Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 198/260: John the Immerser

October 6, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read John 1:6-8, 19-28

“Who Are You?”

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John” (John 1:6) Those words by the apostle John introduce another John, know as “the Baptist,” “the Baptizer,” or “the Immerser.” He was the forerunner prophesied by Malachi, born about six months prior to Jesus. The apostle makes it clear that John was not himself “the Light,” but was sent “to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe” (John 1:7).

When word of John’s activities reached Jerusalem, the religious elite wanted to find out more. They asked him, “Who are you?” (John 1:19). John did not want to mislead anyone. He did not want them to think that he was the promised Messiah, and promptly stated, “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20). The Jews then asked if he was Elijah. They believed Elijah himself would return before the Messiah, misunderstanding the prophecy that spoke of one with the spirit of Elijah who would come first (Malachi 4:5). Again, John answered in the negative.

The priests and Levites then asked, “Are you the Prophet?” (John 1:21). This was really nothing more than asking him again if he was the Christ, which he had already denied. Moses had spoken of “a Prophet like me…Him you shall hear” (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). This was a prophecy of the Messiah; the priests and Levites were perhaps trying to trip John up in his answers, much like many news reporters who reword their questions in an attempt to confuse their subjects, trying to get them to contradict themselves.

John would not fall for their trap and again denies that he is the Christ, or “the Prophet.” His questioners press him for an answer. “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” (John 1:22). John answers not with his own words, but the inspired words of God given through Isaiah: “I am ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord”’” (John 1:23; cf. Isaiah 40:3).

When someone asks you, “Who are you?”, could you respond with Scripture? What Scriptures best describe you? We are not prophesied forerunners like John, but we should still be able to see the Lord working in our lives through the Word.

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 197/260: Zacharias

October 5, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Luke 1:67-80

Prophecy Fulfillment

For centuries, the Jews awaited the arrival of the Messiah. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptizer, praised God that the time of the Messiah had finally come. He made specific reference to a number of prophecies of old.

Zacharias proclaimed, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people” (Luke 1:68). The idea behind “visiting” is not limited to spending time with another, but carries with it the connotation of taking care of another. These thoughts can be traced back to a number of prophecies. “And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity” (Zephaniah 2:7 KJV). David also referred to this concept of God “visiting” His creation: “What is man that You are mindful of him? And the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:4, cf. Hebrews 2:6).

Zacharias also referred to “a horn of salvation” (Luke 1:69), indicating great strength. The image of the powerful “horn” was used by Ezekiel, who called Him “the horn of the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 29:21), and by the psalmists, who used the phrases “the horn of David” (Psalm 132:17) and “the horn of His people” (Psalm 148:14).

Further, Zacharias recognized that the Messiah would come from the line of David, using the phrase, “in the house of His servant David” (Luke 1:69). The Old Testament is full of such prophecies. “On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old” (Amos 9:11).

God, in His infinite wisdom, inspired men of old to declare what He planned to do and how He planned to save man. As we read through the gospel accounts and the rest of the New Testament, we see that plan unfolding. We are blessed to live in a time that we have the full revelation of God at our fingertips. God strengthens our faith through His Word as we read both the promises in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of those promises in the New.

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 196/260: Zacharias and Elizabeth

October 4, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Luke 1:5-25

Righteous And Blameless (But Not Perfect)

Luke begins his account of the gospel not with the birth of Jesus, but of John the Baptizer, who was born about six months before “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). John’s parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth, both described in inspiration as “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). What a beautiful description of these people of faith!

We are not told exactly how old this couple was; we only know that “they were both well advanced in years” (Luke 1:7). Zacharias was a priest and was on this occasion burning incense in the temple. This was a special honor for a priest. The late brother James Burton Coffman wrote, “The great numbers of priests necessitated that particular choice for various functions should be made by casting lots; and no one was allowed to burn incense more than once, many never being permitted to do so at all.”

