Luke 4: 1 – 4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the dessert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of time he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”

Jesus went to spend time in prayer and fasting with God, his father. We read that Satan came and tempted him during the forty days. It is little wonder that as believers we have temptations and interruptions that seem endless. We are born into sin, live in a sinful world and struggle with every day issues that can totally distract us. We begin to slack off on scripture reading, prayer, gathering together with other believers and listening to the leading of God.  We begin to really lose our focus on the Lord and before long we are totally distracted from what we are called to. It usually isn’t as dramatic as an offer of changing stones to bread. It is usually small things. Satan is deceptive in distraction. The more distracted people become, the less likely they will hear and understand the call of Salvation. Believers are less likely to fulfill the call of God and will likely fall short of their God-given destiny if they don’t recognize what is happening.

Jesus defeated Satan during these attacks by quoting scripture and leaning into God. We are called to be like Jesus. Psalm 119: 9 – 11 How can a young man (people) keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

As we learn to defeat Satan’s attacks to distract and lead us astray, we must be mindful of another tactic. Luke 4: 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

We understand by this verse that we will be under attack at any point in our life. Likely during some of our most intimate times with the Lord. As we walk out our lives here on earth, we need to recognize that we are continually vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. Anyone thinking they are above temptation; then no doubt distractions will come, attention will divert and sinful danger will approach. Victory over sin is found in the Shed Blood of Jesus. Jesus died to save sinners. Recognizing our fallen state and calling on Jesus is the start for a more victorious life. We are told to be on the alert: I Peter 5: 8 – 11 Be self – controled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Acts 22: 19 ” ‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ “

This scripture is given as an account of what Saul, (whose name was changed by Jesus to Paul,) thought of himself. Paul thought his witness to others was ruined because of his past behavior. Paul was convinced that his reputation was past correction and he felt that his future potential to do God’s work was compromised. The response of Jesus was that in spite of what Paul thought God still had a job for him to do. Paul was told that there was a plan still in place for him. Paul was used as a great apostle. Paul wrote many of the New Testament books in the Bible. He traveled extensively and many found salvation by his preaching.

The wonderful thing about God and forgiveness is that He still has a plan for us. We can make small and large mistakes in life and yet when we turn back to God, seek forgiveness and truly repent, God still has purpose for us. One of Satan’s great lies is that we are worthless to God because of our past. The last thing Satan wants is for us to realize our worth. Shame is used as a lethal weapon in keeping us from our full potential.

There is a lesson to be learned from the  story of Paul. Remain open to God’s leading and know that sins are forgiven. God has the whole picture in His sight. From beginning to end. You are of great value when you recognize Gods potential in you. Rest in the cleansing Blood of Jesus and move on.

Paul was given instruction on how to proceed after his encounter with Jesus. Acts 22: 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name. (The name of Jesus)

Acts 13: 36 – 37 For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

Ephesians 2: 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

King David was chosen by God to be the King of Israel. He had brothers who were husky and had the appearance of a king. You can read the story of how David was chosen and anointed to be king in I Samuel 16: 1 – 13. I Samuel 16: 6 – 7 When they (Davids brothers) arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

After David was annointed he had years of distress and problems. He didn’t become king right away. Instead he had to wait and literally run for his life. Saul, the king of Israel during the time David ran for his life, died. After Saul died David became king. He was successful and brought victory along with wealth to the nation of Israel. The success was his to enjoy but the fact of success lay in the hand of God. God had purpose for David. David was following after God and he willingly did what God placed before him.

God has a purpose for each one of us. Gods word says that He knew us before time and before we were in our mothers womb. God is all knowing. God brought each one of us into our generational time. God didn’t have us be pioneers riding in wagon trains or people who were trying to figure out how to fly. God made each one of us for right now. He brought us into being for this time and day. God has already made the plan for us. You might be homeless, wealthy, debt ridden, crippled, healthy or any combination mentioned. What we need to realize is that the all knowing God, the creator of heaven and earth, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, knows each one of us. He has designed a plan for each one of us. The plan was prepared in advance for each individual. We can pray for the Lord to enter and control our lives and follow after our calling or we can deny the existence of our calling and try to go our own way. We are likely not called to be kings or queens. We might be called to large tasks or small tasks. Regardless to the task, recognizing the calling to purpose and being available to the call is paramount.

