Category: Daily Bread

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Remove The Filth For The King

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and He sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before Him and that followed Him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” ~ Matthew 21:6-9

When Jesus came riding in on a donkey, the people made sure not even the donkey’s hooves touched the ground by throwing down their own cloaks and cutting down palm branches so the donkey could walk over. The disciples put their cloaks on the donkey so that Jesus could sit on it. They made sure that nothing dirty touched the Messiah or the donkey the Messiah rode.

Today, the Church doesn’t have this same respect for Jesus. We want Jesus in our hearts, but we allow any kind of filth to enter in. We expect Jesus to dwell in filth. We then justify this by saying that God is love. Jesus loves everybody. Sure, both of these statements are true, but God is a righteous God. Jesus is the King of kings and LORD of lords, so how can we expect Him to dwell with all that He hates? If God is righteous, how can we expect Him to dwell in unrighteousness? Our love, respect, and reverence for God have vastly grown dim over the last few decades.

There was a time when we may not have understood or even agreed, but we at least had respect for the Word of God. Today, we condemn the True Gospel when it’s preached. We twist and manipulate the Scriptures as we justify our sin. Those of Jesus’ day took off their very cloaks so that the donkey He was on didn’t touch the ground; we today don’t love God enough to even call sin sin.

Dear LORD, please soften my heart. Remove all the filth from my life. Deliver me from all of the sins I have grown accustomed to indulging. Teach me to hate sin and love righteousness. Help me to not make excuses for myself or others so that we may indulge in our sinful desires. Cleanse my heart, oh God, that it may a heart after Your own heart, like Your servant, David. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Keep Going Regardless

37 As He was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” ~ Luke 19:37-40

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, on His way down from the Mount of Olives, when the Pharisees tried to condemn the disciples of Jesus to Jesus Himself. The book Revelation refers to Satan as the accuser of the brethren. In fact, it goes as far as to say that he accuses the Church day and night (Revelation 12:10). The Pharisees may not have been Satan himself, but they act on his behalf through the influence of his kingdom. Just as we, the Church, act on Jesus’ behalf with our actions.

Today is no different. You may not even get to your destination or even get to fully begin what you set out to do for God when a Pharisee who has been with you, listening to you, and following you tries to condemn exactly what God has called you to do. Don’t allow them to discourage you; hold to the promise and call you were given. Not everyone listening to you, surrounding you, talking to you, or conversing with you are for you. Be aware of them and seek discernment on how to respond. Jesus didn’t tell them to leave His presence or even rebuke them; Jesus instead corrected their rebuke with the Truth.

Seek the LORD earnestly for discernment, so that you may discern the Spirit of Truth from the Spirit of Error (1 John 4:6). Root yourself in God, and then His call for your life will never be shaken, regardless of who tries to tear down all that you are doing. Don’t condemn, instead correct error with the Truth of our God in love because our God is love (1 John 4:8)

Dead LORD, please give me the Spirit of Discernment so that I might discern between the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error. Please continue to perfect me in Your perfect love so that there will be no room for fear, doubt, or discouragement when the enemy comes against me. Please give me the confidence of who I am in You and what I am to do for Your glory and Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Don’t Let The Enemy Silence You

37 As He was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” ~ Luke 19:37-40

Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem. He hadn’t made it down the Mount of Olives yet; nevertheless, the Pharisees were there. They remained quiet until the disciples began to rejoice and proclaim who Jesus is. The enemy is fine with us believing Jesus existed. He’s even fine with us believing that He died on the cross and rose again. But the moment we start speaking about who Jesus is, the enemy can’t remain silent. The enemy has to speak. He has to try to silence the Truth. Why?

Unless we understand and proclaim who Jesus is, we make His name powerless. Unless we proclaim that Jesus is King of kings and LORD of lords and believe that He is God incarnate, we cannot be saved. The enemy will try to intimidate you. He’ll try to condemn you. He’ll even try to twist Scripture to confuse you so that you’ll miss out on Jesus. You’ll miss out on His salvation. You’ll miss out on His peace, grace, joy, healing, and so much more. If the enemy can silence you, then the enemy can snuff out the Light that is within you.

Dear LORD, please help me to never allow Your Light in me to be dimmed. Protect my faith. Don’t allow any fear, doubt, intimidation, or twisting of Scripture to uproot my faith in You. Strengthen my faith so that I might overcome every fiery dart the enemy sends my way. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Love God Most

24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon. ~ Matthew 6:24

We often quote this last verse as “you cannot serve both God and money.” In doing this, we miss Jesus’ point; the love of money, greed, is the god Mammon. You can’t serve Mammon and God. When we leave it as just money, we allow this idea that money is evil or having money is evil to enter into our thoughts. Let me make this very clear; money is not evil. You don’t need to go and sell everything you have and become poor in order to be saved.

There’s only one account of the rich having to sell all that he has in order to be saved. This is because the rich man had a love of money. We can be sure of this because when it came to the rich man, Zacchaeus, Jesus never told him to sell all that he had. Why? Because Zacchaeus didn’t have a love of money. He automatically repented and promised to restore fourfold to anyone he cheated. He even promised to give half of his wealth to the poor. Money wasn’t Zacchaeus’ love; Jesus was. This is the desire of God. Not that all be poor in order to serve Him, but that all love God more than anything else in this world.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Love God Most.

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Seek God’s Understanding

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. ~ Exodus 1:8

After Joseph saved Egypt, with the help of the wisdom of the LORD, a new king arose over Egypt that didn’t know Joseph. Because of this, he began the oppression of the Israelites in the land. The Hebrew word for know in this verse is oida. Oida often connotes not only having knowledge but also being able to understand that knowledge. What does this mean?

The new king didn’t know Joseph because he didn’t understand the power that rested upon Joseph. He didn’t understand that in having no regard for Joseph meant having no regard for the God of Joseph.

Many of us know of great men and women of God. We know their works and their wisdom, but we don’t understand their works or their teachings because we can’t comprehend how it fits the ideology we’ve created or accepted in our own mind. So, we mock them and call them false teachers and blasphemous because their actions didn’t make sense to our own biased beliefs. And in doing so, we don’t realize we are mocking the one who sent them. When we bring persecution upon a man or woman of God, we are persecuting Jesus, just as Saul did (Acts 22:7-8).

Jesus lives in and through His Church. This is why we are called the body of Christ because Christ (the head) dictates where the body must go and what the body must do. Therefore, don’t just make a blind judgment call on someone because they are different or believe differently than you. Seek the LORD for discernment as you test every spirit so that you might not persecute Christ because of the lack of understanding.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Seek God’s Understanding.

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Forbid Forbidden Fruit

13 You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors, 14 therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle; mothers were dashed in pieces with their children. ~ Hosea 10:13-14

The forbidden fruit can seem more important than anything else. It looks good to the eyes, touch, and smell. It even promises to give you something, but what it’ll take from you is so much more. The iniquity that we cling to won’t allow us to live in peace. Why? Because unrighteousness can’t dwell with God.

See, our souls, deep down, yearn for God. It knows we need God. That we’re empty without Him because we’re empty without Him. So, our soul is being destroyed by the sin that we allow in our lives. Sin doesn’t want what’s best for you. Sin wants to destroy you. It wants to drain you of all you have until there is nothing left to give. Sin destroys, but God saves. Sin condemns, but God redeems. If we want the peace of God with all of the other many blessings and benefits that come with dwelling in the presence of God and abiding in His love.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Forbid Forbidden Fruit.

