Daily Devotional By Archbishop Foley Beach

We Cannot Live with Fear if We Have God in Our Lives

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Life in the Spirit – Part 1: Baptized with the Holy Spirit”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary:  You cannot practice the presence of God when you practice the presence of fear. This is true whether not your fear is about the future of our country or fear about personal or family or health issues. If you will practice the presence of God, you will have peace in amidst your storm. Jesus provides comfort for our anxieties in Mathew 6:33-34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.". If you practice the presence of God, it will not matter what this world or the devil throws your way. These words, from Paul in Philippians 4:7-9, make us comfortable with the sources of our potential fears as we walk with the presence of God in our lives: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me— practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.".

Today’s Affirmation: Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Fear. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Faithfulness. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Website Link to the Video – “The Upper Room – Part 2: The Promise of Forgiveness (Christ Cathedral, Kampala Uganda)”:  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

Scripture Reference (ESV): Mathew 11:28-29; Mathew 6:25-34; 1 John 5:1; Psalms 109:1-31.

Why Should I be Anxious or Afraid?

Sunday Sermon Note: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: Life in the Spirit – Part 1, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary: If the Lord is my helper and confident, why should I be afraid? What can man do to me? For this confidence, we must know who Jesus is – both in our heart and in our mind. He is the Son of God – God in the flesh. As Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.". Therefore, I don’t have to worry about troubling circumstances in my life because I know that He is with me; and He will guide me no matter how dark my life seems. Jesus is the light that shines in darkness.  As Jesus tells us in Luke 12:4-5, when we have anxiety and fear in our lives, is this anxiety deravitive of the right kind of fear: “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”. When we are faced with life’s tragedies and the anxieties that result from just living our lives, Jesus can turn those situations and our fears into ways and results that we cannot fathom or understand; but we can certainly appreciate – why not give God a chance to walk with you in all your life situations, good and bad? Ultimately, the Psalmist got it right in Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.".

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).

Website Link to the Video – “The Upper Room – Part 2: The Promise of Forgiveness (Christ Cathedral, Kampala Uganda)”:  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

Scripture Reference (ESV): Philippians 4:4-9; Matthew 6:25-34; Psalms 23:1-6; Psalms 108:1-13.

This is the Way; Walk in It

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “The Resurrection: Part 4 -- Hearing God’s Voice”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary: Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 30:21: "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.". We know, from the New Testament, that Christians are given the Holy Spirit to walk with them -- "a voice behind you". Since the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us, the way the Lord speaks to us is through the inward witness of the Holy Spirit -- the Spirit will speak, and you will know that it is the Lord. In John 14:26, Jesus reminds us about His promise, to His followers, of the “Helper” (Holy Spirit): “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will trust in with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding.  In all my ways I will seek to know Him, and He will make my pathways straight.  (From Proverbs 3:5f).

Website Link to the Video – “The Upper Room – Part 2: The Promise of Forgiveness (Christ Cathedral, Kampala Uganda)”:  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

 Scripture Reference (ESV): Isaiah 30:21; John 14:23-27; Psalms 107b:29-43.

Why is the Resurrection Critical to our Christian Faith?

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “The Resurrection: Part 4 -- Hearing God’s Voice”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary: If Jesus had not been raised from dead, our faith would be misplaced. The Resurrection is our means for the forgiveness from our sins. In Luke 24:25-26, Jesus reveals Himself, after His Resurrection, to Cleopas on the road to Emmaus and summarizes the criticality of the Resurrection to God’s plan for His Kingdom: “He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’”. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer posits in its A Prayer of General Thanksgiving: ".:. but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory . . .".

Today’s Affirmation: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Heartlessness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Kindness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).

Scripture Reference (ESV): 1 Corinthians 15:14; Luke 24:25-26; Psalms 107a:1-28.

Website Link to the Video – “The Upper Room – Part 2: The Promise of Forgiveness (Christ Cathedral, Kampala Uganda)”:  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

The Enemy is Always with Us and at Work Against Us

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “The Resurrection: Part 4 -- Hearing God’s Voice”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary: The enemy comes to destroy the fruit of the Lord's field. The enemy only comes to kill, to steal, or to destroy. In Matthew 13:39, Jesus explains who “the enemy” is: “and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.". We always must be alert for the presence of the enemy in our lives -- he never sleeps; and he is always attempting to mess us up. In John 10:10, Jesus explains the fundamental difference between Himself and the enemy: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.". Foremost, the enemy is attempting to destroy our relationship with God.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Resentment. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Compassion. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Scripture Reference (ESV): Matthew 13:39; Luke 10:19; John 10:10; Psalms 106b:28-48.

 Website Link to the Video – “The Upper Room – Part 2: The Promise of Forgiveness (Christ Cathedral, Kampala Uganda)”:  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

As Followers of Jesus, God Gives Us New Hearts

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “The Resurrection: Part 4 -- Hearing God’s Voice”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary: God is interested in our hearts; He wants us to have righteous hearts. God makes us new creations through our new hearts created by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives – God changes our thinking and our attitudes. In Romans 8:26-27, Paul describes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in followers of Jesus resulting in a new person, with a new heart, in Jesus: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.". The salt and light of Christians comes from our righteousness – not just in deed and appearance but, also, in our inner person -- our heart.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, My life is about Christ. (Philippians 1:21). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:14).

Scripture Reference (ESV): Proverbs 3:1-7; Romans 2:29; Romans 8:26-28; Psalms 106a:1-27.

Website Link to the Video – “The Upper Room – Part 2: The Promise of Forgiveness (Christ Cathedral, Kampala Uganda)”:  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/.

Talk to God your Father—the Creator of the Universe

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “The Resurrection: Part 4 -- Hearing God’s Voice”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary: God is your Heavenly Father and the Creator of the Universe; however, we can talk to Him as our father, and remember that He loves us. Imagine climbing up into His lap, and imagine Him wrapping His arms around us – He is God our loving father. As God tells us in 2 Samuel 7:14-15: “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.". We need to start talking to Him as the best dad there could ever be. Talk to Him about our lives; our concerns; and our needs. We need to ask Him for His counsel, and we need to ask Him questions regarding His will for our lives.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Self-centeredness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).

cripture Reference (ESV): Romans 1:7; Matthew 6:7-15; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Psalms 105b:26-45.

 Website Link to the Video – “The Upper Room – Part 2: The Promise of Forgiveness (Christ Cathedral, Kampala Uganda)”:  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

Unforgiveness Hurts First Those Who Don’t Forgive Others

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “The Resurrection: Part 4 -- Hearing God’s Voice”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary:  If God has forgiven me, why do I have to confess my sins? Confession is for us. For us to forgive, as the Christ forgives us, means that we release others from the offense that we believe they have committed. Jesus set the “forgiveness standard” for us as Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:31-32: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.". However, our forgiveness is not conditioned on the offender coming and asking us for their forgiveness – if we are like Jesus, we have already forgiven the offender. If we don’t forgive like Jesus, the offense festers and turns into resentment; and these unhealthy feelings are happening in us and not in the perceived offender because we have not forgiven our perceived offender as instructed be Jesus – “forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you”.

Today’s Affirmation: Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Anger. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Forgiveness. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Website Link to the Video – “Two Perspectives on Life and Death, at One’s Death: Steve Jobs, Billionaire/Creator of Apple vs. Jesus, The Christ/Creator of the Universe”: https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/.

Scripture Reference (ESV): Ephesians 4:31-32; Mathew 6:14-15; Psalms 130:3-4; Psalms 105a:1-25.

In Our Sin, We Can Repent and Return to God

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “The Resurrection: Part 4”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/

Message Summary: Whenever we fall into sin, do we repent and return to the Lord? Hopefully, our answer is: "I will, with God's help.". Our God wants us to return to Him because He loves us -- He is a covenant God. In Malachi 3:7, God admonishes His people who have turned away from Him; but God promises His return to His people if they return to Him: “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’". However, Malachi asks the question: “How shall we return?”. Joel 2:12-13 provides the Lord’s answer to Malachi’s question: “’Yet even now,’” declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.’”. Return to the Lord our God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster. The Lord wants to meet us where we are and to bring His Grace to us. In Matthew 26:27-28, Jesus confirms His Covent relationship with us: "And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”. If we return to God in our lives, He will return to us.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Website Link to the Video for Today’s Daily Devotional – “Two Perspectives on Life and Death, at One’s Death: Steve Jobs, Billionaire/Creator of Apple vs. Jesus, The Christ/Creator of the Universe”: https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/.

Scripture Reference (ESV): Malachi 2:4-6; Malachi 3:1-5; Matthew 26:27-29; Psalms 104:1-35.

Today, We Have Confusion About Who Jesus Is

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “The Resurrection: Part 3”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/

Message Summary: The greatest question that we will ever face in our lives is the question Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”. Who was Jesus? Who is Jesus? In John 20:27-29, Jesus had an exchange with the Apostle Thomas, after His Resurrection; and Thomas answered Jesus’ question for all eternity: “Then he {Jesus} said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”. To answer questions regarding Jesus and who He is, read the Bible – the New Testament and its Gospels and Epistles provide answers and an understanding of Jesus. From our reading of the Bible, we discover that Jesus is much more than meets the eye.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will entrust to Him my future. I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.  (From 2 Timothy 1:12).

Scripture Reference (ESV): Matthew 16:15; Luke 9:20; John 8:53-55; Psalms 103:1-22.

Website Link to the Video for Today’s Daily Devotional – “Two Perspectives on Life and Death, at One’s Death: Steve Jobs, Billionaire/Creator of Apple vs. Jesus, The Christ/Creator of the Universe”: https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/.