ABUNDANCE - God doesn’t think or act like a man: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD” Our God sees the plight of the needy and does not hold back His hand of provision whenever someone calls upon Him in faith. If you’re in need of any good thing, get ready! We serve the God who does exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all that we can ask or imagine; pressed down, shaken together, and running over. He gives not only everything that you could need or want materially and naturally, He also gives the Holy Spirit without measure and life in abundance. - “Indeed, the days are coming, says the LORD, when the plowman will overtake the one who is reaping, and the treader of grapes the one who is sowing the seed; the mountains will drip sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it.” Has anyone ever taken advantage of you or tried to keep you down? Perhaps you’ve felt neglected or abandoned at some point in your life. That’s where we find the prophet Amos. Amos was a simple man; a country farmer and a shepherd. He is best known from the book that bears his name among the minor prophets of the Old Testament. You wouldn’t expect to find a story of abundant provision involving a man so simple and humble, yet his character and situation provides the perfect backdrop to discover something amazing about God. Amos was called to prophesy against the northern kingdom of Israel.

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Abundance

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We serve the God who does exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all that we can ask or imagine; pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

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God doesn’t think or act like a man: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD” Our God sees the plight of the needy and does not hold back His hand of provision whenever someone calls upon Him in faith. If you’re in need of any good thing, get ready! He gives not only everything that you could need or want materially and naturally, He also gives the Holy Spirit without measure and life in abundance.

Rod Parsley

 

“Indeed, the days are coming, says the LORD, when the plowman will overtake the one who is reaping, and the treader of grapes the one who is sowing the seed; the mountains will drip sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it.” - Amos 9:13

 

Has anyone ever taken advantage of you or tried to keep you down?

Perhaps you’ve felt neglected or abandoned at some point in your life.

That’s where we find the prophet Amos.

Amos was a simple man; a country farmer and a shepherd.

He is best known from the book that bears his name among the minor prophets of the Old Testament.

You wouldn’t expect to find a story of abundant provision involving a man so simple and humble, yet his character and situation provides the perfect backdrop to discover something amazing about God.

Amos was called to prophesy against the northern kingdom of Israel.

Under King Jeroboam II’s leadership, the nation experienced expanded influence, but also idolatry, which resulted in injustice and corruption.

This became a common theme with all of the successive kings and wealthy leaders who took advantage of the weak and the poor.

Those who were blessed with abundance manipulated the system to keep the less fortunate (widows and orphans) down, while the rich profited at their expense.

This sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Abundance in the hand of sinful, broken humans leads to corruption, manipulation, and oppression.

It’s against this backdrop that the opulent provision of God is revealed.

I’m glad that God is not a man, and that He doesn’t think or act like a man: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8).

Our God sees the plight of the needy and does not hold back His hand of provision whenever someone calls upon Him in faith.

In fact, he told Amos that provision was about to flow to those in need in a manner that had never been seen or even described before.

God declared that the days were coming that the sowers and the reapers, the harvesters and planters would overtake one another because of the abundance that God would bestow upon His people.

They wouldn’t have to depend on kings or landowners — the hills themselves would overflow with His bounty.

If you’re in need of any good thing, get ready!

We serve the God who does exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all that we can ask or imagine; pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

He gives not only everything that you could need or want materially and naturally, He also gives the Holy Spirit without measure and life in abundance.

Lord, as we rise to meet each new day, please let us be filled with Your spirit.

Wherever we go, let us spread love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness.

Let us desire to become more like you and to worship you in all we do.

Amen.

Further Reading

Amos 9:13

Isaiah 55:8

Ezekiel 37:9

Today's devotion comes from our Decade of Dominion: 52 Week Devotional. 

Breakthrough with Rod Parsley

Weekly and daily broadcasts of dynamic preaching which focus on the authority of the Gospel and the power of God to transform lives!

