Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 30, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Praying For One Another As Paul Did-

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

(Philippians 1:9-11).

The Apostle Paul was a man of prayer. He prayed for the saints he loved in the various churches and he wrote to them in his epistles. He prayed earnestly, fervently, and faithfully for them. He also was very specific in his requests for them. Prayer is also such a blessing in terms our spiritual warfare and in our communion with the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

We pray in the name of Jesus and according to the will of God. We lift up the needs of our fellow believers and for the salvation of the lost. We pray for our nation, our government leaders, and our spiritual leaders. We also lift our own needs to the Lord. The greatest regret most of us will have in life is that we did not pray enough. Prayer is hard work and the devil will oppose every step of the way.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” We need to set aside a time and a place to pray, and be committed and devoted to it daily.

When Paul prayed for the Philippians, he asked the Lord to grant them four specific things for their spiritual good and growth:

1. That their love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. Love is the greatest virtue and we can never have enough love for each other. Paul prays for their love to abound even more and for them to have both knowledge and discernment. Discernment is the ability to see what is true and right in every situation.

2. That they may approve the things that are excellent. Paul spoke of these things in Philippians 4:8 that we should meditate on. We should hold high standards for ourselves and other believers; always thinking of the best and looking for the best in others. None of us are perfect but we should strive for excellence in all things.

3. That they would be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. Paul prayed for the saints to be sincere until the Lord comes. Sincerity is so lacking today for it seems so many have poor motives. Being without offense is to treat everyone honestly, justly, and fairly, without hypocrisy or partiality.

4. That they would be filled with the fruits of righteousness. Righteousness is being right with God and with one another. It is something we are in Christ and something we live out in our lives in a practical way. It is practicing what we preach and living an abundant life.

May the Lord help us to pray for one another and love each other with a sincere love that show the life of Christ put into practice. When we pray God will answer. To have strong, effective lives and churches we need to pray consistently, faithfully, and passionately for one another. We are only as strong as we are together in Christ.

Have a blessed day in prayer. Things always go better when we pray. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 29, 2020-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-Reacting to the The Light That Exposes Good And Evil-

“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

(John 3:20-21).

In the context our verses today, Jesus is speaking about the light of God’s truth, the Word of God. Those who are unsaved react very differently to the light than those who are saved. The former hide from the light and the latter draw near to the light.

Practicing evil indicates one is unsaved. They are children of darkness and they shun the light because their deeds are evil. The light convicts them and they want to continue in their sin. The light makes them very uncomfortable. Most sin is committed under the shroud of night and darkness. It is interesting that when you pick up a rock you see tiny creatures who live in darkness. When they see the light they scurry to find cover from it.

Unsaved people hate the light because their deeds are evil. They know they are doing wrong and sinning, but they want their sin. They love their sin more than God. The devil’s main mission is to keep them in darkness and away from the light of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

The unsaved stay away from church, do not read the Bible, and do not want to hear the gospel. It makes them feel very uncomfortable. They do not want to be convicted.

On the other hand, those who are saved love the light. They are sinners also but sinners saved by grace. They are not perfect but they are forgiven through the finished work of Christ on the the cross. They hate their sin now and they way they used to live before salvation. The light is now their delight. They want to be convicted by the Holy Spirit through Word of God. They are called children of light.

The Bible is like a mirror that exposes us. It will show us that are deeds are good and have been done in God. If we have thought, said or done something wrong, we are quick to confess it to the Lord. Ephesians 5:9 tells us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).” No longer do we desire sin and darkness, but we yearn for goodness, righteousness, and truth in the light of God and His Word. We are now light-bearers and light-sharers.

Are you a child of darkness or a child of light? Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). Those who are saved by grace walk in the light and love it. If you haven’t received Christ as Lord and Savior, won’t you receive Him today? You just have to confess your sins, turn from them, believe that Jesus died for you on the cross, and receive Him into your heart.

Have a blessed day walking in the light. There is no shame but great joy in the light of His Word. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 28, 2020-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-The Natural Man Does Not Receive Or Believe The Things Of The Spirit-

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

(1 Corinthians 2:14).

Those who are born of Adam, who are unsaved, and devoid of the Holy Spirit cannot understand the things of the Spirit. Unregenerate people, though they be brilliant with high IQ’s , great knowledge, or education, do not understand, appreciate, or receive the things of God; they are foolishness to them.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, Paul wrote, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

The lost are unable to understand, believe, or receive the things of the Spirit. They make no sense to them. The Holy Spirit convicts those who are unsaved and brings them to Christ. Then it is like a light bulb does off and it starts to all make sense. They get saved and the Holy Spirit begins to teach them wonderful things from the Word of God.

