Posted:
Based on “The Urge to Purge” by Pastor Dave Folkerts; 7/18-19/09,
Message #4; Daily Devotional #4 - “Tried and True”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor (Psalm 8:4-5) God loves us so much; He made a way for us to be reconciled with Him and to be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places with Christ (Ephesians 1:3). We did not choose God. He chose us and promoted us to a place of higher calling. The price for our redemption was paid in full once and for all (Hebrews 7:27). We are redeemed and set free from the miry clay and the power of sin. Confession, repentance, and faith in Jesus bring us to a place of restoration. It nullifies the ‘old’ and gives us the privilege of being part of the new.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1-2) Redemption brings us to the point where we need to renew our hearts daily with God’s Word. By a new and living way, we can confidently approach the throne of grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16). There is no longer need for daily sacrifices of animals; Jesus paid the price for our redemption in full. This is a price we could never have paid on our own. There is therefore no more condemnation to us who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). The law of the Spirit and life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. The Holy Spirit, who convicts us of our sin and need for repentance, also guides us into all truth when we are restored and reconciled to God. The Holy Spirit guides us through life as we walk with the Lord. He opens up our understanding to God’s Word, helping us to know right from wrong. God gives us the power to daily present ourselves as a living sacrifice, standing acceptable and blameless before Him.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. (Psalm 27:4) Do we stand broken and empty before the Lord today? The Lord can rebuild and fill us up afresh. We can daily sanctify our hearts and present ourselves as yielded vessels before God. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). The Lord is able to create a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit in us (Psalm 51:10). When the Lord looks into your heart, does He see love and yearning for Him alone? Lord, help us to be pure, holy, and fit for your royal service always. Amen.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Romans 6
LO
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
