RAISE UP THE STANDARD!
"To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious Presence without fault and with great joy - to the Only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 24)
Morning Devotion: Feasting in His Presence - Read John 15:9-12
Jesus had been explaining to His disciples, through the illustration of the Vine and the branches, the importance of abiding in Him to experience the abundant and fruitful life that He has purposed and planned for them. Now, He moves to the deeper aspect of that union; His disciples are called not just to "remain in Him," but to "remain in His love" (v.9). Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and the moment we believed we received His life within us, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit; now that relationship must grow and be nurtured. Just as a marriage does not grow naturally on its' own the moment a couple is joined together as one flesh, instead their union remains strong when they cultivate a deeper communion through love and devotion towards one another; so, too, our relationship to our True Vine is made stronger and more fruitful when our connection is maintained through love and obedience.
"We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands.
But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him."
(1 John 2:5a)
The outgrowth of our love relationship with the Lord will create a deeper desire for obedience to Him, and a growing love for other people. "...if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us" (1 John 4:12b). A tree that bears fruit is only valuable if its fruit is being used to feed and nourish others. Fruit that ripens and falls to the ground only to rot away is of little use to others. Our union with Christ is meant to bless others. The life we draw from Him each day is not just meant to keep us walking through this life until we get to our eternal destination; we have been connected to the Lord for the purpose of sharing His life and love with others. "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. This is love for God: to obey His commands" (1 John 5:2-3a).
Our communion with the Lord enables us to love and care for others. As we grow in our love relationship with the Lord, through the enabling power and presence of the Holy Spirit, there is a natural outgrowth of love for the things He loves, namely people; and a desire for others to experience that same depth of love and communion with the Lord. "And His commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3b). We cannot love others the way the Lord expects or intends us to love them apart from the love of the Father. God is love; apart from Him we don't know what true love is, nor so we have the ability to love as He loves. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23a). This fruit can only be produced in a life that is connected to Christ; anything produced outside of that union is artificial, unsatisfying, and will not last.
Jesus calls us to follow His example of love. "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Our obedience to His command is simply to "remain in His love" and allow Him to do the work in us which will produce the fruit that will lead others to "taste and see how good God is." It is vital, therefore, that we remain in the Lord and experience deeper communion with Him each and every day, so the fruit of our union with Him will be evident to others and leave a good taste in their mouths rather than add to the tastelessness that is already so prevalent in the world. May we not be just hearers of His Word, but doers also (reference James 1:22), and share with others His fruit, which begins with love, and will endure forever and only continue to grow and multiply as we continue to share it.
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REVOLUTIONIZE THE WORLD!
"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)
Afternoon Devotion: Filled with His Power - Read Matthew 26:17-30; John 13:1-17
Jesus showed His disciples "the full extent of His love" (John 13:1b) on Thursday, of the week of His Passion, when He met with them in the Upper Room to observe Passover. The Passover was observed each year to commemorate the Lord's deliverance of Israel out of slavery from Egypt by His mighty hand, and looked forward to the day when the Lamb of God would take away the sins of the world. That evening, in the upper room, Jesus took the bread and the cup from the Passover feast and declared that all was now accomplished, and He inaugurated a new meal to be observed until He comes again - the Lord's Supper (reference 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
This new meal, that we observe now as "communion," cannot take place if we are defiled by any sin. Our communion with the Lord is dependent upon our keeping ourselves separate and clean from the world (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). Before Jesus, instituted this new meal, He humbled Himself and washed the disciples' feet (reference John 13:2-5) to show them the importance of humility and being clean. At the root of every sin is pride, and if left unchecked will lead to failure. Jesus took this opportunity to show His disciples that just like Him, they are not to be served, but are called to serve others (reference 1 Peter 5:5-6). He demonstrated for them an example of true humility that He expected them to follow; which would become the basis for their life and ministry as they served Him.
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant..."
(Philippians 2:5-7a)
At salvation we were completely bathed in Christ and were joined in union with Him; now that we are His our communion is dependent on our obedience to His commands and willingness to keep our lives free from sin. Our walk with Christ is hindered when we allow ourselves to be polluted by the world, therefore it is necessary to daily "wash our feet" ("confess our sins" (reference 1 John 1:9)) so that we will be clean as we walk in His will and carry His message of forgiveness of sins and salvation to the world. "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet" (John 11:14).
