“Man what a great podcast – Daily Bread. I agree with you based off Scripture 100%.” Will | Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
QUESTION ASKED:
“Please provide scripture to support your statement that ‘if you aren’t in the word daily you are backslidden and not ready to meet Jesus’?”
I am a follower of Christ and have extensively studied the Word. Please provide specific scripture that says if you don’t read the Bible every day you are backslidden and not ready to meet Jesus.”
REPLY:
The word “daily” appears 7 times in the Gospels directly spoken by or speaking of our LORD Jesus. “Daily” is found 63 times in God’s Word.
You are fooling no one except yourself to say that seeking, walking with God isn’t “daily.” And, that seeking the LORD doesn’t integrally involve reading, pouring prayerfully over, searching, studying, meditating up, and memorizing His Word.
Does God’s Word save us? Are we saved by God’s Word?
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25
“18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. … 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:18, 22-25
The mere act of being in God’s Word daily, in and of itself, doesn’t save us and yet, being daily in His Word proves we, who are born again, are remaining in Christ – continuing in “the perfect law of liberty” – both in reading and doing it (James 1:22). The abiding disciple is continuing in the words of Christ – seeking, desiring, worshipping, and obeying Him. Our obedience to God is our expression of love to Him – that is, if we truly love Him (John 14:15).
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105). How often does the disciple, the wise virgin believer need his path lit? Weekly? Monthly? Daily?
Do you seriously believe that the 5 wise virgins who made it into the eternal bridal chamber, who endured to the end of their espousal period, casually got around to keeping their vessels full? Or, did they fervently, worshipfully, daily, diligently, obediently, and vigilantly keep their lamps, their lives, under the spout where the glory comes out? Have you read that parable of the 10 virgins recently? (Matthew 25:1-13)
The feeding of Christ’s flock would integrally involve exhorting them to diligently study and walk in God’s Word themselves, daily (John 21:15-17). Isn’t this exactly what the apostle Paul told Timothy to do? Yes. He told his understudy to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
One of the ways we know who the false ministers are, is that they want people dependent on THEM, not God. So, they don’t constantly exhort the people to get into God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures, for themselves. Run.
3 Daily Essential Basics for Every Believer
1. Daily Bible study (Job 23:12; Jer 15:16; 1 Pet 2:2)
2. Daily life of prayer (1 Thess 5:17)
3. Daily fellowship with other true believers (Acts 2:42-47; Heb 3:13; 10:25)
How does divine light enter into, get into the hearts and minds of God’s people? – “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalms 119:130). The light of the LORD enters our hearts and minds as the words of God enter our eye gates, minds, hearts. How often do we need God’s light in our darkened hearts, in this dark, fallen world? Every once in a while? When we get around to it? Or, daily, at all times, perpetually?
“Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called DAILY upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.” Psalms 88:9
Was David, the very one the LORD said was “a man after mine own heart,” a man who sought God, who tended to his relationship with the LORD seriously, was consumed in his love for God? Or, does that convey that David casually attended to the LORD?
What timeframe is the psalmist speaking of when he writes the following? The psalmist, David, the man after the heart of God, wrote: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice”? Daily (Psalms 55:17).
3 times daily …
Beloved David is the only man we find in the record of Holy Writ whom the LORD said is “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). As we just read, David sought God daily – “Evening, and morning, and at noon.”
It is a fact that each and every person reading these words serves self daily. So, if we serve self DAILY and yet aren’t seeking the face of the LORD daily, what does that reveal? Does that reveal that Jesus is our “first love” or a mere hobby? See Revelation 2:4-5.
The counsel of God is the very “thoughts of his heart” and are recorded in the Bible, His Word.
“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Psalms 33:11
God is not available to the casual seeker (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein DAY and NIGHT, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8
“Day and night” is clearly referring to each and every DAY – and not only in the day but also in the night, God’s Word is to rule in our lives!
In Psalm 1, we see the contrast between the righteous and the ungodly:
“But his (the righteous man) delight is in the law (Word) of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. … the ungodly are not so…” Psalms 1:2, 4
Jesus says to those He has saved that we must “abide” (continue, remain) in and with Him to the end or be cast into the fire (John 15:6). Would you like to explain how that’s possible without the divine fuel of God’s Word?
