Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for November 29

WHAT IF PRAYER WERE BANNED?

From: November 29, 2024

“My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm” (Daniel 6:22 ESV).

Daniel’s story is instructive to those who live as a religious minority under a worldly government. God gave Daniel wisdom to navigate the political tangle of Babylonian and Persian rule and yet remain steadfast to his faith. Even so, he still often experienced persecution and threats to his life.

How do we live out our faith at work or school, when expressing our faith is discouraged by company policies or prohibited by federal laws? As Daniel did, we should submit to the authorities over us, unless they cause us to break faith with the ultimate Authority, our God. Daniel feared the Lord more than he feared the lions. And the Lord rescued him.

When the king saw that God had rescued Daniel, he made a decree instructing his whole kingdom to worship the “God of Daniel.” God used Daniel’s faithfulness to turn a prayer prohibition into a nationwide prayer movement!

PRAYER: Dear Father, give us wisdom and courage to live out our faith in this world. Empower us to be Your witnesses by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

ARE YOU GROWING IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS?

From: November 29, 2023

“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 NLT).

The apostle Peter closed his second epistle, encouraging believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge” of Jesus. He warned against being led away by the error of the wicked, advising its alternative, namely, to grow in Christ. He understood that in spiritual life, as in physical life, nothing remains static. It either grows or declines. But healthy things grow.

This growth is to take place in two arenas: First, in the grace of Jesus, and second, in the knowledge of Jesus.

First, what is this grace of Jesus and how do we grow in it? It is the unmerited favor of God. We grow in this grace by receiving God’s favor through Jesus and continually drawing on it and applying it to ourselves and others. We are no longer under God’s judgement and condemnation. We are under His grace. So, we grow by applying this new freedom in every relationship.

This grace is also the gift of the Spirit, who seals us, abides in us, and empowers us to bear spiritual fruit. We grow in the grace of Jesus by becoming more like Him in His character. For the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Second, what does it mean to grow in the knowledge of Jesus? How does one grow in the knowledge of any person? Don’t we spend time together? Sometimes talking, walking, working, playing, eating…? We do life together with someone and we grow in the knowledge of that person. So it is with Jesus. We grow in the knowledge of Him by spending time with Him, reading His Word, praying, always abiding in Him, always seeking to follow Him and listen to His voice.

Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Fill us afresh that we might grow in grace. Help us to hear Your Son that we might grow in knowledge of Him, always able to recognize His voice. We want to grow up in Christ Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.

“I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles” (2 Peter 3:2 NLT).

From: November 29, 2022

REMEMBER WHAT THE PROPHETS AND APOSTLES SAID

In the apostle Peter’s second letter, he shared his intent to stimulate their thinking by urging them to always remember the words of the holy prophets and of the commands of Jesus given through the apostles. In this way, Peter put the writings of the apostles on equal footing with that of the prophets. For both the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles wrote by the inspiration and authority of the Lord. As Peter stated earlier in his second letter, “No prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God” (2 Pet. 1:21). Likewise, the apostles of Jesus did not speak their own words, but bore first hand witness to what they had seen and heard of Jesus, as they were commanded by Him.

So Peter wanted believers to remember and always be mindful of what is now called the Old and New Testaments. His desire was that by remembering the words of the prophets and the apostles that the minds of believers would be stirred up to pure and wholesome thinking.

But how are we to remember what the prophets and apostles said? Read, study and meditate on God’s Word. Faithfully gather together for worship and the preaching of the Word. For the key to a renewed mind is what we put in it.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. It is one of Your greatest gifts to us. Help us to always desire it and remember it. Even more, through Your Spirit, empower us to live by it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 HCSB).

From: November 29, 2021

ARE YOU GROWING IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS?

The apostle Peter closed his second epistle, encouraging believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge” of Jesus. He warned against being led away by the error of the wicked, advising its alternative, namely, to grow in Christ. He understood that in spiritual life, as in physical life, nothing remains static. It either grows or declines. But healthy things grow.

This growth is to take place in two arenas: 1) in the grace of Jesus, and 2) in the knowledge of Jesus.

1) What is this grace of Jesus and how do we grow in it? It is the unmerited favor of God. We grow in this grace by receiving God’s favor through Jesus and continually drawing on it and applying it to ourselves and others. We are no longer under God’s judgement and condemnation. We are under His grace. So, we grow by applying this new freedom in every relationship.

This grace is also the gift of the Spirit, who seals us, abides in us, and empowers us to bear spiritual fruit. We grow in the grace of Jesus by becoming more like Him in His character. For the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

2) What does it mean to grow in the knowledge of Jesus? How does one grow in the knowledge of any person? Don’t we spend time together? Sometimes talking, walking, working, playing, eating…? We do life together with someone and we grow in the knowledge of that person. So it is with Jesus. We grow in the knowledge of Him by spending time with Him, reading His Word, praying, always abiding in Him, always seeking to follow Him and listen to His voice.

Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Fill us afresh that we might grow in grace. Help us to hear Your Son that we might grow in knowledge of Him, always able to recognize His voice. We want to grow up in Christ Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 NKJV).

From: November 29, 2020

ARE YOU GROWING IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS?

