Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, December 25, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-25-2017

This is devotional thought number 29 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, HCSB).

I was born this way (a sinner, I mean); we all were. Our ancient ancestor Adam bequeathed a sinful nature to us. We were born into a genetically sinful human race. Thus, it is more natural for us to practice sin, than it is for us to submit unto righteousness.

Jesus taught that those who are born of the flesh (natural), are flesh. He taught that those who are (re)born of the Holy Spirit (supernatural), are spiritual. This is why it is necessary for all who wish to live with God forever, to be born again. Our predisposition to sin, and our near inevitable decisions to cultivate the sinful paradigm, disqualifies us for eternity. The days of those who hate love are numbered.

Something miraculous happens in the lives of those who hear God’s entreating, and respond favorably. God gives them new hearts, a will to live righteously, the power to live righteously, and the mindset of Christ. There’s more, but these will suffice for our purpose. In the same way those who hate love are bound to Satan and cannot help themselves do right, those who are in right relationship with God are empowered by the godly seed that abides within us, to live right. All things are become new. What used to be impossible for us, is now at our disposal because of Christ. Old sins are passed away. Forgiveness and cleansing are new. The need to worry has passed away. God’s promise to provide all our needs is new. Constant confusion in life is passed away. The light of God’s Word enlighting our understanding is new.

Abide in relationship with Christ and He will give you a new lease on life - an eternal lease. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, December 24, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-24-2017

This is devotional thought number 28 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:24–33).

I know I say this a lot but I am very intrigued by our theme text today. It really strips life down to the most basic element - whom do you trust.

Jesus paints an interesting portrait of how nature receives its provisions from Him. Birds don’t have jobs, don’t farm, or anything of the sort, and yet they eat because God feeds them. Flowers of the fields cannot think or try to make themselves beautiful, and yet they are more beautiful than one of the wealthiest, most favored kings of Judah. All of the beautiful grasses are here today and gone tomorrow. They cannot clothe the ground by volition. God ordained it so. If God sustains nature, beautifies the earth, and provides for His creatures in the animal kingdom, for which Jesus did not give His life, how much more will He provide for those who keep the faith in Him?

I am especially intrigued by Jesus’ allusion to the heathen mindset. Notice He did not say that heathens focus on evil riches. He said that heathens focus on the necessities of life. You should be curious about this. What is so wrong with having concerns about having food and clothing? It’s a matter of trust. Jesus said if we put His agenda above ours, He will take care of us. He will handle all of our needs. David said it this way: “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.” (Psalm 37:25–26, NLT). Since Jesus mentioned Solomon, I want to direct your attention to the most pivotal moment in his life: “That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him: “Ask. What should I give you?” And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great and faithful love to my father David, and You have made me king in his place. Lord God, let Your promise to my father David now come true. For You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?” God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate...

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, December 23, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-23-2017

This is devotional thought number 27 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“Is any sick among you? 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: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:14–15).

I love this passage. I find hope and comfort in God’s willingness to heal, save, and use feeble people to manifest His power in areas we have no power.

Are you sick, whether in mind or body? If so, go to the elders of the church and request a prayer meeting. Ask them to anoint you with oil, and expect God to do wondrous things. The Bible says that in this context, those who need healing should exercise faith in His process. Do not be fearful to request the prayer support of His chosen vessels. Do not make it your business to evaluate them on whether they are worthy to pray for you. God knows the elders by name. He knows their motives. Leave that up to Him. You just be obedient and call them together, and count on Him to do all He has promised.

Notice what the Bible says as the thought continues: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16). If you are seeking healing from God, not only are you to make request from Him, ask the elders for prayer and anointing support, but you need to confess and forsake your sins. This is an area these serial false healing services you may see on TV neglect. God is not just throwing around His power to heal in ways that do not glorify Him. We cannot expect God to heal our high blood pressure while we eat unwisely or hold malice for others in our hearts. We cannot expect God to take away the disease from our lungs while we smoke weed or anything else. We cannot expect God to miraculously mend our livers while we continue to drink alcohol. We cannot expect God to heal our hearing while we daily put in earbuds blasting evil music. God is not a partner in unrighteousness. He is willing to work with those who will ultimately work with Him. Our confession and repentance may have nothing to do with our ailment; don’t get me wrong. For those instances, we just want to be able to receive His blessing because those who hide our sins will not prosper, but those who confess and forsake will receive His mercy. If you have wronged or harmed someone, confess and make amends. When we allow the Holy Spirit to heal us spiritually, many times God will continue to do so physically like Jesus did in Mark 2.