While he performed his duties at the altar of incense, an angel appeared to Zacharias and told him that he and his wife would have a son. This son, who they were to name John, would be the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy! “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).

Zacharias stumbled in his faith here, doubting the angel’s announcement. “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife s well advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). There is little doubt that Zacharias had forgotten about Abraham and Sarah and the birth of Isaac, but this man likely did not consider himself in the same class as Abraham.

Yet, everything the angel came to pass; Zacharias and Elizabeth brought John the Baptizer into this world, and John prepared the people for the coming Christ, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Sermon Outlines

How Committed Are You? (Acts 21:7-14)

October 3, 2021 JT Leave a comment

How Committed Are You Acts 21

Acts 21:7-14

I. Philip

II. Agabus

III. Reactions

Sermon Outlines

God Provides (Genesis 22:1-14)

October 3, 2021 JT Leave a comment

God Provides

Genesis 22:1-14

I. God provides our most basic needs

II. God provides an abundant life

III. God provides eternal life

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 195/260: Malachi

October 1, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Malachi 4

There’s A Great Day Coming

If one were to use the Scriptures to sum up the general message of Malachi 4, it might be these words from the pen of Paul: “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22). There are grand blessings available to those who walk in His paths, but destruction for those who refuse His grace and mercy.

We sing a song titled, “There’s a Great Day Coming,” written by Will L. Thompson. The lyrics speak of a “great day” in which “the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left.” For “them that love the Lord” it will be a “bright day.” But it will be a “sad day” for others.

Paul wrote about that “sad day” for sinners: “And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

For “those who love the Lord,” though, the goodness of the Almighty will also be on full display. There were still some “who fear My name,” and for them “the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2).

Both the wicked and the righteous receive the same message; their wickedness or righteousness is based on their response to that message. How will you respond? If those under the old covenant were expected to “remember the Law of Moses,” should we under the new covenant not be expected to do the same with the law of Christ?

“For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?” (Hebrews 2:2-3).

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 194/260: Malachi

September 30, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Malachi 3:8-10

Robbing God

The people of Malachi’s day had a serious problem: they were not taking seriously their offering to God. While it is important to do the right things, it is just as important to put thought into it and do it with sincerity and the proper motivation.

God points out that the offerings of the people are defiled. “‘And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be please with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:8). The point is clear: if a lesser authority (the governor) would not accept your offering, on what grounds would you expect the ultimate authority (God Himself) to accept it?

God says through His prophet, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings” (Malachi 3:8). The people were not robbing God by taking something away from Him, but rather by not giving in the way that He had commanded. Brother Guy N. Woods said, “God is never satisfied with partial, or incomplete, service.” We cannot obey Him partially.

The question may be asked, “Does God expect us to do more than we are able?” The answer to that is a resounding, “No!” However, we should not underestimate how much we are able to do or give! Consider the example of the saints in Macedonia, who despite “their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2). Paul wrote of them, “For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing” (2 Corinthians 8:3).

God issued a challenge to the people through Malachi. “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Malachi 3:10).

Do you believe the Lord can bless you? Do you trust Him enough to let Him bless you?

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 193/260: Nehemiah

September 29, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Nehemiah 1

The Prayer of a Person of Faith

When Nehemiah learned the distress of his brethren in Jerusalem, he immediately turned to God. “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). It was his only recourse and the only appropriate response at that moment.

People of faith must take time to mourn for the state of the country. We must spend time fasting and praying for those in power, that the decisions they make will not hinder the spread of the gospel. Only in accepting the truth of God’s Word will immorality be stopped. Sin is a serious matter, and the people of God must take it seriously. There is a time for action, and there is a time for prayer.

In Nehemiah’s address to the Almighty, he recognized both the greatness and the faithfulness of God. He was persistent in his prayer, approaching God “day and night” (Nehemiah 1:6). Brother Frank L. Cox noted, “Persistence in prayer is necessary not because God is reluctant to hear, but because man is slow to value God’s gifts, to make room in his life for God’s blessings.”

