Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: jesus

The Second Time

Faith, Trust

The Second Time

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time,
Jonah 3:1

Can You Hear Me Now

Jonah is well-known for trying to run away from God’s mission work.  God commanded him to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and preach repentance.  The people in Nineveh were worshipping idols and were on the verge of being destroyed by God.  Jonah hated the people of Nineveh and probably wanted to see the entire city destroyed by the hand of God.

Jonah went the opposite way from where God called him to go.  After being swallowed and saved God spoke to Jonah a second time. The second time God spoke Jonah listened and obeyed.  Because of Jonah’s obedience and Nineveh’s repentance, God spared his judgment and did not destroy the city.  It’s considered one of the largest revivals in history.  There is nothing better than to see an entire city fall on their knees and turn back to God.

There is a couple of things to ponder about this story.  First, we should always be ready to obey the voice of God the first time He speaks.  God shouldn’t have to speak twice before we listen and obey.  Instant obedience is important.  Second, we should be thankful for second chances.  God is so gracious to give us second chances to do His will.  He is patient and forgiving and desires for us to align our life with His will.  Third, we should never wish the wrath of God on anyone.  Sometimes we spare sharing faith and hope with those who need it the most.  If God gives you a second chance to speak the gospel truth to someone you should be ready and willing to obey.  If God has given you a second, third, or fourth chance to do something you should be very thankful.

Prayer

Lord, I want to hear you speak to me and I desire to obey Your Word.  Give me ears to hear and a willing heart to respond.

Daily Devotional

A Bag With Holes

Encouragement, Trust

A Bag With Holes

You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
‭‭Haggai‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭

Daily Devotional

Priorities

In some point in our life we’ve all had to learn some valuable lessons the hard way. Sometimes God will allow us to go our own way so that we finally realize that we are wrong. It may take a little while but eventually we come to our senses. The best biblical example is with the Prodigal Son. After going his separate way, he finally came to his senses and came back to his father. It is the same with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to turn back to Him.

In the Book of Haggai the prophet was sent by God to instruct the people of God to get their priorities straight. The people knew the importance of serving God but had drifted away and started living with an intellectual belief system. They were busy bodies but for the wrong things. They were living for pleasure and not for pleasing the God who had blessed them so much.

We are going to face times when it seems like our life is falling apart.  There will be times when our work does not seem productive, our money that we earn is never enough, our clothes seem to grow old, and our food never satisfies. If we don’t trust God for all things we tend to try to make it on our own only to no avail. Remember to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬)

Prayer

Lord, I turn to You for my joy and strength. You are all that I need.

Daily Devotional

Peace And Holiness

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

Peace And Holiness

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:14‬ ‭

Only Through Jesus

We are instructed to pursue peace and holiness as we mature in our Christian life.  But notice carefully that without holiness no one will see the Lord. You may be active in church attendance, engaged in spiritual activities, and believe you are a spiritual person, but if you do not have holiness you will not see the Lord.  In other words those who are without holiness, which is godliness or Christlikeness, will not inherit eternal life in Heaven.

Some people believe that if they do enough good it will gain them eternal life in Heaven.  The truth is we are only able to see the Lord in Heaven through Jesus Himself, not by our good deeds.  There is no way we could do enough good things to impress God in order to gain eternal life in Heaven.  However, Jesus did live a good and perfect life which qualified Him to be the ultimate sacrifice that pleased God.  And the only way that He was able to do so was because He was God in the flesh.  Jesus lived a holy and perfect life that was in complete obedience to God and He did it all for those who could not keep the law of God.

All who trust in the person and works of Jesus Christ are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit enables those who are in Christ to pursue holiness and possess a longing for the things of God.  A new yearning to live holy and perfectly is the result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  If you pursue peace and holiness it is because God gives you the ability to do so.  You cannot pursue peace and holiness outside a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Ask the Lord to give you strength and courage as you strive to live holy and perfectly according to His Word.