Author: deathtoselfdevotional

Here am I, send me

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Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Saint of God are you truly willing?

There is so much need in this present hour and God is looking for willing vessels who simply say, “Here am I.” Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are so few. Once again become a living sacrifice for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are all your plans, routines, and life nailed to the Cross of Calvary? Are ready to be of service at any moment?

Many times God won’t speak what He wants us to do until we are first willing to simply open our hearts saying, “Here am I.” Until He speaks we should simply stand still, yet with continually open hearts to be of service at anytime and place.

Oh the joy of the adventures He takes us on when we become willing vessels. Many times it may be small in our eyes, however it’s great in the eyes of our God. Your plans after work? Be willing to lay them down. Your plans this weekend? Be willing to lay them down. Your bad attitude? Be willing to lay it down. Your besetting sin? Be willing to lay it down.

At any moment today the Lord may tap you on your shoulder to do His bidding and may our response simply be “Here am I; send me.”

They Followed Saul

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1 Samuel 17

There is a treasure of insight in this chapter. The most often talked about is David going against Goliath. However the Lord also speaks about many other things within these verses.

Verse 13-15 say, “And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third shammah. And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his Father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”

If God says something multiple times we ought to listen. The three eldest followed Saul, not the Lord. Yet we see that David returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep. There are two happenings here. The majority of elder brethren are following Saul (man) into battle where there is action, while David is tucked away learning what it truly means to be a shepherd of God feeding His sheep. Peter also once wanted to go to battle and drew the sword, however was also later on given the high calling by the Lord to simply “Feed His Sheep.”

Saul can represent so many things. Saul can be the apostle who shared this word with you. Saul can be the prophet who God uses in glorious ways. Saul can be the evangelist who’s boldness you admire. Saul can be the elder who always has the right words at the right time. Saul can be the teacher who’s spiritual insight has blessed you. We must submit to Saul as David did, but we need to ask ourselves constantly, “who are we following?” Are our eyes on a man, or the Lord Jesus Christ Himself?

Many times if we truly choose to go the way of David and follow the Lord outside the camp bearing His reproach, we will also be accused by our eldest brother of pride and naughtiness even though we were simply obeying our father’s command to bring corn, bread, and cheese to our brethren. This scene also parallels the story of Joseph in many ways. The first are last and the last are first.

In the end God uses David, the youngest, who knew the victory was won in the name of the Lord alone. While David’s brethren were following Saul, David was learning the ways of the Lord. His heart was to simply feed natural sheep and obeying the word of his father to feed his brethren. A true shepherd’s heart.

Follow God, not Saul.

Life of Lamech

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Genesis 5 & 6

Genesis 5:31 “And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy and seven years: and he died.

A life of perfection. Lived to be 777 years old yet not much is said about the life of Lamech, the father of Noah. What we do know is this man saw a lot of God. Lamech was 56 years old when Adam died. One can assume he had a first hand relationship with the first Adam who had once walked with God in the cool of the day. He was 113 years old when Enoch, his grandfather, was translated. He had firsthand seen a man once again walk with God to the point of defying death and walking into heaven.  Lamech died 5 years before the flood. Unless Noah built the ark within 5 years, he was also alive to witness the Lord give Noah a word about destroying the earth and Noah building an ark in faith.

Have you often felt like Lamech? Having seen so much of God yet it’s never you on the front page. Count yourself blessed. Being he lives to be 777 years old it can be said his life speaks of the fullness of perfection. Man of God your sacrifice for your family is not in vain. You see God moving in power all around you, but God bids you to work a job you don’t even like to provide for your family. Woman of God you see your brethren on the front lines being used in power, yet you are at home caring for children and doing dishes. Faithfully doing your work, dishes, raising children, and the unseen ministry is pleasing to the Lord. Your son, Noah, will build the ark.

The Darkest Dungeon

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Acts 16:23-28

“and when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: who having received such a charge, thrust them into inner prison, and made their feet fast in stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands we’re loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, do thyself no harm: for we are all here.”

Many reading this have been afflicted with not only stripes, but imprisonment in the darkest dungeon. Not only in prison, but the inner chamber. Not only the inner chamber, but feet fast in stocks. Not only feet fast in stocks, but it’s also the midnight hour. Sons of God make no mistake, the Lord has put you into this prison. You have no means of escape naturally. Your only duty is to pray and praise God. When the midnight hour is upon the earth the Lord may bid you the dungeon to bring forth His glory in the darkest of places. God gives a promise in these verses. Your praise will shake the foundation of the devil’s prison house and set the captives free. Not only will the other prisoners hear you, but your jailer will find grace in the sight of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are there to bring your enemy to the Lord. You are there to witness Christ. Paul and Silas had every right to triumphantly walk through the open door God created, but out of love for their enemy they chose to stay. This man and his household were saved because of their selflessness. You are in the prison for a reason. Pray and praise until the captives are set free.

Simeon (to hear) and Anna (favored)

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Luke 2:22-38

Meditating on these verses can bring a lot of spiritual insight. The name Simeon in Hebrew means “he who has heard, or he who listens (to the words of God).” The name Anna in Hebrew means “God has favored me.”

Both Simeon and Anna are only mentioned in these verses in the bible. It can’t be proven Simeon was a priest, but that he simply was a just and devout man with deep revelation of the Holy Spirit. We know Anna had no priestly lineage being from tribe of Aser, but we do know she carried same desire as King David in Psalm 27:4 by not departing from the temple of God. She served God day and night with prayer and fasting.

Let it be highlighted neither of these two can be proven to be priests of the religious system of the day, but they both had a revelation from the Holy Spirit of their Christ long before anyone else. Before the miracles, power, wisdom and manifestation of the Father through their Messiah they SAW Him! Here comes a baby born out of wedlock to be dedicated in the temple. (Side note: even if Joseph and Mary told their community about immaculate conception, you think the Jews believed that?)

It’s a day in the life in the religious system, all is going on as before and many probably praying in that very moment for the arrival of their Messiah. He is right in their temple as a baby and only Simeon + Anna have the proper revelation, vision, and hearing.

Let us draw near to God. Let us surrender all our spiritual pride and be found worthy to see His arrival. He will often come to His temple how we least expect. Maybe as a baby and later riding on a donkey meek and lowly? When He does come, let us be like Simeon who hears and sees. Let us be like Anna who has found favor with God. Let us not for a second think our position as God’s priests is what allows us to see Him as He is, but rather revelation from His Holy Spirit alone.

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit

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“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3

Think back on all the times you have received something from God. Maybe your salvation experience when you first received Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord and Savior. Maybe your time of seeking for an infilling of the Holy Spirit. Maybe the first time God took you past the Holy Place into the Holy of Holies to encounter His Shekinah Glory. May the Lord illuminate personal experiences in your own walk.

There is usually a common thread in all our victories in the Lord Jesus Christ, and it was we first humbled ourselves. To make Jesus Christ Lord we had to humble ourselves before His throne and accept our need for a savior. Before we received the baptism of Holy Spirit we had to humble ourselves and accept we were empty. Our blessing will always come after we see our spiritual poverty.

Many times we gain a victory in Christ and we begin to settle. We lose our humility, need and desperation for the Lord Jesus Christ. Our pride becomes in our doctrines, churches, denominations and so many things other than the cross of Jesus Christ. We in essence become rich in ourselves leaving the reality of the beatitude, “blessed are the poor in spirit.”

In this Laodicean church age may we all come back to the cross and see our need once again. May we become poor in spirit, humble enough to receive from the Master’s hand as spiritual beggars.

Are you reading this with nothing but tears and brokenness? Yours is the kingdom.

Mephiboseth – Destroyer of Shame

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2 Samuel 9

In Hebrew the name Mephiboseth means destroyer, or dispeller, of shame. Mephiboseth speaks of us wretched men and women saved by the grace of God. We were dead dogs and lame on our feet. All we can do is fall on our face before the king giving reverence. Like Mephiboseth we often come to our Lord and Savior with shame. The King overlooks our infirmities and says, “son you shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.” Not only shall you eat at the King’s table, but even with lame feet, you will feast at the King’s table continually. The qualities you have, or don’t have, is not what brings you to the table of Christ. It’s solely the Word of the Lord. By grace you are saved and able to walk in the fullness of Christ. Mephiboseth was carried from Lo-debar (pastureless) and brought to Jerusalem (foundation of peace). Your foundation is now the Holy City. Let the word of God destroy any shame. You belong at the King’s table simply because He spoke the word to have you there.