Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-April 27, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-With God All Things Are Possible-

“But He said, ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with men.’”

(Luke 18:27).

The context of this verse is right after the Rich Young Ruler left the presence of Jesus without following His words to, “Sell and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow Me” (Luke 18:22). Jesus told His disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through a eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved. In other words, it cannot happen that anyone trusting in his own riches can be saved.

Under the Old Covenant, riches were seen as a blessing from God, a sign of His favor. Under the New Covenant, riches or anything else one may trust in is more of a hindrance or detriment to one getting saved. Salvation is by grace through faith and is not ourselves. Every conversion is a miracle because the world, the flesh, and the devil are working non-stop against it. Those who heard Jesus’ words asked the natural question, “…Who then can be saved” (Luke 18:26)? Today’s verse is Jesus’ answer, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

In the gospel records we have it put in both the positive and negative wordings, and both are true. Here in our text is the positive: all things are possible with God. We also see the negative: nothing is impossible with God. The angel Gabriel said to Mary in Luke 3:37, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” The only thing that is impossible for God is to lie. And essentially, that is true of any sin, for God cannot sin.

In human terms when something is impossible, it cannot be done. God has no such limitations. God told Jeremiah, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me” (Jeremiah 32:27)? God is infinite, we are finite; God is limitless, we are limited. If we find ourselves in an impossible situation, know with certainty it is not impossible for God. He is omnipotent. The salient point is it not can God do it, but is it is will to do it.

When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed three times that the cup of death and judgment would pass from Him. He said, “O My Father, if it possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). Paul prayed three that the thorn in his flesh be removed, but God instead gave Him His sufficient grace to handle it. Please see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. In both cases, the answer was no.

God’s wills to answer yes, no, or wait. One the door is wide open, two, the door is closed, and third, it is open a crack and we must wait for God to open it fully in His time. Let us trust in the Lord and leave matters in His hands, just as Jesus and Paul did. Sometimes God says no, but He always gives us sufficient grace. We should pray for healing, deliverance, success, and victory. Our faith should not waver when we have God’s favor! We should always know that He knows best for us.

Have a blessed day praying earnestly and fervently for Him to answer and that His will be done. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 26, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-Jesus Intercedes For us-

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

(Hebrews 7:25).

The word intercession means, “The action of intervening on behalf of another: the action of saying a prayer on behalf of another.” This is exactly what Jesus did for us and does for us daily. The Lord has a special love and care for all believers. He wants the best for us spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, materially, and financially. Our Lord desires that we grow in faith, live for Him, and serve Him. He chooses to use us to accomplish His purposes by His grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The first thing our Savior did was save us from our sins. He went to the uttermost to save us from our sins. He said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” We all needed saving because we are all sinners. Jesus found Zacchaeus in a tree, the Samaritan woman at the well, and the demoniac among the tombs. Someone once said, Jesus went to the uttermost to save us from the gutter most.”

When Jesus was on earth He spent much time in prayer to the Father, especially on behalf of His disciples. Jesus was so happy that of those that the Father gave to Him, He lost none except Judas the traitor and betrayer. When Peter pledged his allegiance to Christ and being willing to die for Him, Jesus predicted that he would deny Him three times. Luke 22:31-32 says, “The Lord said, ‘Simon! Simon! indeed Satan has desired to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’” Jesus also prayed for His followers in His High Priestly Prayer in John 17.

Our Lord Jesus Christ died to make intercession for us and now He lives to make intercession for us. He prays to the Father on our behalf. Romans 8:33-34 says, “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.”

We are doubly blessed that Jesus makes intercession by presenting our needs before the Father and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we pray, turning our prayers into the best petitions and praises. In Romans 8:26-27, Paul wrote, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should prayer for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Thus we can live confidently because Jesus is interceding for us; we can pray confidently, not worrying whether we say all the right words in an eloquent way; and we can intercede for others to bring their needs before the throne of grace. Paul told Timothy, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1). These three are three great intercessions in the Scriptures.

Have a blessed day interceding for others, knowing the Holy Spirit is interceding for us and Jesus is praying for us. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 25, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-Paul’s Goal For Everyone: To Present Them Perfect In Christ-

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

(Colossians 1:27-28).

The Apostle Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. The mystery he is speaking of is the mystery among the Gentiles. A mystery in the NT is something that was previously unknown in the OT that is now revealed. We as believers now have the understanding of gospel. Our greatest blessing is Christ in us the hope of glory.

Paul was not just a great evangelist, missionary, and church planter, but he was a wonderful teacher of the Word of God. Despite his imprisonment for the cause of Christ, he kept pressing on to present everyone perfect in Christ. To do this effectively he had to preach, warn, and teach all the saints.

