Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for October 19

FOCUSING ON THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

From: October 19, 2023

“Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them” (1 Timothy 4:13 NLT).

Paul told the young pastor Timothy to avoid focusing on silly distractions and people who might despise his leadership. Instead, he was to give his attention to the ministry of the Word–– its public reading, its “exhortation” (“preaching”) and its teaching.

The pastor in today’s church faces perhaps the most complex, multi-faceted set of needs and expectations of any generation. The modern church wants him to be and do all things well. Yet, Paul’s instruction holds more true than ever. We need churches that are led by pastors who are focused on the ministry of the Word. And we need church members who recognize their responsibility to be led and equipped by such pastors.

Do you encourage your pastor to focus on the ministry of the Word?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful for Your Word. We want to give it our full attention and we want to fully support those You have called to minister the Word to us. We fill our minds with Your Word. Open our lips today to proclaim it to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT).

From: October 19, 2022

THE VALUE OF SPIRITUAL TRAINING

We are born with a body, yet physical training is necessary to build it up. Similarly, when we are born again, we are made alive spiritually, yet we are called to “work out” what God is “working in” us (see Phil. 2:12-13). Both the physical life and this new spiritual life are gifts from God. We cannot earn them. But just as physical exercise is good for the body, so we can yield ourselves to the Spirit’s work in us by disciplines that are good for our spiritual growth.

Just as there are physical disciplines that are good for the body, such as walking, running, weight-lifting, dieting, etc. So there are spiritual disciplines that are good for the soul, such as prayer, Bible-reading, fellowship, worship, giving, service, etc. Spiritual disciplines do not earn us favor with God or measure spiritual success. But they can be used by the Spirit to lead us into knowing Christ better and becoming more and more like Him. After all, both the words “disciple” and “discipline” come from the same root. The spiritual disciplines, when rightly understood, are meant to help us follow Jesus as His disciples.

Training the body is good for today. Training for godliness, so that we are growing more like Jesus, is better both for today and for tomorrow.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we yield ourselves to You afresh today. Transform our thinking so that we think about things as You do. Strengthen our hands that we might grow in serving You. Guide our feet that we might carry the gospel where it has yet to be heard. We want to work out what you are working in us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13 HCSB).

From: October 19, 2021

FOCUSING ON THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

Paul told the young pastor Timothy to avoid focusing on silly distractions and people who might despise his leadership. Instead, he was to give his attention to the ministry of the Word–– its public reading, its “exhortation” (“preaching”) and its teaching.

The pastor in today’s church faces perhaps the most complex, multi-faceted set of needs and expectations of any generation. The modern church wants him to be and do all things well. Yet, Paul’s instruction holds more true than ever. We need churches that are led by pastors who are focused on the ministry of the Word. And we need church members who recognize their responsibility to be led and equipped by such pastors.

Do you encourage your pastor to focus on the ministry of the Word?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful for Your Word. We want to give it our full attention and we want to fully support those You have called to minister the Word to us. We fill our minds with Your Word. Open our lips today to proclaim it to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:13 NKJV).

From: October 19, 2020

A PASTOR’S MAIN FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

Paul told the young pastor Timothy to avoid focusing on silly distractions and people who might despise his leadership. Instead, he was to “give attention” to the ministry of the Word–– its reading, its exhortation (preaching) and its doctrine (teaching).

Today’s pastor faces perhaps the most complex, multi-faceted set of needs and expectations of any generation. The modern church wants him to be and do all things well. Yet, Paul’s instruction holds more true than ever. We need churches that are led by pastors who are focused on the ministry of the Word. And we need church members who recognize their responsibility to be led and equipped by such pastors.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful for Your Word. We want to give it our full attention and we want to fully support those You have called to minister the Word to us. We fill our minds with Your Word. Open our lips today to proclaim it to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT).

From: October 19, 2019

THE VALUE OF SPIRITUAL TRAINING

We are born with a body, yet physical training is necessary to build it up. Similarly, when we are born again, we are made alive spiritually, yet we are called to “work out” what God is “working in” us (see Phil. 2:12-13). Both the physical life and this new spiritual life are gifts from God. We cannot earn them. But we can yield ourselves to the Spirit’s work in us by certain spiritual disciplines that aid in our growth. Training the body is good for today. Training to grow in our sanctification is better both today and tomorrow.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we yield ourselves to You afresh today. Transform our thinking so that we think about things as You do. Strengthen our hands that we might grow in serving You. Guide our feet that we might carry the gospel where it has yet to be heard. We want to work out what you are working in us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I will never abandon the descendants of Jacob or David, my servant, or change the plan that David’s descendants will rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore them to their land and have mercy on them.” (Jeremiah 33:26 NLT).

From: October 19, 2018

ARE THERE STILL UNFULFILLED PROMISES FOR ISRAEL?

Some believe that the promises given to Israel now belong to the Church, that God is finished with Israel. However, this prophetic promise given through Jeremiah seems to say otherwise. It was easier to believe that God was finished with Israel from the time of 70 AD, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, until May 14, 1948, when David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel, establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years. But this miraculous event makes it look as if there are still unfulfilled promises belonging to Israel.

Although the NLT translates it in the positive, Jeremiah’s prophecy was actually worded as a rhetorical negative, tying it to God’s covenant ruling the heavens and the earth, the day and the night. In other words, “If God doesn’t have laws governing planets and stars, then He will not have a promise concerning Israel.” But since we know that God’s laws concerning the earth and the heavens are still in effect, we must conclude that His promises concerning Israel are still in effect as well. Yet, all these promises are ultimately connected to, and fulfilled by, Jesus the Messiah.

“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’” (Psalm 89:3-4)

From: October 19, 2017

Who is this promised “seed?” Isn’t this seed which the Lord promised to David, also the same seed promised to Abraham? Surely, it must be. The apostle Paul identified it as Jesus, saying, “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). As today’s Jeremiah reading (Jer. 33:19-22) reminded us, this was an unconditional promise, a covenantal promise. And it was fulfilled in Christ Jesus, whose throne is established forever.

“In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David” (Jeremiah 33:15 ESV)

From: October 19, 2016

Jeremiah prophesied the coming of a “righteous Branch” from David that would restore and rule over Israel. This can be none other than the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Both Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied of this coming “Branch” (Jer. 23:5; Isa. 4:2, 11:1). Jesus, who was born into the Davidic line both biologically through his mother, and legally through his adopted father, is the fulfillment of this prophecy. However, this fulfillment is still partial in that he has yet to come to rule as King. He has already come as the Righteous Branch, the Son of David, Son of God, but He will soon return as the Righteous Judge and King over all. Jeremiah offered this word of hope, so that the people during his time would obey God. This is still the reason for this word of hope. Obey the gospel, so that you may be grafted into the Branch and be ready for His return.

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1 NKJV)

From: October 19, 2015

I have joined the psalmist whom the Spirit inspired to write this. The Lord’s mercy has caused me to sing of Him. He has given me eternal life, so that in spite of worldly woes, my singing need never cease. He has filled my mouth with His Word, so that I desire to proclaim God’s faithfulness to my children, grandchildren, and to every generation He allows me to see. Have you joined this chorus that sings and speaks of God’s mercy and faithfulness?

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT)

From: October 19, 2014

We are born with a body, yet physical training is necessary to make it strong. When we are born again we receive eternal life, yet in like manner, we are to “train” to grow up in our salvation. Both the physical life and this new spiritual life are gifts from God. We cannot earn them. But we can yield ourselves to the Spirit’s work in us by certain spiritual disciplines that aid in our growth. Training the body is good for today. Training to grow in our salvation is better both today and tomorrow.