The apostle Peter closed his second epistle, encouraging believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge” of Jesus. He warned against being led away by the error of the wicked, advising its alternative, namely, to grow in Christ. He understood that in spiritual life, as in physical life, nothing remains static. It either grows or declines. But healthy things grow.

This growth is to take place in two arenas: 1) in the grace of Jesus, and 2) in the knowledge of Jesus.

1) What is this grace of Jesus and how do we grow in it? It is the unmerited favor of God. We grow in this grace by receiving God’s favor through Jesus and continually drawing on it and applying it to ourselves and others. We are no longer under God’s judgement and condemnation. We are under His grace. So, we grow by applying this new freedom in every relationship.

This grace is also the gift of the Spirit, who seals us, abides in us, and empowers us to bear spiritual fruit. We grow in the grace of Jesus by becoming more like Him in His character. For the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

2) What does it mean to grow in the knowledge of Jesus? How does one grow in the knowledge of any person? Don’t we spend time together? Sometimes talking, walking, working, playing, eating…? We do life together with someone and we grow in the knowledge of that person. So it is with Jesus. We grow in the knowledge of Him by spending time with Him, reading His Word, praying, always abiding in Him, always seeking to follow Him and listen to His voice.

Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Fill us afresh that we might grow in grace. Help us to hear Your Son that we might grow in knowledge of Him, always able to recognize His voice. We want to grow up in Christ Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.

“I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles” (2 Peter 3:2 NLT).

From: November 29, 2019

HOW ARE WE TO REMEMBER WHAT THE PROPHETS AND APOSTLES SAID?

In the apostle Peter’s second letter, he shared his intent to stimulate their thinking by urging them to always remember the words of the holy prophets and of the commands of Jesus given through the apostles. In this way, Peter put the writings of the apostles on equal footing with that of the prophets. For both the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles wrote by the inspiration and authority of the Lord. As Peter stated earlier in his second letter, “No prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God” (2 Pet. 1:21). Likewise, the apostles of Jesus did not speak their own words, but bore first hand witness to what they had seen and heard of Jesus, as they were commanded by Him.

So Peter wanted believers to remember and always be mindful of what is now called the Old and New Testaments. His desire was that by remembering the words of the prophets and the apostles that the minds of believers would be stirred up to pure and wholesome thinking.

But how are we to remember what the prophets and apostles said? Read, study and meditate on God’s Word. For the key to a renewed mind is what we put in it.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. It is one of Your greatest gifts to us. Help us to always desire it and remember it. Even more, through Your Spirit, empower us to live by it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty” (Daniel 6:22 NLT).

From: November 29, 2018

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF PRAYER WERE BANNED?

Ask Daniel. Daniel’s story is instructive to those who live as a religious minority under a worldly government. God gave Daniel wisdom to navigate the political tangle of Babylonian and Persian rule and yet remain steadfast to his faith. Even so, he still often experienced persecution and threats to his life.

How do we live out our faith at work or school, when expressing our faith is discouraged by company policies or prohibited by federal laws? As Daniel did, we should submit to the authorities over us, unless they cause us to break faith with the ultimate Authority, our God. Daniel feared the Lord more than the lions. And the Lord rescued him.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV).

From: November 29, 2017

Those that scoff at the Lord’s return because they see no evidence in this world of God’s justice, are here corrected. It is not because the Lord is slow to move, but because He is “patient,” so that “all” might have an opportunity for “repentance.”

Don’t let the coming and going of days and nights and the circling of the earth around the sun lull you into a false sense of continuity. For that is what the scoffers say, “All things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4).

There was a Day when God created the world. There was a Day when He sent His Son. There will be a Day when His Son returns. And in between these days, the Lord is patient.

“I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end” (Daniel 6:26 ESV)

From: November 29, 2016

A new administration comes into power, jealous co-workers, and a governmental prohibition against prayer… Sounds like something from today’s headlines, doesn’t it? Well, actually this is what the Hebrew exile Daniel faced after Darius the Mede conquered Babylon. Even though Daniel had been an advisor to the Babylonians, Darius was so impressed with him that he made him one of his top three administrators and even planned to put him over all of his 120 “satraps” (Persian governors). Many of the Persian leaders became jealous of Daniel, so they schemed to get rid of him. They couldn’t find anything wrong with his work or character, so they focused on persecuting him for his faith. They persuaded Darius to pass a law against prayer and waited for Daniel to break it. They didn’t have to wait long. That very day, Daniel went “to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem,” and prayed. Daniel had broken Persian law, so Darius had no choice but to throw him in the lion’s den. Yet, God rescued Daniel, thus revealing His glory to Darius. In response, Darius executed Daniel’s detractors, elevated Daniel and made a “decree” instructing his whole kingdom to worship the “God of Daniel.” God used Daniel’s faithfulness to turn a prayer prohibition into a nationwide prayer meeting!

“I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word” (Psalm 119:147 NKJV)

From: November 29, 2015

Better to put your hope in the unchanging Word than in the ever changing circumstances of this world. God’s Word will accomplish what it says. The one who wrote Ps.119 knew this. Take some time to study this the longest chapter in the Bible. List the different words used for Word, such as: “law, promise,” etc…