Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

Time To Transition

Encouragement

‘The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.’
Psalms 14:2

When God looks down from heaven, one thing He looks for is if there are people who understand His heart and seek after Him for righteousness sake. He’s not looking for people who are smart enough to figure Him out. He looks to see who has a moral and spiritual awareness.

As we transition from Christmas celebrations to New Year’s resolutions, it’s fair to say that we look forward to something new. 2021 will definitely be a year of transition. We will be transitioning from old ways and developing new methods.

We have the opportunity to set our hearts toward God. Once we seek after the heart of God we can be certain that God will align our paths and keep us in His perfect will. God notices those who seek after Him.

Let this be a time of transition. Transition your heart from what’s not important to the things that matter most to God. Allow God to speak to your heart about the things that need to happen for His glory.

Pray

Lord, I know you see my heart and You know my mind. Help me to establish behaviors that bless Your name. Keep me in Your ways and purposes.

Received Up In Glory, Part 6

Salvation

‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.’
I Timothy 3:16

Does your life prove the transforming work of Jesus Christ?

With nail prints in His hands and feet, the wound in His side, and the totality of suffering on our behalf, Jesus ascended into heaven in a resurrected body. All of heaven praises Jesus as the Lamb of God and He is seated at the right hand throne of God.

We rejoice in our salvation because Jesus finished the work that He was sent from the Father to accomplish. Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of Old Covenant and God is well pleased.

Now we live in the New Covenant relationship of Jesus. It’s not our works but His grace. His good work makes us completely justified in the sight of God.

The great mystery of godliness is displayed in our character of who we are in Christ. As Christians we are being transformed into the righteous person God desires us to be. Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Pray

Lord, transform me into the person You want me to be and let my life be acceptable to You. Help me to live by grace alone because of Your completed works. Thank You for Your grace and mercy that You have freely given to me.

Preached And Believed, Part 5

Faith

‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.’
I Timothy 3:16

Paul is known as one of the greatest preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He preached with enthusiasm, conviction, and boldness. Every word that was spoken about Jesus was believable.

Indeed Christ is to be preached unto all, even the Gentiles. Because many of the Jews despised the Gospel, Paul preached unto the Gentiles who received the Good News with gladness of heart. Churches formed and Christianity spread throughout the world.

Some people believe that the Gospel is a message that only unbelievers need to hear. But the Bible teaches that followers of Jesus need to continue hearing the Gospel even after they are born again. We need to continually meditate on the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

Hearing the Gospel encourages us to praise the name of Jesus and calls unto repentance. If preaching does not involve Jesus, it is useless. If people are not increasing in their faith, they are hopeless and helpless.

Jesus changes everything. The only thing that will change the world is the Gospel of Jesus preached unto all people and believed by all who hear. Preach the Word!

Pray

Lord, Your name is powerful and causes even the demons to flee. May Your Word be preached by all who can speak and believed by all who hear. Let me be a witness of Your great love.