The Breakthrough with Rod Parsley broadcast is taking sound biblical doctrine and the Gospel of Jesus Christ "to all people," reaching over 200 nations, on multiple satellites that provide a signal to virtually the entire globe. More than 680 million households receive Breakthrough on a global basis seven days a week, 365 days a year. Included are more than 100 million households in the United States alone, presented through multiple networks and airtimes. 

Breakthrough is the worldwide soul-winning media ministry of Rod Parsley, advancing the kingdom of God around the world through the eye of the camera. Multiplied tens of thousands are being challenged to become redemptive agents of change for kingdom advancement in their communities and homes.

With practical teaching helping to grow strong Christians, Breakthrough with Rod Parsley makes a significant impact by boldly proclaiming the authority of Jesus Christ to save, heal and transform. Breakthrough with Rod Parsley is committed to reaching this generation with relevant truth to meet the challenges of the real world.

https://www.rodparsley.com/dailydevotion

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https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/05/more-than-enough-jehovah-jireh-my.html

APOSTASY AND PROSPERITY - “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” One of the most tragic movements in Christendom today teaches that God promises to make each Christian prosper in material wealth. They are confident that God would bless them materially because they had the trappings of religion - the common denominator is greed. The Bible teaches no such thing. Their desire for personal prosperity led them to a prostitution of the true worship of God - whenever religion is used to justify the “love of money,” it suffers degradation - “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” - One of the most tragic movements in Christendom today teaches that God promises to make each Christian prosper in material wealth. The Bible teaches no such thing. Chapters 17 and 18 of the Book of Judges describe a period of rampant apostasy and confusion, an itinerant Levite, the tribe of Dan, and a man named Micah. First, we see that Micah steals 1,100 shekels of silver from his mother, who then places a curse on the unknown thief. Micah, fearing the curse, confesses the crime. His mother tries to lessen the curse by dedicating all the money to the Lord and converts 200 shekels into an idol. Micah places the idol with his others and consecrates his son as priest, even though they are of the tribe of Ephraim.

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Apostasy and Prosperity

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“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” One of the most tragic movements in Christendom today teaches that God promises to make each Christian prosper in material wealth. They are confident that God would bless them materially because they had the trappings of religion - the common denominator is greed. The Bible teaches no such thing. Their desire for personal prosperity led them to a prostitution of the true worship of God - whenever religion is used to justify the “love of money,” it suffers degradation

BY JOHN D. MORRIS, PH.D.

 

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” - (2 Corinthians 9:8)

One of the most tragic movements in Christendom today teaches that God promises to make each Christian prosper in material wealth.

Suffice it to say, the Bible teaches no such thing, as seen in our text and elsewhere, but this false teaching is not new and is associated with apostasy.

Consider chapters 17 and 18 of the Book of Judges, which describe a period of rampant apostasy and confusion.

The chapters provide character sketches of an itinerant Levite, the tribe of Dan, and a man named Micah.

First, we see that Micah steals 1,100 shekels of silver from his mother, who then places a curse on the unknown thief.

Micah, fearing the curse, confesses the crime.

His mother tries to lessen the curse by dedicating all the money to the Lord and converts 200 shekels into an idol.

Micah places the idol with his others and consecrates his son as priest, even though they are of the tribe of Ephraim.

Later, he hires the Levite to be his priest and exclaims, “Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest” (Judges 17:13).

In the next chapter, spies of the Danites go to the priest for God’s blessing on their efforts to find land that they can conquer.

When the marauders return, they recruit the Levite to a more prosperous position.

He joins them, having stolen Micah’s idols, and establishes the tribal priesthood.

Each one in this story was confident that God would bless them materially because they had the trappings of religion.

The common denominator was greed. Their desire for personal prosperity led them to a prostitution of the true worship of God.

But whenever religion is “used” to justify the “love of money,” it suffers degradation.

“Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) wants people to know that God’s Word can be trusted in everything it speaks about—from how and why we were made, to how the universe was formed, to how we can know God and receive all He has planned for us.

After 50 years of ministry, ICR remains a leader in scientific research within the context of biblical creation. Founded by Dr. Henry Morris in 1970, ICR exists to conduct scientific research within the realms of origins and Earth history, and then to educate the public both formally and informally through professional training programs, through conferences and seminars around the country, and through books, magazines, and media presentations.

https://www.icr.org/article/11774/

 

SELF-DESTRUCTIVE POWER IN BUILDING MONUMENTS TO OURSELVES - In absolute arrogance and stupidity, the people of the plains of Babylonia set out to make a name for themselves. Much like war, erosion, and destruction have buried the great buildings of the past under rubble, sand and jungle overgrowth, the tower of Babel was buried under the rubble of human confusion because of pride. We must be careful not to let pride and sin enter into our hearts and steal away our servant hearts and desires to honor Jesus truly. We have to remember that the middle of every sin and all pride is a capital "I" When Jesus came, he had all the glory of heaven, yet he gave it all up to serve us and bring us back to the Father. He gave up everything, yet God gave him all the glory — not because he sought fame, but because he surrendered himself to serve - God calls us to follow in Jesus’ steps - Some warped and insatiable force inside us as people makes many of us want to be more, to have more, and to be known more, than other normal people. First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. The Bible repeatedly warns us against pride and exalting ourselves above others. In the early chapters of Genesis, humanity plunged into greater and greater evil as it moved away from any meaningful relationship with God. Then God stopped them. He confused their language. Their pride was gone in the chaos of not being able to understand each other.

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Self-Destructive Power in Building Monuments to Ourselves

In absolute arrogance and stupidity, the people of the plains of Babylonia set out to make a name for themselves.
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Much like war, erosion, and destruction have buried the great buildings of the past under rubble, sand and jungle overgrowth, the tower of Babel was buried under the rubble of human confusion because of pride. We must be careful not to let pride and sin enter into our hearts and steal away our servant hearts and desires to honor Jesus truly. We have to remember that the middle of every sin and all pride is a capital "I" When Jesus came, he had all the glory of heaven, yet he gave it all up to serve us and bring us back to the Father. He gave up everything, yet God gave him all the glory — not because he sought fame, but because he surrendered himself to serve - God calls us to follow in Jesus’ steps

by James Nored & Phil Ware

Finding My Story in God's Story

"He bruised both lungs. He had a collapse of the lung. He had multiple lacerations to his spleen, and he had a pelvic fracture," said Joseph Darryl Amos, the chief of trauma at Dallas Methodist Medical Center.

I feel more comfortable referring to this story now that we know Triston is going to be fine.

That wasn’t always true. He had wanted to take the selfie of all selfies on top of a beautiful bridge with the Dallas, Texas, skyline in the background.

He plunged 50 feet before he crash-landed on the ground.

Fortunately, unlike hundreds who have died trying to take selfies, Triston survived and has made a tremendous recovery.

Why would so many people risk so much for a picture?

Most want hundreds, even thousands, of “likes” on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

The same flawed reasoning that drives people to do dumb, embarrassing, and dangerous things to get on television, also drives people to risk their lives for a moment of fleeting fame.

Some warped and insatiable force inside us as people makes many of us want to be more, to have more, and to be known more, than other normal people.

That warped and insatiable force is pride. James Nored talks about this kind of foolish pride in today’s video:

If you can't see the video, and you sure don't want to miss it, view it online. For additional ideas to consider and some things to discuss with others, we encourage you to look at the Study Guide.

As the people of Babel, and Triston, can tell you, pride goes before destruction, or at least near destruction — see Proverbs 16:18.

The Message paraphrases this important truth with these clear words:

First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

The Bible repeatedly warns us against pride and exalting ourselves above others.

In the early chapters of Genesis, humanity plunged into greater and greater evil as it moved away from any meaningful relationship with God.

Then God stopped them. He confused their language. Their pride was gone in the chaos of not being able to understand each other.

In the grand scheme of God’s plan, however, the scattering of people at Babel may have been less of a punishment and more an act of saving them from themselves.

Rebellion, blaming, murdering, evil, and violence had run rampant and had destroyed almost everything of value for humanity.

