PROLOGUE
Linda Gates
Spiritual Nourishment Book Four
30 further daily messages based on those which I have written for my Spiritual Nourishment facebook page. If you enjoyed my other books, I hope these messages will bless you as much. My hope is to bless readers with these messages during the difficult times in which we are living and to bring them into a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. At the end of this book you will again find the ABC of Salvation for ease of reference.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ”
911 IN THE WORD OF GOD
Romans 10:9-11 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him (JESUS CHRIST) from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him (JESUS CHRIST) shall not be ashamed.”
Why do the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents and turns to the Lord? It is because they know what awaits the children of God in heaven!
Luke 15:10 "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
They also know what awaits those who don’t belong to God and therefore, they jubilantly rejoice knowing that one more sinner has escaped the horror of the everlasting lake of fire where Satan and his followers will burn eternally.
Revelation 20:10,15 “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
They await our arrival eagerly, as we make our way through this life, step by step, sometimes happy and eager, sometimes tired and maybe dragging our feet a little, nevertheless on our way to our eternal goal of heaven.
From the day that we join the family of God, the angels eagerly wait to see the wonder and amazement on our faces when we reach heaven one day and our spirits, souls and bodies are transformed to be just like Jesus. They watch our progress on earth, they watch us mature from babies to spiritual maturity in Christ. They watch as we go about our daily chores. They know when we are spending time with God. They watch our transformation through the Holy Spirit’s gentle leading and guidance.
They probably sadly observe those who merely do lip-service to God, yet still have both feet firmly planted in the world, as if stuck with super-glue because the things of the world are just too enticing, too exciting, too alluring to let go of and fully surrender to a life of following Jesus. There must be nothing as disappointing to an angel as to see a child of God backslide into his old ways.
When Jesus called His disciples, He did not say “first catch some more fish, first go to the party, first go and enjoy life to its fullest, first go and get drunk...” No, Jesus said “follow Me” and they lay down their tools immediately, without the slightest hesitation, and followed our Lord.
Matthew 4:18-22 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.”
The disciples are great examples to each and every person who claim to be a child of God. They are absolute examples of how we need to surrender our ALL to Jesus. We cannot first set conditions, first hesitate, first do something prior to following the Lord. Yes, we have jobs, we can’t stop working due to the times we live in, however, when Jesus calls us and we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, we can and must leave the things of the world behind us. There has to be a change in our priorities. We cannot stand with one foot in the world and one in the Word. The things of the world belong to the world and the world lives under the rule of the evil one. Our hearts need to belong to the One who gave His life for us.
1 John 5:19-21 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
Job 1:7 “And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
One day those who have chosen Christ will see Jesus as He is, we will receive a heart like Jesus, we will love with a perfect love, worship with perfect joy.
1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”
What an awesome eternal goal to live for, to look forward to! If we can save just one person for Jesus and realize that this causes a great up-stir in heaven! We need to celebrate every soul saved, knowing that, that soul will not be cast into eternal damnation, but will be on their way to heaven. We need to look at people from an eternal view and not with tunnel vision. Whatever is accomplished for the world is tunnel vision and will one day be null and void. Whatever is accomplished with eternal vision will last eternally!
1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour yet? If not, do so now because tomorrow may be too late. Your eternal destiny depends on this one single decision coming from a willing heart. It is the 9-11 in the Word of God: Confess – Believe - Receive!
ACCESS TO GOD’S ARMOURY
Ephesians 6:11-12 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
God has given His children full access to His spiritual armoury. In Ephesians 6 we find details of our spiritual weaponry for combating the attacks by the evil one: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, prayer. If we arm ourselves with everything available to God’s children in God’s spiritual armoury, then we have nothing to fear, because we are ready for battle.
Ephesians 6:14-18 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
The devil’s attacks come in many shapes and forms. Satan will dress something up to look desirable, beautiful, even holy, yet he is the deceiver and we must not be deceived in opening doors even slightly, thereby giving him access. He will use any tactic available to him, to attack the children of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
We need to remember whose power we have access to – He (Christ) who is in us is greater than he (the devil) who is in the world! If we are ‘in Christ’ then we have access to the Holy Spirit of God also. We are able to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that He may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
It is up to each individual to make full use of this awesome power of God and stand up against the wiles of the devil. God has given us His Word, yet it will be of little help to us if that Word is gathering dust on our shelves, only used occasionally, or opened in Church on a Sunday. You can take a horse to the water but you cannot force it to drink. God will not force anything upon us. We need to take the first step and make use of the whole armour of God. Only then are we able to withstand the evil one and remain standing firmly on the Word of God.
Firstly, we need to know the truth (found in the Word of God) because only the truth will set us free from the chains which Satan binds us with. Secondly, we need to put on the breastplate of righteousness. This comes in being ‘in Christ’ and having access to the Holy Spirit of God through Christ, because He alone is our righteousness. No-one is righteous in his own right, but only through Christ are we made righteous through His blood. Thirdly, we need to be filled with the gospel of peace, wearing the shield of faith in order to quench the fiery darts of the evil one.
When we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are clad and protected by the helmet of salvation, we have access to the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God is alive and living within us. We need to live in the awareness of God’s presence and communicate with Him continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing”).
We need to be aware of the identity of Christ in us and allow His Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us boldly against any and every attack by the evil one. Do not allow the devil to rob you of your birthright in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Just one final point. We will be just as unable to do spiritual battle as the seven sons of Sceva were, if we do so without faith in Christ because evil spirits are able to determine our authenticity.
Acts 19:14-16 “And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
Romans 8:9 “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.)
Knowing the Bible through head knowledge as one knows history or geography, through our own cleverness, will never enable anyone who does not have Christ in him to do combat against the evil one. First comes Christ and faith in Him then comes the power of the Holy Spirit.
BE THANKFUL
Luke 17:15-19 “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?" There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And He said unto him, "Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."
Isn’t that just sad? Jesus healed ten people and only one bothered to show gratitude. Sadly many people are like this. Their hearts are hardened or they have too much pride to show gratitude. Most times a simple ‘thank you’ can accomplish wonders. In this instance the Saviour, who gave His life for the world, could not even get a simple ‘thank you’ after healing these people – removing the pain from their bodies did not even generate any gratitude whatsoever. Don’t allow your heart to be this hardened. Show gratitude to others and especially to the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Have you remembered to thank God this morning? Maybe you did. But, maybe you couldn’t think of anything to thank Him for. Some are not as blessed as others. However, as we look around us, there is always something for which we are able to thank the Lord, albeit our daily food, our clothes, our home, a bed to sleep in, our health, our vision, our hearing, the sun shining upon us, the rain, our safety, the air that we breathe... There is always something. Even something as simple as going about our daily tasks, as cleaning our house, can find a ‘thank YOU Lord’ as we can be grateful to have a house to clean – many are homeless.
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Colossians 3:17 23-24 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Even if you receive no gratitude from those you are presently serving, albeit your husband, your boss, your children, your family, always remember to do it to your utmost. At at the end of it, you are serving the Lord, because your reward will be given you by the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. Although a simple ‘thank you’ by those you work for, at home and in the secular world, may make you feel appreciated right now, it is not as important as a ‘thank you’ in heaven one day. Therefore, strive to always do your best, regardless of your circumstances, regardless of the ingratitude of others, knowing that your Father who is in heaven, is seeing everything you do.
Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear”
Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
In Psalm 100 we find a song of praise for the faithfulness of the Lord. Isn’t God’s faithfulness enough to be thankful for? We are able to show the Lord our gratitude with our praise and worship, by serving Him with gladness, by singing before His presence just because the Lord is who He is, ever faithful. He has created us for His pleasure, we are the sheep of His pasture. For this reason, we should not remain silent and sombre before the Lord, but should enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise, being joyful and thankful before Him and blessing His Name with our voices. For He is a good God, His mercy is everlasting, His Word endures for all generations.
Psalm 100:1-5 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.”
Gratitude is a simple thing which costs nothing, yet the Lord appreciates your gratitude. We know this as Jesus asked (Luke 17:15-19) about the whereabouts of the other nine who did not bother to thank Him. Be thankful today for one small thing, and who knows, tomorrow you may find a multiple of things to thank Jesus for, as God blesses those who thank Him in suffering as in good times.
Psalm 136:1-3 “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth for ever.”
Things change daily, but our God remains the same eternally. He never changes. He is the same God who created the heavens and the earth, who stretched out the waters and made the sea, who brought Israel out of Egypt, who divided the Red Sea so that the Israelites could safely pass through, who overthrew Pharaoh, who led His people through the wilderness and fed them and clothed them, who redeemed us from our enemy, who sacrificed His own Son for our sin, who continues to feed His children, to clothe us and protect us from the evil one, for His mercy endures forever!
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
CHANGED BY A LOOK
Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with
Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG Tag der Veröffentlichung: 21.01.2019 Alle Rechte vorbehalten Widmung:Impressum
ISBN: 978-3-7438-9401-3
Dedicated to my mother, Rina Roos, who reads and encourages me to continue writing. May the Lord continue to bless her and lead her through His Holy Spirit to all the truths contained in His Word. And to all my readers, thank you for reading. May you find some joy and hope in this book, may the Holy Spirit lead you into the awesome presence of our Heavenly Father. May your hearts be filled with the love of Jesus and the joy that is found in our Lord and Saviour until that awesome day when He returns to fetch His Bride.