It is never to late to call upon Jesus. You can never step so far out of Gods will that you are un-redeamable. When Jesus died on the cross, He did so for our sins. All our sins. The sins we have committed and the sins we will comit. In order to live in the calling and purpose of God we need to repent from sin, release our life into Gods hands and live in peace. As we seek God, He will bring us to our call.

Father, we seek your guidance in our lives. We desire to be in the world but not part of it. We desire to fulfill the works you have prepared in advance for us to do. All honor, glory and praise be to you Father.

In 1988 – 1989 I worked as an undercover narcotics and arms agent. It was my job to purchase large amounts of narcotics ranging from meth to pot. I had a long beard and longer hair. My undercover name was Richard Harsh. It was necessary to have a new appearance and a different name because I was undercover in the same county I was employed in. Bad guys knew me clean-shaven and well dressed. Part of the deception was driving nice cars and having lots of cash. Besides narcotics we were to purchase automatic weapons, explosives and stolen items. Over the year of undercover we made about 100 cases. We didn’t arrest anyone until the very end of the operation. When we went out to arrest the people, who had mistakenly sold narcotics or weapons to us, it was called a sweep. The operation made a significant difference in the community as the crime level decreased for months as the bad guys went to jail. The project was successful because of deceptive appearance and activities that seemed safe to the dealers.

I think about the bad guys and girls, who went for months or even the year before finding out the error of doing business with us. The shock of reality set in when we arrested them. Most of them wanted to make a plea deal and minimize the legal effect the mistake was going to make on their lives. Some got less prison time when others with extensive criminal backgrounds got significant lock down time. One might say that each one had a variable equation that could either help their position or make it worse. That is life as we know it with human rules and regulations and judgments.

During my 58 years of life there have been times that I’ve been deceived. I’ve fallen to the lure of lust, alcohol and you name it. Fortunately I’ve not fallen into criminal activity, but what about the things I’ve done that are contrary to Christian living? Christ died to save sinners and I fit that profile. It is our duty as Christians to step away from sin, repent daily and strive to live our lives modeling the life of Christ. There is a difference in Christian and non-Christian. Christians have heard that sin is forgivable, they have called upon the name of Jesus and they are forgiven. Non Christians have likely heard the same gospel but have decided to either not believe it or they believe there might be a plea agreement they can make to lessen any judgment. Satan wants us, all of us, to be deceived. Satan operates undercover and he colors sin in different shades to make us believe we can justify our sinful behavior. The result of our failure to recognize this deception, not repent and seek Christ, will be revealed. It might appear that we are getting away with sin, but we are not.

Revelation 20: 11 – 15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Let us not be deceived. It is essential that each one of us recognize our sinful life. Names are entered into the book of life by acceptance of truth in: Jesus, God in human form, coming to earth, then living a sinless life. He died on the cross for all our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day. Jesus then ascended into heaven and will come again to judge the living and the dead. By faith we accept or reject this message. By faith we begin living a life for Jesus or we continue our worldly ways and reject the gift of salvation. One thing for sure: There will be no plea bargains or do overs when judgment comes. It is our decision to make as we live out our life on earth. Opportunity continues while your heart beats in your physical body.

Father God, Please help us to recognize the seed of truth revealed. We plant and water, You make things grow! In Jesus name, Amen.

One of the activities I enjoy is gardening. It never gets old to pull fresh fruits and vegetables from the ground, take them home and cook them. I get a great deal of satisfaction sharing the garden bounty with others. When God created the soil and seed He knew that mankind would need to be semi self sufficient.Man is only self-sufficient in preparation of the soil and placing seed in the row. I can stand in the garden and hope the seed germinates. I can hope the plant will mature, but there is very little action I can take to physically get the plant to grow. I Corinthians 3: 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Mark 4: 26 “This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day,whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Life is like the garden. We hear the message about the kingdom of God and the saving gift of salvation through the Blood of Jesus. We might have heard the story just the other day or maybe as a youngster. The seed of truth about eternal life and forgiveness was planted in us at some point. The person who planted the seed of thought acted on behalf of Gods calling. The continued growth of the seed of truth comes over time. Scripture reading, sermons, Bible classes, conversations with fellow believers, prayer, and other means of growth occur. God works by the Holy Spirit in us to help us mature.

Are we planters? Seed sowing is sometimes nothing more than a cheerful word to a co-worker or helping someone with a project. The act of kindness might generate questions or opportunity to give testimony about what God has done in our lives. Being open to opportunity is important as gardener / planter.