In absolute arrogance and stupidity — notice the Bible's biting irony about building a tall building with bricks and tar (Genesis 11:3) — the people of the plains of Babylonia had tried to make a name for themselves.

They had wanted to ascend to the heavens to impress and be equal with God (Genesis 11:1-4).

God, however, had come down to their meager (by heaven's standards) building project and scattered the arrogant by confusing their language (Genesis 11:5-9).

Much like war, erosion, and destruction have buried the great buildings of the past under rubble, sand and jungle overgrowth, the tower of Babel was buried under the rubble of human confusion because of pride.

In looking at this story again, the Holy Spirit sure seems to be nudging us to ask a question we often have chosen not to consider because we don’t want to face the truth it reveals:

How many times has the Lord saved us, saved me, from a worse fate, an even more destructive outcome, by letting us, and yes, me, fail because of our pride?

Hum? That question feels a little too convicting, doesn’t it!

However, we can’t dodge it. Most of us haven’t plunged to life-altering endings while trying to take a selfie that might make us famous.

Most of us, on the other hand, have done other idiotic things trying to make ourselves feel important.

Instead of trusting our role in the world and serving others, we use all sorts of spiritual-sounding "phony-baloney" to explain why we want to exalt ourselves:

I just want to do something great for God.

I want to make a difference in this world by doing something impressive for the kingdom.

Surely, God wants me (or us) to build a great church to honor him and reach people.

Yes, some people with great hearts and servant lives have said similarly sounding things.

However, we must be careful not to let pride and sin enter into our hearts and steal away our servant hearts and desires to honor Jesus truly.

We have to remember that the middle of every sin and all pride is a capital "I"!

Thankfully, God saved us from ourselves with some humbling embarrassment with our bumbling failures.

So, let's make the lessons of Babel personal. What about you?

How has pride caused you to stumble and embarrass yourself in the past?

How has God saved you from yourself and your pride by allowing you to fail?

Do you think the confusion of language and the scattering of people at Babel was more about punishing or more about God preventing something worse happening — like their structure collapsing or the city becoming a concentration of evil and violence?

We have to remember that the middle of every sin and all pride is a capital "I"!

When Jesus came, he had all the glory of heaven, yet he gave it all up to serve us and bring us back to the Father.

He gave up everything, yet God gave him all the glory — not because he sought fame, but because he surrendered himself to serve.

Now, God calls us to follow in Jesus’ steps:

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to

“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

“When he appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.” – (Philippians 2:5-11)

Let’s encourage each other to serve one another and the lost and broken of our world.

Let’s trust God to help us find true greatness in Jesus’ way of life.

We hope you will continue to join us in seeking God and serving people as we journey together to find our story in God’s story of redemption.

Jesus said to [his disciples], “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves" - (Luke 22:25-26).

In this series, James Nored and Phil Ware partner two pioneering ministries providing resources to reach coming generations. James is a minister, Executive Director of Next Generation for Christ, and author of the Story of Redemption Film Series, filmed in the Israel, U.S., and around the world. This series is designed to lead seekers to faith and strengthen the faith of believers. Divided into 5-6 minute video segments, it is great to use with social media, small groups, sermon series, families, and friends. Phil is President of Heartlight, Inc., a preacher for 40 years, author of five books along with hundreds of articles & 11 years of daily devotionals, coach for churches in transition, and a resource for missionary renewal. Phil's verseoftheday.com devotionals are read by hundreds of thousands every day.

Heartlight Provides Positive Resources for Daily Christian Living.

https://www.heartlight.org/articles/202002/20200228_monuments.html

A PROMISE OF PAIN - the greatest pain Mary would experience was yet to come when Jesus was crucified - We tend to think of Christmas in terms of joy, and it is truly a joyful occasion. But it was not easy or simple. Mary went through the same physical pain in childbirth that other mothers have experienced through the years. She was not miraculously shielded from the suffering just because the child to whom she was giving birth was the Messiah. And the pain of childbirth was only the beginning — the greatest pain Mary would experience was yet to come when Jesus was crucified. The prophecy Simeon had given Mary when Jesus was a baby came true as she watched Him die. Even in His final moments, Jesus made sure that Mary would be cared for after His death. He knew that her heart was broken, and she would need the physical and emotional comfort John would be able to provide. Mary willingly accepted her part in God’s plan, but it came at a very high price. There is great joy and glory and reward in faithfully obeying and serving God, but it is not an easy road we have been called to walk.

