Daily Bread_September 9, 2014

Title: Have You Responded to This Loving Invitation?

Text:

Mark 1:14-15 (ESV)
¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Mark 1:16-20 (ESV)
¹⁶ Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Observation:

Jesus came as a servant. I love the Gospel of Mark because it is a book of action. You can see that at the beginning, and throughout the book. Notice the word "immediately".

Mark 1:12 (ESV)
The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

Mark 1:18 (ESV)
And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Today's focal passage highlights the work of Jesus in choosing his disciples. Think about it. Jesus is still calling today people to follow Him, and be His disciples.

These first disciples were not perfect people. They had their faults and failures. Some of them even fell down. However, the key to their success is that they didn't stay down; they didn't quit, except for Judas. Be a Peter not a Judas.

Jesus is still calling people to follow Him. What is your response? Are you willing to repent, and immediately follow Him?

2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)
For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

"Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!"

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/461

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I gladly identify myself as a Christ follower. Father, I am so grateful for the work of Jesus in calling, leading, and guiding His followers through the steep and rugged paths we encounter in our journey through this world.

Father God, I am so glad that Jesus is a leader in whom I will never be disappointed because Jesus can do anything but fail. Lord Jesus, I thank you that you specialize in lifting up those who falter, fail, and fall. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_September 8, 2014

 Title: Why We Need and Should Listen to God's Watchmen?

Text:

Ezekiel 22:30 (ESV)
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

Observation:

The cry for help of this verse is not limited to the people of Ezekiel's day; it speaks to the need of our day also. It is amazing how much human nature seems to have common needs in every generation.

I am certain that most of you would agree that there is an abundance of evil in our world today. However, I am afraid that the verdict would be that intercessors are lacking today.

Why is it so hard to find people who will stand in the gap to stop evil, and prevent divine judgment? Think about the task of the watchman. Why are God's people so slow to hear?

Ezekiel 33:1-6 (ESV)
¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ² "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, ³ and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴ then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. ⁵ He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.

It takes conviction, courage, commitment, and compassion for people to stand in the gap. Each of us can be an intercessor and watchmen for those that God places on our heart. We can us our lips sometimes, but we can use our lives all the time.

Are you willing to blow the trumpet? Are you willing hear the sound of the trumpet, and heed the warning?

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that You would stay Your hand of divine judgment upon the evil in this world for just awhile longer. Father, we need an abundance of grace and mercy. Father, I ask this not for our glory, but for Your glory. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_September 5, 2014

Title: How You Can Be A Change Agent?

Text:

1 John 3:10-15 (ESV)
¹⁰ By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. ¹¹ For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. ¹² We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. ¹³ Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. ¹⁵ Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Observation:

Are you a lover or a murderer? Think about this passage.

1 John 3:14-15 (ESV)
¹⁴ We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. ¹⁵ Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

One of the tests that you have eternal life is that you love the brothers, which means fellow believers; your brothers and sisters in Christ.

We cannot avoid this central message of the gospel.

John 13:35 (ESV)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Be love to someone today. Do something that shows them that you are a child of God, and that you love them with the love of the Lord. You have the power within to change others; do it for the glory of God, and a witness to the world.

Romans 5:5 (NLT)
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so thankful that You have poured out Your love into the hearts of Your dear children. Father, I pray that we will be willing to be love to fellow believers as a demonstration to a watching world that we are children of God. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

John 13:35 (ESV)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

 

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_September 4, 2014

Title: Why All Prayers Are Not Effective

Text:

Luke 18:11-12 (ESV)
¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'

Observation:

Today I have prayer on my mind so I go to the gospel of Luke that speaks often about prayer to inform my burden for praying.  O how my heart yearns to pray effectively during these needy times.

Some texts say that he prayed with himself. In either case, the Pharisee reveals the contents of his heart. The five "I's" in his prayer reveals his self-absorption.

Luke 18:11-12 (AMP)
¹¹ The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men—extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers—or even like this tax collector here. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain.

The Pharisee fits the description that Jesus pointed out before he began teaching this parable. Jesus had already looked into his heart, and found him to be lacking.

Luke 18:9 (HCSB)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:

The prayer of the Pharisee will not find a sympathetic ear in the throne room of heaven. The arrogance of the Pharisee revel the uncleanness of his heart. If you are blind to your own sins, how can you see and judge the sins of others?  A humble heart will help you to see yourself as Jesus sees you.

Prayer:

Father, help us to open our hearts and receive Jesus gift of salvation graciously, and thank Him with gratitude. Father, help us to never forget that the only means by which we have access to Your throne room in prayer is because of what Jesus did for us.  In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

James 5:16 (ESV)
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_September 3, 2014

Title: 3 Challenges of the Pastor

Text:

Ezekiel 2:7 (KJV)
And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

Observation:

The priority responsibility of the pastor is to preach the Word of God. Notice what Ezekiel was charged to do, "And thou shalt speak my words unto them".

The Apostles saw this as their primary responsibility:

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The second challenge is that the pastor is to preach the Word regardless of how the people receive it.

"Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear".

The Apostle Paul encouraged his mentee in this way:

2 Timothy 4:2 (HCSB)
Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

The third challenge is that preaching the Word may not make you popular. However, faithfully preaching the Word is what the Lord called you to do.

The people may not like your message, "For they are a most rebellious people".

2 Timothy 2:15 (HCSB)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

When you speak to people, be sure what you say is from the Lord; you are responsible for saying no more or less than what the Lord has said in His Word, and by His Spirit.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I thank You for those You have called to proclaim Your Word. Father, give them all that they need to fulfill their calling; the faith to endure to the end. Father, my cry to You is similar to the cry of the Psalmist.

Psalm 119:149a (NKJV)
Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lord. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_September 2, 2014

Title: The Kind of People You Should Not Follow

Text:

Ezekiel 13:22 (KJV)
Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

Observation:

In every age the people of God need to be aware of the false prophets. We can learn something of the intention and the influence of false prophets by the word that the Lord gave to Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 13:1-2 (KJV)
¹ And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ² Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord;

The danger and the damage of false prophets are described in two ways:

1.       They make the hearts of God's people sad by their lies.

2.       They strengthened the hands of the wicked by their lies.

Beware of the one who preaches a gospel that discourages the righteous, and encourages the wicked. Everything they say the Lord says is not the truth. Examine the Bible for yourself. This type of preacher does not have a bright future.

Ezekiel 13:8 (KJV)
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 13:23 (KJV)
Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that You would deliver Your people today who are under the influence of false prophets. Father, help us to be like the people of Berea. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Acts 17:11 (NLT)
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_August 29, 2014

Title: Do You Want to Stay Where You Are?

Text:

1 John 2:15-17 (ESV)
¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Observation:

Even a casual observer would have to agree that there is a vast gulf that exists between God and the world. This world system is anti-God.

What is truth and what is error? What is from the Father, and what is from the world? Yesterday the topic was: Do You Know the Truth?

John 8:32 (ESV)
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Seeing our condition, and how sin had marred the plan; God provided a way of redemption. This is how much God loves you and me.

John 3:16-18 (ESV)
¹⁶ "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 1:12-13 (ESV)
¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that You have provided a way of escape from the world; that system that is anti-God. Father, I thank You for the gift of eternal life. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

John 5:24 (ESV)
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Lyrics: The Savior is Waiting – Ralph Carmichael

The Savior is waiting to enter your heart
Why don't you let Him come in?
There's nothing in this world to keep you apart
What is your answer to Him?
Chorus:
Time after time
He has waited before
And now He is waiting again
To see if you are willing
To open the door
Oh, how He wants to come in.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/