a clay jar, that even if broken, the treasure inside it isn’t broken. The old adage ”It’s what is on the inside that counts” applies totally here, because we are mere houses for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. The minute we think we are anything more, we set ourselves up for a rude awakening.
The word ”power” means ”a miraculous force”, and this is where we get the word dynamite from. This is a power that is undeniable that causes an affect in people who are near it.
The word ”excellency” should be seen as a power that surpasses anything we could imagine. People should see God at work in us and it not be ordinary, because the road needs to point back to God as the cause.
In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, the Bible says, ‘‘And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
Paul was only able to teach the way he did because of the power that was at work in Him. Paul also attributed the Lord as being the cause behind his abilities. As earthen vessels, we possess the power of God in something that is frail in and of itself.
In 1 Corinthians 1:27, the Bible says, ‘‘But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.’‘
If this verse is true, which it is, then God purposely chose us in our low estate, so that we can rest in His power, and so that there would be no doubt as to Who is behind our abilities.
Does God get the glory for who we are or do we somehow drink our own Kool-aid and think that we are something greater than we are?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 23, 2024 – 2 Corinthians 4:1 – a ministry that we will persevere in
”Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not”
2 Corinthians 4:1
Hi Everyone!
Sometimes, our road in the faith gets difficult.
In the midst of difficulty, there is pressure that can either build us or break us.
I have been a person who used to fold in the face of trial and treat that as an excuse to give up. This is what the enemy loves to see, someone giving up on the faith before they really get the chance to build a solid foundation in it.
The enemy loves to run us away from our calling and if he can find a way to make us afraid to press forward, then he has effectively done his job.
We have received the power from God to have an amazing impact for the kingdom of God, and in that power lies the strength to persevere no matter the obstacles or circumstances.
We have been given something so precious that needs to be shared and if it wasn’t important, then why do I/we feel the resistance when trying to carry it out.
Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 4:1, a ministry that we will persevere in.
”Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not”.
When we see the word ”therefore at the beginning at a verse or chapter, it means that it is summing up a point that was previously made.
We have to see what the ”therefore” is there for.
In 1 Corinthians 3, it is speaking of the new ministry we have received in Christ, a ministry that fulfills the law. This is evidenced in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3, where the Bible says, ”Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
Instead of having the law written on stone like it was in Old Testament times, we have the law of the Lord written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This ministry was given through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, where our faith in Him affords us the gift of salvation and eternal life.
In 2 Corinthians 3:6, the Bible says, ”Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
In receiving this new ministry, God has also given us the power and ability to share this ministry with others so that they may partake in this ministry with us.
Making us ”able ministers” means that we are thoroughly equipped to perform what God is giving us to do. This is what the ”therefore” is there for.
The word ”ministry” means ”attendance as a servant, aid, and service”.
The phrase ”received mercy” implies that we have obtained the compassion of God through Christ, or through the salvation of Christ.
In Luke 15:20, Christ says, ”And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
When the Father has compassion upon us, he doesn’t see our sin over His love. Despite the prodigal son’s sin, God saw him making his way home, and met him right where he was and received him as a son!
In Luke 7:13-15, the Bible says, ”And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”
When God has compassion upon us, the dead are brought back to life, spiritually and physically. Things change when God’s compassion is upon us, but we will never be the same again when we experience it.
In 1 Corinthians 7:25, the Bible says, ‘‘Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.”
We can count on God’s compassion and we have enough instances in our lives that point to this as truth that we can share with others.
The word ”faint” means ”to become weak in the face of trial, or to lose one’s courage”.
In Proverbs 24:10, the Bible says, ‘‘If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.’‘
The reason our strength is small is because we try to exercise our own strength instead of the strength that God freely gives.
In 1 Timothy 1:12, the Bible says, ”And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.”
When God enables us to perform something that He has called us to do, we have everything in us to accomplish what he is calling us to do, and also the strength we need to overcome the trials that are sure to follow.
When we are walking in this new ministry, armed with God’s strength, we have everything we need to persevere victoriously.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 24, 2024 – John 14:21 – a manifesting God in the presence of love and obedience from us
”He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
John 14:21
Hi Everyone!
Many believers desire God to reveal Himself to them, and I am no different from them.
We have a love relationship with our heavenly Father, and the beauty of this relationship is communication.
We speak to Him in prayer, and we read His Word to understand His will for our lives.
God does another beautiful thing; He allows His Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts and minds.
What many of us desire to experience from God, is that ”right now communication” that tells us exactly what to do in that immediate moment.
The first question is are we obeying the Word of God? The second question is are we then ignoring the Word of God when the Holy Spirit speaks?
I currently am not feeling well, though I prayed to receive healing from God. At church yesterday, the Holy Spirit told me to tell a brother ”Receive your healing, Brother”.
So after a split second of reluctance about asking God, ”What about my healing?”, I obeyed and gave Him what the Holy Spirit told me. God desires to reveal Himself to us, but we have to be obedient.
Today, we will look at John 14:21, a manifesting God in the presence of love and obedience from us.
”He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
The word ”commandments” mean ”a precept of an authoritative prescription”.
We know the word ”prescription” in the manner of medication ordered from a doctor for a condition that we suffer from. If we take the prescription as ordered by the doctor, then our condition will be under control. If we don’t follow the prescription, then the condition won’t go away.
The word ”keepeth” means ”to obey, guard, keep an eye on, to fulfill, or to prevent escape”.
How vigilant are we to obeying the Word of God?
In Psalm 119:11-12, the Bible says, ”Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.”
Do we value the Word of God so much that we hide it in our hearts, having a desire to obey God’s Word under all circumstances?
If we don’t value God’s Word, which is essential to Him, then does it make any sense to seek His presence?
He gives us an authoritative prescription, just like He put on my heart to speak that word of healing over that brother at church, but am I too busy wanting God’s presence that I almost completely missed that He just spoke to my heart?
The word ”love” is as referring to superiors and including the idea of duty, respect, veneration, meaning to love and serve with fidelity.
Are we faithful to the Word of God? Do we hear God’s Word with the intention to obey every word?
In John 3:16, Christ says, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
What if Christ decided to disobey the Word of God spoken here? There would be no atoning sacrifice, we wouldn’t be saved, and the Church would be without the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us. It is always much bigger than us.
In John 14:14-17, Christ says, ‘‘If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
In our love for God, we should obey what He says, because He has the authoritative prescription that will change our lives forever. We have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us, dwelling with us forever.
Wait a minute, we sit here and ask to experience the presence of God, when we have it inside of us! We are asking for something that we possess already, but we think that because we don’t feel His presence, He is not there. He is always there!
The word ”manifest” means ”to appear or shew”.
In John 12:26, Christ says, ”If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.’‘
God doesn’t discriminate. If we obey God’s Word, we are operating in His love, and wherever God’s love is, He is. God is ready to do His part, but are we doing ours?
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.”
Our obedience bears witness to our love of God and our role as followers of Christ. If God isn’t answering us, then could it be that we turned our receivers off when it was time to hear Him?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 25, 2024 – Acts 5:41 – rejoicing in the midst of suffering
”And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
Acts 5:41
Hi Everyone!
God has a plan for our lives, far above anything we could imagine.
I am sitting in prison, getting better from being sick, having a day yesterday where I had to mediate multiple situations before they turned into full on fights.
We have been the target of racism at a previous prison because of our interracial marriage. I have been placed in the hole for things I had nothing to do with, nor did I even know about it in the first place.
I have been insulted and even challenged to fights by fellow inmates now that I walk in my salvation, and I suffered the scrutiny of my peers when I walked away from my gang affiliation.
This isn’t a sob story of suffering, but I say this to express that as believers, we are going to suffer things, and sometimes we are going to suffer just for being a believer.
What is our attitude about the sufferings that we encounter?
Today, we will look at Acts 5:41, rejoicing in the midst of suffering.
”And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
The word ”council” typically would refer to the Jewish Sanhedrin or a subordinate council. This is typically a council of religious leaders who will impose orders, place people in prison, or have them beaten, especially believers.