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A Promise of Pain

the greatest pain Mary would experience was yet to come when Jesus was crucified

“And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:33–35

We tend to think of Christmas in terms of joy, and it is truly a joyful occasion. But it was not easy or simple.

Mary went through the same physical pain in childbirth that other mothers have experienced through the years.

She was not miraculously shielded from the suffering just because the child to whom she was giving birth was the Messiah.

And the pain of childbirth was only the beginning — the greatest pain Mary would experience was yet to come when Jesus was crucified.

The prophecy Simeon had given Mary when Jesus was a baby came true as she watched Him die. “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!” (John 19:26).

Even in His final moments, Jesus made sure that Mary would be cared for after His death. He knew that her heart was broken, and she would need the physical and emotional comfort John would be able to provide.

There is no salvation possible apart from sacrifice. And there is no way to follow God’s Son without carrying our own crosses just as He did.

Mary willingly accepted her part in God’s plan, but it came at a very high price. There is great joy and glory and reward in faithfully obeying and serving God, but it is not an easy road we have been called to walk.

Today's Growth Principle: 

The seriousness of sin is measured by the amount of pain the solution for it brought both to the Lord and those who loved Him.

Old Testament Reading

Habakkuk 1-3

CHAPTER 1

¹ The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. ² O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! ³ Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. ⁴ Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

⁵ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. ⁶ For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 

⁷ They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. ⁸ Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 

⁹ They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. ¹⁰ And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. ¹¹ Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

¹² Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. ¹³ Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? ¹⁴ And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? ¹⁵ They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. 

¹⁶ Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. ¹⁷ Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

CHAPTER 2

¹ I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. ² And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. ⁴ Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

⁵ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: ⁶ Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! ⁷ Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? 

⁸ Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. ⁹ Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! ¹⁰ Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul. ¹¹ For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 

¹² Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! ¹³ Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? ¹⁴ For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

¹⁵ Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! ¹⁶ Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory. 

¹⁷ For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. ¹⁸ What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 

¹⁹ Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. ²⁰ But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

CHAPTER 3

¹ A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. ² O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

³ God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. ⁴ And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. 

⁵ Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. ⁶ He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.

 ⁷ I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. ⁸ Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? ⁹ Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. 

¹⁰ The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. ¹¹ The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. 

¹² Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. ¹³ Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. 

¹⁴ Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. ¹⁵ Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

¹⁶ When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

¹⁷ Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 

¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ¹⁹ The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

New Testament Reading

Revelation 15

CHAPTER 15

¹ And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. ² And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 

³ And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. ⁴ Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

⁵ And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: ⁶ And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 

⁷ And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. ⁸ And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Proverbs Reading

Proverbs 24

¹ Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. ² For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. 

³ Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: ⁴ And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 

⁵ A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. ⁶ For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. 

⁷ Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. ⁸ He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 

⁹ The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. ¹⁰ If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 

¹¹ If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; ¹² If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? 

¹³ My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: ¹⁴ So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. 

¹⁵ Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: ¹⁶ For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 

¹⁷ Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: ¹⁸ Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 

¹⁹ Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; ²⁰ For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. 

²¹ My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: ²² For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? 

²³ These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. ²⁴ He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: ²⁵ But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. 

²⁶ Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. ²⁷ Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. ²⁸ Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

 ²⁹ Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. ³⁰ I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹ And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. ³² Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 

³³ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ³⁴ So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Pastor Paul Chappell

Dr. Paul Chappell is the senior pastor of the Lancaster Baptist Church and president of West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California. His biblical vision has led the church to become one of the most dynamic independent Baptist churches in the nation. He has been married to his wife, Terrie, for over thirty years and is the father of four married children all serving in Christian ministry.

Daily in the Word is a ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church

4020 East Lancaster Blvd | Lancaster, California | 661.946.4663

https://devo.paulchappell.com/