Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 3

GOD IS OUR VERY PRESENT HELP

From: March 3, 2024

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 ESV).

The psalmist spoke of three divine attributes of God that we can rely on in times of trouble. He said that we can look to God as our “refuge,” our “strength,” and our “very present help.”

Looking to God as our “refuge,” we find shelter in Him. He shields and protects us when the storms of life come. We can hide ourselves in Him.

Depending on God as our “strength,” both materially and physically, He empowers us to stand during troubling times. When we come to the end of our strength, we find that we can keep moving and standing by His divine power.

Finally, our God is a “very present help.” He is always only a prayer away. He is tried and true. His help is always available. Of course, we know that God is always present with us. Yet during times of trouble He seems more present, or at least our awareness of Him seems more real.

Have you experienced these attributes of our God during times of trouble?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we need You, not only in times of trouble, but at all times. We look to You as our refuge. Hold us in Your arms. We depend on You for strength. Empower us by Your Spirit. We call on You to be with us. You are our very present Help in times of trouble. Be with us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

MOUNTAIN, BE MOVED!

From: March 3, 2023

‘Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.”‘ (Mark 11:22-23 NLT).

On the Monday morning of Passion Week, Jesus cursed a fig tree that was barren of fruit. The next morning as He and the disciples passed by the tree, Peter pointed out that it was “withered from the roots up.” In response, Jesus offered a lesser to greater argument (i.e. “fig tree to mountain”) that the disciples would be able to do even greater miracles if they only had faith in God.

As we consider this amazing promise from Jesus, let us be careful not to misunderstand the doctrine of faith. For faith is not some neutral force with a power of its own. No, faith requires an object. And as Jesus taught, the object of biblical faith is God. Notice how Jesus began His teaching, “Have faith in God.” Jesus did not teach us to have faith in faith, but to have faith in God. We can believe something with all of our heart, yet nothing will happen unless God acts. In addition, what we ask must be according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). For He is a good Father and knows what’s best for us.

So, our faith must be in God whose power and will are paramount. Yet, having understood this, we must not forget the point of Christ’s teaching: Our faith in God can move mountains! Don’t focus on the mountain. Focus on the God who can move the mountain! For it’s not the size of your faith, but the size of your God that counts. As Jesus taught, just a little faith in a great God can move mountains!

Jesus said, “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20).

What mountain do you face today? It is not great faith in God, but faith in a great God that moves mountains!

PRAYER: Dear Father, move in us. We believe. Help us with our unbelief. Some of us are facing a mountain of trouble today. But we place our faith in You, therefore, we will not fear. We say, “Mountain, be moved!” In Jesus’ name, amen.

“One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy” (Leviticus 27:30 NLT).

From: March 3, 2022

THE PRINCIPLE OF THE TITHE

The first principle of the tithe, which is ten percent of the harvest, is that it “belongs to the Lord.” Therefore, bringing the tithe to the Temple was not an offering, but an obligation. To do otherwise would be “robbery” (Mal. 3:8). It reminded the people that God is owner of all things.

The second principle is that the tithe is “holy.” It is “set apart” for special use. It was not to be consumed but given to the Temple for the support of the priests and their families. The Lord had given land to all the tribes of Israel except for the tribe of Levi. For the tribe of Levi was set apart unto the Lord as a tribe of priests. They were to care for the Temple and live off of the tithes given to the Lord from the other tribes.

Today, the followers of Jesus are not under the law, but under grace. Yet, the principle of the tithe is still relevant. For God is still owner of all things and the work of His church still needs the support of His people.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the gift of life and for all that is needed for life. We thank You for meeting our needs in Christ Jesus. We therefore offer back to You freely all that we are and all that we have, knowing that all things belong to You. You are a giving God and we would be a giving people, full of thankfulness and generosity, just as You bless us to do so. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!” (Mark 11:17 HCSB).

From: March 3, 2021

IS OUR CHURCH A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS?

On the Monday before Christ’s crucifixion He entered the Temple and cleared it of its sellers and money changers. They had apparently made the outer court, known as the Court of the Gentiles, into a marketplace. Jesus was furious. The outer court was meant to offer a place of prayer and refuge of hope to the nations, but the Jewish leaders had turned it into a retail business.

This is a fair warning to the Church. Jesus has commissioned us to proclaim the gospel to the nations. He wants us to be a house of prayer for the nations. When we turn inward and use the Church for our own members’ gain, we neglect Christ’s Great Commission.

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we make the church about us, rather than about You and Your great commission. Forgive us for our lack of prayer, believing that our own programs will accomplish Your work. Strengthen us to proclaim Your gospel to the nations, depending on You in prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And whenever you stand praying…” (Mark 11:25 NKJV).

From: March 3, 2020

WHAT BODY POSITION IS PREFERABLE FOR PRAYING?

In Christ’s teaching on prayer, He assumed that the disciples would stand to pray. I’ve never done a study on the body positions of those praying in the Bible, but it might be an interesting research. Many pray while seated or even while lying in the bed. I’m sure these postures are fine. Yet I have found that standing to pray affects not only my physical posture, but my spiritual and mental posture as well. Standing tends to focus my attention and awaken my awareness of God’s holy presence. It keeps my mind from wandering and my body from feeling sleepy. I have found that walking while praying adds another dimension.

Have you tried standing or walking when you pray?

PRAYER: Dear Father, as Jesus taught his disciples, the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Our minds and bodies are prone to wander. Yet, we would be like Paul and make our bodies obey. Strengthen us and hear us when we pray. We want to grow in our prayer life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy” (Leviticus 27:30 NLT).

From: March 3, 2019

THE PRINCIPLE OF THE TITHE

The first principle of the tithe, which is ten percent of the harvest, is that it “belongs to the Lord.” Therefore, bringing the tithe to the Temple was not an offering, but an obligation. To do otherwise would be “robbery” (Mal. 3:8). It reminded the people that God is owner of all things.

The second principle is that the tithe is “holy.” It is “set apart” for special use. It was not to be consumed but given to the Temple for the support of the priests and their families. The Lord had given land to all the tribes of Israel except for the tribe of Levi. For the tribe of Levi was set apart unto the Lord as a tribe of priests. They were to care for the Temple and live off of the tithes given to the Lord from the other tribes.

Today, the followers of Jesus are not under the law, but under grace. Yet, the principle of the tithe is still relevant. For God is still owner of all things and His church still needs the support of His people.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the gift of life and for all that is needed for life. We thank You for meeting our needs in Christ Jesus. We therefore offer back to You freely all that we are and all that we have, knowing that all things belong to You. You are a giving God and we would be a giving people, full of thankfulness and generosity, just as You bless us to do so. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

‘Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.”‘ (Mark 11:22-23 NLT).

From: March 3, 2018

FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS

On the Monday morning of Passion Week, Jesus cursed a fig tree that was barren of fruit. The next morning as He and the disciples passed by the tree, Peter pointed out that it was “withered from the roots up.” In response, Jesus offered a lesser to greater argument (i.e. “fig tree to mountain”) that the disciples would be able to do even greater miracles if they only had faith.

As we consider this amazing promise from Jesus, let us be careful not to misunderstand the doctrine of faith. First, faith is not some neutral force with a power of its own. No, faith requires an object. And as Jesus taught, the object of biblical faith is God. Notice how Jesus began His teaching, “Have faith in God.” Jesus did not teach us to have faith in faith, but to have faith in God. We can believe something with all of our heart, yet nothing will happen unless God acts. Second, having recognized that biblical faith’s object is God, we must recognize that our requests must be according to God’s will. Consider these two Scriptures:

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3).

So, our faith must be in God whose power and will are paramount. Yet, having understood this, we must not forget the point of Christ’s teaching: Our faith in God can move mountains! Don’t focus on the mountain. Focus on the God who can move the mountain! For it’s not the size of your faith, but the size of your God that counts. As Jesus taught, just a little faith in a great God can move mountains!

“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20).

It is not great faith in God, but faith in a great God that moves mountains!

“And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve” (Mark 11:11 NKJV).

From: March 3, 2017

And so ended the first day of Passion Week, Palm Sunday, 33 AD. After a very eventful day, Jesus and the Twelve spent the evening in Bethany, no doubt at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. The Bible offers more detail about this week, than any other week since the week of creation recorded in Genesis.

Creation Week Passion Week

Day 1/Sunday Light Triumphal entry

Day 2/Monday Sky and seas Cleansing the Temple

Day 3/Tuesday Land and plants Teaching in the Temple

Day 4/Wednesday Sun, Moon and stars Anointed in Bethany

Day 5/Thursday Birds and fish Last Supper & Garden

Day 6/Friday Animals and Man Crucifixion and Death

Day 7/Saturday Rested In the tomb

Day 8/Sunday Man’s Fall Christ’s Resurrection!

The Bible zooms in on these two weeks for a day by day account. In the first week, all is created good, yet man falls into sin. In the second week, all has fallen into sin, yet is redeemed by Christ’s death and resurrection!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 ESV)

From: March 3, 2016

Three divine attributes that we experience when we go to God in times of trouble: “Refuge”, “strength,” and “very present help.” God is our “refuge,” our shelter, shielding us from the storms of life when we trust his protection. God is our “strength,” both materially and physically, supplying and empowering us to survive during troubling times. And He is easily found when we call upon Him because He is a “very present help.” He is always only a prayer away. Of course, we know that God is always present with us, yet during times of trouble His presence seems intensified (or at least our awareness of God is intensified). Have you experienced these attributes of our God during times of trouble?

“And whenever you stand praying…” (Mark 11:25 NKJV)

From: March 3, 2015

In Christ’s teaching on prayer, He assumed that the disciples would pray standing. I’ve never done a study on the body positions of those praying in the Bible, but it might be an interesting research. Many pray while seated or while lying in the bed. I’m sure these postures are fine. Yet I have found that standing to pray affects not only my physical posture, but my spiritual and mental posture as well. Standing tends to focus my attention and awaken my awareness of God’s holy presence. It keeps my mind from wandering and my body from feeling sleepy. Have you tried standing to pray?