We need to work within our own personal lives as well. One of the necessary activities for gardening is to weed. Weeds will grow amongst the vegetables and fruits robbing the nutrients and choking out the produce. When I allow the worldly lure to effect me, my spiritual life begins to get choked out. The weeds of life can be very subtle. Uncontrolled thought patterns, anger, lust, workaholic behavior, sports, the list is long. Focusing on Jesus, our Savior, brings us the nutrient and growth necessary to be effective in our witness and life. Interaction with fellow Christians is another essential piece of nutrient nurturing.

Thank you Father for creating the growth of your word and truth. May we seed and grow. All honor, glory and praise is to you Father. We can only plant and water. You are who makes growth possible.

I was able to recently go fishing with two friends. We drifted a river and not only caught fish but enjoyed some of the most spectacular colors of fall one could see. God is good in so many ways. There are many blessings that surround us daily. Do we recognize them as blessings? Often I think we get so engrossed in our work and life that we don’t realize the blessings.

The first men called to work with and along side of Jesus were fishermen. Matthew 4: 18 – 22 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets, Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

These four fishermen followed Jesus as he began his ministry. They witnessed healing and teaching. This was the beginning of a friendship that would last for eternity, and that would set the stage for the spreading of the gospel. I wonder what it was about fishermen that caught the eye of Jesus. Was it temperament? Was it the tenacious desire to keep on trying regardless of daily outcome? Was it the fact that these four were everyday men who would commit to spreading the gospel after the departure of Jesus from earth?

Jesus didn’t pick wall street executives or influential priests to be in his first four. He didn’t examine their past or make demands of perfection. He simply said follow me and then he allowed them to see miracles and teaching. These men were about to learn by example. They would change as they learned. Peter later identified Jesus as: The Christ the Son of the Living God!

Another factor of interest is the way that these four left their lifestyle to follow Jesus. What about us? Are we willing to follow Jesus and learn of him? The way to follow and learn is to read His word and listen to His voice. Some will want to wait to follow because they feel unworthy or think they need to find some level of perfection to fit the mold of believer and kingdom worthiness. Jesus wants us to come as we are. He wants us to commit to learning and listening. He calls the wall street professional and the fisherman, the homeless and the wealthy, the old and the young. Jesus isn’t waiting for any of us to clean up our act. He isn’t expecting perfection before acceptance. Jesus is wanting us to seek Him first.

Jesus, please help us understand your calling to salvation, and may we be ready to act upon your call by faith.

One day I got an email request from Jim, an X-Detective friend, to be his friend on Facebook. I didn’t really know anything about Facebook. Basically I still don’t know much. My wife Jeanee keeps my page up and running. My concern was that if I rejected Jim as a friend he might take it personally. Jim is not only a friend but we’ve been through some real tough situations together through the years. I signed up on Facebook and became his friend.

I wonder what kind of Facebook we have in the eyes of God? He wants us to be sons and daughters, a friend. He is calling all of us to repentance and He marks us as His children when we commit our ways to Him. I John 4: 13 – 17 We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
Then in verse 19: We love because He first loved us.

If we have accepted the truth of the gospel, that Jesus was God in human form, came to earth and died for our sins, that He rose from the grave and ascended into heaven. To those who believe and live in love, we are in the lambs book of life. This book is more important than Facebook. It is the recognition book that identifies believers from non believers.

God is not willing that any should perish. God wants to add us into the book of life. It is a decision that must be made by each of us individually. I can not make this decision for my children, loved ones, relatives or anyone else. What I can do is tell others of the great news of the gospel. It is up to you and up to them to either believe or reject.

John 1:1 – 5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There are more great verses from John 1:6 to verse 14 and I recommend you look them up and read them. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I listened to a well known television commentator talk with an atheist the other night. I was extremely saddened to hear the interchange of words. The atheist said that Christians are foolish to believe in creation and such a person as Jesus. The commentator who usually stands his ground firmly became soft grounded and told the atheist he does not really know if Jesus is God but he believes Jesus existed. He went on to say he believes in the Christian philosophy. The commentator also said that he believes in certain types of evolution but in order for the evolution to occur the matter had to come from somewhere.

Faith is believing. Romans 3: 22 – 26 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Faith begins by accepting Jesus for who he is and what he did for us. He came to earth, was sinless, was crucified for our sins, was buried and after three days in death was raised from the dead. Jesus defeated sin and death by this act. Those who live in darkness do not understand this message. Those who live in the light understand this gift. Some will read this message or hear it preached and will be drawn to the truth of it. One might not fully understand the totality of the message. The faith kicks into gear when we leave the details in the Lords hands and we begin a faith walk with Jesus. It is essential to then begin to read and digest the Word of God. Reading the Bible with a prayer of understanding is of utmost importance. If you are not sure where to start then begin with the book of John followed by the book of Romans. Find a church that teaches from the Bible. Prayerfully ask God to direct you where to worship.

The journey of faith begins with the first step.Give up the right to yourself and turn your life over to Jesus. If you already have but you are not in right relationship, repent. Give God the right to work in you!

Galatians 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

A few years ago I attended a weekly bible study. (I still do weekly Bible studies but in a different group.) In the study was a woman who told a great story. The woman and her husband had boys, one of whom was quite young. (I believe 4-8 years old, I’m not sure the exact age.) The youngster came into his parent’s bedroom and told them there was a large man on the house next door. The mother went to look, didn’t see anything so the son was put back to bed. Later he came and again said there was a large man on the house next door. It was more toward morning so the lady asked her son to show her. She went to the window with him and he pointed and said, “Right there.” Again, she saw nothing. As mothers can do, she noted his genuine intent so she asked for him to describe what the man looked like. He described a big guy with big muscles and light hair. I don’t remember all the description but it was what I’d expect a big angel dressed in human clothing to look like. The boy didn’t change his story and so the mother believed him.

The woman felt a strong urge to go introduce herself to the woman next door and tell her what her son saw. She resisted going over for a while. She didn’t know the lady as apparently she had just moved in. Eventually, with her son in tow, she went next door to the house that had the big man sitting on it. She knocked and a woman came to the door. She introduced herself and began telling her what her son was saying. The woman broke down in tears and began sobbing. When she controlled herself she explained how she had been caught up in a satanic type life style. She wanted to escape and come into relationship with the Lord but felt the presence of evil. She said she hadn’t slept for days and was afraid. She had prayed during the night for the Lord to send an angel to watch over her and she said she had fallen asleep and rested.

Joshua 5: 13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “But as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

Joshua fell face down, was told to take off his shoes as he was on holy ground. The Lord then told him how to fight the battle of Jericho.

The boy who went to his mom with the story of the guy on the roof undoubtedly saw an angel. His mom had to accept by faith the story, and then be led by the Holy Spirit to go next door and tell someone she didn’t know the story.

Joshua was approached by someone he didn’t recognize and when reality set in that it was the Lord, he responded in faith. He followed the instruction of the Lord and Jericho was captured.

I’m convinced that we have heavenly hosts around us today. There have been times where people have been protected, rescued, transported to safety, etc., by someone they describe as heavenly. The angel rescuer generally arrives from out of no-where. There are other times that we are rescued and the angel invisibly acts on our behalf.

There are times we all need to hear stories like this. They encourage and comfort us when we hear them. Equally, we realize we don’t walk through problems alone. The Lord lives in us and heavenly hosts are among us. We need to not focus on the heavenly hosts. We need to focus on the Love of God and rest in the promises of His Word.

Thank you Father for the blessings of protection.

Joshua 3: 14 – 16a So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zrathan.

The water parted and dry land appeared for the Israelites to pass over to the other side. The Israelites had been camped in the wilderness for 40 years. They camped while God developed a new nation from the children who grew up during those 40 years. This new nation was willing to follow Gods leading and the water parted and they moved forward in faith.

Joshua 4: 1 – 3 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.

The stones were to be a monument. Joshua 4: 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

In the last lesson we talked about how shame can effect our lives in a negative way. Satan uses shame to stifle our lives and keep our witness of Jesus impeded. A wounded soldier is not effective in war. What Satan does is he encourages us to live life by looking in the rear view mirror. He wants us to live ineffective lives because we focus on our past. The Bible says that the person who is plowing has to look ahead and keep his eye on the point of direction. When one constantly looks back the plow weaves around and to rows are not straight. There is a lot of wasted energy and confusion when we try to live in the past. The best is still to come. We can see it by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!

Father, please by the Blood of Jesus, forgive us of our past. Renew us and guide us into your will and way. Help us to look ahead with our eyes focused on you. Please heal us, re-vitalize us and encourage us. May we also encourage those who are in need of a kind word and witness. In Jesus name, Amen.