Verse of the day — Colossians 2:7
having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 2:7(NASB)
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
The end of all things is at hand.
I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away.—The heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.—“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed.”
We have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.—We are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
1 Pet. 4:7; Rev 20:11; 2 Pet. 3:7; Ps. 46:1-3; Matt. 24:6; 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Pet. 3:13;14
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
A Burden For the Lord
Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? (Habakkuk 1:3)
The word "burden" here just does mean a load or weight, as much as a man can carry. Thus the Prophets felt what the Lord had shown them to be something that weighed heavily upon them and often overwhelmed them.
The prophetic function is brought into operation at a time when things are not well with the people and work of God, when declension has set in; when things have lost their distinctive Divine character; when there is a falling short or an accretion of features which were never intended by God. The Prophet in principle is one who represents in himself and his vision God's reaction to either a dangerous tendency or a positive deviation. He stands on God's full ground and the trend breaks on him. That which constitutes this prophetic function is spiritual perception, discernment, and insight. The Prophet sees, and he sees what others are not seeing. It is vision, and this vision is not just of an enterprise, a "work," a venture; it is a state, a condition. It is not for the work as such that he is concerned, but for the spiritual state that dishonors and grieves the Lord.
This faculty of spiritual discernment makes the Prophet a very lonely man, and brings upon him all the charges of being singular, extreme, idealistic, unbalanced, spiritually proud, and even schismatic. He makes many enemies for himself. Sometimes he is not vindicated until after he has left the earthly scene of his testimony. Nevertheless, the Prophet is the instrument of keeping the Lord's full thought alive, and of maintaining vision without which the people are doomed to disintegration.... The Lord needs that which really does represent His fullest possible thought, and not those who are just doing a good work. But it costs; and this is the "burden of the valley of vision."
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. § He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.
“Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” … “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Matt. 28:20; Matt. 18:19,20; John 14:21; John 14:22,23; Jude1:24,25
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Side Effects
God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shone in our hearts" (2 Cor. 4:6a).
The Father tolerates our side of things until we learn to value His side of things.
"Make your Father's side of things your interest and concern, and your side will be fully ensured; but turn your eye to your own side, and, with much apparent effort and work, you will look for much and bring in little. This explains the small progress in many souls in this day, notwithstanding the amount of truth and light they have received. May the Lord Jesus in His Word be more simply the Object of our hearts in this evil day." -J.B.S.
"Love really does not think of anyone but its Object until it is quite sure of its place with Him, and then when at rest about itself it studies the mind and heart of the Object. I find that the Lord Jesus loved me and gave Himself for me when I was in a most unattractive state; but He makes me suitable to Himself, and I am so assured of the permanency of His love and of my association with Him that my heart is free to study Him. The more I am in His company, the more I grow in the characteristics which answer to His mind and nature." -J.B.S.
"All here comes to me from one spring, and that source is the heart of my Father. You must connect your heart with the love and not with the benefit otherwise you are not yet established. I am not only clear of everything that was against me, but I am brought into a new kind of love - the love of the Father. It is not merely His gifts, His power, His greatness, but it is the knowledge of what He is in Himself to me."
"The law demands, love God; grace declares, God so loved!"
"To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6b).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
God’s Unfolding Plan
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
Sequel to Luke
Acts is the documented sequel to Luke’s gospel – a background book to the Bible. Acts is a factual, historical record that keeps the chronicles of scripture in context, and an understanding of the book of Acts gives clarity to the rest of God’s Word.
Historical Context
Acts is a transition between Old Testament living and New Testament life. Acts is a changeover period between the four gospels and the epistles of Paul. Acts is an historical document. It is not a book of doctrine, but rather it helps to place the rest of Scripture in its correct historical context. Acts is a book that gives continuity to the Bible and shows sequence in Scripture. It links the 11 apostles with the gospels introducing Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles.
Twofold Focus
The first chapters focus on Peter and the Jews – the rest centre on Paul and gentiles. The early part of Acts continues to focus on the kingdom message, while the latter chapters deal with Paul and his message to the churches.
Jewish and Gentile
In the early chapters, believers are found meeting in the Temple or synagogues.. and much of the content of those chapters is exclusively Jewish in nature. In later chapters, believers are discovered meeting together in houses and homes.. and the content of this section traces Paul’s gospel outreach to Gentile believers.
National Repentance
Peter is seen calling men of Israel around the world to repent of their sins, and a policy of excluding Gentiles persisted in these first few chapters of Acts. Israel were God’s people who had strayed far from their God – so they were to repent. Down through the centuries prophet after prophet called Israel to turn from their sins.
Final Prophet of Israel
John the Baptist was the final prophet calling for national repentance.. they were to repent of their sins and believe on Jesus – the Messiah sent by God. National
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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
The Blood of the Lamb
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb ……” Revelation 12:11
The Fullness of the Gentiles
A time is coming (in time) – when the Church will be completed.. a time when the fullness of the Gentiles will have come in.. a time when the Lord Jesus comes for His bride – at the rapture… a time when the 2000-year long Christian dispensation is completed.
Jacob’s Trouble
A time is coming when God will once again turn His attention back to Israel.. time of prophesied tribulation; a time of judgment; the time of Jacob’s trouble.. time when the gospel of the kingdom will have been taught worldwide – time when the veil over the heart of the Jewish nation – is lifted.
Millennial Rule
The millennial rule of Christ will be ushered in. The mystery of God will be accomplished and completed. The finished, finalised house of the Lord will be built up of living stones. The 6000-year long dispensation of man under Satan’s rule will be over – and Satan will be bound for 1000 years in the bottomless pit.
Blood of the Lamb
But while Satan is still active, believers overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb. The way to overcome Satan in any dispensation is described in Revelation ch. 12. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb ……” Revelation 12:11
Forgiveness of Sin
No-one who isn’t covered, cleansed, redeemed, forgiven, born again can overcome. Forgiveness through faith, is the first crucial step to being an overcomer. For without the blood of Jesus, there is no forgiveness of sin, and without the blood of Christ, there is no communion with God.
Overcoming the Enemy
Without the blood of Jesus, no one can defeat Satan, sin, and death. Without the blood of Christ, no one can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. The blood of Jesus is often only seen in the context of forgiveness of sins, but there is more that this cleansing flood has achieved in a believer’s life. It includes His indwelling; sanctification;
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