September 27 - Evening
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved." - Luke 8:11-12
The Word of God is the Seed for Salvation and Spiritual Maturity
The Word of God is the primary vehicle of our salvation and our spiritual growth. The “seed” of our Christian life is the Word of God. Because mysticism, emotions and philosophies are NOT the word of God they can Not be the seeds of salvation and growth. Satan steals the Word of God and replaces it with an imitation, an alternative or an artificial source to substitute for the Word of God.
False teaching that comes from the worldly philosophies of vain human imagination, and demonic doctrines that come from deceiving spirits, have been available since Satan first questioned and misquoted the Word of God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1). The very first act of evil and betrayal recorded in Scripture was an attack on the veracity of the Word of God and a denial of its accuracy. This happened when Satan added to the Word and claimed that what God had said did not accurately reflect the true character of God (Genesis 3:4-5). Then, centuries later, the very first time Jesus encountered Satan in his earthly ministry, he quoted verses from the Word of God three times to counter Satan’s twisted use of Scripture and his warped will (Matthew 4:1-11). When Jesus publicly taught about the importance of the seed of the Word of God, he was quick to point out that Satan comes immediately to steal that seed (Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23; Luke 8:11-12). Satan knows that if the Word is allowed to grow up to fruition it will produce thirty, sixty and one hundred fold in a believing heart (Matthew 13:28).
If these philosophies and doctrines of men and demons are allowed to replace the Word in the mind of believers their spiritual growth will be stunted, and their potential of producing eternal rewards will be squelched; they will have lost their inheritance (rewards) in the Kingdom of God. Even though they may have a true understanding of salvation through faith in Jesus – and so be saved from eternal damnation – they will be spiritually unproductive during their time on earth. They may be very religiously busy, but they will, nonetheless, lead a life of vanity and emptiness.
(Much of the above devotion is an excerpt from page 38 of Galyn’s book The Word: Apparatus for Salvation, Renewal and Maturity. Free download of the book here.)
Basileia (Gr) - Kingdom (Eng) - Basileia means "rule," "reign," "dominion."
Jesus proclaimed the basileia, or kingdom of God, had come with him as he taught the truth and healed the sick. God's rule or dominion was manifest in Jesus and his ministry.
Yet, the fullness of God's basileia on earth is something that is still future, as Jesus indicated when he prayed, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Jesus proclaimed the basileia, or kingdom of God, had come with him as he taught the truth and healed the sick. God's rule or dominion was manifest in Jesus and his ministry.
Yet, the fullness of God's basileia on earth is something that is still future, as Jesus indicated when he prayed, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Is the Kingdom of God advancing on earth because of me?
Am I proclaiming God's truth and doing the kingdom's work in my life?
I will bring a portion of the Kingdom of God to the earth with my life.
Am I proclaiming God's truth and doing the kingdom's work in my life?
I will bring a portion of the Kingdom of God to the earth with my life.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Recharged mind and soul to reengage life
Church
Deliverance
Nation
United States Air Force
World
Pakistan - blasphemy law used to kill and imprison believers
Someone to Quote
"Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny."
Something to Ponder
In biblical culture it was common to pray at the end of the meal instead of at the beginning in obedience to Deuteronomy 8:10, “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord…”
Here’s a Fact
2 Kings 19:9 and Is. 37:9 from 701 BC mention Pharaoh Tirhakah. A wall carving in sandstone block in the Karnak Temple complex in modern day Luxor, Egypt identifies Tirhakah and shows him worshipping Re. Also, a monumental statue of Tirhakah was found.
Proverb
"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." - Proverbs 27:19
Coach’s Corner
Begin reciting a list of things that you are thankful for…and, when you think you are finished, don’t stop, but keep the list going.
Luke 20
New International Version (NIV)
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”
3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”
8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’
14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”
When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
The Resurrection and Marriage
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
43
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
New International Version (NIV)
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”
3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”
8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’
14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”
When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
The Resurrection and Marriage
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
43
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
Nehemiah 7
New International Version (NIV)
7 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. 3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
The List of the Exiles Who Returned
4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. 5 So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:
6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 7 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah):
The list of the men of Israel:
57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
66 The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. 68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.
73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.
Ezra Reads the Law
When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,
New International Version (NIV)
7 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. 3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
The List of the Exiles Who Returned
4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. 5 So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:
6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 7 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah):
The list of the men of Israel:
| 8 | the descendants of Parosh2,172 |
9 | of Shephatiah372 |
10 | of Arah652 |
11 | of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab)2,818 |
12 | of Elam1,254 |
13 | of Zattu845 |
14 | of Zakkai760 |
15 | of Binnui648 |
16 | of Bebai628 |
17 | of Azgad2,322 |
18 | of Adonikam667 |
19 | of Bigvai2,067 |
20 | of Adin655 |
21 | of Ater (through Hezekiah)98 |
22 | of Hashum328 |
23 | of Bezai324 |
24 | of Hariph112 |
25 | of Gibeon95 |
26 | the men of Bethlehem and Netophah188 |
27 | of Anathoth128 |
28 | of Beth Azmaveth42 |
29 | of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth743 |
30 | of Ramah and Geba621 |
31 | of Mikmash122 |
32 | of Bethel and Ai123 |
33 | of the other Nebo52 |
34 | of the other Elam1,254 |
35 | of Harim320 |
36 | of Jericho345 |
37 | of Lod, Hadid and Ono721 |
38 | of Senaah3,930 |
39 The priests:
| the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) | 973 |
40 | of Immer1,052 |
41 | of Pashhur1,247 |
42 | of Harim1,017 |
43 The Levites:
| the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah) | 74 |
44 The musicians:
| the descendants of Asaph | 148 |
45 The gatekeepers:
| the descendants of | Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai | 138 | |
46 The temple servants:
| the descendants of |
| Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, |
| 47 |
| 48 |
| 49 |
| 50 |
| 51 |
| 52 |
| 53 |
| 54 |
| 55 |
| 56 |
| the descendants of |
| Sotai, Sophereth, Perida, |
| 58 |
| 59 |
| Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon |
| 60 | The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon392 |
61 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:
| 62 the descendants of | Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda | 642 | |
63 And from among the priests:
| the descendants of |
| Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). |
66 The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. 68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.
73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.
Ezra Reads the Law
When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,