Very Special Agent

VERY SPECIAL AGENT

2 Corinthians 3:17:  “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

            Federal governments have many agencies.  These are formed for tasks like spying, national security, investigating and the like.  People who work in these agencies are specially trained for their jobs.  Different jobs require people with talents suitable for varying specifications.

            These people are proud of their skill sets.  They work hard for respect.  A good reputation is jealously guarded.  The agencies recognized this, and began awarding their employees “special agent” surname.  Introducing one, for example, a boss would say, “Special Agent Giles is assigned to your case.”

            Some get carried away and award themselves an additional adjective to this title.  Answering his work phone on NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigation Service) on TV, one agent introduces himself as “Very Special Agent DiNozzo.”

            That’s TV.  Every show has its fan base who watch it whenever it’s shown.  Some fanatics (crazy fans), even watch reruns.  This devotion is titled “Very Special Agent” to get your attention.  God’s indwelling Spirit of transformation has earned this title—even though it’s over-used today.

            The Father’s transforming very special agent targets only His kids.   

            

            God’s indwelling very-special-agent Spirit transforms Believers into the image of Jesus.  This has been the Father’ goal since the beginning.  (Jesus knows all about it).  Who is living within you?  Jesus shares this same Spirit of God.  They have identical essences; constituting one God. 

            Believers are very comfortable with Jesus.  We identify with Him as human—which He is.  Jesus is also God.  Jesus is also Spirit.  Jesus is infinite.  As Savior and Redeemer, Jesus is the Ancient of Days, the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega.  Jesus earned every title.

            Oh my, He’s very special!

            Jesus is the gold standard against which all Christian transformation is measured.  This describes God’s divine prescribed method of transformation for all Believers.

            Believers aspire to become: the very image of Christ over our lifetimes.  Jesus’ disciples heard Jesus promise that He was leaving soon.  They were very upset about that.  Then He also promised not to leave them as orphans in John 14:18.  They would never be alone in this world. 

            If you are Jesus’ disciple, Jesus is with us 24/7 in the presence of His Spirit!

Take Home Nugget

            “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept Him, because it neither see Him nor knows Him.  But you will know Him, for He lives with You and will be in you. (John 14:16-17).  (Emphasis mine). 

When our minds are Spirit filled, our hearts are eager for spirit transformation.

           

Adapted from “The Agent of Transformation.”  Dr. Tony Evans.  April 4, 2016.  OnePlace.com. 

J.D. Griffith

Clickhere for Interactive-Online-Lesson for VerySpecial Agent

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

Most Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith: 

Click here to purchase opy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

Believe and Receive

BELIEVE AND RECEIVE

Mark 11:24

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”  (Emphasis mine).

            “Name It & Claim It” is a popular Christian “cult” that a many Believers deny is God’s truth.  Let’s challenge them with “Believe and Receive” approach to attain God’s blessings that is Biblical. 

            Understanding God as a loving, merciful Father, Believers may approach His throne with confidence. … Reverently. …  Faithfully. … Expectantly. … Believing that what we ask is aligned with God’s will. … NOT like sitting on Santa Claus’ lap! 

            I am fully aware that “if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6). 

            I still stand on Jesus’ words that He wants whoever believes in Him as Lord of their lives to have whatever we ask.  The best way to validate (believe as true) passages in the Bible is to find other passages that say the same thing.  I Googled “whatever you ask for in My name” and came up with seventeen (17!) passages.

            That’s letting the Bible validate the Bible.  The lesson linked below lists five validating passages.  What sets Believers apart is that we are IN CHRIST the moment we accept Him as our Savior.  Prayer releases our faith in words lifted directly up to God’s throne. 

            Peter pointed out the withered fig tree that Jesus cursed the day before.  Jesus probably smiled.  This proved that spoken words have power.  “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.  “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, then it will be done for him.’”  (Mark 11:20-23).

            Then Jesus promised the opening Scripture. 

            The point that Believers are IN CHRIST is why this devotion is true.  When we ask God for anything, our faith claims what we already have in Christ.  Repeating truth daily, we WILL SEE it in the natural realm (visible on Earth).  This is how Believers live by faith. 

            Imagine Jesus and the Father smiling whenever a Believer says this truth aloud, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ!”  We learned Scripture that validates this truth in previous devotion lessons. 

Take Home Nugget

            Closing this devotion with a truth from Colossians 1:27: “To them [Paul told Gentiles] God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the glory of hope.”   Emphasis mine. 

Believe and Receive!  Believers receive God’s truths as blessings! 

Adapted from “You Already Are, You Already Have”.  JosephPrince.org.  April 2, 2016. 

                                                                                                                        J.D. Griffith

Clickhere for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Believeand Receive

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

Most Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith:    Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

Trust Your Authority

TRUST YOUR AUTHORITY

Exodus 14:15-16

“Then the Lord said to Moses, [after telling the Israelites that the Lord will fight for them], ‘Why are you crying out to Me?  Tell the Israelites to move on.  Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry land.’”

            Kids are eager to grow up, doing things for ourselves.  At first, parents hover over children.  Directions are carefully watched.  Kids feel safe trying new things under a parent’s watchful eye.

            Who is the first to break free from mom and dad?  Sometimes the child veers out farther than what’s allowed.  Other times, a parent will insist a child “fly solo” doing something alone what was taught earlier. 

            Can you remember the first time you got to do something all by yourself? 

            We can’t blame Moses for wanting direction from God.  Parting a sea isn’t child’s play.  God advises us, “Trust in the Lord with all of your might, and lean not into your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Yet, like every parent, our heavenly Father allows His kids to do stuff on our own. 

            But when?  Use authority? 

            God wants Believers to trust using authority He has given us: to lift up powerful prayers, to boldly command and to “stretch out our hands” and watch miracles happen.

            This wasn’t Moses’ first time pleading to the Father on behalf of the Israelites.  People can be demanding.  We whine.  We disagree. …  Meanwhile, Pharaoh changed his mind allowing them to go.  He charged after them to get them back!  (See lesson, linked below). 

            Now God insisted Moses raise his staff with authority to part the sea.  The people needed to trust their leader.  They needed to trust God!

            As His earthly ministry was drawing to a close, Jesus gave His disciples (you and I) authority.  He said in Matthew 28:18-20: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given Me.  Therefore, go and make disciples … baptizing them,… teaching them to obey … surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Emphasis mine.

Take Home Nugget

            There are desperate times when we cry out to God for help.  But there are also times when we know what we’re to do.  Jesus never said we’re to pray for the sick.  He commanded us to heal the sick (Matthew 10:8). 

            As God’s children, Believers are directed by His Spirit to do great things.  Jesus’ presence urges us to use His name (our staff) with authority.  We may not part seas.  We may not lead thousands to God.  But,

Lead us when we’re to trust the authority you’ve given us, Lord.  Then, Your miracles can flow!

Adapted from “Time to Use Your Authority”.  JosephPrince.org.  April 1, 2016. 

Clickhere for Interactive-Online-Lesson for TrustYour Authority

  

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

Most Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith: 

  Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

Priority One

PRIORITY ONE

Matthew 6:34:  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

            Priority [pri-OR-i-tee] means ordering things, positioning what’s most to least important.  What’s most important is on what people spend the most time.  Whatever, or whomever is first in people’s lives claims their total attention.

            A previous devotion taught the first law God wrote on our hearts is the royal law of love.  Believers today are under God’s covenant of grace.  That covenant is God-dependent to succeed.  God’s covenant guarantees Believers healing, provision and protection. 

            God’s royal law of love is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  (Matthew 22:37).  That seems pretty clear.  Priority one is to love God. 

            Let’s peek into a pre-kindergarten class of 3-4 year old kids.

            “Cannot!” Simone screams.

            “Can too!” Lamont insists.

            “What’s the trouble?” Ms. Garner asks, separating the two. 

            Simone said, “Lamont says his god can whip my God!”

            Lamont interrupted, “My god is Allah!  Allah is great!  Greatest in all the land!”

            Ms. Garner rolled her eyes.  Guide me Lord, into resolving this problem! she quickly prayed.  She sat each one down on opposite sides of herself.  “We don’t need to stand up for God, kids.  God can take care of Himself.  Why not let one another love his or her God?  No one needs to whip, or defeat other’s god—if that were even possible.  We can be friends, regardless of who is our God.  Okay?"

            Lamont and Simone agreed.

            Kids see life simply.  It’s grown-ups who complicate issues.  That’s why Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 18:3).  Clearly, God is priority one in these kids’ lives.  God is foremost in their hearts and minds. 

            The older we grow, the more we ought to remember what used to work.  Remember when your life was that simple where God was first in your heart?  Let’s put Him first today.  Honor Him right now in your thoughts.  

Take Home Nugget

            God’s covenant of grace promises His kids everything.  When we follow His command to make Him first in life, all else falls into place.  Whoever makes God’s royal law of love priority one in life, tomorrow will take care of itself. 

            Another worry handled by God!

            Check out the lesson linked below for Jesus’ assurance that Believers are in perfect alignment for the kingdom of God. 

Your demand to be first is exactly where you deserve to be in my heart, Father.  Be first in my mind, my heart and my actions, Lord.  Then I know You’ll also have my back!  ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <NoReply@ramadaopms.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 2:43 PM
Subject: Your Ramada Folio
To: shamyda@gmail.com


Dear Murray Griffith,
Thank you for staying at the Ramada in Denver, CO. Your folio is attached. If
you have any question please contact us at 303-452-4100.
For your next stay go to www.Ramada.com
To Enroll, Stay and Earn with Wyndham Rewards go to www.WyndhamRewards.com/enroll
Please do not reply to this email as we are unable to respond from this address.

Adapted from “It’s Not Too Late.”  Dr. Tony Evans.  February 3, 2016.  OnePlace.com.    

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Priority One

    

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

Most Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith: 

  

Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

Hearts Established by Grace

HEARTS ESTABLISHED BY GRACE

Hebrews 13:9a:  “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.  It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace,…”  [strengthened = established]

            We learned not to speak recklessly—from the previous devotion—we never want our words to scar someone for life.  But words rise from thoughts.  Thoughts originate from our hearts.  It just makes sense to control hurtful speech at the source.

            Believers celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Jesus is alive!  We also will live eternally—AND are positioned in Christ today under God’s new covenant (eternal promise) of grace!

            (God’s original covenant was obedience dependent).  People failed obedience.  God’s covenant of grace is God dependent.  God cannot fail.  God wrote three laws on our hearts.  (No one can say they didn’t know).       

            The royal law of love means loving God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind—AND to love others like we love ourselves.  The perfect law of liberty is believing Jesus to follow His teachings and live righteously—by the power of His indwelling Spirit.  The law of faith claims as God’s kids everyone coming to Him through faith in Jesus. 

            The Father’s love poured out with these laws makes our adoption into His family simple.  Our part is faith.  Jesus makes sure no one who comes to Him is lost.  (See lesson linked below). 

            God makes Christian living simple by grace.

            Grace is underserved, unearned favor that Believers receive freely.  Stressful problems are brought before the Father in prayer.  We leave problems on God’s altar for Him to work out for our good.  Ending prayer with “Amen” tags prayer as true and Believer’s assurance that the problem is handled.

            Believers simply continue living free from worrisome burdens. 

            Could life be made any simpler? 

            That’s how our hearts can be strengthened (established) by God’s grace towards us.   

             God never intends for His kids to be worried.  He hates bad attitudes.  Our Father wants His kids to be free to love Him and one another.  He wants us to depend on His grace in all stressful situations.  He wants our hearts to be at rest, burdens given to Him.

            Believers live stress-free resting in Jesus.

Take Home Nugget

            Flip side: those living in a world without Christ worry and stress out.  What does rest in Christ mean?  Believers work!  But Believers work while at peace.  Jesus’ peace comes to us by grace.  Jesus’ peace is neither deserved nor earned.   

            Grace is how Believers’ hearts should be established.  We’re confident of His righteousness, healing, provision and protection.  God’s blessings to His kids are assured from Jesus’ perfect obedience and finished work on the cross. 

Simple!  Grace is perfect for Believers to believe and receive!---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <NoReply@ramadaopms.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 2:43 PM
Subject: Your Ramada Folio
To: shamyda@gmail.com


Dear Murray Griffith,
Thank you for staying at the Ramada in Denver, CO. Your folio is attached. If
you have any question please contact us at 303-452-4100.
For your next stay go to www.Ramada.com
To Enroll, Stay and Earn with Wyndham Rewards go to www.WyndhamRewards.com/enroll
Please do not reply to this email as we are unable to respond from this address.

Adapted from “Let your heart be established by grace.”  JosephPrince.org. January 22, 2016.  Daily Grace Inspirations.    

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Hearts Established by Grace

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

Most Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith:    

Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

Stop SpeakingRecklessly

STOP SPEAKING RECKLESSLY

Proverbs 12:18:  “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

            Young Thomas Edison brought a note home from school.  His mother read, “Your son is mentally ill. We won’t let him come to school anymore.”  Her eyes filled with tears.  Her shaking hands creased a fold in the paper. 

            “What did it say?” Tom asked.

            Clearing her throat, she reopened the folded paper.  She pretended to read, “Your son is a genius.  This school is too small for him and doesn’t have enough good teachers for training him.  Please teach him yourself.”

            Tom smiled.  His mother gathered all the books she could find.  She enlisted help from smart people.  She burned every candle to the wick.  Mrs. Edison homeschooled her son with determined passion.

This young boy was free to explore nature.  His science projects never had rules.  Most of his instructors weren’t even human!  Obviously, he blossomed and learned a great deal. 

Thomas Edison taught us to keep trying through failure.  Every failure teaches something!  It only takes one success for victory.  With that mindset, Thomas Edison shone himself to be one of the greatest inventors in history.   

But what if Thomas’ mother had read him that note from school?   A reckless teacher didn’t want Thomas in the classroom!  Was he too curious?  Was he too impetuous?  Did he ask questions for which the teacher had no answer?  Reckless words can never be forgotten.    

Reckless words wreck lives.  They do more damage than lying, cheating or stealing.  One can always return money.  Not surprisingly, money covers a lot of offences. 

But reckless words can scar someone for life. 

            Thank God that Mrs. Edison chose wise words to speak in young Thomas’ life!  She created an environment where her son could grow to his full potential.  Thomas Edison invented the light bulb! 

Years after her death, Thomas found that note.  As one of the world’s greatest inventors, Thomas discovered the one thing that cut him to his core.

Take Home Nugget

            Thomas felt the burden his mother secretly carried.  He acknowledged the torch she carried for him to succeed.  That torch was all Thomas ever saw. 

Recording in his personal diary, Thomas carefully penned, “Thomas Alva Edison was an addled child that, by a hero mother, became the genius of the century.” 

            I looked up the word addled.  It means confused, muddled, bewildered, perplexed, rotten, putrid, decayed, rancid, among other awful synonyms.  Let us all think carefully before we say hurtful words recklessly.  Let us take Thomas’ message seriously and speak only words that affirm, encourage or heal.  

Holy Father, Teach me to speak only positive words that change people for the better.  Help me, Jesus, in Your name I pray.---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <NoReply@ramadaopms.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 2:43 PM
Subject: Your Ramada Folio
To: shamyda@gmail.com


Dear Murray Griffith,
Thank you for staying at the Ramada in Denver, CO. Your folio is attached. If
you have any question please contact us at 303-452-4100.
For your next stay go to www.Ramada.com
To Enroll, Stay and Earn with Wyndham Rewards go to www.WyndhamRewards.com/enroll
Please do not reply to this email as we are unable to respond from this address.

            Adapted from “Our Words Shape Our Lives.”  Rabbi Eckstein. January 18, 2016.  Holy Land Moments Daily.com.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Stop Speaking Recklessly

   

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

Most Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith:   

 

Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers