Weekly devotionals by Pastor Ray
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Devotional for Week of August 22nd 2010 |
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THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN
One of the foundational doctrines of Scripture is the depravity of man (Genesis 6:5). What this means is that, as a result of the fall of Adam in the garden, every single human being is now born with a sin nature (Romans 7:18) that falls short of the glory of our original state (Romans 3:23). This fall has affected every single area of our being. We are dead in trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1-3) and separated from fellowship with God. We are a part of God’s creation, and He indeed is our glorious Creator, but we must be born from above in order to be a part of His family (John 3:1-8). Herein lies the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16) to all who repent (Luke 13:1-5) and believe in Christ as their atoning sacrifice and Lord (John 3:14-16). Until we are regenerated by The Spirit of God (Titus 3:5), we are unable to understand the things of God ( 1 Corinthians 2:14). In fact, until our eyes are open to the truth of Jesus, the gospel itself seems foolish to us ( 1 Corinthians 1:18).
Oh what a wonder is the new birth! When we are born again, we do not simply turn over a new leaf; we are really made a new creature ( 2 Corinthians 5:17). Though we are still sinners with a fleshly nature that has the ability to sin ( 1 John 1:8-10), our hearts and desires are changed as we read and obey The Word of God. Until we are born again, our natural tendency is towards the very things that God calls sin (Revelation 9:20,21). The bad news is that we cannot do anything to bring about a change of heart. We may indeed claim to believe in God, but that can only prove that we are not fools (Psalm 14:1a). When man fell we didn’t become atheists, we became idolaters with a desire to worship anything but the True and Living God (Romans 1:18-25). This depravity has been the cause of all the human ills that we see in today’s society. Only turning to Christ alone can bring about the kind of change that lives for the glory of God.
Reader, have you been born again of The Spirit? Have you experienced a real change wrought by the Spirit of God? Look to Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on Calvary as the provision of The Father that takes away your sin debt and grants you the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).
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Devotional for Week of August 15th 2010 |
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BLESSED EXPEDIENCY
Jesus said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” (John 16:7) The Greek word that is used for the English word “expedient” means something that is necessary or profitable. Can you imagine the expression on the faces of the apostles when Jesus spoke these words to them? He tells them that “it is to your advantage” (NKJV) that He depart back to the Father in heaven, and in His place, send The Comforter. How in the world can it be profitable for Jesus to leave them? Therein lies my shallow understanding of the Person and power of The Holy Spirit.
What a tremendous study it is to peruse the Scriptures and read about the work of The Holy Spirit of God! From Genesis 1:2 to Revelation 22:17, The Person and works of The Holy Spirit are revealed. We could go on for weeks and just touch on the many Scriptures that reveal the ministry of The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. For we who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ ( 1 Peter 1:18-19; Ephesians 1:7) have the incredible privilege of being temples of The Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 3:16). The very same Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us (Romans 8:11).
Meditate on the blessed truth of The Holy Spirit dwelling in you. It is the very power of The Spirit Himself which equips ( 1 Corinthians 12:7) and enables (Acts 1:8) each and every saint for the work that God calls them to fulfill. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” ( 2 Corinthians 4:7) And Jesus said that The Comforter will abide with us forever (John 14:16). Now we see why Jesus calls the sending of The Holy Spirit expedient or profitable. Whereas Jesus, as Son of Man, could only be in one place at a time, The Holy Spirit of God is not limited to a location. He is at work in the world (John 16:7-9), and He is at work in the life of every believer and in every congregation that gathers in The Name of Jesus (Ephesians 2:20-22). Oh how we need to look to The Spirit of God for all of the resources that we need in order to do God’s will God’s way (Zechariah 4:6).
Dear church family, deeply ponder the revelation that it was expedient for Jesus to depart in order to send The Spirit of God to us. Only Jesus could fulfill the redemptive work of The Father (John 19:30), but the works that Jesus did on earth continue to be carried on (John 14:12) as we walk in The Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and do those good works for the glory of God (Matthew 5:16).
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