Let me just say here, that God knows all. He is sovereign over all. He knows what is best in all situations. The guarantee of the text is that the prayer of faith will save the sick. That is to say, He will save all who follow the guidance of the text as long as they continue to follow the guidance. He will forgive, cleanse, and save them. If it is His will, He will also miraculously and instantaneously lift the disease or ailment, or provide wisdom on how to cooperate with nature to find gradual healing. As long as you have the full assurance of faith, and follow His leading on this, He will keep His promise. Trust Him like the man born blind who received miraculous healing. Trust Him like Paul who needed power over his eye problems, but God chose to let him continue with it while He gave him the grace to bear it. Both men were beloved of God. Both received the power of salvation. Both received God’s will for their lives. Trust Him, and receive...

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, December 22, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-22-2017

This is devotional thought number 26 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“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.” (Proverbs 3:5–6).

How do you show your trust in God? Here’s how king David saw it: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:9–11). God has given each one of us varying levels of intelligence. He has given each one of us the ability to make good decisions, with help. He has given us the ability to learn His will for our lives. He has made Himself available for all to draw upon His limitless store of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. With our whole heart, it is our privilege to seek God. In all things, we can ask Him questions, listen for His answers, and await guidance. One of the quickest ways to receive guidance on any matter we face is to prayerfully read the Bible. The principles we need for any situation are outlined in Scripture. We need only to be willing to yield our wills to God and allow Him to show us what pleases Him. When we do that, and surrender our sinfulness to Him, we will never wander from His commandments. I know that is hard to believe for some, but it’s true. God is powerful enough to help us live according to all truth.

How does this principle look in everyday life? We have understanding about what it takes to excel in a career. We get training and certification to be as proficient as possible. Is that all there is to it, or should we be asking God to make us as proficient, effective, and influential for Him as we complete our daily tasks? We are intelligent enough to get up, have devotional time, bathe, brush our teeth, groom, and get out to start the day. Is that all there is to it, or should we dedicate all our plans to God for that day, and ask Him to empower us to move forward with or abandon any plans as His providence may indicate? We are intelligent enough to recognize when someone of the opposite sex is attractive to us. We know whether we are interested in knowing more about them. We can either pursue or make ourselves available according to what we deem appropriate. Is that all there is to it, or should we double up on our prayers as our interest levels increase for one another, because we know God is the best Matchmaker in the universe and we need His input?

God is ready to direct us in all things. He is willing to teach us about the simple and complex things of life. He will direct our paths on the sacred, secular, and mundane things of life. If you want Him to guide you as you drive to work, He will. If you want Him to show you how to choose friends wisely, He will. If you want Him to help you dress in a way that is economical, beautiful, and brings Him glory, He will. If you need Him to help you weigh your lunch or dinner options, He absolutely will. All you need to do is know, recognize, and consider His desires for you in all things, and He will guide you. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, December 21, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-21-2017

This is devotional thought number 25 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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.” (Romans 10:8–10).

How must it make God feel to see people attempting to live on the edge of two extremes, neither of which are holy? On the one hand, you have those who seek to live righteously in their own strength, all-the-while discounting the power and authority of the gospel of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, you have those who simply don’t care to know or love God. Both extremes are detrimental to our spiritual health.

I am particularly encouraged by today’s promise, because of the resident power there.The Bible says that those who confess with our mouths that Jesus is our only hope of salvation, and believe in the power of the resurrection to empower us to live above sin, we will be saved! Some religious groups are more apt to believe the Word on this than others. Others, are paranoid about what they think other groups misunderstand about the text, to the point that they completely miss it too. The Word is as clear as a bell. We must not make it complicated. Over complicating the matter will only destroy us.

Confession is no mere profession. Did you catch that? Professions are often false claims. So, to simply mime the words, or even trumpet that Jesus is Lord in the marketplace is a far cry from Bible confession. Confession is agreement with God. Not only does truehearted confession speak the right words, in this context, but it also makes way to transform the one making the confession. To the one making truehearted confession, is given the full power of transforming belief in God. This is evident in the rest of our theme text. The Amplified Bible says, “For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.” (Romans 10:10, AMP). Our theme text is showing us that the way of salvation is through Christ making our confessions a reality through belief unto righteous living, which is immeasurably different from mere profession or assent to that which is true.

Do you wish to be saved? Well, the Word of God is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart when your confession and your lifestyle both are aligned with Jesus Christ. Do you believe it? I sure hope so, because it is as true as it gets. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-20-2017

This is devotional thought number 24 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

All means all, but we need to consult the Bible for some of the ways God uses the “all” to work out our best good.

