Way of The Warrior- A Daily Devotional

No one is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and he will love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and mammon. – Matthew 6:24 Berean Literal Bible

Warrior;

This is called DOUBLE MINDED, when you are flip flopping around being IN the WORLD and supposedly in the church. James says this person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (James 1:8) They are 2 separate teams and you CANNOT SERVE ON BOTH TEAMS! You can’t be against TRUMP and be FOR TRUMP. You of one camp or the other! The word mammon comes from the Greek word mammonas. It translates to “money, wealth, and material possessions.” In biblical culture the word mammon is negative. It is used to describe lusts and excesses: gluttony, greed, and dishonest worldly gain. Ultimately, mammon described an idol of materialism, which many trusted as a foundation for their world and philosophy. While the King James Version retains the term Mammon, other versions translate the Greek as “money,” “wealth,” or “riches.”

Leader, the worship of mammon can show up in many ways. It isn’t always through a continual lust for more money. When we envy others’ wealth, are anxious over potentially unmet needs, disobey God’s directives about the use of wealth, or fail to trust God’s love and faithfulness, our thinking is out of balance concerning material wealth. Those who want to ‘get rich’ fall into temptation of THIS WORLD, and a trap that opens a door to many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6: 6–10). It is a FOCUS issue! Jesus teaches about our relationship to material goods. “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Conduit, we are called to keep our focus on the LORD, And MY GOD will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) Like any good parent, God would never give us what He knows would harm us. His intent is to help us develop Christ likeness so that we become salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13–14). God does not want us to see Him as a heavenly genie. Acquiring things is not the fundamental goal of this life (Luke 12:15). Like a good parent, God differentiates between our needs and our wants because He knows that where our treasure is our heart is also. He wants us to know that THIS WORLD is NOT our HOME and that part of what we need is to shift our focus to the eternal life while still living this one. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27) This understanding brings the PEACE OF GOD, whether you have or HAVE NOT- God is good ALL the TIME! ALL the TIME, GOD IS GOOD- and He is Jehovah Jireh: The God who provides! Trust in HIM and lean NOT on your own understanding. Amen!

To this end I labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me. – Colossians 1:29 Berean Study Bible

Warrior;

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND- To what END do you strive, labor and work? Do you believe you do anything, outside of sinning without GODS working IN you and THROUGH you? Out of ALL the good works we might do in our life, what can we take credit for? “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10) Even if you have been blessed to be used by God in great ways- it is HIM WHO IS DOING IT! He set up the experience, HE prepared you for the opportunity and HE SHALL GET THE CREDIT, the GLORY.

Leader, we can’t take credit for the good works we are allowed to do, that CHRIST has PRE-ORDAINED for us to do. What about the fact that at least we accepted Him, and we LOVE HIM, that is more than most. You get some credit there…right? NO! You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16) In the 13th chapter of John, after Jesus had washed the disciple’s feet and He is telling them that He will be betrayed by one of the 12 he said, “”I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. (John 13:18a) So we can’t take credit for choosing HIM- for HE chose us first and that is why we CHOOSE HIM. just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love. (Ephesians 1:4) You are BLESSED, be a blessing to others.

Conduit, if we can’t take credit for being a CHRISTIAN and we can’t take credit for the good works we do- who are you bragging about in your life? Rule # 1 about being a FOLLOWER of Christ, being a COMMITTED CHRISTIAN is: It is NOT about us- It is about HIM! Who gets the GLORY in your life? Who gets credit, or accolades from how you live your life and the impact you have? If you are getting GLORY, if you are feeling good about what you are doing then your FOCUS IS ON THE WRONG THING! We do what WE DO and the WAY we do it- because GOD CALLS US TO and prepares us TO. We are CALLED to do all things to the GLORY OF GOD! Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Colossians 3:23). And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17) It is one thing to take God’s money and use if for your good- HE OWNS 100%, not some little 10% tithe and HE OWNS all the GLORY TOO! Live your life and point to CHRIST- NO SHARED GLORY!