God’s Word gloriously gets into us – as we get into it, daily. Make the beautiful, quality decision today, right now, that from tomorrow morning forward, you will awake to seek the LORD your God, to get into His holy Word, to give Him thanks for all He’s done and doing, and quality moments in prayer communion.
“It is written, Man shall not live (have life with God) by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
The LORD expects each of those He saves, to remain “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine”…
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6
Again, a statement I’ve often made is “Any person who was saved in the past and yet isn’t presently in God’s Word daily, is already backslidden.”
It’s interesting that the people who occasionally balk at such a statement, seem to prove they are in darkness and defending their own rebellion, instead of hearkening to the truth in repentance. Anyone who can get up daily and feed their face natural food, fill their mind with the world’s news, etc., and not desire and devour God’s Word, is clearly lukewarm at best, and ready to be spued (rejected) from Christ’s body as He promised to do (Revelation 3:15-16).
If a person who was saved by Christ doesn’t follow Him on HIS stated terms – they are backslidden, period.
Did Jesus say His true disciples follow Him and receive His bread (Word) weekly, monthly, or daily? See Matthew 6:11; Luke 9:23-24. Any person not walking with Jesus on HIS terms, is backslidden. And Christ’s stated terms include “daily.”
Jesus says His people are to pray “Give us this day, our DAILY bread” (Matthew 6:11). How do you suppose that spiritual “bread” is received, ingested, other than by reading God’s Word? Jesus quantified following Him as being “daily” (Luke 9:23-24). Anyone not following Jesus “daily” is not following Jesus.
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
How is God’s Word going to get into me if I am not getting into it?
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2
How is the believer going to “grow” if he’s not desiring and devouring God’s Word? He’s not. In fact, he’s going to grow weary, weak, and faint.
Growing in the grace of Christ comes from desiring and ingesting His words. Anyone not growing in Christ is and has fallen away.
BE NOT DECEIVED: YOU CANNOT SUSTAIN A LIFE WITH CHRIST WITHOUT DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM!
YOU MUST “DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD” AND FEED YOUR SPIRIT THE WORD OF GOD DAILY OR YOU WILL GROW WEAK VERY QUICKLY AND FALL AWAY (1 PETER 2:2). JESUS CALLS US TO BE “NOURISHED UP IN THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE” (1 TIMOTHY 4:6).
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
By definition, seeking “continually” would definitely be “daily”, and not casually as if He, the Son of God, were a mere hobby and not our “first love” (Revelation 2:4-5).
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37
Is it not more than obvious that we love self more than we love Christ when we tend to self, and serve self daily and not the Savior?
What does this say for the person who can do many things daily but chooses not to seek God daily? He eats food and drinks drink daily, right? Why? Because they are important to Him. What people do DAILY is what they count to be important.
The reason we eat physical food daily is because we count it important to nourish our physical body, right? Well, do you count feeding our spirit (which is eternal) daily? If not, why? – because we don’t count our spiritual life with Christ important which means He is not our “first love” and also that we are lukewarm (Revelation 2:4-5; 3:15-16).
Daniel sought and served God “continually” and not casually (Daniel 6:16, 20). By this example we know that this godly man truly knew, loved, worshipped, and obeyed the LORD. The LORD was not a second class citizen in his life but rather his “first love.”
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Daniel 6:10
Beloved Daniel, in the face of the threat of his very life, sought God “continually,” as “he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God.” Oh, and notice it says “as he did aforetime” which means that Daniel, in peace time, before the present threat he faced, always sought the LORD. Simply put, Daniel, like every other true disciple of Christ, puts God “first” and not self.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
When a man loves a woman, does he think about and communicate with her weekly, monthly, or daily? Does he want to hear her voice once in a while or daily? The answers to these questions are more than obvious.
If I am not into God’s Word, how can God’s Word possibly be getting into me?
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:3
When God is speaking to His obedient disciple, through the ingestion of His words, there is a continual cleansing “with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). This is not happening unless one is truly continuing with Christ via His Word. Each and every abiding disciple of Jesus relishes, diligently devours, and lives by His words (John 8:31-32).