They didn’t believe in The Way and stood in opposition against it.
This passage in Acts 5 begins with the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back part of the money donated to the Church, and thus were struck dead. Acts 5 then takes us through the miraculous power that the apostles walked in, and the healing that came to sick folks.
Of course, the word spread about this and in Acts 5:17-18, the Bible says, ”Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”
The apostles were locked up for doing what the Holy Spirit gave them power to do, and what Christ commanded them to do.
The last thing that is supposed to happen to us is enduring some suffering for actually doing the right thing.
Right? Well, not exactly.
The angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and ushered them out. You would have thought they would have escaped, but no, they were led by the angel to the temple where they taught the Word of God!
The council ordered them brought back before them, and after speaking with them, and in Acts 5:38-40, the Bible says, ‘‘And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 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.”
The council were expressing their confusion at how these common people could be working the works of God, all while professing Christ. So ultimately in fear of God, the apostles were only beaten for teaching the Word of God, and then let go.
The word ”rejoicing” means ”to be cheerful, happy, or well-off”.
This is still the opposite way we would feel after suffering, especially when doing the right thing.
They must have be looking beyond the suffering to “someone greater”.
The phrase ”counted worthy” means ”to deem entirely deserving”.
The phrase ”suffer shame” means ”to render infamous, to contemn or maltreat”.
In Matthew 5:11-12, Christ teaches, ”Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
We don’t feel blessed when we suffer, but we will be rewarded in heaven far greater than we know.
In Romans 5:2-4, the Bible says, ”By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope”.
Who would have thought the sufferings we encounter would teach us things here on earth as well?
Who knew that working through the process of trials can invest us with hope?
In Romans 8:18, the Bible says, ”For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
When we exercise a Godly perspective, even in the face of trials, we can see beyond the suffering.
We’ll see that this is nothing compared to the glory God has in store for us.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 26, 2024 – Proverbs 28:9 – a prayer that is abominable to God
”He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”
Proverbs 28:9
Hi Everyone!
We pray to God and we have an expectancy that God is going to hear our prayers.
We declare the goodness of God and we boldly proclaim His faithfulness, but then our prayer doesn’t get answered. Period.
We then blame God for not hearing us, and begin to question if God answers prayers at all, but we have never looked at what we could be doing that would nullify the very prayer that we utter.
Are we still living in sin? Are we disregarding a very specific instruction the Holy Spirit placed on our hearts?
Are we speaking against the thing that we want to see happen?
I have been guilty of all of these things.
Because in my sin nature there is a natural inclination to plan out how I will work out the event when my prayers don’t work, yes, quick to take matters into my own hands.
I can’t disobey God and expect Him to give what I ask for.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 28:9, a prayer that is abominable to God.
”He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”
The phrase ”turneth away” means ”to depart from, to revolt, or to withdraw from”.
The phrase ”hearing the law” means ”to listen attentively to the precepts or statutes of God with implications of obedience, to heed God’s word.
In Proverbs 13:14, the Bible says, ‘‘The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.’‘
The value we place on the Word of God will often determine how closely we obey it.
If we don’t believe that the Word of God has the best remedy available to us to live a Godly life, then we will look over the Word like it carries no value, and we will believe our way is better.
In Isaiah 55:7-8, the Bible says, ‘‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
Most people pray to God, but are unwilling to forsake their own way, which is disobeying the clear command of God.
We must position ourselves in obedience before God before we can expect Him to turn His ear to our prayers.
In Matthew 3:1-2, the Bible says, ”In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Repentance is turning away from our sinfulness, the same sinfulness that we have been delivered from, and then turning towards God, moving in the direction He desires for us.
Too many of us are still living with a turned back wondering why God isn’t hearing us, but why should God change a mind that is already made up?
In Proverbs 3:5-6, the Bible says, ”Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
We need to seek what God desires, and that requires us to let go of our ways and seek Him in all of His ways.
The word ”prayer” means ”intercession or supplication to God”.
The word ”abomination” means ”disgusting or abhorrent”.
The last thing I want is my prayers to be like rancid, spoiled food that we ask God to eat. Some spoiled food makes even us want to vomit before we get too close to it!
In John 9:30-31, the Bible says, ‘‘The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
The man born blind knew that God did not hear sinners, meaning that He didn’t move on the sinful desires of mankind. God wants the lifestyle we live, and the heart we have, to line up with His Word.
In Psalm 66:17-19, the Bible says, ”I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.”
We can’t live the way we want to live as believers and then expect God to respond to our prayers. We need to be people who live according to God’s standard, so that our prayers will be received well by Him, and then we will get the things that we ask for.
In Proverbs 15:8-9, the Bible says, ”The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.”
God doesn’t desire our offerings when they are coveted in sin, but He truly delights in our prayers when we are walking according to His Word.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 27, 2024 – Proverbs 30:6 – keeping God’s truth as it is
”Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
Proverbs 30:6
Hi Everyone!
We live in a world that wants their wishes met.
People will go from church building to church building looking for preaching that fulfills their desires, even if they are wrong.
We have a rising number of pastors who are preaching blanket blessing messages, promising to make everyone in the church rich, distorting the word of God, causing people to cry and praise God as if their answer just came.
The following week, the same thing happens, and before they know it, they have propped themselves up on a lie for months, even years.
We have the responsibility of sharing and receiving the Word of God in truth, and when we add words to God’s Word that don’t line completely up with the truth in Scripture, we have effectively made it a lie.
It is time we stop hearing what we want to hear and we start hearing the Word of God as written.
Today, we will be looking at Proverbs 30:6, keeping God’s truth as it is.
”Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
The word ”add” means ”to augment”.
When we augment something, we take it and make adjustments to it in order to make it more perfect, more functional, or more relevant.
How many people get plastic surgery augmentation and it doesn’t improve them, but in fact they are worse off?
Immediately, this is an insult to some people, but doesn’t it insult God more to have people augmenting His perfect Word for their own selfish reasons?
The word ”words” refers to the commandments, decrees, or messages that God shares with His creation, especially His children.
In Deuteronomy 4:1-2, the Bible says, ‘‘Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Moses is speaking to Israel, imploring them to obey the Word of God before they go in to take the promised land.
In order for them to follow the Word of God as God commands, they cannot cut from it or add to it to make it fit them better. Nor can we.
We have to prepare ourselves in obedience to follow God’s Word whether we like it or not.
A couple of days ago, God revealed four verses to me that I have been looking closely at. These verses caused me to take a real hard look at the husband I am being to my wife, and in it, I see that corrections have to be made, but not to God’s Word. The corrections need to be made to me!
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says, ”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
God wrote what He wrote for a reason, and when we take a hacksaw to His Word to cut out the parts that make us uncomfortable, the parts we don’t want, then we make the Word of God ineffective.
The Word is supposed to teach, correct, rebuke and train us in order to equip us for God’s work. If we take parts out, that completely undermines God’s intention for His Word.
I could make excuses to explain why I think I shouldn’t have to follow the Word, essentially cutting the hard parts out, but if I am to walk in truth, then I have to accept the Word as truth.
The word ”reprove” means ”to argue against, to rebuke, to dispute against, or to correct”.
The word ”liar” means ”deceiver”.
In Deuteronomy 12:31-32, the Bible says, ‘‘Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
There is a world out there completely living their own way, completely in opposition to the Word of God.
God gives us His Word to protect us against the world’s devices, and to safeguard us from going astray.
In Revelation 22:18-19, the Bible says, ‘‘For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
There are plagues in store for the people who add to His Word, which means that God is serious about how His Word is received, shared, and taught. When will we value God’s Word the same way?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 28, 2024 – Isaiah 43:18 – forsaking the old things in our minds and hearts
”Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”
Isaiah 43:18
H Everyone!
We all have a past that God’s salvation has delivered us from.
We were lost in our past lives, with a death sentence hanging over our heads, but God changed it all, causing an exodus from our former lives into a life that is simply amazing.