Romans 8 is a wonderful treatise on God’s ability to set those free who were once captive to the law of sin and death. Bound people can neither serve, nor please God. Therefore, it is His pleasure to deliver anyone who surrenders their inadequacies to Him. When we need to be rescued from certain eternal death, He stands prepared to deliver us.

The chapter opens with the great news that God does not condemn anyone who lives by faith in Him. He also empowers these faithful ones to actually walk according to the road the Holy Spirit maps out in the Word. He reveals the life of Christ, who lived 100% successfully and superimposed His success upon the lives of His children to give us a headstart as we learn to live according to truth, in all things. Meanwhile, trials will arise - sometimes extreme ones. We may have some doubts, but if we do not give up, God will carry us through. People and evil spirits may accuse us, but God is greater than those evil accusations. There is no condemnation of those who are in Christ Jesus and walk according to the Spirit’s guidance, remember? Jesus died for sinners and rose again so we can be transformed into His image. Not only this, but we have no idea how to pray, although we still must. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. He communicates our needs and desires in a way that resonates with the Father, to empower and translate them so we can have the answers we need, when we need them.

If I had to paraphrase the first eight chapters of Romans, to culminate with in our theme text, I would say that God has a million and one ways to reach people from every walk of life and religious background. He is fair. He is merciful. He recognizes our sinfulness and need to be delivered; therefore, He enacts a salvation plan that buries our past sins and emperors present and future faithfulness. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each play their vital roles in effecting our redemption. As we encounter bumps and bruises along the journey, we can be assured that God is working out our release from temporal problems, to prepare us for eternal bliss and sinlessness. God has a handle on all that He allows to happen to us, and that which He deliberately sends our way to test us. Those who keep faith in Him will receive a crown of life. Trust Him. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-19-2017

This is devotional thought number 22 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).

If you have not discovered by now, as you have followed our devotional posts, we value context and Bible integrity. Bible readers often lift verses from Scripture and apply them romantically or according to logic, with no regard for God’s intent of a text. Here are a couple of examples: When a child does some wonderful thing in church or demonstrates leadership qualities, some adults are quick to applaud and blurt out, “And the little child shall lead them!” Let’s observe the context of the Scriptures on this, shall we? “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid; And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6). Do you see what I mean? So, unless our bright eyed children are leading animals somewhere, we should probably do better in finding another way to encourage their leadership qualities. This verse is clearly talking about when the kingdom of glory is established at the Second Coming, and predators no longer exist. We look forward to the day when lions, lambs, and snakes all get along … “and a little child shall lead them.” I am not poking fun. I just really need to make a point here.

Our next example comes to us from our theme text. How many times have you or others you know preached sermons or given exhortations that seem to suggest, based upon this text, that if we give our children a solid spiritual foundation and they lose their way, they will return like the prodigal, no matter what? And when some children lose their way, and never return, the parents begin to question where they went wrong. Don’t get me wrong, we absolutely have a responsibility to lead our children to Jesus. We must teach them in their uprising, downsitting, goings forth, and coming in, about the Lord who loves and created them. We beg the Lord daily to draw them to Himself. We petition the throne as they grow older and make horrible errors, that God will have mercy. Job showed a righteous example of this. This, and more, is what God expects of us. We are to be training up citizens for the kingdom of God. Amen! However, to suggest that if we train our children according to God’s Word that they will absolutely not depart, or if they wander away, they will definitely return is not logical or Biblical. God gives every person the opportunity to serve Him, but some refuse. Even flawless training does not overrule volition. All have a choice to love or hate God. We just hope, with all that is within us, that our children continue to make the right choice, according to our training in the Spirit. Adam departed from God’s perfect training, and did return. Praise the Lord! However, Lucifer mysteriously departed from the way he should have gone, and he never repented. We could cite more examples, but that is not the point of our devotional thought today.

Now, you want me to share the right application of the text, right? Let’s read it from the Amplified Bible, and the meaning will jump out at you: “Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6, AMP). Did you get that? Our job as parents and guardians is to ask God for wisdom and discover our children’s calling, gifts, bent, and tendencies, and cultivate them by God’s grace. If you have a musical child, cultivate and encourage that musical bent or...

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, December 18, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-18-2017

This is devotional thought number 21 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.” (Proverbs 13:11, NLT).

The old adage, “Easy come, easy go” couldn’t be truer. This is one of the reasons we must focus more on teaching people how to fish, than to consistently give able-bodied people fish. That which comes with little to no effort goes away the same way. Please, do not misunderstand me. I am not saying not to be helpful. I am saying, however, that helping able bodied people stretch a bit to attain is more of a blessing to them over the long run.

