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March 26, 2010 11:32 AM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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Judges 2:10-14
As I sit in my home today preparing for what I believe to be the greatest celebration of all, Easter. God has spoken to me in away that almost caused me to not want write this devotion. The Lord is stronger then I so here goes.
Joshua a great spiritual giant who led the people was always faithful to the Lord. I recall in Joshua 24 as the leader, he told the people, chose this day who you will serve. I believe the choice is before us today. The choice question Joshua answered in Joshua 14:15 “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” In fact the people answered in verse 24 “the people said to Joshua, the Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey.” How important it is for a nation to have leaders who make that strong statement. It is important for churches to have leaders to say today we chose to serve the Lord, and homes to have parents to say like Peter in Acts 5:29 we ought to obey God rather then man. Why? well the scripture reading from Judges clearly identifies what happens to a people who turn their backs on the God of creation and refuse to understand His works and begin to serve other gods. The anger of the Lord is nothing to take lightly. A time will come when the people who reject God will no longer be able to stand.
So as we get close to the beauty of Easter, I pray that this season many people who have not walked with God, change direction in their lives and begin to make a difference among a people, a generation who do not know the Lord and all His great works. The Christians of today need to be a generation that are like those who followed Joshua, it is time we begin to take our children back from the gangs, the troubles in the schools, it is time we say as for me and my house we will serve the Lord God of Creation, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is time for followers of Christ, like Joshua, become spiritual leaders in our homes, in our churches and in our government. Not everybody can be the President, a Senator, Congressman or local representatives, but we can be sure we vote for the kind of man or women who says like Peter, we will obey God before we obey man. We can get involved in our church committed like Joshua, always meditating in the Word day and night. Make sure the church has a dedicated program for our children, and of course everyone of us lives in a home of some sort, what ever that is for you, be sure, like Joshua, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. What choice do you make today. A generation ready to discount the great work of God, a desire to reject God and take the things of the world or are you prepared to say my choice is that like the people of Israel who said, “the Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey.”
It is time to listen, work and serve the Lord that we know from His word has stood before the enemies of His children and provided. We need His all powerful presence felt in our government in our communities and in our homes.
Have a blessed day, go to church this Palm Sunday take a friend invite a family. If you have no church to attend, come to Open Door Community Church 565 White Oak Rd, Fredericksburg VA.
Praise the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Ron
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March 20, 2010 12:32 PM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Lord has started me this morning in this study of the book of Ezekiel. And the first amazing thing that jumps out to me is Chapter 2 verses 1-2.
Listening to the Lord is the start, then He follows up with the Spirit of the Lord entering into our lives and with the Spirit of God in our lives great things are possible.
What is so interesting about this you ask? Well you may know I have been instructed to start cutting back on many of the things I do. Listening to the Lord thru my doctor and I believe as it was for Ezekiel the Spirit of God will get me on my feet to do what He has called me to do.
Sometimes, no all the time we just need to spend time listening to the Lord and then allow the Spirit of God do the work through us. Often we do things thinking it is of the Lord but it is our doing only to satisfy ourselves. That is not listening to the Lord. In fact further in chapter 2 the Lord speaks very clear about the call of Ezekiel, speak the word of God to the people. And knowing that people will refuse to listen, Ezekiel was to speak it no matter what. For a pastor to hear these words and not listen is rebellious itself and pastors are warned not to rebell like others.
So I have begun to cut back on the many things I have put on my plate. You see it was me doing it. Listening to the Lord thru my doctor cut back on the things I want to do and do what the Lord has called me to do, speak thus says the Lord God. And know that people will refuse to listen, I must just keep preparing, praying and preaching what the Lord says because some will listen and He will have an effect on people, He does everytime He speaks through His Word to me.
Thank You Lord for speaking thru Ezekiel today.
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March 19, 2010 10:44 AM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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Today is the day following one of many heart cath. procedures with stints that I have experience. Went in after a recent ekg indicated a new problem. Due to a serious heart disease the doctor felt it was again necessary to go in and look. As I was a little worried, while sitting in the hospital waiting room at 5:30 on Thursday morning, God spoke thru 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. God has given each to us a reminder of who should be in control of our lives. Thorn in the Flesh, mine just so happens to be this heart disease. At the same time each of us should realize with the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior His Grace is sufficient to get us through any trouble we face. So even when I continue to battle this disease I will say the power of Christ rest with me, when I am at a weak moment, which I have experienced the last couple of weeks worrying, it is then I am truly strong. As I ponder the scriptures while awaiting the procedure my attitude was one of trusting in the Lord with all of my heart. No matter what the outcome He would be praised, I gladly will boast in my heart disease knowing the power that rests upon me is the power of the Holy Spirit, thank You Lord Jesus.
The doctors found no need for additional stints, praise the Lord. They did indicate a troubled area that he felt if he attempted anything it would cause the plague build up to break apart and it would have caused a heart attack on the table. This area will be treated with addition to my medication, more important it will be a continuation my thorn in the flesh, to always remind me who is in control and how I am to give Him all of my love.
Thank you all for your continued prayers. There are few things this pastor needs to do to help the situation. A need to cut back on some of the things I do and increase some form of exercise immediately. For my family, thank you for always walking thru these moments with me. My prayer is the Lord I trust is your Lord and is the one who gives you comfort during these times. He is a God who will never leave you for forget you. Let us not for who He is.
That is the update be blessed and let us all work on not being stressed.
Pastor Ron
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March 16, 2010 2:55 PM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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Proverbs 1:1-7
So many times I see the signs on vehicles that say fear this. Leaving the question wide open, fear what? Many people have all different kinds of fears. My granddaughter Dominique has a fear of storms, you may fear the news from the doctor when they it is cancer, or heart disease and it cannot be cured. Fear the news from you boss, due to the economy we have to let you go. I am not sure of what it is that brings fear into your life. I do believe Fear is real. I know what the scripture says in 2 Timothy 1:7. We will only understand that scripture when we first know Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Allow me to give you my prayerful thoughts on this scripture. Sometimes the desire for knowledge comes without the fear of the Lord. We put all our effort into obtaining knowledge and just forgetting what we owe to the giver of knowledge. Fear of the Lord is when we truly understand knowledge and follow that knowledge with understanding, wisdom. Wisdom is how to apply all that you learn. Without fearing the Lord, knowledge is just information. When we truly understand how to fear the Lord, we will love Him first with all of our heart, all of our soul and all our mind. That is the greatest commandment the Lord gives to us, Matthew 22:36-40. When we can love Him like that we then understand knowledge starts with our commitment and dedication to Christ. The Bible says then we will know wisdom, how to understand words from the Lord, wisdom as it applies to justice, judgment and equity, wisdom to give prudence to the simple, to know how to apply discretion, the wisdom to listen to wise counsel. Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds according to My heart (that is God), who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. If you are feeling a little afraid today, visit with your pastor who God has appointed, that through His word (the Bible, he will give knowledge and understanding, listen to the wise counsel of the men of God the Lord puts in your pathway of life, the shepherds Jeremiah writes about. The fear of the Lord will overwhelm your earthly fear of the circumstances you face now, how is that you ask? Now read 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us, (Christians) a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Fear this, what? The Lord, believe in Him, receive Him into your heart and He will give you the spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Be blessed today and know that God is a God who requires us to love Him with our all and He will supply all of your needs.
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March 2, 2010 12:20 PM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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Proverbs 2:1-4
Verse 1, My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you,
When a treasure hunter starts out on the journey the first thing needed is the map that leads to the treasure. They are inclined to put attention to the details of the map. Once they have studied the map the journey to find the treasure begins. And if one will apply themselves to follow the map very likely they will find the treasure. However it is not guaranteed.
The believer in Christ is on a treasure hunt, our journey in life. This is a true treasure hunt and the promise to find the treasure is guaranteed. However there are some things we must apply in our lives. First we must receive the map. To receive is to clinch, grasp and hold firmly God’s Word. Cling to His Word and never let go. In a football game a wide receiver will run out among the other teams defenders, who by the way are to stop or slow down the receiver’s progress, while the receiver has one objective, catch the ball and run towards the goal line. If he misses the pass, drops it or it is deflected by a defender he does not receive the ball, and his progress is stopped. The Bible says if we just receive; make the catch then our journey to find the treasure will be clear. The treasure I am referring too is the ability for you and I to think highly to value God’s Word the only map that will lead to prosperity as we journey through life. Think always about what the Lord has for us, receive it don’t try and deny it or make it say something you want it to say, just catch it. It is the Basic instruction before leaving earth.
The value of the Word of God, the treasure of His Words, we find wisdom, how to live a Godly life in this ungodly world. It will give us the ability to apply our heart to truly understand love and how to live in peace to forgive and forget and a desire to serve. It teaches discernment, the ability to make good decisions that please our Father. When we please the Lord then we understand the treasures He has for us today and yes even the treasures for tomorrow. By the way we will also understand there are many hidden treasures that God will reveal when He is ready.
What we must do is simply receive the Word, clinch it, cling to it, catch it, and treasure His commands. The commands are found in His Word. Not a bunch of words what not to do, it is a treasured love letter from the Father to His children. If you love Me then keep My Word. Do you know who wrote those words? Jesus Christ. Are you one of His? Only His children will seek from Him through His Word the truth how to understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of who God is.
If you do not attend a Bible believing Bible teaching church find one and get ready to catch the ball, His Word, treasure the Word it is the commands of God our Father, then run towards the goal line. The treasure chest is the Bible, look inside to see the value right before your eyes.
Pastor Ron
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