• Preach – to preach is proclaim the gospel so that souls will be saved. It is the first step, without which nothing else will matter. Paul wrote in Romans 10:14-15, “How shall they call on Him whom they have not believed? And how shall the believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”

• Warn – A warning to warn someone of impending danger. For example in the world, there are warnings of fires, and other natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and other dangers. In the spiritual realm we are warned of the devil’s attacks. The person who is is warned must heed the warnings. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”

• Teach – Teaching the Word is vital. Paul taught others so they could teach themselves teach others. Paul had a heart for young men in the ministry, such as Timothy, Titus, John Mark, and others. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Meditate on these things; give yourselves fully to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:15).

By preaching, warning, and teaching, Paul could present everyone perfect in Christ. The word perfect does not mean sinless perfection, but rather to be complete and mature in Christ. May the Lord help us to serve as Paul and the early believers did. There is so much to do in the Lord’s work.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day serving our Savior. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 24, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb-

“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

(1 Peter 1:18-19).

The Apostle Peter was a former fisherman turned disciple. He loved the Lord so much but early on said and did things that did not always make sense. But after Jesus forgave him for denying Him three times, the Lord used him as a great preacher and elder, pastor and teacher. He took Jesus’ words to heart, “Feed My lambs, tend My sheep, feed my sheep.” (See John 21:15-19). Peter was, along with John, the two greatest disciples, yet Peter was so humble and served the Lord faithfully all the rest of his life. When it came time to die for His Lord, he requested to be crucified upside down since he felt unworthy to die as his Savior died.

Peter is a wonderful example of restoration. The end of his life was better than his beginning. There are many such examples in Scripture, such as Moses, David, Jonah, and John Mark, just to name a few. He is very clear in his writings in First and Second Peter as well as in his sermons in the book of Acts. He also aided Mark with the writing of his gospel. He knew that Jesus was the Lamb of God who died on the cross to redeem us to God with His precious blood. The word knowing is such a word of confidence and assurance.

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

He writes, “Knowing that you were nor redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold…” Gold and silver were highly precious in his day, as they are today. As precious as they are, they are corruptible and will not last forever. Instead, we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Only Jesus was and is perfect, sinless, blameless, holy, innocent, and undefiled. He gave us life and shed His blood to redeem us to God. There is nothing more precious and efficacious than His blood. The word efficacious means effective. Nowadays it has come up in medical terms for the COVID-19 vaccines and their rate of effectiveness. I am getting my second shot this morning in just over 2 hours, and I am so thankful! As great as they are, none is 100% effective, but the blood of Jesus is! His blood washes away all our sins and prevents God’s judgment on us.

In the OT, the priests offered sacrifices of lambs to the Lord over and over again. None of them could perfect anyone, but pointed people forward to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, whose one sacrifice for sins was perfect and never needs to be repeated. The hymn writer Robert Lowry said it so well, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me Whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” The chorus says, “O precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Hallelujah what a Savior!

Have a blessed day thanking God for our salvation. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 23, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Every Knee Shall Bow And Tongue Confess Jesus As Lord-

“For it is written, ‘As live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’”

(Romans 14:11).

There is a coming a day when every person will bow down before Christ and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. Those who are unsaved will do it under compulsion. They will be will be judged at the Great White Throne. Even those who mocked and crucified Him will bow before Him. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. They will regret their decision to reject Him as Lord and Savior.

Today’s verse is a quote from Isaiah 45:23. Of all the writers in the NT, Paul uses more quotes from the OT than anyone else. In Philippians 2:9-11, Paul wrote of this same subject, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We as believers in Jesus have willingly bowed the knee to Him and confessed that He is Lord. God did not have to force us to bow and confess. Those in heaven, speak of believers and angels; those on earth are those alive on earth during the Tribulation and the Millennium; and those under the earth as those in hell. No one is excepted.

There is no higher honor on earth than for someone to bow before a ruler; and confess one allegiance to that person. Only a few countries in the world are still ruled by a monarchy. Even in the United Kingdom, the authority of the Queen is largely ceremonial. It will never be so with the Lord. His rule is absolute, authoritative, and all powerful.

Is Jesus Lord of your life? Is He sitting and ruling from the throne of your heart. I am currently writing a book about this subject. Think how much different life would be if Jesus was Lord of every heart! Heaven will be that way. May the Lord help us to own Jesus as Lord! He is our God, our Master, our King, and our Lord. He is in charge and in full control and authority in every situation. He leads us and guides us in victory.

Have a blessed day and weekend living for Jesus as Lord and serving Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean