Our Daily Devotions While On The Road

My personal experience with Jesus Christ: January 30, 1978 at 7:30 PM, I prayed asking God to forgive me for my sins and to send His Son, Jesus Christ into my life. I asked God to make me the person He wanted me to be.

That moment I felt Jesus come inside my body and I felt Satan leave. I lost all desire for drugs and alcohol, I stoped cursing, hating and thinking only about myself. I started loving, thinking of others and most importantly I had a strong desire to know more about this amazing and powerful Jesus who just transformed me into a completely different person from the inside out.

The very next thing I did was start reading and studying the Bible to find out more about Jesus Christ and to discover what had just happened to me. I have spent the last 44 years in my quest to know more about Jesus and I haven’t even scratched the surface of the depth and power of the love contained in that name – The Lord Jesus Christ!

I invite you along to explore the powerful love of Jesus as we travel the highways and byways of North America, one day at a time…

8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Apostle Paul, Philippians 3:8-11)

Psalms 46

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,

The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah

Introduction : To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

= The sons of Korah, back story – Numbers 16… Korah was part of a rebellion against Moses and Aaron that ended with the ground opening up where Korah and his family were camping and swallowing the entire family with all their possessions sending them all to their deaths, then the ground quickly closed up again. There were thousands of people camped around them and next to them who went running and screaming for their lives, but Korah and his family were the only ones swallowed alive by the ground.

Some of the sons of Korah survived and several generations later became worship leaders in the temple at Jerusalem. This psalm is one of many they wrote that was recorded in the book of Psalms. I think they would’ve become embittered by what happened to their great great grandparents, but instead they are leading the worship of the God who killed their grandparents.

Alamoth – is not a person, it’s a type of melody this song was to be sung or chanted with, the book of Psalms is a song book used by the Hebrew people to worship God.

1) Psalm 46, Verse – 1: God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

a) 1 John 2:15-17

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

– The world is a system of values, the Greek word for world in 1 John 2:15-17 is: “cosmos” – meaning “value system”- the world’s value system is and always will be contradicting and warring against God and His Son’s value system. Producing conflict and trouble for those who stand with Jesus and consequently against or contrary to the cosmos, the world system or set of values…

– Several years ago when Chick-fa-lay publicly stood against the homosexual lifestyle, the mayor of Chicago said that the value system in Chicago doesn’t match up with the value system of Chick-fa-lay, a Christian owned and operated company and he called for a boycott of all Chick-fa-lay restaurants.

The mayor of Chicago was right about one thing, Chicago and the world have a much different value system than that of the true Christian believer. There will always be conflicts between believers and nonbelievers.

b) John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

2) Psalm 46, Verse – (2-3) 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Selah – means meditate on this truth…

a) Therefore ~ means, “because of what I just said…” What the psalmist just said was verse 1.

= verse 1 – God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. – therefore we will not fear…

b) Selah – means meditate on this truth…

3) Psalm 46, Verse – (4-5) 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

a) The River of God… There’s an old song we used to sing in Bible College – “The river of God sets our feet a dancing, the river of God fills our heart with Cheer, the river of God fills our mouth with laughter, we rejoice because the river is here…”

– we are the city and holy place of the tabernacle of God – John 14 = we are each a mansion in the house of God being built by the hands of God, so that we can enjoy the same relationship with the Father that Jesus has.

b) Revelation 22:1-5

The River of Life

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

4) Psalm 46, Verse – (6-7) 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah – meditate on this truth…

a) Psalms 2

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

(Acts 4:23–31 – quotes Psalm 2)

1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces

And cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”

7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me,

You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way,

When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

b) Psalm 46, Verse 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. – We have nothing to fear, Jesus is always on the throne and always in control, nothing can happen to us that He doesn’t know about, nothing catches Jesus by surprise…

Selah – meditate on this truth…

– We are caught in the middle between two terrible and great armies warring against each other over the souls of humanity. We are war refugees trying to stay out of harms way; similar to the refugees of World War ll and other modern day wars…

But remember – “The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

5) Psalm 46, Verse – (8-9) 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

a) Ephesians 1:10

10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. – this phrase, “dispensation of the fullness of the times,” means that God has been orchestrating the history of humanity from the beginning and will continue orchestrating the history of humanity to the end of time.

b) Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. – “all things,” means, “ALL THINGS “

Conclusion: Psalm 46, Verse – (10-11) 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah – meditate on this truth…

The Father’s Heart

Introduction:

John 1:18

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

The Apostle John is speaking seeing the true character of God the Father not the physical appearance of God. John is saying that Jesus reveals the Father’s true heart, how He loves us and how He works on earth.

There are at least two occasions in scripture where people actually saw a physical manifestation of a form of God. I say “a physical manifestation” because God is Spirit and is not limited to the physical. Below are two scripture references describing these occasions when people saw God.

Exodus 24:9-11

9 Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. 11 But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Exodus 33:18-23

18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” 21 And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Jesus reveals who God really is and how He feels about us. He shows us the Father’s love, grace and mercy. Jesus is the only most qualified person to truly and accurately show us the Father.

Matthew 11:27

27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

The passage in Luke 15 is often referred to as “The Prodigal Son,” however, a more accurate title is “The Father’s Heart.”

Luke 15:11-32

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

Introduction: (Luke 15: Verse 11-20a) Tell the story of the Prodigal Son from the beginning to the point of his return to the Father…

1. What the Prodigal Son brought to the Father… Verses 20-21 (Prodigal living – debased, extravagant, wasteful lifestyle… Prov. 28:7.)

a. v21 -The son brought nothing to the father, His self-works and efforts to better himself accomplished nothing; the son had to rely completely upon his father’s mercy…

b. v21 – The son brought a broken and contrite spirit; humility… (Psalm 51:16-17; Psalm 34:18; Isa 66:2)

c. The son brought his filthy stinky flesh. Torn and filthy ragged clothes.

2. What the Father brought to the Son… Verses 20b-24

a. (verse 20b) Compassion – He saw him while he was still a great way off and had compassion on him…

b. (verse 20b) Unconditional Love – He ran and fell on his neck and kissed him… The son came back in dirty stinky rags, practically naked and bare footed… The Father ignored all that and loved him anyway… (Some Greek Manuscripts have the sons request to be his slave… But the Father ignored the sons request to become his slave or doesn’t give the son a chance to even ask…)

c. (verse 22b)The Father clothed him with the best robe… The robe represents God’s restoring our righteousness through Christ (Rev 7:9; Rev 6:9-11; Isa 61:10);

d., (verse 22b)The Father adorned him with jewelry (a ring)… The ring represents the restoration of authority in Christ… (Gen 41:42)

e. (verse 22b)The Father put sandals on his feet… The sandals represent the restoration of our status in the family of God and as recipients of our inheritance in Christ (Ezek 16:8-13)… the sandals also represent protection and provision (Deut 33:25-27), and preparation for service (Eph 6:15), and spiritual alertness (Isa 5:27)…

e. (verse 23) The Father brought out the fatted calf, killed it and began to celebrate… Every time someone receives Christ as their Savior there is a celebration in heaven… (Luke 15:4-7; 8-10) The fatted Calf also represents Christ as our spiritual provision and sacrifice – Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35-40)…

f. The Father fully received the son back into the family with all rights and privileges… Nothing was withheld, all was restored to him unconditionally…

3. What The Brother Brought to the Father… (verses 25-30) More than Jews & Gentiles

a. People who have been in the church for a long period of time can sometimes become comfortable in their spiritual status as members of the Church, consequently becoming jealous of new people receiving Christ and coming into Church for the first time…

b. Luke 15:1-3 – Read Luke 15:1-2, = Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” Read Matthew 9:10-13

Older Christians are in danger of developing a Pharisaical spirit… Self-righteous, legalistic followers of a list of do’s and don’ts… They measure their spirituality and the spirituality of those around them based upon their ability to follow the list… Anyone who can’t or doesn’t follow their list is spiritually inferior to them… People who think they are better than everybody else… They think they have arrived…

4. What the Father brings to the older brother. verse 31 – – “…Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.” The Father gives him the same grace, compassion and unconditional love that He gave to the prodigal. The Father places us all on the same rung of the spiritual ladder. “The ground is level at the cross of Calvary.” No matter how long we have been saved, 100 years or 1 second – we all still need the same thing, grace, compassion and unconditional love at the cross of Calvary…

Conclusion: His reason – (verse 32)”…His son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and now is found…”