I have so many stories that demonstrate the principles of our theme text. One comes from the parable of lost things, which included the story of the prodigal son. Jesus told the people about a son who was displeased with living under the loving guidance of his father’s authority. The young man dishonorably went to his father like he was an ATM and demanded his portion of inheritance, demonstrating that he wished his dad were dead. He got it, wasted it on loose living, and went back home after he hit rock bottom. His father lavished his love upon him, and welcomed him back with open arms. This story illustrates the love of God for all who wander away from Him. It illustrates how quickly ill gotten or suddenly gotten gain evaporates. The resources are seldom put to responsible use; used for betterment of others, or cherished as the trust it is from God. Thus, it usually becomes a curse and then disappears. The same holds true with ponzi schemes, some “business opportunities,” etc.

Conversely, those who, like the brilliant ants, learn the value of dedicated, steady work have the promise of growth and prosperity. God is with those who work diligently, honestly, and in the best interest of those around them. Please do not get discouraged by the apparent prosperity of those who win at gambling, questionable investments, using cheap labor, etc., to produce riches/wealth. Moreover, please don’t be encouraged to adopt their ways. “Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.” (Proverbs 28:22, NLT).

Surrender all of your plans to God, including financial ones, and know that if you are faithful to Him, He will prosper you according to His will. Be faithful, patient, and diligent. God rewards hard work and dedication. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, December 17, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-17-2017

This is devotional thought number 20 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4).

It’s a package deal. All great things with God come as package deals when we delight ourselves in Him. I think you’re going to like today’s thought.

There is a huge problem with all humanity. We are human. That is the biggest impediment to righteous thought and living. There is a huge benefit with all humanity. Jesus became human. That is the biggest blessing to undue our unrighteousness and make us holy before His presence. Jesus elevated us by becoming like us, so by faith we could become like Him. That is to say, Jesus exalts the human race with His presence. That holy presence creates a spiritual bond between heaven and earth, and that bond brings us closer to our heavenly Father.

Let’s get back to the problem. The Bible says that our hearts are desperately wicked; to the point that we cannot even recognize it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to teach and empower us. What if, with these wicked hearts we communicate our desires to God? What kinds of desires would they be? Would they generally align with God’s purposes? Would they be selfless? Would they be full of faith? Would they be worthy of Jesus’ great reputation and stamp of approval? The obvious answer is no; therefore, God cannot grant the spirit of our desires when we are not aligned with Him.

Let’s get back to the blessing. The Bible says that God will give us new hearts. I will cite just one of many examples of this: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26–27). What if, with these new God-given hearts we communicate our desires to God? What kinds of desires would they be? Would they generally align with God’s purposes? Would they be selfless? Would they be full of faith? Would they be worthy of Jesus’ great reputation and stamp of approval? The obvious answer is yes; therefore, God will keep His promise to give us the desires of the heart. It’s a package deal. Did you miss it? When God give us new hearts, new desires come with them. That is to say, wicked desires are welded to wicked hearts. Even their noblest desires are polluted until or unless they learn to surrender and crossover into love for God. Holy tendencies and desires are welded to the new hearts God creates within us, and gives a right spirit. So, when we begin to communicate our desires to God, verily they are according to His model, and He can represent us in the courts of heaven without shame. By accepting our new hearts from God, we are accepting a new desires paradigm. We begin to think God’s thoughts after Him; and with the Holy Spirit tidying our prayers and making them acceptable to the Father through the righteousness of the Son, we can expect that God will answer according to His ideal for our lives. When our hearts are merry as we seek God’s will for us (we delight), He delivers the delightful desires of our hearts. He creates new desires within us, and then grants them according to His perfect will. This, my friends, is a wonderful package deal. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, December 16, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-12-16-2017

This is devotional thought number 19 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!

“The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:7–8).

NEWS FLASH - Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Greater are those (angels) who are with us than all the powers of the enemy that help the workers of iniquity. Do you believe it? I hope so!

Did you notice the interesting description of how the angel of the Lord protects and delivers His people? The Bible says he encamps around us. Are you not curious how one angel can surround an entire body of believers? This is real power! This is the magnitude of God’s power when He quenches the fiery darts of the enemy. He protects us from every side; not leaving any aspect of our lives unattended. The Lord’s angel does not get weary; he does not fall asleep during the night watch; he does not get distracted; he is always on guard and alert. When the enemy assails us, the Lord’s angel assaults the enemy and then delivers us.

Sometimes, we will encounter difficulties that seem too difficult to bear, but we must remember that God is good. We need to experience Him for ourselves and know that He is good. We need to develop the habit of putting our trust in Him. When we begin to do this consistently, we will experience the fullness of God’s favor. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)