The Devotional

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 131 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 11:1-4 (part 1) Matthew 6:9 -13 – “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES: Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Our Father in heaven – what a glorious position we have in the kingdom of God. We are adopted children in the Holy Family of God. Like Jesus, He is the only begotten Son of God, but there are many adopted children , 1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him , for we shall see Him as He is . When you pray to our Holy Fa...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 130 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 11:1-4 (part 1) Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So, He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES: Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah One of my favorite passages in all of scripture is the ‘Disciples Prayer’, better known in Christian gatherings as the Lord’s Prayer. It matters very little of how you title these words that teach us to pray effectively. What does matter is that only the true children of God can call God their Father. If you are not sav...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 129 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 10:38-42 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me. And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.   “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES: Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah The certain village is Bethany, the home town of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, although Lazarus is not mentioned here. Also, none of the other gospel writers refer to this meeting. I find it a bit confusing that the writers of the other gospels are s...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 128 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 10:25-29 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it? ” So, he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES: Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah The extended conversation (Luke 10:30-37) of our LORD with the ‘certain lawyer’ is as relevant today as it was in the days of our LORD just five or six days before His crucifixion. What I seek to say is that we live in an evil world, a world filled with deception. So deceived are people that the darkness looks...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 127 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 10:21-24 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.   “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ” Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; “for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it. ” SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES: Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah The world around us cannot produce or reproduce the ‘joy’ of the Holy Spirit. If you are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, then you ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 126 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 10:17-20 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.   “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.   “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES: Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Once a month I have a wonderful privilege to preach the gospel of Grace in a rescue mission in Providence, Rhode Island. This ministry began over ten years ago, I do not go with my home church, but with another church where I ministered for several years, before returning to my church in North Stonington, CT. The reason I am explaining this is because of the JOY exper...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 125 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 10:1-16 After these things, the Lord appointed seventy others also and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. “Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.   “But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’   “And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. “Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. “And heal the sick there, and say to t...