In order to make room for those blessings, we must remove from our lives the sin that holds us back. We are hindered by the distractions of this world and the cares of this life, but if we will acknowledge our shortcomings, repent of our sins, and accept God’s Word, we will be blessed beyond measure. Don’t qualify your confession with the word “if.” Nehemiah plainly stated, “Both my father’s house and I have sinned” (Nehemiah 1:6). We are all guilty of sin. Recognize it and rectify it.

In his prayer, Nehemiah appeals to God’s own Word that He delivered to Moses and to God’s leadership. Not only that, Nehemiah appeals to past redemption as grounds for present expectation. This man knew that he was in a position to help; but first, he needed God’s help and he expected it because God has helped so many times before.

Are we as reverent, as persistent, and as confident as Nehemiah when we pray? We should be! “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 192/260: Shechaniah

September 28, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Ezra 10

The Sanctity of Marriage

How serious is your word? Typically, when a person gets married, he recites “vows” to his wife. A vow is a promise. These promises often involve faithfulness and fidelity, come what may. “For better, for worse, in sickness and health.” A quick Google search, however, shows that 41% of all first marriages in the United States end in divorce.

God issued strict guidelines for marriage in the laws that He gave Israel through Moses. One of those guidelines was a restriction against marrying pagan wives. Yet, when we get to the last chapter of Ezra, we see that many in Israel had ignored God’s command. Shechaniah, along with many others, came to Ezra and said, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land” (Ezra 10:2). They recognized that they had fallen short and wanted to make it right. They decided they would “put away all these wives and those who have been born to them…according to the law” (Ezra 10:3).

How difficult this decision must have been! These men had families but realized their standing with the God of heaven was more important. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), but He also expects obedience from man! One cannot continue in sin and expect the Almighty to be pleased.

There is little debate that the divorce rate in this country is too high. Couples can cite a host of reasons for their divorces: lack of commitment, irreconcilable differences, married too young, unrealistic expectations. Our Lord allows divorce and subsequent remarriage only when adultery has been committed (Matthew 19:9).

Marriage is often called a sacred institution, but it is rarely treated as such. If you are reading this as a married person, focus on all the positive reasons you married your spouse and look for ways to make him or her happy. Making your spouse happy will help you be happy.

If you are a single person reading this, consider all that God has to say about marriage before you make that commitment. Go into that relationship with the Biblical motto: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6).

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 191/260: Ezra

September 27, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Ezra 7

An Example for Godly People

We are not introduced to the man Ezra until the seventh chapter of the inspired book that bears his name, but what an introduction he is given! We are told of his priestly lineage dating all the way back to “Aaron the chief priest” (Ezra 7:1-5). Inspiration tells us that this man “was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6). He was respected by the Persian king Artaxerxes who “granted him all his request” (Ezra 7:6), and his own people who followed him for four months on “his journey from Babylon…to Jerusalem” (Ezra 7:7-9).

It should come as no surprise that Ezra was successful. Ezra 7:10 tells the secret of his success and gives an example that all godly people would do well to follow.

First and foremost, Ezra “prepared his heart.” Without proper preparation, success should not be expected. We should prepare the heart whenever we set out to do something for God, ensuring that we are doing it for God and not for self. It is the man with the pure heart who will see God (Matthew 5:8), who will love the brethren (1 Peter 1:22), who will call on the name of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:22).

Second, Ezra prepared his heart “to seek the Law of the Lord.” He was interested in knowing what God had to say. Should we all not have the same interest? The Scriptures are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The information contained in the Bible should capture the interest of every man.

Third, Ezra prepared his heart “to do” the Law of the Lord. Knowing the will of God and following the will of God are two very different things. Religion is not merely an intellectual exercise; it should be a way of life!

Finally, Ezra prepared his heart “to teach statutes ad ordinances in Israel.” We cannot be selfish when it comes to the truth of God. We must be willing to share it with everyone in our lives. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, of the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Have you prepared your heart like Ezra?

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)