The local church is where:
- Saints are equipped.
- Christ is worshiped.
- Children are taught.
- Marriages are strengthened.
- Sinners are confronted.
Don't treat it like an optional weekend activity.
- Saints are equipped.
- Christ is worshiped.
- Children are taught.
- Marriages are strengthened.
- Sinners are confronted.
Don't treat it like an optional weekend activity.
❤9
The devil does not care whether you waste your life through wickedness or endless distraction.
Either way, you are too busy to obey Christ.
Either way, you are too busy to obey Christ.
❤3
Progressive Christianity is not Christianity progressing. It is often self-centered unbelief wearing religious vocabulary.
❤5
Your business is saying something about Christ, whether you realize it or not.
The way you treat clients, communicate, keep your word, and pursue excellence all reflect what you believe.
At Faithful Web & AI Care, we believe technology should help Christian businesses and ministries serve people with integrity and excellence.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord..." (Colossians 3:23)
The way you treat clients, communicate, keep your word, and pursue excellence all reflect what you believe.
At Faithful Web & AI Care, we believe technology should help Christian businesses and ministries serve people with integrity and excellence.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord..." (Colossians 3:23)
❤6
August 3: The Art of Discipline
#Devotional
Isaiah 5:1–6:13; Luke 1:67–2:21; Job 2:1–10
Jesus didn’t die for us so that we could continue to sin—He sacrificed Himself so that we could have sinless lives. God is patient, but His patience does not last forever. We wouldn’t test His patience so often if we had not lost sight of the notion of discipline, a concept that is at the forefront in the ot.
In the book of Isaiah, God describes His people using the image of a vineyard:
“And now let me tell you what I myself am about to do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall become a devastation. I will break down its wall, and it shall become a trampling. And I will make it a wasteland; it shall not be pruned and hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thornbushes.… For the vineyard of Yahweh of hosts is the house of Israel, and the man of Judah is the plantation of his delight. And he [Yahweh] waited for justice, but look! Bloodshed! For righteousness, but look! A cry of distress!” (Isa 5:5–7).
The vineyard described in this passage is eventually restored through Christ, who creates a new vine and new branches. Yet the vineyard still requires the same level of care and discipline (John 15:1–17).
It’s tempting to justify our behaviors by arguing that it is impossible to not sin, but is this true? Jesus came to make it possible for us to live as God has always desired for us to live—this is one of the many things that makes His birth so glorious (Luke 2:14; compare Isa 6:3). While no one other than Jesus has been sinless, Christians are meant to be people who are freed from sin (Rom 6:1–14). Thus, it may be unlikely to live a sinless life, but it’s not impossible: “All things are possible for God” (Phil 4:13).
Discipline is one way that God teaches us to become more like Him—as He intended us to be (Gen 1:26). God disciplines believers because He cares too much about His people to allow us to throw away all the grace and goodness He offers. If sin had no repercussions, we would live the lives we desire, not the lives we are meant to live. And if we don’t live the lives we’re meant to live, we miss out on God’s blessing and lose sight of the goals He has for us, leading others astray in the process. When we openly sin (without repenting), we discourage others from wanting to live in God’s likeness.
God has called us to do everything we can, with the Spirit’s empowerment, to live sinless lives. We must repent daily and move closer toward that goal. As we seek that goal, we have greater opportunities to live so that others may know and find Him. In the meantime, we should expect His discipline to help shape us to become more like Him.
How is God currently disciplining you? What are you learning from it?
#Devotional
Isaiah 5:1–6:13; Luke 1:67–2:21; Job 2:1–10
Jesus didn’t die for us so that we could continue to sin—He sacrificed Himself so that we could have sinless lives. God is patient, but His patience does not last forever. We wouldn’t test His patience so often if we had not lost sight of the notion of discipline, a concept that is at the forefront in the ot.
In the book of Isaiah, God describes His people using the image of a vineyard:
“And now let me tell you what I myself am about to do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall become a devastation. I will break down its wall, and it shall become a trampling. And I will make it a wasteland; it shall not be pruned and hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thornbushes.… For the vineyard of Yahweh of hosts is the house of Israel, and the man of Judah is the plantation of his delight. And he [Yahweh] waited for justice, but look! Bloodshed! For righteousness, but look! A cry of distress!” (Isa 5:5–7).
The vineyard described in this passage is eventually restored through Christ, who creates a new vine and new branches. Yet the vineyard still requires the same level of care and discipline (John 15:1–17).
It’s tempting to justify our behaviors by arguing that it is impossible to not sin, but is this true? Jesus came to make it possible for us to live as God has always desired for us to live—this is one of the many things that makes His birth so glorious (Luke 2:14; compare Isa 6:3). While no one other than Jesus has been sinless, Christians are meant to be people who are freed from sin (Rom 6:1–14). Thus, it may be unlikely to live a sinless life, but it’s not impossible: “All things are possible for God” (Phil 4:13).
Discipline is one way that God teaches us to become more like Him—as He intended us to be (Gen 1:26). God disciplines believers because He cares too much about His people to allow us to throw away all the grace and goodness He offers. If sin had no repercussions, we would live the lives we desire, not the lives we are meant to live. And if we don’t live the lives we’re meant to live, we miss out on God’s blessing and lose sight of the goals He has for us, leading others astray in the process. When we openly sin (without repenting), we discourage others from wanting to live in God’s likeness.
God has called us to do everything we can, with the Spirit’s empowerment, to live sinless lives. We must repent daily and move closer toward that goal. As we seek that goal, we have greater opportunities to live so that others may know and find Him. In the meantime, we should expect His discipline to help shape us to become more like Him.
How is God currently disciplining you? What are you learning from it?
❤4
August 3 - Supremacy over Demons
#LifeOfChrist
“And He said to them, ‘Go!’ And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters” (Matthew 8:32).
Our Lord Jesus will always have the upper hand over demonic forces. But we should never forget that demons, as fallen angels, still possess tremendous power and strength (cf. Dan. 10:21; Rev. 12:4). For example, when God sent an angel with a message for Daniel, a demon named “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” delayed the angel for three weeks, and God had to send Michael the archangel to help the other divine messenger (Dan. 10:13).
Wicked angels are superior to humans in many ways: intelligence (Ezek. 28:3–4), strength (Mark 5:4; Acts 19:16), powers to do “signs and false wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9), and in experience (having existed much longer than mankind). As spirit beings, they are not bound by time, space, or form. Thus only Christ has sufficient power to bruise Satan’s head and cast him and his forces into the lake of fire and brimstone forever (Rev. 20:3, 10). It required tremendous supernatural power to expel so many demons from the two men and into the pigs, yet He accomplished the feat in an instant.
Knowing all this, we as God’s children must remember that only with His armor, especially the shield of faith, can we withstand attacks from demons (Eph. 6:16) and be victorious over their schemes.
Ask Yourself
How have you been taught to deal with the forces of darkness and evil? By taking them on in direct spiritual confrontation? By ignoring them or acting as if they don’t exist? Let Jesus be your total confidence in all such matters of warfare.
#LifeOfChrist
“And He said to them, ‘Go!’ And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters” (Matthew 8:32).
Our Lord Jesus will always have the upper hand over demonic forces. But we should never forget that demons, as fallen angels, still possess tremendous power and strength (cf. Dan. 10:21; Rev. 12:4). For example, when God sent an angel with a message for Daniel, a demon named “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” delayed the angel for three weeks, and God had to send Michael the archangel to help the other divine messenger (Dan. 10:13).
Wicked angels are superior to humans in many ways: intelligence (Ezek. 28:3–4), strength (Mark 5:4; Acts 19:16), powers to do “signs and false wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9), and in experience (having existed much longer than mankind). As spirit beings, they are not bound by time, space, or form. Thus only Christ has sufficient power to bruise Satan’s head and cast him and his forces into the lake of fire and brimstone forever (Rev. 20:3, 10). It required tremendous supernatural power to expel so many demons from the two men and into the pigs, yet He accomplished the feat in an instant.
Knowing all this, we as God’s children must remember that only with His armor, especially the shield of faith, can we withstand attacks from demons (Eph. 6:16) and be victorious over their schemes.
Ask Yourself
How have you been taught to deal with the forces of darkness and evil? By taking them on in direct spiritual confrontation? By ignoring them or acting as if they don’t exist? Let Jesus be your total confidence in all such matters of warfare.
❤5
The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace.
- Charles Spurgeon
- Charles Spurgeon
❤3
God isn't calling you to worry about things He has already arranged and in full control of.
❤4
Pray for your enemies.
Matthew 5:44
The overall wellbeing of our enemies, demands our prayers of compassion for the lost.
Matthew 5:44
The overall wellbeing of our enemies, demands our prayers of compassion for the lost.
❤5
It's Monday! There is fresh air in our lungs, grace for another day, and far more to rejoice over than we often stop to remember.
The Lord has been faithful. His mercies are new this morning, and every good gift still comes from His hand.
Thank You, God!
The Lord has been faithful. His mercies are new this morning, and every good gift still comes from His hand.
Thank You, God!
❤4
Upset about the mockery of the Last Supper? I am, too, but know this:
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."
- John 15:18
"Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you."
- 1 John 3:13
We as believers should expect hatred towards Christ and His own. We have been friends with the world for far too long.
Keep in mind that we are at war. Life is not a "pleasure cruise," but a battleship. We should respond by loving our enemies and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With each day we live, God has given us a mission to accomplish. Let's get to it while we still have a chance.
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."
- John 15:18
"Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you."
- 1 John 3:13
We as believers should expect hatred towards Christ and His own. We have been friends with the world for far too long.
Keep in mind that we are at war. Life is not a "pleasure cruise," but a battleship. We should respond by loving our enemies and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With each day we live, God has given us a mission to accomplish. Let's get to it while we still have a chance.
❤7
Dear Daughter,
A blade is not born sharp — it is drawn across stone, again and again, until it can hold an edge.
This week, let friction sharpen you, not sever you.
Every disagreement is either a wound or a whetstone. You choose which.
'Iron sharpens iron' (Prov 27:17).
What friction this week will you turn into an edge, not a scar?
#DearDaughter #MondayReset #StrongMarriage
A blade is not born sharp — it is drawn across stone, again and again, until it can hold an edge.
This week, let friction sharpen you, not sever you.
Every disagreement is either a wound or a whetstone. You choose which.
'Iron sharpens iron' (Prov 27:17).
What friction this week will you turn into an edge, not a scar?
#DearDaughter #MondayReset #StrongMarriage
❤4
Many pray for revival while refusing to mortify the sins they secretly protect.
❤4
Monday strength: Love is a CHOICE before it is a feeling! 💪❤️ Choose it again today, on purpose! 1 Cor 13:4-5 🌿
What choice will you make for your spouse today? #StrongMarriage #August
What choice will you make for your spouse today? #StrongMarriage #August
❤5
The Bible is the truth, whether you agree with it or not.
❤7
The certainty of the resurrection gives hope, perseverance, courage, and joy.
❤6
Taking some time out from here for awhile, I appreciate your prayers, God bless you all.
❤8
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments.” Proverbs 3:1
If hand obedience and foot obedience and mouth obedience are to be worthy, they must be accompanied by heart obedience.
If hand obedience and foot obedience and mouth obedience are to be worthy, they must be accompanied by heart obedience.
❤8