Gospel Conduct - Philippians 1:27 (NKJV)

Scripture of the Day

Philippians 1:27 (NKJV)

“Gospel Conduct”

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

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The kids are back in school, and one of the first things they bring home is the school’s codes of conduct!  Our jobs require us to adhere to the standards of conduct as well.  Even at home, we expect everyone to have a certain level of conduct (if not . . . that might be the problem).  Conduct is to direct the course of; to lead or guide.  Now, that doesn’t sound bad!  It doesn’t sound like you have to give up your freedom!  But it does sound like we have to demonstrate some self-control!

Is your gospel conduct worthy of what CHRIST has done for you?  I am not talking about your church conduct.  I still don’t know what the one finger-thing is about when you want to be excused from the sanctuary or a church meeting!  Can someone explain that to me!  Seriously, when no one is looking, how is your Gospel Conduct?  When you are not in the pulpit . . . collecting the tithes . . . greeting folks at the door . . . or ushering folks to their seat . . . is your conduct still worthy of the gospel of CHRIST?  Kids will do what is right when their teachers are looking and we (most of us) will do what is right when the boss is watching! Well, GOD is always looking and watching, so our Gospel Conduct should always be right!  So that we can stand in one Spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel!

My son will receive a little book with the school conduct guidelines, and he will have to sign the last page and return it to show that he is aware of how he must conduct himself for the school year!  Most jobs will require us to attend some sort of training that includes standards of conduct, and we will have to sign-in/log-in to prove that we attended and understand what is required of us at work.  Well my Christian brothers and sisters, GOD has given us HIS Word, and HE sent a living example to dwell among us so that we could know HIS expectations of conduct worth of the gospel of CHRIST. 

May our conduct be worthy of the gospel of CHRIST!

Skip The Stone - John 8:4-8 (NKJV)

Scripture of the Day

John 8:4-8 (NKJV)

“Skip The Stone”

they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

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This is another tuff one!  As I always say, “If it steps on your toes say Ouch!  If it steps on someone else’s toes say Ooh!  But if we know HIS Word is true, say Amen!” 

Many of us are quick to cast a stone at someone else for doing wrong . . . even when we know we just did the same thing or worst just a few days before.  In fact, some will cast a stone and they are living in their own mess right now!  These men brought a woman who was caught in the very act of adultery  before JESUS and demanded she be stoned in accordance to the law (side note:  It takes two to commit this act.  Why did they only bring her?)!  JESUS didn’t even speak . . . HE stooped down and wrote on the grown with HIS finger!  It doesn’t say what HE wrote . . . but it convicted the men.    JESUS then asked that whoever was without sin, should throw the first stone!  Wow! One by one, they departed! Every last one of them had to skip the stone that they wanted to throw!  They skipped the stone and walk away in conviction!

Are you standing today with a hand full of stones, and ready to cast them at someone? Are your words towards others as hard as stones?  As a child of GOD, can we truly stand ready to cast the first stone . . . knowing that we are full of sin!  Only by the grace of GOD are we forgiven . . . so please skip the stone . . . cast a hug and blessing upon those you love and those you hate!

Prayer of Prosperity - 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)

Scripture of the Day

1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)

“Prayer of Prosperity”

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

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Have you been praying for an increase?  Do you have a prayer of prosperity?  I know it seems like we should not pray for increase with all of the one-sided preachers giving prosperity a bad name!  But GOD does want us to prosper!  HE wants us to be blessed, as well as bless others!  If we pray like Jabez, then our prayer of prosperity will not be selfish.  This simple prayer can be broken down even further, but lets just look at four major points!

1) Although Jabez’s mother gave him the name because she bore him with pain, he was considered more honorable than his brothers (vs. 9) In your prayers . . . have you been honorable?  Have you been humble?

2) Jabez is crying out to the Almighty GOD of Israel!  He is not relying on himself as honorable, but he is calling on his GOD who is holy!  Who are you crying out to in your prayer of prosperity? 

3) Jabez asked to be blessed before the increase!  Now that is big!  We think the increase is the blessing.  But first we must ask that every blessing come from GOD so that we may be equipped to handle more territory.  You can’t ask GOD to give you more, without HIM blessing you first! After Jabez asked to be blessed, then he asked for an increase in territory. 

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required (Luke 12:48).  Are you asking for GOD’s blessings before the increase, in your prayer of prosperity?

4) Jabez asked the LORD to be his protection from harm and pain!  Most successful businesses have a team of experts and a large insurance policy to protect their increase , but Jabez is asking for a reassurance policy from the LORD to protect his increase!  Are you praying that GOD keeps the increase safe? Are you asking GOD to give you guidance to do what is right with the increase?

Again, GOD wants us to prosper!  And by the example of the Jabez Prayer of Prosperity, we can see that GOD will grant your request!  Hopefully your prayer of prosperity is like that of Jabez’s.  If not, it’s time to change it!  Don’t feel bad . . . after much meditation on this devotion . . . I have had to make a few minor adjustments to mine as well!  Just keeping it truthful!

