A Little Walk With God

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. Sex sells they say and so we see it everywhere. It was also a problem in Pergamum. Jesus talked about it and told John to write about it.
3. Scripture
   1. Revelation 2:12-17
   2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Pergamum. “These are the words of the One with the sharp double-edged sword:

“I know your deeds and where you live. It is where Satan, the adversary, has established his throne. You have stayed true to My name, and you did not deny your trust in Me even in the eventful days of My faithful witness, Antipas. He was killed among you in that place where Satan dwells.

“However, I have a few matters against you: some who live among you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to set up a stumbling block before the people of Israel. As a result, some among you are eating food prepared for idol worship and committing immoral sexual acts. You have others who are holding firm to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore, change your ways and turn to Me. If you do not, I will quickly come to where you live and will battle them with the sword of My mouth.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. To the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will feed you with hidden manna and give you a white stone. Upon this stone, a new name is engraved. No one knows this name except for its recipient.”

1. Devotional
   1. Where can you go today and not be bombarded by sexual innuendos?
      1. Not very many places
      2. Advertising
      3. Television shows
      4. Books
      5. Movies
      6. Everywhere
      7. Sex sells, goes after our most base desires for intimate relationships
   2. Problem in Pergamum as Nicolaitans infiltrated the church
      1. False teachers who believed promiscuity was okay
      2. Temple prostitutes were okay
      3. Sexual rituals used in worship
      4. Violated the Jewish laws and the teachings of the Apostles handed down from Jesus
   3. Some remained true to Jesus’ teaching; some fell away and led other astray
      1. Consequences if we do not follow His ways
      2. He’ll return with a sword
      3. When we follow His ways, He promises hidden manna and a new name
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. Are you rich or poor? Do you really know what poverty is? Jesus did, He shares some information with us about poverty and real riches.
3. Scripture
   1. Revelation 2:8-11
   2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Smyrna. “These are the words of the First and the Last, the One who was dead and returned to life:

“I know your deeds and the difficult ordeal you are enduring and your poverty, although you are actually rich. I am aware of the offensive accusations preached by those who call themselves ‘Jews.’ But these people are not the Jews they pretend to be; they are actually the congregation of Satan. In the face of suffering, do not fear. Watch; the devil will throw some of you into prison shortly so that you might be tested, and you will endure great affliction for 10 days. Be faithful throughout your life, until the day you die, and I will give you the victor’s wreath of life.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death will escape the second death.”

1. Devotional
   1. In this country, we are obsessed with wealth.
      1. TV show, “Lives of the Rich and Famous”
      2. Drive for promotion, salary increases, better jobs
      3. Get upset about Social Security or changes in interest rates
      4. Looking for quick returns on investments
      5. Lotteries everywhere for quick wins
   2. We think we understand poverty in this country, but we don’t
      1. The poverty guidelines for 2017, $24,600 for family of 4
      2. Average income in the United States $61,248
      3. Average income in Qatar $105,091
      4. Average income in Congo $394
      5. Nine countries less than $1,000 per anum income
      6. $35-$100 a month isn’t even enough to survive as evidenced by the malnutrition and high death rate among children in those countries
   3. If you are listening to this podcast, you probably have a smartphone or a computer you’re listening on. Luxuries most of the world cannot afford. We are materially very wealthy in this country
      1. Probably had breakfast or chose not to, but it was available if you wanted it
      2. Probably have more than one television in your home
      3. Probably have more than one car in your drive
      4. Probably have several pair of shoes and several outfits to choose from as you dress each morning
      5. Probably don’t worry about drinking water or water to bath in each day
      6. Although you may live in an apartment, you probably don’t share your home with several families in the same apartment
      7. We really don’t know poverty in this country
   4. Church at Smyrna understood poverty
      1. As Christians they couldn’t buy food in the market
      2. Lost their jobs
      3. Lost their homes
      4. Lost their families
      5. Lost whatever support systems they had except the church and everyone in the church was under the same pressure
      6. They did not know where their next meal would come from
      7. To win their material fortune back, all they had to do was renounce their faith
   5. Jesus said although they were in poverty, they were really rich
      1. Why?
      2. They shed the burden of unforgiven sin
      3. They had Him in their life
      4. They had eternal life
      5. What is that worth? It’s priceless
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. Remember the seven letters Jesus had John write to the seven churches in Asia Minor? They still have a lot to say to us if we listen.
3. Scripture
   1. Revelation 2:1-7
   2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Ephesus. “These are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks and moves among the golden lampstands:

“I know your deeds, your tireless labor, and your patient endurance. I know you do not tolerate those who do evil. Furthermore, you have diligently tested those who claim to be emissaries, and you have found that they are not true witnesses. You have correctly found them to be false. I know you are patiently enduring and holding firm on behalf of My name. You have not become faint.

“However, I have this against you: you have abandoned your first love. Do you remember what it was like before you fell? It’s time to rethink and change your ways; go back to how you first acted. However, if you do not return, I will come quickly and personally remove your lampstand from its place. But you do have this to your credit: you despise the deeds of the Nicolaitans and how they concede to evil. I also hate what they do.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. I will allow the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death to eat from the tree of life found in God’s lush paradise.”

1. Devotional
   1. The seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor raise lots of questions today about the stability of those churches
      1. Only one was left unscathed by Jesus’ remarks
      2. All the others were condemned for something they did or failed to do in the course of their daily activities
      3. All but one also had at least one redeeming quality
      4. The order of the letters might be in the order they might be visited if you took a trip to see all of them on a journey in those days
      5. Every letter also points to characteristics Christians today exhibit and should avoid
   2. The first letter written to Ephesus
      1. Know your deeds
      2. Tireless labor
      3. Patient endurance
      4. Do not tolerate evil, or those who do evil
   3. You abandoned your first love
      1. Became legalistic in examination of the deeds of others
      2. Rethink your ways
      3. Remember how you felt when you first received grace and mercy
      4. Go back to those days
      5. Go back to how you first acted
      6. Love each other and share the message
      7. Demonstrate the joy of the Lord
      8. Don’t fail to mix grace with justice
   4. Listen, follow what the spirit proclaims, there is a reward at the end
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt is famed with saying, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” But how well do we do that?
3. Scripture
   1. Revelation 1:17-20
   2. The One: This is not the time for fear; I am the First and the Last, and I am the living One. I entered the realm of the dead; but see, I am alive now and for all the ages—even ages to come. Amen. I possess the keys to open the prison of death and hades.

Now write down all you have seen—all that is and all that will be. Regarding the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the heavenly messengers who preside over the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches themselves.