Here’s where many of us have major problems, because we are so used to how things used to be that the conversion process into this new thing doesn’t begin to seem as good as it truly is.
We yearn for the past things we have built comfort in, without fully understanding that those things were the reason we needed deliverance in the first place.
God has done something new in our lives, and we can’t fully enjoy what He is doing now in our lives when our minds remain on how things used to be.
We must keep our minds trained on the newness in our lives, the new decisions we make for the Lord, and the new way we serve the Lord.
Today, we will look at Isaiah 43:18, forsaking the old things in our minds and hearts.
”Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”
The word ”remember” means ”the process of mentioning or recalling, creating a memorial or sign that marks an event, or bring to memory or attention”.
These are all intentional acts by us to keep something present with us.
This means we are trying not to forget, which is the opposite of what God wants from us.
In Exodus 14:12, the Bible says, ‘‘Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”
Usually when we experience some hardship or trouble our minds try to shift to the default setting of our past. The Israelites were being pursued by the Egyptians and their instinct was to wish to return back to slavery!
In Exodus 16:2-3, the Bible says, ”And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
They forgot that they had cried out to God because of how horrible the slavery was, but then in the wilderness it became their constant reference point in the new hardship.
In a similar context to this passage later in Isaiah 43 is a word of prophecy that they will be exiled, and later restored. God is so amazing, because He even lets them know who is going to exile them, and where they will go!
In Isaiah 43:14, the Bible says, ”Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.”
God knows exactly what He is doing, and just in case people think that God has foul intention for people, Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, ”For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
God not only has great intentions for the people of Judah, but He also is trying to bring them into a heart of active pursuit of God, where He will hear them when they call.
He is trying to do the same for us too!
“… neither consider the things of old.”
The word ”consider” means ”to distinguish, discern, or separate mentally”.
This means, that when we consider it in our minds so much, we are essentially weighing the pros and cons of our salvation and being delivered! Ouch!
In Jeremiah 16:14-15, the Bible says, ”Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.”
Israel had a reference point of a previous deliverance from Egypt, but God doesn’t want them to consider how they were delivered before, because God is not a ”one trick pony”, and will certainly deliver them in a new way.
This is the main way God is trying to keep me from trying to figure out the ”how” part of my eventual release from prison. He does not want me to look to Him to deliver me the way I have seen Him deliver brothers from prison before.
If my mind is on how I think it will happen, then I can’t receive what God is going to do in my life right now.
Could that be the same for all of us? What God has for us is ahead of us, not behind us!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 29, 2024 – Isaiah 43:13 – no one can escape the hand of the Lord
”Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?”
Isaiah 43:13
Hi Everyone!
God is the decider of what happens to us, not our circumstances.
Too many times, we vaunt our circumstances up above the Word of God like He is incapable of delivering us from what mounts up against us.
We hold our sicknesses to our chest, too afraid or disbelieving to entrust our healing to God.
We stare at mountains we are too afraid to speak to and we then hide instead of placing our confidence in the Word of God.
We have a amazing God who loves us exceedingly, and who will always be there for us any time we need Him.
When God speaks, it is settled, and nothing can reverse what He says. If He says we are delivered, then no one can overthrow His Word.
If he says we have to go into exile, then no one can overturn His judgment.
Whatever God decrees will stand against anything that opposes His Word, because in Him, all power lies.
Today, we will look at Isaiah 43:13, no one can escape the hand of the Lord.
”Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?”
The word ”day” refers to time, so in this first line of His Scripture God is establishing Himself as being present before time began.
So that makes Him first.
In Genesis 1:1, the Bible says, ”In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
This first verse of the Bible satisfies this truth, because before we could form the concept of time, God was present, creating the heavens and earth.
In Genesis 1:14-15, the Bible says, ‘‘And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.”
This further satisfies the truth of the first line in Isaiah 43:13, because this shows when God created the things that allow us to measure time.
Let’s look at this from another perspective.
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.”
God not only created the heavens and earth, but He also created the powers that would rule. No power exceeds His authority. The beauty about this passage in Colossians is that it is talking about Christ, who is before all things.