In the world, one must appreciate the value of something, otherwise it means little or nothing. Some understand and appreciate art, science, sports, music, or other things that others do not. They have an eye and a passion for them. The same is true of spiritual things. Only believers in Christ who have the mind of Christ can understand and appreciate the things of God; otherwise they are foolishness to unbelievers.

All this being said, this why those who do not know Jesus, do not believe or accept the gospel. They argue against it, for it makes no sense to them. They view Christians as fanatics, extremists, or weirdos. They oppose us every step of the way. We pray for their salvation. This is why getting saved is such a huge transformation. Only God can save a sinner through a Jesus Christ.

Let us thank God we are saved and are in dwelt by the Holy Spirit. We have the mind of Christ. We are able to discern spiritual things, to know right from wrong, and to see things from God’s perspective. We must be patient with the unsaved. We can’t expect them to understand. We pray for the Spirit to open their hearts and minds to the truth.

Have a blessed day walking in the Spirit, knowing the Lord and His truth, and appreciating what we have in Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 27, 2020-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-Don’t Worry: Seek First The Kingdom Of God And His Righteousness-

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

(Matthew 6:33).

Today’s verse is both a wonderful promise and a needed reminder especially in all that we are going through during the Coronavirus pandemic. In the context of Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to worry, God knows our needs and provides for us; God is our Heavenly Father and we are His children. The word “worry” is used five times and the word “worrying” once in this passage.

There are so many things we worry about in life, yet none are justified when the Lord is with us. God provides for the birds, the flowers, and all nature, and He provides for us even more. Worrying only causes us so many problems, and is a sin. God takes care of us and provides for our needs.

Jesus gives us the key to overcoming worry in our verse: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” There are so many things we cannot control, but we can control our reaction to them. If we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, it will keep us from worry.

We must ask ourselves, what does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? It simply means to put the Lord first in our lives, to make our service for Him the highest priority, and to thank Him for what He has done for us and given to us. We live in an imperfect, sinful, broken world. If we expect it to get better, we are sorely mistaken. In fact, in these last days it will only get worse.

Jesus promised us that when we seek first His kingdom and righteousness, He will add all these things to us: food, clothing, and shelter. It was true in Jesus’ day and it is true today. He knows what we need and provides for us. There is no need to worry. These uncertain, hard times, serve to remind us how much we need the Lord day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute. 2020 is a very rough year but it will pass. We will one day look back and see how the Lord carried us through it.

Let us then trust Him, thank Him, and put Him first in our lives. May we serve the Lord and His kingdom with all our hearts. Doing these things is like a vaccine for worry. Instead of worrying, we pray, read the Word, and serve the Lord.

Have a blessed day putting the Lord and His interests above our own. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 26, 2020-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-God Is A God Of Justice And Judgment-

“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

(Hebrews 10:30-31).

So many people think they can do what they want to do and get away with their sin. Nothing has happened to them so far, which lulls them into a false sense of security. We as believers know better. God is a God of justice and judgment. Judgment Day is coming. God has given people so many chances to repent. We are still living in the Age of Grace.

Every unsaved person will stand before the Great White Throne at the end of Millennium. The lost, those who have rejected Christ, will be cast into the lake of fire. God’s judgment and His vengeance will be poured out in abundant measure. He is absolutely fair in all His judgment. If a person’s name is not found in the Book of Life, also called the Lamb’s Book of Life, they will face His wrath. God is completely fair and impartial.

Verse 31 says clearly, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” God doesn’t want to scare people but warn them of the wrath to come. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 says,”In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power.” It is a wake up call.

No one can get away with sin. Criminals on earth may escape earthly judgment but will one day stand before God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And as for us as believers living in these last days, it should encourage us to live more holy lives and to share the gospel with the unsaved. Peter wrote, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘ if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear’” (1 Peter 4:17)?

No truly saved person will experience the wrath and judgment of God. We will have to give an account of our service for the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ but we will not be judged for our sins since Jesus paid for them at the cross.

Let us then live more holy, godly lives, serving our Lord and reaching out to those who are unsaved. God’s justice and His judgment are coming. It is a sure thing for God repeats so many times in Scripture. God desires every person to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He will force anyone to get saved, they have to choose to receive Him or reject Him.

Have a blessed day safe in the arms of Jesus, saved from the wrath to come. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean