From: October 13, 2023
“Have any of these prophets been in the Lord’s presence to hear what he is really saying? Has even one of them cared enough to listen?” (Jeremiah 23:18 NLT).
The Lord warned that many so-called prophets had not really heard and studied God’s Word. But Jeremiah was God’s man. He stood in the Lord’s counsel and marked His word and preached it as he heard it.
Do you study God’s Word? Do you take note of what He says to you? When my dear mother passed away, she left her Bibles to us, her children. We each received Bibles that were filled with her scribblings. She wrote notes in the margins and underlined significant Scriptures. She even wrote prayers and claimed God’s promises on the pages of her Bible. The reason she had several Bibles was because she wore them out and filled them up. She would get a new one every few years, so she’d have room to start marking them up again. The Bible I received from her is one of my most valued possessions.
Yet even more valuable is the knowledge that those who have studied God’s Word and truly heard it, have it written on their hearts.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. It is one of the greatest gifts You have given. We mark it and hear it. Write it on our hearts that we might think it, do it, and proclaim it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 13, 2022
OCTOBER IS PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH
The prophet Jeremiah spoke on the Lord’s behalf against those prophets in Judah who were promising peace and safety when the Lord was warning against coming judgment. Here it took the form of a rhetorical question that begs a negative response. “No,” none of them have been in the Lord’s presence to hear the Lord speaking. They spoke only what the people wanted to hear. For the people were like those that the apostle Paul warned would be present again during the last days, saying, “For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts” (2 Tim. 4:3).
The Lord is looking for preachers that will get in His presence and study His Word to know and understand what He is really saying. He is looking for pastors who after praying and studying, they are willing to boldly declare exactly what God tells them to say. And He is looking for a people that will be drawn to Bible-preaching that honors God’s Word and is anointed by God’s Spirit, people who will support such preaching and offer a resounding, “Amen!”
October is pastor appreciation month. One of the best ways to show appreciation is to make sure your pastor(s) have the time and resources to study and pray. There is no shortcut. Powerful preaching and spiritual leadership comes from time spent alone in the presence of God.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we only want that Word that comes from those who have been in Your presence. When we hear it, the Spirit within us exults. We love Your Word and love to hear it preached. As the Day approaches, help us to support those who preach and teach as those who have been in Your presence all the more. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 13, 2016
The destiny of those who reject a relationship with God and disobey the gospel was here given through the apostle Paul. He gave six words to describe Hell:
1) “Suffer” – it is a place of pain and suffering.
2) “Punishment” – it is a place of God’s fiery justice
3) “Eternal” – it is an everlasting condition
4) “Destruction” – not annihilation, but continual ruination
5) “Presence” – banished from God’s presence and blessing
6) “Glory” – banished from God’s beauty and sustaining power
Paul gave this horrific description of future suffering for those who were persecuting the believers in Thessalonica. He did this so believers wouldn’t focus on vengeance against their persecutors, but would instead focus on Christ. Seeing those who persecute our faith through the eyes of our Savior, we are able to pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
From: October 13, 2015
In the midst of announcing woes and judgment, Jeremiah proclaimed a future when the Christ would come. There are two distinct threads of messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. One of a Suffering Servant (See Isa. 53) and another of a Righteous King. Jesus has already come as Savior and sacrifice, but this prophecy of His righteous reign is yet to be fulfilled. We still await the coming of the King of Righteousness that Jeremiah proclaimed. And as we work proclaiming the gospel we join the saints of old saying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).
From: October 13, 2014
Paul prayed for the persecuted believers in Thessalonica that the God who called them would also “enable” them to live for Him. When we answer God’s call our faith begins to “prompt” us to act. This prompting comes from our new nature in Christ which gives us the will to do good. Yet, this new will power always moves us to attempt things so beyond our ability that we must totally rely on God’s power to accomplish them. The time between the prompting and the accomplishing of God’s call is a time of testing. It is a time when we finally die to self-effort and live to total dependence on God’s enabling power. As the missionary pioneer, William Carey said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”