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17
“Continual Feast”
“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15
According to Proverbs 15:15, let us ask: How is any follower of Jesus ever going to have a heart filled, full of His perpetual divine joy if that disciple isn’t filling His heart and mind with God’s Word daily? Not going to happen. Get into God’s Word and stay in it – every day with no exception – wake to seek His holy face each morning. Live by truth and never feeling. You are crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20).
“Searched the Scriptures DAILY”
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures DAILY, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10-11
Those who truly serve the LORD don’t casually get around to reading His Word. Instead, true followers of Christ deliberately put Him “first” (Matthew 6:33). He is their “first love” and not second or a hobby (Revelation 2:4-5).
Proverbs 4
“1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Pro 4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
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Abiding
“The things which are not Seen are Eternal” [podcast]

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
All good things must come to an end…. except for those who are going to share in the eternal glory of Jesus Christ!!!
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
No More Tears, Ever – Only for God’s People!
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4
STORE | Support | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast] | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Parable of the Talents [podcast] | Proving Jesus Matters [podcast] | Money, Material Wealth, and Riches | Rusted Gold and Fire Untold [podcast]



Abiding
The Curse of a Divided Heart and Blessing of a Whole Heart! [podcast]

Israel’s heart was divided. The solution.
“Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images … 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:2, 12
King Asa: Tragic end of an otherwise obedient, fruitful, God-glorifying life….
Are you blessed or cursed?
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5
King Asa trusted the physicians and not the LORD and he paid dearly.
“And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.” 2 Chronicles 16:12
Feet speak of foundation. Without feet, physically we cannot stand. Without a sound foundation of truth, of God’s Word in our lives, we shall not stand. Read Matthew 7:19-29.
One writes notes the following about the meaning of feet in God’s Word:
“Why Are Feet Important in the Bible? Just as men and women stand upon their feet as the foundation of upright posture, Bible verses also use feet as a euphemism to represent a strong foundation in various circumstances. Feet are not referenced as we see them today, but they are used as symbols to represent greater metaphorical concepts, such as guidance or direction.
The feet represented something that was common to all people but used differently. For example, one of the most noted scripture texts involving feet is Psalm 119:105, ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ This emphasizes how the feet are used to travel and traverse. Yet, without the word, the traveler is left walking in the dark without a known path.
Essentially, the feet are referenced as a critical part of life as walking was commonplace. We naturally travel where our feet lead us and the Bible verses use feet to represent a means of traveling through life itself. If we walk down a dark path, we are likely to stumble. If we walk down a holy path, we are sure to please God. All of this is facilitated symbolically by the feet.”
The foundation truth we learn in God’s Word and obedience to it determines the direction of our lives.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
Becoming Rooted and Grounded in Christ
Like Asa, many today trust the counsel of mere men, such as doctors and not God. This doesn’t mean going to a doctor is a sin and yet, the true disciple will primarily trust and obey and be led of the LORD, not men.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Read Hebrews 3-4 prayerfully for the eternal danger of having “an evil heart of unbelief” AFTER being saved. Repentance required.
“They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.” Psalms 12:2
Got depression? Are you seeking the LORD in true repentance whereby He will grant you great joy? (Psalms 51; 2 Timothy 1:7) Or, are you seeking out and trusting the mere human, the finite pundits of this fleeting world?
“But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.” Job 13:4
Those who trust human physicians and not the Great Physician, are cursed, not blessed. Their faith in mere men reveals their utter rebellion.
“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10
2 Chronicles 15:17 – Upon becoming king in Judah, Asa, having inherited an idolatrous, lukewarm people, system… he began to command that…
- The people do that which is right in God’s eyes (2 Chronicles 14:2)
- That all idolatrous altars we torn down (2 Chronicles 14:3)
- That God’s people seek His face (2 Chronicles 14:4)
- That idol altars in the cities of Judah be removed – “and the kingdom was quiet before him” (2 Chronicles 14:5) ….. Proverbs 1:33
- Fenced cities be built …. so the land could be at rest, at peace, and not fear the enemy (2 Chronicles 14:6)
- The people be involved in building fenced, walled, protected cities – “Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.” (2 Chronicles 14:7) …… 1 Chron 16:11
- Great military be built (2 Chronicles 14:8)
“The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and IFFFF ye seek him, he will be found of you; but IF ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2
“But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.” 2 Chronicles 15:17
“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Hebrews 11:20-22
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalms 9:17
“Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” Psalms 50:22
“Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20
God blesses those who trust Him and curses, removes His blessings from those who once trusted Him and yet now have forgotten Him. When we willingly offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the LORD our God, He avenges us of all our enemies (Judges 5:2) …. “But IF thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.” (Exodus 23:22)
“WHEN” does God avenge us of our enemies? “WHEN” does God judge our enemies?
“Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, WHEN the people willingly offered themselves.” Judges 5:2
When we offer our lives a living sacrifice unto the LORD – that is, we simply surrender this life to Him – the subduing of our enemies begins.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Asa reigned as king in Judah for 39 years (2 Chronicles 14-16).
In his final days, after obeying God and bringing much needed reform to the people of God, Asa forgot the LORD, and had grown cold in his faith and was therefore cursed with a divided heart.
All those who trust mere men, just because they have a white coat on and are called “doctor”, are going to die as did king Asa who trusted in earthly physicians, instead of the Great Physician! Repent now sinner.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7
Are you a pessimistic pansy or an optimistic overcomer? Are you like the 10 spies or the 2 who entered the promised land while the 10 sad sack whiners were shut out? “The righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1) Jesus asks “WHERE is your faith?” (Luke 8:25) Repenting for real and putting all your trust in the LORD is essential – and no one will be in the promise land of Heaven without sound, solid faith in God. “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” (Hebrews 11:6). “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5)
Read Revelation 2-3.
Remember the woman Jesus, the Great Divine Physician made whole of her issue who had previously spent all she had on human physicians?
“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him (accessed by faith in Him), turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith (in God not men) hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” Mark 5:25-34
You claim to be trusting God but you take a mood drug? I don’t think so. MOOD DRUGS ARE FOR THE WICKED UNBELIEVERS. PERIOD. REPENT.
When a person resorts to using a drug to uplift their mood, they are loving and believing the world more than God, forfeiting the blessing of God for a cheap substitute, and manifesting their contempt for the LORD, their unbelief. A born again, presently abiding
disciple of Jesus has all the fruit of the Holy Spirit which include, “Love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22-23) God gives His people “power… love, and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) God’s Word has the answer to “ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness” and that specifically includes a “sound mind.” (2 Peter 1:3-4) Holy Scripture specifically uses the terms “sound mind” and “sound heart” which come only from learning and adhering to “sound doctrine.”
We live in a fallen world and were born in sin. Via the things that have happened to us and that we ourselves have perpetrated on others, fragmentation of our hearts has occurred. Only One can make us whole.
“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:17-19
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3
Counting it all Joy
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:2-8
Through the trials we face in this life, we must learn to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”, trust God not men, ask for and rely on His wisdom and not waver, but rather finished our course trusting and walking with Christ to the end of our lives.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 Timothy 4:7
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:10-12
The Whole Heart
“And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.” 2 Chronicles 15:15
The result of seeking the LORD with a whole heart is that He gives us “rest round about.”
“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33
9 Times in the book of Psalms the words “Whole Heart” appear. Here’s the first 3 of that collection:
“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my WHOLE HEART; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalms 9:1
“Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my WHOLE HEART, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” Psalms 111:1
“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the WHOLE HEART.” Psalms 119:2
PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, I have sinned against You by not wholly trusting You nor sought You with my whole heart. Here and now I confess this for the evil sin of unbelief and rebellion that it is and ask You to please forgive me now in the name of Jesus. Please wash me afresh from all my sins with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Also please make my heart whole and increase and fill me with Your faith Father, and cause me to trust You will all of my heart, no matter what. I love You my dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Abiding
“NEVER take a Vacation from God” [podcast]

God’s Word teaches us to be diligent in knowing and following Christ – even when the word diligent is not used.
“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
Make the deliberate decision to “set…
“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 22:19
“Don’t you EVER take a vacation from God!” said my first pastor.
This beloved brother knew exactly what happens when the disciple relaxes in his seeking of the LORD. Think foolish virgins. The result can be deadly, irrevocably.
He was dead on in this warning. Give the flesh an inch and it will take a mile, right?
Have you ever slipped backward? If so, you know it started with just not reading God’s Word one day. That one day turned into two, three…. Right?
Never must this happen. The war is won in the now. You must “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
God requires that we “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).
It’s only those who remain built up in Christ like the wise virgins of Jesus’ parable, who “keep” themselves “in the love of God” who are not going to fall away.
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. … Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 20-25
Jesus warns:
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
How did this kind of wisdom get lost from us beloved of God?
The disciple must get out ahead of the flesh. He must be one step ahead – knowing by testimony of the Word and by personal experience that there is “NO good thing” in us other than Jesus (Romans 7:18). This is exactly why Paul also said things like:
“I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
Exhorting the sheep of Christ, one pastor said:
“Have fun this summer. Enjoy the outdoors. Travel to see friends and family. Explore the world. Just don’t take a vacation from God. He loves you more than you can imagine and wants to keep refilling your sack with his awesome gifts so that you can keep sharing them with others in your life!”
“The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.” Proverbs 13:19
Various Quotes on the Importance of Diligence
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.”―Calvin Coolidge
“But I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence…”―Charles Dickens
“Prefer diligence before idleness, unless you esteem rust above brightness.”―Plato
“Diligence is the mother of good fortune.”―
“Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work.”
“If he [Thomas Edison] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to be, but would proceed at once with the feverish diligence of a bee, to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search.”―Nikola Tesla
“Laziness looks at excuses as something to treasure while diligence always focuses on excuses as an inconvenience to be overcome.”―
“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.”―Thomas Alva Edison
“That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.”―William Shakespeare
“Active valour may often be the present of nature; but such patient diligence can be the fruit only of habit and discipline.”―Edward Gibbon
“Diligence overcomes difficulties; sloth makes them.”―Benjamin Franklin
“The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.” Proverbs 26:13
“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” Proverbs 14:23
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 1:13
“Wherefore – Having such encouragement. Gird up the loins of your mind – As persons in the eastern countries were wont, in travelling or running, to gird up their long garments, so gather ye up all your thoughts and affections, and keep your mind always disencumbered and prepared to run the race which is set before you. Be watchful – As servants that wait for their Lord. And hope to the end – Maintain a full expectation of all the grace – The blessings flowing from the free favour of God. Which shall be brought to you at the final revelation of Jesus Christ – And which are now brought to you by the revelation of Christ in you.“―John Wesley
“Slothfulness (laziness, lack of diligence) casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.” Proverbs 19:15
Power Words Power our Lives!
Remember those power words your parents instilled in your growing up? Remember things like “readers are leaders”? How about “The early bird gets the worm”?
What are some of the good words your beloved parents instilled in you as a child that live on in your mind and heart daily?
My beloved father taught us five to “always be consistent.” Oh and these weren’t just words. Oh no. My brother and I are only 13 months apart and so when we started playing football at about 6 years old, my parents set us down and looked us in the eyes and said “If you start this football season, you WILL finish. We require it of you, so count the cost.”
Nothing replaces consistency. Say it out loud with me right now beloved of God – CONSISTENCY.
While we’re on this topic, I hope you won’t mind me saying that it is befuddling to see how people start doing something that works and then quit – from a work out program to a lifestyle change in eating and most devastatingly, serving God then quitting.
Wait a minute, you were doing _______ and it was working, was blessing you, and then you quit?
Hebrews 10:32-39
“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Hebrews 6:9-12
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
62 times the words “diligent,” “diligence,” and “diligently” appear in Holy Scripture.
Each time we read these words, they pertain specifically to serving God “diligently” with “diligence.”
“Diligent”
“He becometh poor (spiritually) that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich (spiritually).” Proverbs 10:4
“Diligence”
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
“Diligently”
appears 37 times in God’s Word
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
“Looking DILIGENTLY lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Hebrews 12:15
“Keep your dukes up!”
Growing up boxing, from home training to being on a golden gloves team in high school, the command of the coaches was always and repeatedly “Keep your dukes up!”
Those who drop their dukes, their hands from covering their face, get hit, get knocked out.
Another sign on the wall of that boxing facility was: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” unknown
We are going to go through what Jesus foretold:
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24:21-22
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, in the name of Jesus I come to You now. Please forgive my sins of self-idolatry, slothfulness, and spiritual adultery.
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