Daily Bread_September 18, 2014

Title: 3 Things You Can Be Sure of In An Uncertain World

Text:

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Observation:

As I read the Bible and history I realize that the world always has and always will be a place of trouble, problems, and struggles.

However, in the midst of all of the difficulties and dangers comes a way of escape; there is a deliverer. The promises in the text for today were for Israel in their time of need. However, it is illustrative of what God does for His redeemed people of every age.

In the times that we live, God's people can be sure of these 3 things:

1.     God's Presence

2 Corinthians 5:5 (ESV)
He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Romans 8:16 (ESV)
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

2.     God's Power

Luke 1:37 (ESV)
For nothing will be impossible with God."

3.     God's Promises

John 10:28-29 (ESV)
²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

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.

Here is a word from God to His precious children; hear what your Father says, "I will be with you". Don't ever let go of God's unchanging hand. Give your whole heart to God, and He will never let you go.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful that in the midst of this chaotic world that You are a God who provides protection for Your people. Father, I am so grateful for Your presence, power, and promises. Father, I stand on these precious truths. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

My Soul Sings:

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/340

--

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 17, 2014

Title: What Are the Sweetest Words Your Critics Could Say About You?

Text:

Daniel 6:3-5 (ESV)
³ Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. ⁴ Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."

Observation:

 Daniel is one of my heroes in the bible. The sixth chapter of Daniel reinforces why he is one of my role models.

I notice these sterling aspects of his character:

1. Extraordinary spirit (v.3).
2. Trustworthy (v.4).
3. Blameless in God's eyes (v.5).

Another of my heroes is the Apostle Paul. Here is something from his testimony that shows what it is like to be blameless in God's eyes.

Acts 24:16 (HCSB)
¹⁶ I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, I am so thankful for the grace and mercy of God that you have poured out into my life so abundantly.

Father God, I pray that you will continue to do in me what only you are capable of doing. Make me a man like Daniel and Paul. Father, make me more and more like Your only begotten Son. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/382

--

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 16, 2014

Title: Do You Know the Power of Prayer?

Text:

Psalm 5:1-3 (ESV)
¹ Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. ² Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. ³ O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Observation:

This Psalm is so inspirational and instructive when it comes to understanding the priority and the power of prayer in the lives of God's people.

In prayer our focus should be totally upon God. We see how much David had such a high view of God. This was a man who trusted in God with his whole heart. In prayer our focus should be completely upon God, and not other people or our circumstances.

It is not coincidental that we find that so many of the saints of the ages who start the day with prayer. This verse tells us something about the priority of prayer.

Psalm 5:3 (ESV)
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Are there burdens you are bearing that your shoulders where not made to carry? David had some burdens in his life but he did not have to bear them alone. Do you have a King Saul in your life that is threat to your life, and stealing your peace?

Psalm 5:4-6 (ESV)
⁴ For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. ⁵ The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. ⁶ You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

You may seem to be alone in facing the challenges and the circumstances of your life. However, the child of God is never alone. Do what David did; look to the God of your salvation. If you can say, "My King and my God", why not trust in Him with your whole heart?

Psalm 5:7-8 (ESV)
⁷ But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. ⁸ Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the privilege of prayer, and for the power of God to fix the broken pieces of our lives. Father God, I thank You for being a Father who listens to Your children, and helps them. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

My soul sings:

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/787

--

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 15, 2014

Title: Do You Pray About Everything?

Text:

James 5:13-18 (ESV)
¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. ¹⁸ Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Observation:

The chorus of this hymn is in my head this morning:

"It's me, it's me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer;
it's me, it's me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer."

I had a conversation with a friend yesterday, and we talked about prayer. Although we now live thousands of miles apart, we still get together weekly for fellowship and prayer. There is nothing sweeter this side of heaven than to get together with God's people, and commune and connect with our heavenly Father in prayer.

Our text for today includes all types of prayer; it starts with prayers for the suffering, and it ends with prayer about the weather. Yes, there is nothing beyond the reach of prayer. Remember this, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working". (James 5:16b)

Do you pray about everything?

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the privilege and the power of prayer; for the opportunity it affords to commune and to connect with You. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
 I commune as friend with friend!

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/387

--

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 12, 2014

Title: The Church – A House of Prayer

Text:

Matthew 21:13 (ESV)
He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers."

Observation:

In this verse, Jesus says that the temple, which is God's house, should be a house of prayer. This is a citation of two Old Testament scriptures.

Isaiah 56:7 (ESV)
these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

Jeremiah 7:11 (ESV)
Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord.

What Jesus said about the temple is also true of the house of God in the New Testament, which is the church.

Jesus said two things about the house of God. First, it should be a place where all people can worship and commune with God. Secondly, it should not be a place of commercial enterprise. There should be no buying and selling, or lying and cheating in the house of God.

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 84:10 (ESV)
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalm 122:1 (ESV)
I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord!"

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that Your Church today may truly become a house of prayer; a Church that is pleasing in Your eyes. Father, I thank You that the Church is alive, and that Jesus is Lord. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

My Soul Sings:

The Church Triumphant (Bill & Gloria Gaither):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtCV_ysZC04

--

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 11, 2014

Title: Who is Like Yahweh Our God?

Text:

Psalm 113:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ Who is like Yahweh our God— the One enthroned on high, ⁶ who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

Observation:

The psalmist asks the question, "Who is like the Lord our God?" Every generation has to answer this question. There are eternal consequences to how you answer the question posed by the psalmist.

Many will come claiming to have found new light that is superior to the ancient truths of God's Word. However, none can compare with the God of the bible.

1 Chronicles 17:20 (HCSB)
Lord, there is no one like You, and there is no God besides You, as all we have heard confirms.

Exodus 15:11 (HCSB)
Lord, who is like You among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?

Psalm 103:19 (HCSB)
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Prayer:

O Lord, my God, I agree with the answer that the bible gives to the question posed by the psalmist. "O Lord, there is none like You". Lord, have mercy on us today, and every day. O Lord, in love, Your ear bow down, O hear Your people pray.  O save, O keep us, O lead us on I pray.  In the mighty name of Jesus, 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 10, 2014

Title: Prayer and the Spirit

Text:

Ephesians 6:18 (HCSB)
Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Observation:

Andrew Murray, who is a well-known writer and prayer warrior, says this about our topic, "Prayer is not our work, but God's work, which He works within us by His almighty power . . . His Holy Spirit will teach us to pray . . . My desire to pray is a sign that God will hear me."

Our focal passage appears in Paul's letter to  the church at Ephesus after he had written to them about putting on the whole armor of God. The Christian life is lived on a battlefield and not a playground. To be properly equipped for the spiritual warfare we face in this world, we need to put on the whole armor of God for sure. However, we need something more, and that is continuous prayer in the Spirit.

The Christian soldier must pray at all times. We need the covering and the protection that only constant communication with our heavenly Father will provide. When we learn how to stay in the presence of the Father, we will have the confidence and the courage that we need to be able stand firm against the schemes of the Devil.

It takes the whole armor of God, and continuous prayer to be able to stand when those around you are falling. We need to not only talk to God, but we need to connect with Him, and commune with Him. It is in Him that we have our being, and find the strength to walk in the footsteps of our Savior.

Ephesians 6:11 (HCSB)
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.

Colossians 4:2 (HCSB)
Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, Sovereign Lord, I am so grateful for the privilege and the power of prayer. Father, I pray that I will not find peace or rest until I find it in You. Father, I am so glad that You hear and answer the prayers that we pray in the Spirit. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

My Soul Sings:

Nothing between, even many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self-denial,
I'll triumph at last, with nothing between.

Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/372

--

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/