Christ didn’t just appear in the New Testament. He always was!
In Psalm 90:2, the Bible says, ”Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
I really want to place emphasis on the fact that God was here before the world existed, because too many of us give more power to the things God created, and give authority to created things and institutions over God who was present before all of this stuff existed.
” ,,,and there is none that can deliver out of my hand:”
The word ”deliver” means ”to rescue or save, implying that the power of one entity has overcome the power of another”.
The word ”hand” means ”power, means, or direction”.
When God decrees something, it is the final word. Jeremiah 29:8-9, the Bible says, ”For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.”
When the Word went out that Judah was going to be exiled in Babylon, there was a false prophet giving his own timetable of the exile, that the yoke of Babylon would be broken in two years.
Hananiah spoke this false prophecy, in Jeremiah 28:2-3, the Bible says, ‘‘Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon”.
Jeremiah, through the power of God, spoke against it, warning the people to not listen.
In Jeremiah 29:10, the Bible says, ‘‘For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.”
God spoke a word that said that they would not only be exiled, but the exile would last 70 years. He said He would cause them to be released then.
When God speaks, whether it be a word that exiles us or a word that sets us free, no one can oppose the Word that He spoke. His Word reigns!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jun 30, 2024 – Isaiah 43:25 – a forgiving God blotting our sins out forever
”I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
Isaiah 43:25
H Everyone!
I remember a relative telling me over twenty years ago that I would never change, that I would always be a disappointment to our family, and in his eyes I wasn’t a part of the family.
Those words stung like a hot poker, but those words were a lie spoken by someone who was incapable of cleansing me of my sin, someone who did not possess the power of redemption.
The truth is, people who are on the outside are going to hear comments like these those closest to us, and sadly, this will also come from others who also attend church.
What do we do when someone gives us a predication of whether or not we can change?
Ignore them, because God is the only Person who can ever stunt our spiritual growth, and He is the only person who can fully cleanse us of our sin.
Today, we will look at Isaiah 43:25, a forgiving God blotting our sins out forever.
”I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
The phrase ”blotteth out” means ”to erase, wipe out, or destroy”.
The word ”transgressions” means ”revolt, rebellion, or sin against God”.
It isn’t one sin, but a lifestyle of sin that sorely displeases God.
The people of Judah committed sin so outrageous that God was left with no choice but to cause them to be exiled to Babylon, but He already set a plan in place for them to be restored back into their homeland.
Before He brought them back, He desired that their hearts and minds be restored. Despite how society handles our sin, God desires to give us a clean slate where we can build anew in Him.
In Isaiah 44:21-22, the Bible says, ”Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”
God wants us to remember what we were created to be, despite the choices we make in our lives.
This is key because God does not forget about us.
He knows who we are under all of the mess we have piled on top of our true identity. God desires to redeem us while the world wants to bury us and forget about us forever.
The phrase ”for mine own sake” means that God forgives sin for His own purpose.
It is not because we are great people, but because He truly is in love with us.
In Isaiah 48:8-10, the Bible says, ”Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
Society loves to place labels upon us, to box us in and nullify the potential that God has blessed us with.
While the world judged me, God was refining me. While my family told me I would be nothing but a failure, God has forgiven me, restored me, and has set me free from the sin that used to completely control me.
God did it, not me, not them, and definitely not my leaning on the Word.
It changes everything to really realize that God desires us to change our lives and come to Him for redemption.
In Jeremiah 50:19-20, the Bible says, ”And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.”
All while the world judges us for our sin, God is working out our restoration. I know this firsthand, because God changed my heart and mind within the shadows of prison, and make me to look nothing like what I have been through.
People, thank God, don’t believe that I used to be a gang member, brawler, murderer, and criminal,!
The word ”remember” means ”to mark as to recognize, or to mention”.
In Isaiah 1:18-20, the Bible says, ‘‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”
God desires to wipe us clean is such a way that we are completely new. God desires to make us fit to enjoy His kingdom fully, without having to worry about negative consequences befalling us due to our continued sin.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