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. -Acts 8:30-31, 34-35 NIV

Warrior;

Philip went to Samaria, a place usually avoided by all good Jews. He began to preach the gospel and performed a number of miracles. As a result, people turned to Christ and a revival broke out in Samaria. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. “When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. So there was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8: 6,8) Philip listened to God to BE in Samaria to begin with, and then to leave a prime evangelical situation to go and spend time with ONE- because God told him too!

Leader, when we walk with GOD, it doesn’t always make sense. The Bible tells us that God’s ways are NOT our ways and HIS ways are far BETTER than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9) we are told an angel spoke to Philip. The angel told Philip to head out toward the desert. Think about what a strange command this must have been to Philip. There was a revival going on in Samaria and Philip was right in the middle of it. This sure didn’t seem to be the right time to be moving on to some new location. The work was just beginning in Samaria! What an odd request this seemed. God is looking for people who are wiling to AVAIL and COMMIT to our LORD! Are you willing to STAND OUT for the LORD, when you know you are being called to SPEAK UP, STEP OUT or STAND FIRM for our LORD and HIS NAME?

Conduit, Philip obeyed God instead of his flesh or the world! The Bible is filled with those who obeyed God even when what they were told to do seemed to defy conventional wisdom or defy the wisdom of the world. What he heard seemed strange, just like: Noah built a boat in the desert; Abraham left his home, business and extended family to go to a place God would show him; Gideon went to war with only 300 men, Moses took on the WORLD POWER and it’s Pharaoh; Peter walked on water, Ananias went to visit the chief persecutor Saul- what WILL DO YOU FOR YOUR LORD? Philip listened for an opportunity to share the GOSPEL and Philip LISTENED TO GOD! He left a revival and he met the ONE where he was, and he KNEW the Gospel message and HE SHARED with the ONE. Jesus had a message to ONE, Nicodemus in John 3. One of the great pharisees of the time, who was immortalized in time by being mentioned in the Bible. Tradition says that the eunuch carried the gospel back home to Ethiopia and founded the church there. GOD VALUES THE ONE: The ONE IN FRONT of you and the ONE in the mirror. The one on the street corner and the one who works in the cubicle next to you. “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10) Today, instead of focusing on the many, how about focusing on the ONE! Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one-person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19) Today be THE ONE who is focused on THE ONE!

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. – Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV

Warrior;

John MacArthur vehemently rails against the foolishness of many in the church today. He says that ‘Cheap Grace’, ‘Easy Believism’ and ‘Quickie Salvation’ are hurting the church as we attempt to be married to the WORLD. The Biblical definition of a fool is ONE who exists apart from God. The same Bible defines WISE as LIVING in accordance to God’s Divine Purpose! Many in the church treat the BIBLE like it is Aesop’s Fables and daily are focused on the same things that FOOLS of this world are focused on- they act just like them!

Leader, our WALK is our DAILY conduct, our REGULAR pattern played out in our daily LIFE. In the Book of Wisdom, Proverbs 9:10 we are told; The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. A believer who walks in WISDOM knows three things: Their Life Principles, their Limited Privileges and their LORDS PURPOSES. In other words they KNOW what HIS RULES are for their life, they know they have a LIMITED TIME to fulfill it and they know what GOD wants of them!

Conduit, in Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colossae he is encouraging them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2-3) We are called to walk CIRCUMSPECTLY! That means walk carefully, exactly and accurately. In Galatians 3:1 Paul puts it plainly; O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? BE WISE: KNOW God, FEAR God and OBEY GOD. You do this by KNOWING HIS WORD and PRACTICING your WALK daily- using HIS WORD as your compass!

And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. – Mark 6:31 BSB

Warrior;

Jesus is calling us to some ALONE time, some SLOW DOWN time. We get so busy doing THIS WORLD, that we have very little time for the one to come. We are so busy with work, with school, with our wedding plans, our retirement plans, the playoffs, football season, soccer season, kid’s events, vacations, our plans….

Leader, just like Jesus, Peter, John, Elijah, Moses; we all have 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week and 365 in year. We are called to spend our time where it matters- with HIM. Are you giving God your first fruits, your TITHE of your time? We must remember if we are truly sons and daughters of Jehovah, then we will stand before the WORKS judgment of Christ. All our works will be thrown into the fire and only that which we did FOR Christ, for the GLORY of GOD, or because of our LOVE FOR GOD- will withstand the FIRE!

Conduit, we must remember: If the devil can’t make you BAD, he will make you BUSY! Jesus is calling us to spend time alone with HIM studying HIS WORD and seeking HIS WAY! Your LOVER is calling you for some daily INTIMACY. Lord Jesus-INTO ME SEE- Search me Lord, examine my heart. Remove anything keeping ME from being closer to YOU, oh Lord!

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. .- Ezekiel 1:1, 4 ESV

Warrior;

In J. Vernon McGee’s exposition on the book of Ezekiel he posits that this vision from Ezekiel is of the chariot of God as He rides triumphantly and irresistibly through time. Ezekiel saw visions of God. We do not have GOD Himself exposed, it is instead a VISION of the GLORY OF GOD, the presence of GOD’s AWE and POWER. How about you, when you dream do you dream of a bigger house, a more successful career, or do you dream of the awe and majesty of the God who seeks us out? A God who will inhabit our dreams, and dwell in us and DIE FOR US? If we truly want to Live a life of significance then we should seek a vision of GOD, from God. Proverbs 29:18 instructs us; Where there is no vision, the people perish.

Leader, Ezekiel was part of the second diaspora into Babylon. The Israelites were slaves in a foreign land, a land of pagans and idol worshipers; they were being disciplined by God for their lack of obedience. Psalm 137 was written about this time-event: By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” (Psalm 137:1-3) In the midst of this tragedy and persecution Ezekiel was seeing visions of God. The VISION shows us HIS AWE and it reminds us of why we are to seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, HIS WILL for our lives- and everything will be taken care of! (Matthew 6:33)

Conduit, in our familiarity with Christ we forget: The Word of God says that our God is a consuming fire, (Hebrews 12:29), and God is light, (1 John 1:5). In his vision he sees a FIRE unfolding itself and a brightness was about it. It was a LIGHT flashing forth and it was revealing and concealing, it was obscuring and yet bringing- it is a light brighter than the sun. As McGee posits, “it could be compared to the inside of an atomic blast. It was incandescent, like lighting. “In Acts 26:13 Paul said, “as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me.” This is the GOD who sent HIS SON, to die so that we may spend eternity in HIS PRESENCE, under HIS AUTHORITY. The only way to GET TO THERE is from a place of AWE and reverence. A place of HUMILITY and GRATITUDE. For God so LOVED the world that HE DID something about it! (John 3:16) Do you so LOVE (verb) God, that you do something about it? A VERB is an action word! Commit your life to the ONE, who GAVE IT ALL, so that your daddy, ABBA Father is YOUR FIRST focus, FIRST priority- your FIRST LOVE!

By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs,and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” – Psalm 137:1-3 ESV

Warrior;

Can you feel their pain? This was written by God’s people when they were at a loss. The world that they believed God had promised them was crumbling. They were in a foreign land, a land that hated their God. A land that mocked their beliefs. A land that treated them with disdain, like they were less than, they were as dogs- DEPLORABLE. They were slaves in a foreign land and yet they were children of God and they were wondering, WHERE IS OUR GOD? This psalm should hit home, for this is the same situation we live in today in America! Our country has left our God and our government is wanted to be our GOD! But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Leader, can you empathize? Do you feel their pain? If not, you might not be a child of God! This is the time we live in, we are sojourners in a foreign land- if we are TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD! Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. (1 Peter 2:11-12) For we are foreigners and sojourners in Your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. (1 Chronicles 29:15)

Conduit, we are called to be DIFFERENT! Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.(Romans 12:2) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48) Be different, LOVE differently, VOTE DIFFERENTLY. VOTE as GOD is your GOD and not the government. For if you are a CHILD OF GOD- you are NOT OF THIS WORLD, so quit acting like the world! You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9) BE LIKE JESUS and the WORLD WILL HATE YOU! He is our Savior, not the government. Amen!