1. Devotional
   1. Fear is rampant in our society
      1. Fear of physical harm
         1. Terrorists
         2. Robbers, murderers, assault
      2. Fear of disease
         1. Cancer
         2. Heart disease
         3. Diabetes
         4. Communicable diseases
      3. Fear of failure
         1. Work
         2. Relationships
         3. Life
      4. Fear of death
   2. What do we do with fear?
      1. Wikipedia - Fear is a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that occurs in certain types of organisms, which causes a change in metabolic and organ functions and ultimately a change in behavior, such as fleeing, hiding, or freezing from perceived traumatic events. Fear in human beings may occur in response to a specific stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to body or life. The fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to confrontation with or escape from/avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear (horror and terror) can be a freeze response or paralysis.
      2. We all experience it as a natural emotion, but Roosevelt tells us we have nothing to fear but fear
      3. Jesus tells us now is not the time to fear
      4. He has already conquered the thing we fear most - death
      5. He holds the keys to the prison of death
   3. Follow Him and He can release us from that prison
      1. Knowing He holds the keys to the worst that can happen to us
      2. We do not need to be afraid
      3. Our greatest failure is overcome by the one who holds the solution to our biggest problem - death
      4. He takes us through the veil to life everlasting
      5. There really is nothing to fear - not even fear
   4. Go show a little courage
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. They used to call them diaries, but now they call them journals. Not sure why they changed. Maybe men didn’t like the term. But do you have one? You’d be surprised what you can learn about yourself in one.
3. Scripture
   1. Revelation 1:11
   2. A Voice: 11 [I am the Alpha and the Omega, the very beginning and the very end.][b] Make a book of what you see, write it down, and send it to the seven churches [which are in Asia][c]: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
4. Devotional
   1. We decided to tell our house a year ago and started packing up things. We didn’t and so started unpacking things.
      1. Lots of boxes, too many boxes, some still unpacked
      2. A few of them held dozens of 5 x 8 notebooks that house the notes of my experiences for the past decades
      3. I use the same notebooks for taking notes for work as I do for journaling
      4. Whenever i have a passing thought I don’t want to have to go find another special place, I just write it down
   2. Looked back through some of those notebooks and explored my journey from the time I started the process of keeping notes on myself back in 1978 until today
      1. Didn’t have time or the energy to read them all
      2. Interesting to see some of the changes that occurred
      3. Maturity in some areas of life
      4. Thoughts about my children
      5. Prayer requests and answers to those prayers
      6. Changes in direction that I sensed God giving
   3. Jesus told John to get a pen and paper and write down what he was about to hear
      1. We can’t remember everything
      2. The older we get the harder it is to remember
      3. Some of the things I found in my notebooks I didn’t remember at all 15 or 20 years later
      4. But some were really good bits of information that I wish I had highlighted and kept in practice
      5. Jesus didn’t want John to forget what He was about to tell the churches, lessons that would make them better if they would listen
   4. Journals will make you better if you will consistently put your thoughts in words
      1. Read them occasionally
      2. Look at how your journey is progressing
      3. Teach yourself
      4. Recognize the successes along life’s journey as well as the failures
      5. Learn from both
      6. Capture the lessons God wants to teach you each day so you can remember them for more than the few minutes they zip through your brain
   5. Are you journaling? If not, today is a good day to start
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. It’s not like rotating stock on the shelves. He’s just always there.
3. Scripture
   1. Revelation 1:8
   2. Jesus: I am the Alpha and Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
4. Devotional
   1. I was a preacher’s kid growing up.
      1. Opened the doors for every service
      2. Got there at least 30 minutes before everyone else was expected to arrive
      3. Made sure the lights were on, a/c or heating set to the right temperatures, everything ready for the service
   2. After the service, last to leave
      1. Cleaned up any papers/bulletins laying around, left on the pews, reset the thermostats to save energy, turned off the lights, locked the door
      2. First in, last out
   3. Became a habit not just for church but for a lot of things
      1. Work
      2. Meetings
      3. Social gatherings
      4. Almost anything that had a start and end time associated with it
      5. First in and last out became a habit
   4. Jesus told John He was the first and last, the alpha and omega
      1. A lot different than my puny experience
      2. He was around at creation
      3. He was there before there was a way to schedule anything because He was around before time started
      4. He has been around every moment from then until now without skipping a nanosecond
      5. We can’t understand it
      6. Limited timeframe of our existence can’t wrap our minds around it
   5. He will also be here when time disappears and all we know transforms into a new heaven and earth
      1. He will be the omega, the end, the one who is to come
      2. His is the one with an existence with no beginning and no end
      3. Because of His infinity in what we think of as time, Jesus can know our how to help us in every circumstance we face
   6. He is also the Almighty
      1. He proved it to Abraham
      2. birth of Isaac
      3. rescue of Isaac
      4. He proved it to Moses and the Israelites
      5. plagues
      6. exodus
      7. promised land
      8. Exile
      9. He proved it to us
      10. new covenant
      11. crucifixion
      12. resurrection
      13. pentecost
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. Topic Introduction with headline.
3. Scripture
   1. Acts 18:9-10
   2. The Lord: Do not be afraid, Paul. Speak! Don’t be silent! I am with you, and no one will lay a finger on you to harm you. I have many in this city who are already My people.
4. Devotional
   1. Have you ever been in a crowd of people listening to someone spout of something you knew was wrong but noone spoke up?
      1. Hitler’s speeches
      2. Terrorist rhetoric
      3. General wrongdoing/evil action
   2. We think we’re the only one in the crowd and are afraid of what the crowd might do to us if we speak up
      1. Usually not the only one
      2. Usually others in the crowd feel the same way but are also afraid
      3. Usually just need someone with the courage to start that chain reaction of good will to stand up against evil
   3. Will standing up against evil always put the crowd on your side
      1. No
      2. Jesus was crucified
      3. Paul was martyred
      4. Many have lost their everything they owned and some lost their lives for speaking up for Christ
      5. But the courage to speak up always has positive consequences
   4. Look at what Stephen’s martyrdom sparked
      1. Saul an onlooker
      2. Many witnesses saw Stephen’s reaction and thousands wanted to know this Jesus he spoke of
      3. The same has happened when others throughout history have stood up for Christ
   5. Jesus promised His disciples He would never leave the or forsake them
      1. He never fails to keep His promises
      2. When we invite Him into our lives He is with us and in us
      3. He gives us the courage to stand alone in the crowd because we know we are never alone
      4. He is with us, empowering us
      5. Gives resurrection power to enable us to share His message of forgiveness for the asking
   6. Do you feel alone in the crowd?
      1. Think again
      2. Search your heart
      3. You may be the spark that begins a revival fire among those who witness your testimony of God’s grace and mercy in your life
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. How hard is it to believe someone can change their ways? Particularly someone who has been a really bad character?
3. Scripture
   1. Acts 9:10-16
   2. The Lord: Ananias.

