Update: Pause on Devotionals Due to Surgery

Greetings, dear friends,

I wanted to inform you that I recently underwent rotator cuff surgery, which will greatly limit my ability to produce devotionals.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you who have faithfully followed my blog. It is my sincere hope and prayer that these devotionals have been a source of blessing and encouragement to you.

Please note that there are over 5,000 devotionals and sermons available on this site. If you have a specific topic or passage of scripture you are interested in, you can easily search for it using the search block located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

As of now, I am uncertain when I will be able to resume writing. Until then, may God bless and keep you.

Pastor Terry

‘Nailing Our Sinful Nature to the Cross’

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:24-25)

Throughout this week, our focus has been on the richness of bearing the fruit of the Spirit, which epitomizes Christlike character. It is a divine gift, graciously bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit, intended not only for our personal growth but also for the magnification of God’s glory. It serves as a testament to the world of our identity as chosen children of God.

However, amidst the potential abundance of this fruit, we must heed the solemn warnings of Scripture:

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” (Ephesians 4:30)

 

“Do not quench the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) 

‘The Fruit of the Spirit’

The Bible extensively discusses the theme of fruit. Adam and Eve were commanded to be fruitful and multiply. God promised Abraham abundant fruitfulness, with descendants becoming kings and nations. The Promised Land was described as flowing with milk and honey, symbolizing its fruitfulness. David, speaking of those who immerse themselves in God’s Word, likened them to trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in season, and prospering in all they do. Jesus instructed His disciples that bearing much fruit glorifies the Father and identifies them as His disciples. Revelation speaks of a Tree of Life in heaven, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, and offering healing to nations. Clearly, the Bible abounds with references to fruit.

‘Happiness for the Child of God’

What would it take for you to be happiest as a believer? Some might say, “Teaching a child about Jesus,” “Helping someone in need,” “Giving a substantial amount of money to a worthy cause,” or “Helping someone come to know Christ.” While all of these actions can bring happiness, there’s something else that can bring us even greater joy and satisfaction: bearing the fruit of ‘Christ-like Character.’ Let’s explore what Paul wrote to the Galatians.

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:19-23 NLT)

Christlikeness

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son… (Romans 8:29 NLT)

To be more like Jesus should be the desire of every believer. Yet, for those of us who have tried to accomplish this, we know just how hard it can be. Some days, I feel like I’m making significant progress, while on others, I wonder what’s wrong with me.

‘A Rich and Satisfying Life’

Why do many people hesitate to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? For some, it’s uncertainty about the unknown, while others may be influenced by past negative experiences. But for many, the fear of a dull and boring life as a Christian holds them back. How different this fear is from the vibrant life the Bible promises to those who become followers of Christ. Consider these truths from scripture:

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. “ (Ephesians 3:19-20 NLT)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

‘God is Rich in Mercy’

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” (Lamentations 3:22-24)

These encouraging verses come from a book in the Bible known as ‘Lamentations.’ The word ‘lamentations’ itself refers to expressions of mourning, grief, or sorrowful complaints. The book, written by the prophet Jeremiah, mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites.

However, despite his sadness, Jeremiah found reason for hope and reassurance. Though God was chastening His people, He would not abandon them. Even in the midst of their sorrow and trouble, He would still be with them and extend to them His mercy and grace.

‘God Shall Supply All of Our Needs’

Among the many churches the Apostle Paul was associated with, the Philippian church seemed to be one of his favorites. In his letter to them, he noted that there was a time when they were the only church that supported him financially in his ministry. Additionally, during his time in prison, they sent a love package to him. In gratitude, he wrote, “Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.” (Philippians 4:18) In the Old Testament sacrificial system, every sacrifice was intended to produce a fragrant aroma that would be acceptable to God. Paul viewed the Philippians’ love gift to him as a spiritual sacrifice that pleased our Savior.

In response to their sacrificial giving, Paul reassured them that God would bless them.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

‘We Must Walk by Faith and Not by Sight’

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

In this passage, Paul uses the metaphor of a tent to illustrate the temporary nature of our earthly bodies. Just as we might spend a night or two in a tent, so are our physical bodies our temporary dwelling places. Regardless of our lifespan – whether it’s 80, 90, or even 100 years – we eventually die and leave our earthly bodies behind. As Ecclesiastes 12:7 states, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Our bodies, formed from dust, return to dust, while our spirits, given to us by God at the moment of our conception, return to Him.

‘Fear Not, God is With Us’

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

This verse is a favorite of many. From it, we find the reassurance that God is with us and will help us. Let’s take a few moments to break it down and glean from its richness.