The Spell is Broken

Matt 25:1-13 This is not the day to give our oil away because of misdirected priorities. Jesus is telling believers to be prepared for the Son of Man’s arrival. The enemy of our soul wants to put us to sleep spiritually. I call this a spell; Jesus came to break the spell so we can be spiritually alert, and it all started by receiving Christ as Savior, but we must understand this is a continue spiritual war.

Matt 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

“Remember who you are. Don’t compromise for anyone, for any reason. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live that truth.” ~ Lysa Terkeurst

Invest in your relationship with Jesus Christ so that you never have to hear depart from me, you workers of iniquity. – Bruno Spada

The Cain Pain – Gen 4

What is the pain of Cain? – being self–absorbed, self–centered. Jude 1:11 says “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain.” 

The way of Cain - Cain's pride resulted in the violence leading to murder and ultimately divine judgment. 
The Religion of Cain – 
1. Faith is not a religious act that makes you look good. It's an act of obedience to God's word. Matt 6:1

2. Faith is understanding the principles of sowing and reaping     Gal 6:7

 3. Faith is a daily examination Jam 4:7-10 “Submit to God, resist the devil, come near to God, and He will come near to you.” 

 4. Faith is turning to God as a daily lifestyle 1 Jn 1:11

The Bible teaches that faith is the only approach that we have to God. No man has sins forgiven, and no man goes to heaven; no man has the assurance of peace and happiness until he has faith in Jesus Christ. Billy Graham

Pick up the cross and follow Jesus

Gen 1:1, John 1:1-51
Why does John, one of Jesus’ closest friends, open his book about Jesus with a reference to Genesis? He was showing us right up front who he believed Jesus was—John believed Jesus was God. John was completely convinced that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Jesus didn't just claim to be a great teacher, He literally claimed to be God in human form. And He has invited all of us to come follow Him. What will you say?

“Jesus calls us to his rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort.” ― A. W. Tozer, Pursuit of God

Motivated to be Faithful

Ps 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

Our life here, James tells us, is like a vapor, so let your life count- it affects the eternity of others and ourselves. 

2 Cor 4:16-18 So don’t give up on serving the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul. There will always be trouble in this world, so I choose to be faithful because eternal glory is much greater than these temporary troubles we see.  

 I serve the Lord because my soul and others await their Destiny.                 B Spada   

 1 Pet 5:4, And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Eyes to see and ears to hear devotional Matt 16:13

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
We are eternal creatures who have eternal life. Jesus Christ offers us eternal life with Him in God’s Eternal Kingdom, so don’t be too excited about this life. We have passed from death to eternal life when we repented of our sins and gave our life to Jesus Christ.

Everlasting duration, associated with endless time but often understood theologically as distinct from time since God is eternal and outside time, the creator of time, and the only one who sees both the beginning and the end of time – LTW.

C.S. Lewis - Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave it with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.

Father, thank you for giving us eternal life with you; your Son took our sins upon Himself and opened the door of eternal life in your presence.

Eternity

Eyes to see and ears to hear devotional Matt 16:13

A man may lose the good things of this life against his will; but if he loses the eternal blessings, he does so with his own consent: Augustine

Eternity is our Destiny. Is it worth serving the Lord faithfully? Absolutely yes, one day we will see those who did serve the Lord faithfully, and most importantly, we will see Jesus Christ our Lord and savior. 

John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

Some of the followers of Jesus became disillusioned, and they decided not to follow the Lord anymore. 

Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise. Thomas Watson

Father, we are creatures of eternity, and souls who need help as we await our Destiny; help us to lead humanity to Jesus Christ. 

The Grace Of Humility

James 4:6 He tells us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble

HUMILITY The personal quality of being free from arrogance and pride and having an accurate estimate of one’s worth – Holman illustrated Bible Dictionary
Matt 18
A very revealing question was once asked, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? The response was profound whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

a. Humility is a choice of the will it has nothing to do with being weak, it has everything to do with your will.

b. Humility is the understanding that life can be unpredictable and sometimes things don’t work out the way you plane.

c. Humility is like the fruit of the spirit it must be cultivated
Father, we admit out need for you keep us from a self-sufficient spirit.

Who has the Power

Pastor Spada, Eyes to See & Ears to Hear Devotional.

Do you understand the power we have as Holy spirit-led believers in Christ?  2 Thess 2

V. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now holdeth back will hold him back until he is taken out of the way.

While power-hungry individuals, institutions, and world governments think they have the ultimate power, they have failed to realize power belongs to God Almighty and Him alone. The man of lawlessness cannot come into force until the Holy Spirit is taken out of this world, so be of good cheer spirit filled and spirit led believer in Christ the real power is within us. Luke 17:21. 

So, with this in mind, let's do our Fathers' work who calls us to lead people to the delivering and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

We need not more learning, not more eloquence, not more persuasion, not more organization, but more power from the Holy Spirit.

John Stott

The Holy Spirit's primary ministry is not to give thrills but to create in us Christlike character.

J. I. Packer

Jesus did it for me on the cross

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

This book (the Bible) will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book. ~ D.L. Moody

Paul is referring to his former life; this new life happened because of what Jesus did on the cross.
No Longer I Who Live, this means, “Not I, who once ate from the earth [like Adam]. Not I who was once grass, as all flesh is grass, but Christ who lives in me. That is, there lives that living bread which comes from heaven, their lives wisdom, their lives righteousness, their lives the resurrection.” On Paradise 76.

The difference between the old and new covenants is that the new covenant's blood, the blood of Christ, actually cleanses from sin.

I gave my sins to Jesus Christ, and He gave me His righteousness - Pastor Spada.

The Peace Of God

In a time of uncertainty, one thing the Word of God tells us, is our peace comes from Almighty God.

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.
Thomas Merton

Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us the privilege to approach God freely, that means we can vent to Him everything, today I choose to do so.
Father, our life is in your hands, and I can't find a better place, in Jesus’s name.

Potter's House Church of God

500 Sandy Hollow Road
Mystic, CT 06355

860-303-5065
Pastor@Pottershousect.org