Ananias: Here I am, Lord.

The Lord: Get up and go to Straight Boulevard. Go to the house of Judas, and inquire about a man from Tarsus, Saul by name. He is praying to Me at this very instant. He has had a vision—a vision of a man by your name who will come, lay hands on him, and heal his eyesight.

Ananias: Lord, I know whom You’re talking about. I’ve heard rumors about this fellow. He’s an evil man and has caused great harm for Your special people in Jerusalem. I’ve heard that he has been authorized by the religious authorities to come here and chain everyone who associates with Your name.

The Lord: Yes, but you must go! I have chosen him to be My instrument to bring My name far and wide—to outsiders, to kings, and to the people of Israel as well. I have much to show him, including how much he must suffer for My name.

1. Devotional
   1. It’s really hard to put your trust in someone who has lost your trust, isn’t it?
      1. Convicts difficulty in getting jobs
      2. Embezzlers never trusted
      3. Those who have wronged you never brought into the inner circle or even into friendships
      4. Always afraid they will repeat their actions and you’ll get hurt again
   2. Jesus comes to Ananias and tells him to reach out to Saul of Tarsus
      1. Ananias knows Saul’s reputation
      2. Knows he has authority to arrest followers and knows their destination after arrest
      3. Ananias knows Saul cannot be trusted because of his previous actions
      4. Jesus says go and teach him
      5. What do you do?
   3. You do what Jesus tells you to do!
      1. Might be hard for us to believe people can change but..
      2. Think about the change he made in you
      3. If he can change you, can’t he change the one you don’t want to trust?
      4. Can’t He transform the redeemed?
      5. That’s what He told Ananias and that’s what He tells us
   4. So you’ve been burned by someone who says they are born again and they proved they were not by their actions
      1. Some things to think about
      2. God doesn’t expect us to put someone back into their place of greatest temptation, that would be foolish for them and us
         1. Don’t send alcoholics into a bar
         2. Don’t give embezzlers positions as treasurer
         3. Don’t put temptations in front of those who you know succumb to those temptations
         4. But use their skills
      3. Still, befriend, encourage, teach, help as new members of God’s kingdom
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. Have you ever been in a conversation where people were gossipping about someone and all of a sudden that person showed up? Awkward!
3. Scripture
   1. Acts 9:4-6
   2. The Lord: Saul, Saul, why are you attacking Me?