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If You Can Use Anything

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And He told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” ~ John 2:13-16

Money is important; without it, none can survive, but money shouldn’t be the main focus of the Church. Jesus flipped tables, poured out money, and even made a whip of chords to chase out the money changers. Why? Because they were focused on making money instead of ushering in the presence of God. Today’s churches are filled with coffee stands and even cafeterias where you can get all the drink and food you want, but the Church is still dying of dehydration and starvation. We go to church every Sunday, but we’re not getting fed. Our churches are filled with all the Starbucks you could ever want, but the well of Living Water has gone dry.

There’s nothing wrong with serving drinks and food at church. Jesus fed people as well, but Jesus made sure to Spiritually take care of their needs before He physically did. We have to make sure that we’re spiritually taking care of the people that come through those doors. Every song should usher in the presence of God. Every word spoken should be filled with power and authority from God. The Church should be full.

LORD, I may not be a leader in my church, but help me to be the change I want to see. If You can use anything and anyone, please use me. Awaken the sleeping spirit within me. Let revival start with me. Let the outpouring of Your Spirit start with me. Please mold me and make me so that I can be whatever vessel You need me to be. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Blow A Trumpet

1 Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations. ~ Joel 2:1-2

Throughout the Old Testament, prophets constantly heard and, therefore, prophesied that the day of the LORD was a frightening day. A day of darkness and gloom, yet Paul says it’s our blessed hope (Titus 2:11-14). John is told in his revelation that the Spirit and the bride say come, as well as the one who hears (Revelation 22:17). Why? Because we have been perfected in His perfect love that casts out all fear. Fear has to do with punishment, and we, His people, shall not be punished for we have been redeemed (1 John 4:18).

God Himself paid our debt. He took our punishment upon Himself. Why? So that when that last trumpet blasts and Jesus returns, we’ll rejoice because He will take us to be with Him forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). So, blow a trumpet of warning within your heart. Awaken your sleeping spirit. The day of the LORD is at hand. It’s closer now than ever has been before. There are more and more signs of the times every day. Don’t miss them. Don’t ignore them. They are here, and more will come regardless of whether we like it or not. So, prepare for His return. Be ready so that that day may be a day of rejoicing, not a day of fear and dread.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Blow A Trumpet.

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Don’t Hinder Your Faith

9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ~ Matthew 24:9-13

A time is coming and is now here when good will be called evil and evil will be called good. Sin and debauchery will be celebrated. Vileness and shameful things will be lifted up and proclaimed as wholesome and good. Christians will be arrested and thrown in prison, all for the sake of the Gospel. They will be beaten and their property confiscated. They will be seen as the enemy of the state, and their freedom will be revoked, but don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will be with us.

It’s more important now than it ever has been before to spread the Truth of the LORD. To share the Gospel of Christ with others. To shine a Light in the darkness. Jesus warned us ahead of time of the coming tribulation and great deception. They’re both knocking at our door. Fear is going before them, telling us that it won’t come to pass, especially not in our time. God won’t let anything bad happen to His faithful believers. These lies won’t help your endurance; they will only hinder your race. They’ll only hinder your faith. These days are coming whether we like it or not. So, strengthen your faith. Prepare for the coming times. If it doesn’t come in our time, then you would have only strengthened your faith and therefore built more treasures in heaven. But if it comes in our lifetime, and we are unprepared, how will we be able to stand?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Prepare For The Coming Times.

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Leave The Box

12 But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’ ~ Amos 2:12

Many of us live our lives in a box, and because we live in the box, we drag God into the same box as well. God is all-powerful, but His power is restrained or limited by our faith. Jesus, God in the flesh, marveled at the unbelief of Nazareth, His hometown (Mark 6:1-6) because He could only do a few miracles and heal a few sick. If we refuse to believe God is more than Salvation and try to convince others of the same thing, then it’s not the beliefs we’re trying to stop; it’s God.

God wants to do more than save us from our sin. He wants to give us life more abundantly, but we have to believe it’s possible. We have to leave the box in order to see all that God has in store for us. We have to remove our biases and truly seek the Truth of God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Leave The Box.

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