Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for June 12

TESTED FAITH

From: June 12, 2023

“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3 NLT).

Faith must be tested. It must pass through life’s furnace, so that impurities may rise to the top and be removed. This testing not only purifies, it verifies, proving faith genuine. Only the Lord can do this.

As Peter wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

May your faith be found authentic and pure to the praise of Jesus our Lord!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we do not choose trials, but we do ask that you help us to choose joy when trials come. For we know that the testing of our faith purifies and proves it genuine. Strengthen us to give you glory in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus” (Acts 8:35 NLT).

From: June 12, 2022

CHRIST IS THE SUBJECT AND STANDARD OF SCRIPTURE

When the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip about the identity of the subject in Isaiah 53, he “told him the Good News about Jesus.” For the eunuch had turned to where Isaiah wrote, “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth” (Isa. 53:7; Acts 8:32). He wanted to understand this passage and Philip told him that it was a prophecy that spoke of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Isn’t this how every Scripture should be considered? Look for Christ. For the Scripture always points us ultimately to Christ. As Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me… For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me” (John 5:39, 46).

Philip knew this. So, with the eunuch, he began with Isaiah and preached Christ. Yet, he could have turned anywhere in Scripture. For Christ is both the ultimate subject of all Scripture and the supreme standard by which all Scripture is understood.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we have believed in Your Son, Jesus, and Your Spirit has opened our eyes to understand Your Word. For Christ is the Living Word. We look for Him on every page and we ask the Spirit of Christ to enlighten our eyes for understanding. Help us to apply this understanding to our lives today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and in what is right, doing everything I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David” (1 Kings 9:4-5 HCSB).

From: June 12, 2021

THE CONDITIONAL PROMISE FORESHADOWS THE UNCONDITIONAL ONE

After Solomon had completed the building of the Temple, the Lord appeared to him a second time. In this appearance, the Lord repeated the conditional promise that He had made to his father, David. Notice the “if” and the “then” words that mark such a conditional statement. The promise was conditional on Solomon’s integrity and obedience to the Lord. And as Solomon grew older, his many foreign wives “turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been” (1 Kings 11:4).

With the death of Solomon the kingdom was divided in two. The ten Northern tribes rebelled and established a new Northern kingdom of Israel, which was later conquered by the Assyrians. And the Lord let Solomon’s son keep Judah and the Southern Kingdom for the sake of David, yet even that kingdom eventually fell too.

Solomon’s reign represented the peak of Israel’s power and prestige. Yet, it is a picture of the disappointment that every human government, no matter how promising its beginnings, always ends up bringing. For all humanity longs for the ultimate fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David of an eternal kingdom established by the Lord. This is the kingdom that was inaugurated by Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, and its fulfillment awaits His return. Until then, we pray, “Thy kingdom come.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray Your kingdom come, Your will be done in us, in our families, in our churches, in our country and in our world. We tire of the wickedness of human governments and long for Your reign through Your Son, Jesus. Until then, we ask for Your strength and grace for this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father” (1 Kings 9:4-5 NKJV).

From: June 12, 2020

THE CONDITIONAL PROMISE FORESHADOWS THE UNCONDITIONAL ONE

After Solomon had completed the building of the Temple, the Lord appeared to him a second time. In this appearance, the Lord repeated the conditional promise that He had made to his father, David. Notice the “if” and the “then” words that mark such a conditional statement. The promise was conditional on Solomon’s integrity and obedience to the Lord. And as Solomon grew older, his many foreign wives “turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been” (1 Kings 11:4).

With the death of Solomon the kingdom was divided in two. The ten Northern tribes rebelled and established a new Northern kingdom of Israel, which was later conquered by the Assyrians. And the Lord let Solomon’s son keep Judah and the Southern Kingdom for the sake of David, yet even that kingdom eventually fell too.

Solomon’s reign represented the peak of Israel’s power and prestige. Yet, it is a picture of the disappointment that every human government, no matter how promising its beginnings, always ends up bringing. For all humanity longs for the ultimate fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David of an eternal kingdom established by the Lord. This is the kingdom that was inaugurated by Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, and its fulfillment awaits His return. Until then, we pray, “Thy kingdom come.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray Your kingdom come, Your will be done in us, in our families, in our churches, in our country and in our world. We tire of the wickedness of human governments and long for Your reign through Your Son, Jesus. Until then, we ask for Your strength and grace for this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus” (Acts 8:35 NLT).

From: June 12, 2018

CHRIST IS THE SUBJECT AND STANDARD OF SCRIPTURE

When the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip about the identity of the subject in Isaiah 53, he “told him the Good News about Jesus.” Isn’t this how every Scripture should be considered? Look for Christ. For the Scripture always points us ultimately to Christ. As Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me… For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me” (John 5:39, 46).

Philip knew this. So, with the eunuch, he began with Isaiah and preached Christ. Yet, he could have begun anywhere in Scripture. For Christ is both the subject to which all Scripture points and the standard by which all Scripture is understood.

“Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father” (1 Kings 9:4-5 NKJV).

From: June 12, 2017

After Solomon had completed the Temple, the Lord appeared to him a second time. In this appearance, the Lord repeated the promise that He had made to his father, David, concerning Israel’s throne, namely, that one of his sons would always be king. However, the promise was conditional on Solomon’s integrity and obedience to the Lord. And as Solomon grew older, his many foreign wives “turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been” (1 Kings 11:4).

With the death of Solomon the kingdom fell into two parts. The ten Northern tribes rebelled and established a new Northern kingdom of Israel, which was later conquered by the Assyrians. And the Lord let Solomon’s son keep Judah and the Southern Kingdom for the sake of David, yet even that kingdom eventually fell too.

Solomon’s reign represented the peak of Israel’s power and prestige. Yet, it is a picture of the disappointment that every human government, no matter how promising its beginnings, always ends up bringing. For all humanity longs for the ultimate fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David of an eternal kingdom established by the Lord. This is the kingdom that was inaugurated by Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, and its fulfillment awaits His return. Until then, we pray, “Thy kingdom come.”

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:35 ESV)

From: June 12, 2016

Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch from Isaiah 53. He could have taken his gospel message from anywhere in the Bible, for all Scripture testifies of Christ (John 5:39). This is Christ-centered or gospel-centered preaching: Showing how the written Word points to the Living Word. When the Ethiopian heard the good news, he believed and was baptized. For this kind of preaching calls for a response. The preacher that doesn’t preach Christ, hasn’t preached. True biblical preaching always points to Christ (1 Cor. 2:2).

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3 NKJV)

From: June 12, 2015

Faith must be tested. It must pass through life’s furnace, so that impurities may rise to the top and be removed. As Peter wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). May your faith be found authentic and pure to the praise of Jesus our Lord!

“I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word” (Psalm 130:5)

From: June 12, 2012

The Psalmist counted/depended on the Lord. He was banking on God and His Word. On what/whom do you depend? What is the source of your hope? We may not know what the future holds, but we can know Who holds the future!

“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:35)

From: June 12, 2011

The Written Word points to the Living Word. This is a paradigm for right preaching. Preach the whole of Scripture while always focusing on Jesus as its fulfillment. If Christ isn’t central to our message, we preach in vain.