Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-June 21, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-The Blessing Of Dwelling In The Lord’s Presence-

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I trust.’”

Psalm 91 was written by a unknown writer. It is one of the most encouraging psalms and been a source of blessing to believers down through the centuries, especially through wars, famines, pestilences, and other difficult circumstances. Going through COVID-19 has been something none of us will forget. He has brought us through thus far and preserved our lives.

When times are tough, we find comfort, security, protection, and peace in the Lord. There is a secret place we can all go to: the presence of the Lord. Psalm 27:5 says, “For in a time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” We can count on two things in our lives, other than death and taxes: trouble will come and the Lord is present with us.

In Psalm 91, the writer expressed how wonderful the Lord’s presence is and likened it to a secret place, under the shadow of the Almighty, in a dwelling place, a refuge and fortress, which is under His wings. It is so encouraging and comforting. The Lord is with us in the fire, in the flood, and in the storm. He protects us and provides for us. We can trust Him and know He will never fail us.

Before we go out into the world to face a new day, we must spend time in the Lord’s presence in prayer and in His Word. Then during the day commune with Him, call upon Him for help, and constantly thank Him for everything. We do everything we can to stay healthy physically and mentally; we should take even greater steps to stay healthy spiritually.

Years ago I read a story of a certain monk, named brother Lawrence, who so enjoyed the presence of the Lord in all his duties at the monastery, especially as he washed the dishes. Everything he did, no matter how mundane or ordinary, he was so happy and fulfilled. He did not have the time nor the desire to complain since the Lord was with Him side by side. After he died, a book was written about his life experiences called “The practice of the presence of the Lord.” You can still find this book today.

May each of us dwell in the Lord’s presence, cling to Him, and communicate with the Lord all through the day. Our days will be sweeter, richer, fuller, and better.

Have a blessed day in the presence of the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-June 20, 2021-The first day of summer.

Good morning happy Lord’s Day, happy Father’s Day,

-The Role Of A Godly Father-

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

(Ephesians 6:4).

In order to be a godly father, one must first be a godly man and husband. Fathers have a great responsibility to be leaders in their households. Fatherhood is really all about relationships, first with God, then one’s wife and children.

Though it it true it takes a village to raise a child, such as childcare givers, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, and others, parents play the most important part. Fathers are role models for their kids. One of the chief reasons the world is in the mess it is is because most families don’t attend church, pray, or read the Bible. It is the family altar that stokes the fire of devotion to Christ. The old adage is certainly true: “The family that prays together, stays together.”

The godly father must wear many hats, most notably leader, example, role model, teacher, and disciplinarian. Sometimes it seems overwhelming. Along with responsibility comes accountability. Fathers are responsible for their wives and children, first and foremost to God, and with that responsibility comes accountability. The godly father will be rewarded by the Lord much like an elder in the church.

Hebrews 13:17 is written regarding elders and those under them in the church, but applies to fathers and their children as well, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Paul reminds fathers of two important things: don’t provoke your children to wrath and to bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

• Do not provoke your children to wrath – If a father is overly strict, gives excessive criticism, and does not have the love and gentleness of Christ, one can lose them. As soon as they are eighteen, they will leave the household. Love is the key for fathers and for everyone. Taking the time to spend with one’s children is absolutely essential to the relationship between fathers and their children.

• Bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord – This the nuts and bolts of successful fatherhood. If we expect our kids to be saved and go on for the Lord, we must set the example. Discipline is sorely lacking in so many households today. As I always say, discipline them in love, and love them in discipline.” Fathers are teachers and trainers. The difference between the two is: teachers tell you what to do, trainers show you what to do. Kids see everything you do and hear everything you say. Kids can spot hypocrisy a mile away. Being honest and open means asking your child to forgive you when you said or did something wrong to them.

Being a godly father takes much time, patience, perseverance, and hard work. God enables one to do it by His sufficient grace. For respect to be given, it must be earned. For lessons to be taught, they must be practiced. The world says, “Do as I say, not as I do.” The godly father says, “Do as I do, as what I do is obey and follow Christ.” To produce godly sons, we must be godly fathers.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day and Father’s Day. Let us honor our fathers and be great fathers. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-June 19, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday, Happy Juneteenth,

-Deliverance From Satan’s Bondage-

“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And the he will plunder his house.”

(Matthew 12:29).

Today is Juneteenth, our newest federal holiday, passed by Congress and signed by President Biden. It is a Remembrance Day, when after the Civil War, Union troops informed the slaves in Texas that they were free. President Lincoln granted their freedom over two years before on January 1, 1863. Texas slave holders had kept the news from the slaves all that time. In fact, they didn’t even know the war was over!