My favorite prayer for others is: May the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in HIM, so that you may overflow with the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit! (Romans 15:13).  May GOD continue to bless you and enlarge your territory of hope!  In JESUS name, Amen!

Trust HIS Timing - Esther 4:14 (NKJV)

Scripture of the Day

Esther 4:14 (NKJV)

“Trust HIS Timing”

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

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Mordecai, queen Esther’s uncle sent word to her that her fellow Jews were going to be destroyed and the order came from her husband, the king!  The king did not know that his queen was a Jew, therefore he did not know that he had given an order to kill her people.  Esther knew that she could be killed if she went to the king without being called for . . . even if the situation is as serious as a whole nation being killed!  She was the queen, yet she could not simply approach the king without his permission.  Mordecai explained to Esther that it could be a time such as this that she has become queen!  It was a threatening situation for Esther and her people!  Although there may be suffering when doing good work and deeds for GOD and HIS children, we must look beyond ourselves and realize that we may have been put in a specific place for such a time as this! 

Are you in a place for such a time as this?  A place of pain, suffering, discouragement, or frustration?  We can approach the king of kings without being called.  HE has allowed us to come to HIM in all times!  You may be in a place for such a time as this . . . not for yourself, but for the people of HIS kingdom.  Someone is lost and GOD has placed you for such a time as this to help them find their way!  Someone may be bullied and GOD has placed you for such a time as this to stand for them!  Someone may be close to death and GOD has placed you for such a time as this to speak life!

Just as Mordecai told Esther, you can remain completely silent and GOD will work through someone else, but what if GOD put you in place for such a time as this?  Will you trust HIS timing?

Brideful Beauty - Esther 2:17 (KJV)

Scripture of the Day

Esther 2:17 (KJV)

“Brideful Beauty”

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

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I once heard it said that there is never an ugly bride!  There may be ugly fiancés or ugly wives . . . but never an ugly bride!  I began to think about that, and realized that I have never seen an ugly bride (in person or TV).  On the very day of a wedding, and she is wearing the beautiful dress, perfect hair, flawless smile and everything else that makes the moment special . . . the woman is very beautiful.  It goes deeper than beauty, because that woman is set as the queen.  She comes down the aisle will all eyes on her.  There is favour on her.  For that very moment, she is the fairest in all the land!  No matter what kind of woman (race, nationality, religion), she is a beautiful bride!

Esther had a deep and rich beauty.  When the king held out his golden sceptre to show favour over Esther as she approached him unannounced (which was against the law even for the queen), it was not because she was so pleasing to the eye!  Queen Vashti was pleasing to the eye, yet she was dismissed for not coming before the king when announced.  So if it was only skin-top (pleasing to the eye) beauty that interested the king . . . he would have still been with Vashti.  But Esther came before the king as a bride . . . a queen, and humble!  It was deeper than beauty.  1 Peter 3:3-4 says that your beauty should not come from the outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in GOD’s sight.  If you read the entire book of Esther, you will see that the queen was not demanding or arrogant in her outward beauty . . . but she had the inward beauty of a bride, even after the wedding was over!  Men, treat your wives like the brides you married!  Women, walk in the beauty of a bride even after the wedding is over!  Christians, let us be ready!  JESUS is coming back for HIS bride . . . will we be the first ugly one, or will HE find us in our white robe washed by the blood?  Will we be in perfect standing according to HIS Word?  Will we be the bride HE deserves?

Hatred Runs Deep - Esther 3:8 (NKJV)

Scripture of the Day
Esther 3:8 (NKJV)
"Hatred Runs Deep"

Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.
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Hatred can run deep!  Haman was angry with one man (Mordecai) because he refused to bow down to him.  It says that Haman was filled with wrath because Mordecai would not bow and show homage!  Therefore, Haman wanted all the Jews to be destroyed!  It wasn't that Mordecai did something wrong . . . it was because Mordecai did something that wasn't liked!  Mordecai stood instead of bowing!  And he was hated for that!

Christians are not hated because they do something wrong, but only because they do what is not liked.  Instead of bowing to pay the world homage . . . we stand to show GOD honor! When Christians do what is liked, then the world doesn't feel it is wrong!  In fact, the world likes a quiet Christian!  This doesn't mean you should intentionally go out looking to bring hatred on yourself . . . but be prepared for it! 

Spirit Filled Blessing - Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Scripture of the Day

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

“Spirit Filled Blessing”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Wow!  This was a blessing Paul spoke upon the Gentiles, and it is truly Spirit filled!  If you have been reading any of the SODs this week, you may have noticed that all of them were out of the book of Romans.  And all of them were about the Spirit of GOD!  GOD has poured HIS Holy Spirit upon HIS children!  We are sealed by the testimony of the Spirit!  We must submit our spirit to the GOD of hope, who can fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in HIM!  And by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may overflow with HIS hope!

Please Live In This Blessing!  Just as Paul spoke this Spirit filled blessing upon the Gentiles . . . let us pray it for one another!  Submit your spirit to the Holy Spirit and give HIM a hopeful heart full of praise!

Love Sincerely