Tuesday, July 5

Tuesday

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.  Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.    - Revelation 12:7-12

This is a fascinating passage that gives us a glimpse into the reality of spiritual warfare.  We see hints of the past and future of our enemy the Devil.  Satan was cast out of heaven and hurled down to earth after a great battle, and his time here on earth is short.  In fact we read here that Christ on the Cross-has already overcome his power!  "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” 

Satan is referred to here as the accuser.  This is a good description for what he does, he accuses us before God, and he accuses us in our own hearts.  Have you ever heard the devil accusing you? Did you ever hear in your inner ear a voice saying, "What kind of a Christian are you? Look at the way you have acted.  God has to be tired of you making the same mistakes over and over again.  God could never love you! What makes you think you are acceptable in his sight? You are a mess!"  How do you handle that?  According to this text you ought to admit it. It is true.  We mess up all the time.  We believe lies, we act selfishly, we are malicious and self-indulgent at times, we hurt others thoughtlessly. 

All of that is true about us and we must admit it!  Ah, but we must also remember that it has also been forgiven, and wiped away by the blood of the Lamb!   We remind the devil (and ourselves) of the blood of the Lamb, the cross of Christ!  This is what it means when it says they overcame him (Satan) by the “word of their testimony”.  There on that cross Jesus bore our sins so that we are no longer to be judged or even accused before God.  That is why Paul can say in Romans 8, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!" (Romans 8:1).

That is the meaning of the blood of the Lamb. There is no way to handle Satan, and avoid the guilt and shame of which he accuses us, without resting upon the work of the Cross, the blood of the Lamb! When Jesus makes you a new creature, Satan can accuse you only of something that is past and gone. The blood of Christ is sufficient for your own problems with guilt, past, present, and future!


Jeff Frazier

Monday, July 4

Monday

Today is July 4^th, Independence Day!  Most Americans have celebrated Independence Day in their lifetime. The smell of burgers and hotdogs sizzling on the grill outside and the bursting of fireworks in the sky become familiar on July 4th. We eat (a lot), maybe the Star Spangled Banner is played or the National Anthem, and then everyone watches fireworks and goes home. It’s become rather commonplace, another day for big sales events and flying an American flag.  It is easy to forget that the freedom we enjoy in this country and which we celebrate each 4^th of July did not come easy or cheap.  It was bought with a heavy price and through great struggle.  Many have sacrificed and many more sacrifice still to keep our nation free.

However, as Christians we must always keep in mind that as wonderful as it is to live in the U.S.A. our true freedom is not as Americans and it was not won through any human wars.  We have been given freedom in Christ!  He has liberated us from the bonds of sin and given us the victory over death itself!  This freedom was won for us through the incredible sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  While it is true that Christ accomplished our salvation on the cross, we are also told that our liberator will return again someday.  The day of Christ’s return will be our true Independence Day!

The Bible tells us that Jesus will return to earth just like He left, through the clouds, with his angels, with the trumpet call of God and a loud command. Scripture says believers in Christ will be changed in a twinkling of an eye and Jesus will destroy all dominion, authority and power that stands in opposition to Almighty God.

This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  - Acts 1:11

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.  – Matthew 16:27

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  – 1 Thessalonians 4:16

In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  – 1 Corinthians 15:52

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.  – 1 Corinthians 15:24

Picture in your mind the sky filled with God’s mighty angels, the sound of God’s trumpet, which has to be the most beautiful and loudest sounding instrument, and our Lord Jesus shining radiantly as He leads His mighty angelic troop in the earth’s sky.  Try to imagine the victory as Christ and his angels capture Satan and his demons and justice is completed. It will be far more graphic and stirring than any action/adventure thriller that Hollywood could even think of producing.

Actually, the whole scene of Jesus’ return sounds so incredible that I doubt there are words to describe the immense emotional, spiritual, and physical response people will have on that day.


Jeff Frazier

Friday, July 1

Psalm 62:5-8
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him for God is our refuge.

We often talk about a “quiet time” with God. That time is a sacred appointment each day for God to speak to you. The longer you are able to steal away from the cares and pressures of this world, the more you will be able to focus your heart and your hearing on the words the Lord has specifically for you. In prayer, wait patiently on the Lord.

God invites you to come to him with confidence. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time need.” Hebrews 4:16. Embrace your prayer time alone with God each day and you will grow in the assurance that he loves you and will give you daily direction. God has blessed you to be a blessing to someone he places on your path of life today.

Prayer

O God, when I become anxious about my life and the world around me, draw me back into your sacred presence. May your peace which truly transcends all understanding guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. AMEN

Roger Crites

Thursday, June 30

Psalm 40:1-4
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the one who makes the Lord his trust.

Perhaps at some point in your life you have found yourself stuck in a difficult place. Trusting in your own abilities and resources, you came up short. God never intended for you to go it alone. In Proverbs 3:5, he calls you to trust in him with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Confess to the Lord in prayer the occasions when you have sought your own preferences by trusting in your own abilities, rather than trusting in the Lord.

God will set your feet on a solid path. Psalm 37:23-24 reminds all, “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” What is something in your life that you need to transfer your trust to the Lord alone? Are you holding on to unconfessed sin? Do you offer to other people in your life the mercy and grace that that Jesus has extended to you? Trust in the Lord and he will reveal his strength for you and direct your path.

Prayer

O God, I confess that at times in my life I have sought my own private path rather than seeking your way with all of my heart. Renew a steadfast spirit within me and set my feet on a solid path that I might honor you. AMEN

Roger Crites

Wednesday, June 29

Psalm 118:1, 8, 24, 28-29
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever.

In all things God works for the good of those who love him and respond to his call for his purpose. In this day, rejoice and be glad. This is your choice – what you can control.

Regardless of your past, God graciously and generously offers forgiveness and hope.

We live in a fallen world with sinful people. Know that people should be better than they are but they are not. What are some of your expectations and assumptions of other people? Are you unhappy because of how you are treated by others? Do you need evaluate your expectations and create new ones? Joy is in the Lord, not in the circumstances of life

Take time today to reflect and write down the ways that God is working for good in your life. Focus on and respond to what you can control and give over to God all of the relationships and realities that you cannot control. Give thanks that his love to you will endure forever.

Prayer

O God, regardless of how I feel, I choose to trust and rejoice in you. You alone are the one who will reveal your plan and purpose for my life. I will trust, day by day, in your faithfulness to me. AMEN

Roger Crites

Tuesday, June 28

Psalm 5:3-4a, 5b, 8, 11
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; you hate all who do wrong. Lead me, O Lord in your righteousness. Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. 

When you were fully awake this morning, what was the first thought on your mind? How has that thought flavored the rest of your day? Even if you are not a morning person, I want to encourage you to take a few moments to wait before God in prayer every morning. Regardless of what lies before you in your day, praise him that he has given you a new opportunity to know him, love him, and discover his plan and purpose for your life.

Sometime during this day, find a quiet place where you can write down the non-negotiable not for sale values of your life. What are the absolutes that are not subject to being blown away by temptation and the winds of change? You will discover that when you declare before God what you hold close as the desires of your heart, you will find confidence and assurance to awake each morning with the hope of God filling your soul.

Prayer

Thank you, O God, for welcoming me into your presence just as I am. I praise you that you love me enough to transform me into a new creation today by your power and in your grace. AMEN

Roger Crites

Monday, June 27

Isaiah 55:6-7 
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Think back to your first mental image of God. For some people, God was big, smiling and loving. For others, their image of God was one of a harsh judge on a throne. Perhaps that fits your image or somewhere in between. Your image of God either presents a barrier or offers a bridge when you come before him in prayer. Barriers are often erected from negative experiences with earthly parents or through relationships with people who have not honored God in their words and actions.

Allow me to suggest that you find a quiet place and seek a true image of who God is and how he desires to manifest himself in your life. Ask God, in his grace and mercy, to reveal to you the unrepentant sin in your life so you can turn from your sin and seek His forgiveness. He offers all who trust in him healing for their past and hope for a healthy future with the one true God who is both loving and just. Today, seek the Lord for he is near to the humble in heart.

Prayer

O God, help me see in you the hope and healing that you alone offer to all who trust completely in you. I desire to see you as the one true, everlasting God who has mercy on those who seek you with all of their heart. Create within me a true vision of your holiness and your hope as I walk with you by faith. AMEN

Roger Crites