Imagine being free and not knowing it. Then imagine the great joy of hearing it and breathing their first breaths of freedom. It certainly reminds us of how many people today are walking around enslaved by Satan, sin, and death. They don’t know that Jesus died to deliver them from the bondage Satan that he had over them.

In today’s verse, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees who said of Him, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (Matthew 12:24). Jesus says that if Satan casts out Satan, his kingdom will not stand. Jesus came to die on the cross and defeat Satan, along with sin, the flesh, and death.

The promise of Satan’s demise occurs in Genesis 3:15, when God speaking to the serpent, the devil said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Jesus fulfilled this Scripture by dying in our place on the cross. He tasted death for each and every person. By putting our faith in Him and His finished work on the cross, we are saved, delivered, and set free.

Jesus entered Satan’s territory, his dominion, that is his house, bound Satan, and plundered his goods, that is delivering us from the bondage we were under. Oh, what a victory He wo for us on the cross! 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have you been delivered? Have you been set free? It is an incredible victory! Juneteenth is a very meaningful day, an Independence Day for black people. I, like so many white Americans did not know about it until recently, but now we do. Every person was born a sinner and under Satan’s control because of sin. Those who know Jesus are no longer slaves of sin, we are slaves of righteousness. Jesus is our Lord and Master, who gives us the freedom to live holy and godly lives. Let us rejoice in our freedom!

Have a blessed day thanking God for our freedom. Tell people, “Happy Juneteenth.” We can share what it means for black people and what our spiritual emancipation means to all people. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-June 18, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-The Power And Joy In The Church-

“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

(Acts 2:46-47).

Luke, the beloved physician, wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He was a good friend of Paul and spent a lot of time with him. He addressed both of these books to Theophilus, an unknown but likely prominent man in the church.

The birth of the church took place when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in great power. Peter preached the first sermon, filled with the Holy Spirit. Three thousand souls were saved that day. These folks received the Word gladly and were baptized. They began to meet together for teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.

The early believers had all things common, meaning they shared with each other as any had need. Our text tells us that they continued in the temple daily, sharing their meals together from house to house with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. They had a powerful testimony of how the Lord changed their lives. The Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved. After two days the number of those saved grew to 5,000.

It did not take long before the believers were persecuted. Peter and John were arrested, beaten, and threatened. But the more the church was persecuted, the more the church thrived and grew. The devil was not happy with those being saved and growing in their faith. The same is true in many countries in the world today. Where persecution is the most severe, the more souls are saved and the church is the strongest.

There is something so encouraging about Christian fellowship. I have seen it and experienced for many years. When we meet together, we encourage one another in love. I have found that I am closer with my brothers and sisters in Christ than my own natural family. It is a double blessing when a member of our natural family is also a believer in Christ. It has been so hard not seeing our church family during the pandemic.

Jesus is the Head of the church and the Savior of the body. He told His disciples, and Peter in particular, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The church is built on Christ the Rock and the apostles and prophets.

Let us rejoice with our brothers and sisters in Christ, worship with them, and serve with them in joy and the power of the Holy Spirit. We want to see more souls saved and believers taught and equipped for service for our Lord. We must all do our part.

Have a blessed day and weekend standing together and serving together in the church. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-June 17, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Sing Praises To God Who Rides On The Clouds And Cares For His Own-

“Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.”

(Psalm 68:4-5).

The Book of Psalms is the Bible’s hymn book. Like so many of the psalms, David wrote this one. He was not only a great king, general, and man of God, he was also a great musician who played the harp and sang praises to God. Like life itself some of his songs were happy and some were sad; he praised God for everything, at all times.

David praised God who rides on the clouds. God created clouds that serve several useful purposes, most notably carrying rain to water our land and provide water to drink. Clouds in Scripture are mentioned many times. It was significant that God spoke from a cloud on numerous occasions in both the OT and NT. When Jesus ascended back to heaven, a cloud received Him, and when He comes again we will be caught us up together in the clouds to be forever with the Lord. See Acts 1:9-11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

Our Lord Christ rides on the clouds as easily as He walks on the water. All nature serves Him. David mentions God’s sacred name YAH, a shortened form of Yahweh. The Jews would not even say this name because it was so sacred and holy. David rejoiced in the Lord.

David knew of God’s greatness not only intellectually and theologically, but personally and practically. The God who rides on the clouds is also the God who is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. He always has a special love and care for widows and orphans. He also loves us and takes care of us. He counts the number of hairs on our heads and collects our tears in His bottle. He never leaves nor forsakes us.

May the Lord encourage us today with His presence and His power. He will uphold us and strengthen us for whatever comes our way. Let us praise the Lord for who He is as well as what He does.

Have a blessed day singing praises to God and living fully for Him. Stay safe and healthy.

In His Grace,

Dean