Jesus provided an unforgettable lesson in humility to His disciples that Thursday; just hours before He would suffer His greatest humiliation and shame, to prepare them for the path they would soon be walking in the world. He washed all their feet, even the one who would betray Him to give Judas one last opportunity to shed his arrogance and pride. After Judas left the room the communion meal was served, for only those who are truly clean can partake of the Lord's Supper (reference John 6:64-71). The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives instills in us Holy Reverence for the Father to live a holy and humble life for His glory. May we remain in His love and follow the example He has set for us so we will be richly blessed and become a blessing to others (reference John 13:17).
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RESTORE PRAISE!
"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever, Amen!" (Revelation 7:12)
Evening Devotion: Focused on His Praise - Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10
In our evening devotional time up to this point thus far we have listened in on one of the greatest prayers ever prayed - the Lord's Prayer - which Jesus personally prayed to the Father (reference John 17). This intercessory prayer to the Father, for Himself, His disciples, and future believers placed a seal on His farewell address before going to the cross. This extraordinary, powerful, and beautiful prayer was written down for us as a constant reminder of all that Jesus has done for us; it should give us strength, hope and joy in any circumstance we might face knowing that our Savior and Lord continues to pray like this in heaven on our behalf.
As we walk the final leg of this journey with the Lord we turn our attention to some of the most beautiful prayers articulated in Scripture. Jesus expressed that if we remain in His love our joy would be complete. There is no greater expression of pain being turned to joy than that of a mother giving birth and welcoming a new life into the world (reference John 16:21). The Scriptures provide the beautiful words of praise and thanksgiving offered up to the Lord from Hannah, who has just "consecrated [her] firstborn son" to the Lord for His service (reference Exodus 13:2, 13). The establishment of the kingship of Israel would come through her son Samuel, and her prayer is a prophetic prayer of the ultimate kingship that would come through God's Son, Jesus Christ. Hannah's joy had truly been made complete, not just because she had finally been blessed with a son, but that God had answered her prayer. The Lord "delivered [her] from disgrace to a position of honor and strength."
As we join her in her prayer of praise, may we be reminded of all that the Lord has done for us and be willing to lay ourselves down as a sacrifice of love for His greater kingdom purposes. Offer your own testimony of praise to the King for His gracious, benevolent hand, through which He has given you His very best.
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in Your deliverance.
There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God.
Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed.
The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumble are armed with strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
The LORD brings death and makes alive;
He brings down to the grave and raises up.
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.
For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's;
upon them He has set the world.
He will guard the feet of His saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.
He will thunder against them from heaven;
the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed."
(1 Samuel 2:1-10)
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Heavenly Father,
So often when we pray we desire and expect an immediate
answer and grow impatient, like spoiled children do, when
we don't get what we want when we want it.
But You, in Your Sovereignty Lord, know exactly what we need,
and will give it at the exact appointed time which will
fulfill Your greater kingdom plan.
Sometimes the pain of waiting is so much like childbirth,
but how wonderful it is when all that You have
promised and we have waited for comes forth -
it is always more than we could ever hope for
or imagine - You give always give us Your very best.
Forgive us for being impatient or willing to settle
for something less just because we don't want
to suffer the pain of waiting or the pain of trial
that may be part of Your birthing process.
Forgive us for the times we ask You for more
and more and more of everything for ourselves
and for what will make our life better and more comfortable,
instead of asking You what You would want from us,
which would bring You more honor and glory,
and giving to You more of ourselves.
You have given us everything we could possibly
ever want and need - help us to spend our life
on this earth giving You everything You deserve.
Be praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor,
power, and strength to Your name forever.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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The entire CRUCIFIED journey will be available
online in a few days. To access the first 10 days of this journey
go to www.trumpetandtorch.org and
click on the Year of Jubilee seal on the home page.
When the Jubilee page opens up simply go to the
calendar to your right and scroll down to
March/April and click on CRUCIFIED.
Click on the CRUCIFIED image in the center of
your screen to access the pdf and download
and print out the journey.
Additional prayer and fasting journeys are available
online at www.trumpetandtorch.org
under the "HOW TO FAST" button at the
top of the website home page.
If this is your first time participating in a 40-day fast
it is recommended that you begin with
"EAT at the Table of the King"
This journey can be downloaded and printed out
under the How To Fast button
or accessed online in the Temple at LOGIN.
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