Saul: Lord, who are You?

Then he hears these words:

The Lord: I am Jesus. I am the One you are attacking. Get up. Enter the city. You will learn there what you are to do.

1. Devotional
   1. It happens more often that people want to admit.
      1. Sometimes it happens real time - person walks up behind and hears the conversation
      2. Sometimes the person walks into the middle of the conversation and everyone gets quiet, they still know something is up
      3. Sometimes the word just gets back and they know who said what
      4. Relationships are destroyed as much as reputations are destroyed often by untruths
   2. That’s what was happening in Paul’s life
      1. Persecuting Christians
      2. Telling the Jews things about them that were not true
      3. Telling stories about Jesus that were not true
      4. Spreading lies and rumors that despoiled Jesus’ reputation
      5. Jesus stepped behind him one day to interrupt his conversation
   3. Saul, why are you attacking Me?
      1. What are you saying about Me?
      2. What are you doing to My followers?
      3. What have you been doing behind My back
      4. Why don’t you say these things to My face
   4. And you know when we get ourselves caught in those embarrassing situations where we know we’re gossiping and shouldn’t, there are always consequences
      1. Paul got caught and was embarrassed by his wrong actions
      2. Fortunately did something about it
      3. Repented for his wrongdoing
      4. Learned of the tasks Jesus had for him to do
      5. Carried them out enthusiastically
      6. Stopped persecuting and became the persecuted
      7. Gained life and lost his
      8. Became the most prolific writer in the new testament
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. My daughter calls me a pessimist because I like to plan for contingencies that might happen in the future. But I think we would all like to know a little bit of what will happen next so we can be prepared. Does that make me a pessimist?
3. Scripture
   1. John 21:7-8
   2. Jesus: The Father, on His own authority, has determined the ages and epochs of history, but you have not been given this knowledge. Here’s the knowledge you need: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth.
4. Devotional
   1. I was putting together some information a few months ago in preparation for things that I hope will never happen to me or my family.
      1. Daughter saw me gathering the information
      2. “Dad, do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist?”
      3. Optimist, I like to think I look on the bright side of things
      4. “Then why are you always planning for the worst case?”
   2. Good question that made me start thinking about how I approach some of the bigger problems that can confront us in life.
      1. Insurance - life and health
      2. Shelter
      3. Provision for family
      4. How to leave a legacy of values for family
      5. Not a survivalist, but prepare for disasters
   3. Some of the thought process comes from military training
      1. Strategic planner during military career
      2. Built plans around contingencies
      3. “What if” thinking to avoid surprises that shook you to inaction
      4. Crossed over to thought process in other things
   4. I don’t necessarily see planning for contingencies as pessimism, but…
      1. We can go too far and miss life
      2. Jesus warned early Christians to perform a task instead of trying to guess when He would return
      3. He had a job He wanted them to do
      4. If they spent all of their time planning for the contingency of His return, no one would hear the good news of His power to forgive sins
      5. Enough that God knows the future and will take care of the ages and epochs of history
      6. Enough that God gives us His spirit to enable us to do the work He gives us to do
      7. Enough that we can concentrate on the work at hand and not worry about what comes tomorrow, He has those contingencies covered
   5. Knowing the future is already determined and taken care of by the Commander of heavenly armies, how does that make you feel about contingency planning?
      1. The future is in His hands and He has your best in mind.
      2. So are you an optimist or a pessimist about tomorrow?
      3. With Him on your side, how can you be anything but an optimist?
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."