Body

Devotions

Our Peace and Strength

Gary Wilkerson

In Revelation, Jesus said to the church in Philadelphia, “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8, ESV). 

How many of you feel like you give and give, share and share? You probably have people coming to you hour after hour, phone call after phone call. Maybe it gets to the point where your strength feels like it’s gone and you have little power to give anything more. 

When you hit the end of your strength, perhaps you say to yourself, “Who gives to me?” 

Like in his letter to the Philadelphian church, Jesus answers, “I’ll give to you. Come to me, and spend time with me just to be with me.” His heart in this letter reminded me of when my oldest son was very young. We were walking through New York City, and it’s really loud there with cars, horns and sirens. Suddenly, he tugged my hand. I bent down so he could put his mouth to my ear. 

I thought he might have a question or a concern. Instead, he said into my ear, “Thank you, Daddy. You give me clothes and toys. But I wanted to tell you, Daddy, I love you just because of who you are.” 

A few days ago, I reminded my son, now a grown man, of that memory. We both were barely holding back tears. He’d forgotten that he’d said that, but I never forgot. That should be our heart for Jesus. That is the heart that he is longing for us to have. When we set ourselves to spend time with Jesus just because of who he is, he will restore our strength and set open doors before us that no one may shut. 

Jesus promised his disciples and those of us who would come centuries later, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). When you’re weary, tug on Jesus’s arm and tell him you love him. Spend time in his presence, and he will give you peace and strength. 

The Seasons of Our Lives

John Bailey

We all go through seasons of life, and sometimes we can point to a specific moment that marks a new period of life. Recently, I entered a new season. My father passed away, fairly abruptly, last year. Something fundamental in your world shifts when you lose a parent, regardless of what age you are. 

When God suddenly leads you into a new season that isn’t pleasant and you weren’t expecting, you probably catch yourself asking, “Why am I going through this? Why right now?” Or you might be somebody who says, “All right, God. How long do I have to grit my teeth and bear it before I get out of this?”

One of the most commonly quoted verses when Christians go through tough seasons is “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV). People often read or declare this verse with the assumption that God is going to rescue us from our season of grief or loss or suffering. Sometimes he does. More often he doesn’t. 

People often don’t know the context of that verse in Jeremiah. The prophet was writing to the exiles who had just witnessed their nation being sacked by Babylon. They fully expected God to rescue them and send them back home. Instead, Jeremiah heard this order from God for his people: “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. …multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:5-7).

What if suffering and discomfort play a part in God’s loving plan? Sometimes we struggle and get anxious as God gently directs us toward his good purposes. Trusting his sovereignty sounds all good and well until we have to reckon with the idea that pain may go hand-in-hand with his directions for our lives.

I wish I’d had more time with my Dad. 

I have to sit with my loss; but I seek the welfare of the places where God sends me. I trust the sovereignty of God to work in and through my grief in this new season. Whatever season you’re in, I hope you do too. 

John Bailey is the Vice President of World Challenge Inc. and the Founding Pastor of The Springs Church in Jacksonville, Florida. John has been serving the Lord in pastoral ministry for 35 years, ministering the gospel in over 50 nations, particularly as a pastor and evangelist in Cork, Ireland.

Learn of Me

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:28-29, NKJV). Christ tells us very plainly, “Do not attempt to take on a walk with me until you are at rest in your soul.”

If you do not have this wonderful confidence in what the Word of God says Jesus did for you, his yoke will not be easy or light. On the contrary, you will spend your time striving in the flesh to please God. You will go from hot to cold, living with unnecessary guilt and shame.

I believe the key to this verse lies in the words “learn from me.” Jesus is speaking here of the discipline of learning who he is and what he accomplished on the cross. He is saying, “You must have a knowledge of what I have done for you. Then, once your soul is at rest, you can take on my yoke. So learn from me!"

We do not want this kind of discipline. We want to take the easy way. We are like schoolchildren on the playground at recess who do not want to go back into the classroom.

Perhaps today, you say, “I’m reading my Bible now and praying a little each day. I'm trying hard to do better!” This is all good, but I assure you that these things will not keep you through the coming storm. It is not enough to try hard, to make promises to God, to strive to be better; nor is it enough to say, “I’m more diligent than before.” No, it is all about going after a revelation of what Jesus did for you at the cross.

Something should cry out in all of us, “Jesus, your Word says I can live in total rest, peace and security. I don't have to strive in my flesh or be tossed about by guilt or fear. You have set before me the promise of a life at rest, but I don't have that rest. Oh, Lord, I want your rest with everything that's in me. Teach me by your Spirit; I want to learn from you."

I Will Give You Rest

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

God has promised his people a glorious rest that includes peace and security for the soul. The Lord offered this wonderful rest to the children of Israel, which meant a life full of joy and victory without fear, guilt or condemnation. 

Up to the time of Christ, no generation of believers ever walked fully in this blessed promise. Why was this? The Bible makes very clear that it was because of their unbelief. “To whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:18-19, NKJV).

Because of their unbelief during the period of the kings and prophets through David’s generation, God's people went through life full of misery, doubt, fear and restlessness. In every generation, the rest was promised, but it was refused and never appropriated or understood.

That is why, when we read further in Hebrews, we find this glorious life of faith still unclaimed. “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). Yet we also read, “Since therefore it remains that some must enter it…” (Hebrews 4:6). The Bible admonishes present-day believers with this warning: “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering into his rest, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have come short of it” (Hebrews 4:1).

Thousands upon thousands of believers claim to be filled with the Spirit of God, yet few have entered into this promised rest. Many are tossed about by winds and waves of doctrines, restless and guilt-ridden with no security in Christ. Jesus said, “I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (see Matthew 11:28-30).

My prayer is that today you will enter into the rest God has for you. Reach up by faith, and receive because it is his free gift!

Violent Faith

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

Genesis tells us that the more man multiplied on the earth, the more violent he became. “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:11-12, NKJV).

There is another, different kind of violence taking place in this last day. Indeed, I see a godly people with an aggressive faith being raised up. This holy remnant is full of Jesus, loving him with all their hearts. These believers see a mad devil coming at them with everything in his power, and they know they have more of hell to face than any other generation before them.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). This remnant is going to rise up and say, “I’m not going to let the devil steal my joy and peace. I will not let him plant seeds of grudges, murder, hatred or violence in me. No! I’m going to rise up in Jesus’s power and live victoriously above this demonic filth.”

Dear saint, God wants to put a fight in you! If you have been guilty of any of these forms of violence, quickly repent before the Lord and obey his Word. That's all he asks. May God put a holy zeal and faith in you beyond anything you have ever known. He wants you to be able to stand against Satan's wicked devices.

The only spirit of violence we are going to have is a violent faith. It will be a strong, holy violence that comes full force against the gates of hell and the strongholds of the enemy. By the power of God, we will bring them all down in Jesus’s name!