Daily Devotional By Archbishop Foley Beach

In Jesus, God Fully Dwells

Message Summary: Jesus is the firstborn of all creation; and in Him, all the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form. These statements, from Paul to the Colossians in Colossians 1:15, “He {Jesus} is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." form the crux of Christianity. In Jesus, God fully dwells. Again, in Colossians 2:9-10, Paul reminds us of Jesus’ ultimate Deity: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.". This position, of Jesus’ Deity, is quite different from the teachings of Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, the New Age, or the Universalist. God expects our faith and belief in Jesus’ Deity in return for God’s forgiveness that results from Jesus’ sacrificial Crucifixion and Resurrection and God’s Grace.

 

Today’s Affirmation: I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ,  I will not be ashamed of the Gospel. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (including me). (From Romans 1:16),

 

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Facing Difficult Circumstances”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

 

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/`

 

Scripture Reference (ESV): Colossians 2:9-10; Proverbs 8:27; John 1:1-5; Psalms 9:1-20.

You Cannot Continue Living in Sin and Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Message Summary: If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the fruit of the Holy Spirit will be present in your life. You cannot exhibit the fruit of the flesh, sin, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul explains, simply, the link between being a follower of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 6:17: “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.". In our world, today, people say that it's OK to sin, but sinning not OK because if we are sinning, we are not in the Holy Spirit. In Romans 12:2, Paul describes God’s expectations for us to live in the Spirit and not in the flesh: “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.". The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control.

 

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

 

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Facing Difficult Circumstances”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

 

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/`

 

Scripture Reference (ESV): Ephesians 4:19-24; Romans 8:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:17-20; Psalms 8:1-9.

Who Is this Jesus?

Message Summary: The stories of the New Testament tell us that Jesus was no ordinary man. The Apostle John, in John 1:1-5, points out that Jesus, the Word, was the Creator of the Universe: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.". They tell us that He had authority over nature, over creation, and over life itself. They tell us that Jesus was the life-giver that came to earth for us. In John 20:26-29, Jesus asked the Apostle Thomas a fundamental question that Jesus asks us – “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me?’”: “Then he 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.’”. Have you, in your life, come to know who Jesus is?

Today’s Affirmation: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Lust. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Perfect Provision. “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).

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Facing Difficult Circumstances”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/`

Scripture Reference (ESV): John 1:1-18; Isaiah 7:2-14; Matthew 1:21-24; Psalms 7:1-17.

God Gives us Gifts Through the Holy Spirit to Answer His Call to Us

Message Summary: Any particular gifts given to us by God, through the Holy Spirit, are given to serve a specific ministry, office, service, and/or job for which we have been called by Him. Paul, in Ephesians 4:11-13, tells us about God’s focus and reasons for His gifts to us through the Holy Spirit: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . .". Again Paul, in Romans 11:29, gives us further information about God’s fantastic gifts of the Holy Spirit that are the enablers for us as we answer God’s call, through Jesus – as followers of Jesus, we are all called and given gifts; but not all have answered His call: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.". In summary, when God calls us to His service or a ministry, He gives us the gifts to perform His call to us.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will serve others. (Philippians 2:3f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:14).

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Facing Difficult Circumstances”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/`

Scripture Reference (ESV): Ephesians 4:10-14; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:7-11; Psalms 6:1-10.

God Awesome and He Takes Care of His Own!

Message Summary: Isiah says that God is the awesome God that put it all into effect by creating everything. Even though God is so awesome, In Isaiah 64:11-13, Isiah relates God’s disappointment in being snubbed by His chosen people, the Jews; but how pleased He is with being welcomed by the Gentiles: “’But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.’ Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame.’". He takes care of His own. Those who wait upon the Lord will not be disappointed. Malachi relates, in Malachi 4:1-3, God’s support those who fear His name and who will be spared as He punishes evildoers: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.".

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

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Facing Difficult Circumstances”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/`

 Scripture Reference (ESV): Deuteronomy 28:58; Nehemiah 4:1-11; Malachi 4:1-6; Psalms 5:1-12.

Giving and Generosity Flow from God’s Presence in Our Lives

Message Summary:  Giving opens the doorway for God’s blessings in our lives, but blessings flow from God’s presence and power in our lives. The clinched hand cannot receive, but it is the open hand that receives. The open hand not only gives, but the open hand is in a position to receive. As Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:11: “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.". How many times do you wonder about situations, that have occurred in your life, when God wanted to and could have blessed you; but He found you with a closed fist and not the open hand to receive His blessing?

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).

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Facing Difficult Circumstances”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

 Scripture Reference (ESV): 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; 2 Corinthians 9:11-13; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22: Psalms 4:1-8.

Jesus Is the Ultimate Peacemaker

Message Summary: Paul, in Romans 5:11, explains that we are “reconciled” through Jesus the Christ: “More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.". God, through Jesus the Christ, gave us the ministry of reconciliation. In Jesus, God was reconciling the world to Himself and not counting their trespasses against them. God entrusted us with the message of reconciliation; therefore, we are “ambassadors for Christ” – we are implored, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled with God. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Today’s Affirmation: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Facing Difficult Circumstances”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Scripture Reference (ESV): 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Mathew 5:12; Luke 1:30-35: Psalms 3:1-8.

God Is Coming to Judge or Purify Us

Message Summary: In Malachi 3:5, the Lord articulates that He “will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.” These are the people of God that He is talking about -- these aren’t the unbelievers; these are the people that say they are following God. As Paul reminds us in Romans 2:4-5: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.". The messenger of the Covenant is coming – He coming to purify us or to judge us.    

Today’s Affirmation: 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).

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

Scripture Reference (ESV): Exodus 19:5-6; Romans 11:25-32; Mark 14:22-25; Psalms 2:1-12.

We Are Made for God’s Glory

Message Summary: In 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Paul writes: “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”.

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).

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

Scripture Reference (ESV): Isiah 35:1-9; John 1:14; Isaiah 11:1-2; Psalms 1:1-6.

We Must Learn How to Listen for God Speaking to Us

Message Summary: God will speak to us, but we must learn to listen for Him. Learning to listen for and to God requires focused and "in-tune" listening in combination with a filter for all the in-life clutter that our life styles and culture create. As Paul tells us in Romans 10:17, followers of Jesus must listen and hear the Word from the Lord: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.". We are going all the time with stimuli from many different sources – how can God speak or be heard, in a still small voice, through all our noise? To hear and listen to God, "lengthy times in silence and solitude" with the Lord are needed. Times of quiet prayer with God permits the noise and clutter get taken away. Again, in Psalm 141:1, the Psalmist admonishes us to call upon the Lord and to listen for God’s Word: “LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!".

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).

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Website Link to the Video – “The Promise of Belief (St. Thomas Anglican Church, Athens GA):  https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/

 Scripture Reference (ESV): Exodus 19:5; Daniel 9:9-14; John 10:2-16; Psalms 150:1-6.