Daily Devotional By Archbishop Foley Beach

Jesus Followers Will Be Tempted, but God “will not let you be tempted beyond your ability . . . to endure it”

MESSAGE SUMMARY: You will be tempted again and again, but the temptation itself is not the sin. The sin resides in your grabbing onto the temptation; dwelling on the temptation; and following through on the temptation. Jesus was tempted, and He always faced temptation by quoting scripture to the temptation source. As Jesus tells you about Temptation and sin in Matthew 18:7-8: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.". Also, Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:13, confirms that God will not permit us to be tempted in a manner that we will be unable to resist: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.". You can follow Jesus’ example by using scripture to deal with a temptation – there is scripture to deal with every temptation that you may face.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Most merciful God I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I might delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen. 

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).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalms143:1-12.

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How God Says He Loves Us: Part 1 -- The Covenant with Noah”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus Followers Practice a Weekly Time of Worship and Rest through Their Sabbath and a Daily Time Alone with God in Prayer

MESSAGE SUMMARY: Jesus said, in Mark 2:27-28, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”. Therefore, we are to practice a weekly Sabbath – worship and rest. Also, we are to build into our lives a time alone with God each day. In Mark 1:35, Mark tells us about Jesus: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.". If Jesus needed to spend time in prayer, doesn’t it make sense that we need to spend time in daily prayer as well?

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, 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).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 2:27-28; Mark 1:35; John 16:33; John 10:10.

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How God Says He Loves Us: Part 1 -- The Covenant with Noah”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Is Your Faith Yours, or Is Your Faith a Faith Derivative of the Faith of Others?

MESSAGE SUMMARY: We first believed because of what our parents taught us; but then we heard for ourselves, and we believed. You and cannot live on another’s faith in Jesus – With regards to faith, “God has no grandchildren”, only His Children; therefore, your Salvation comes only from your faith and not the faith of others. Each of us must hear for ourselves and come to the Lord in our own faith. As Paul tells us in Romans 10:16-17: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." You and I each will stand before the Lord alone in judgment -- we will speak for ourselves with only Jesus to speak for us. Others to whom we minister, such as our children, can her about the Lord and the Gospel from us – for the first time or in reinforcement – but they must hear for themselves and believe for themselves to be saved.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, 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

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Matthew 7:24-27; Psalms 53:1-6.

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How God Says He Loves Us: Part 1 -- The Covenant with Noah” at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus Says “Self-Denial” Is Required of Jesus Followers: “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me"

MESSAGE SUMMARY: In a time in which we hear so much about self-help, self-image, and self-actualization, Jesus is saying self-denial is the way to life. Jesus tells us, in Matthew 16:24, that self-denial is a key element in following Him: “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’". “Taking up one’s cross” means to die to self-ambitions. When we die to our self-ambitious and put them on the cross, Jesus’ life moves through us: “Not my will but Thy will.”. By denying self, we become alive in Jesus; and His Spirit flows through us – we experience eternal life and abundant life.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus’ name, amen.   Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will trust in the Lord 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

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 16:24; Mathew 10:38-39; Galatians 6:14-17; Psalms 141:1-10.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Am I Ready to Pray? (Bude, Cornwall, UK)”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus Followers Are Expected, by God, to Confess their Sins and Plead for Forgiveness {Penitence} Real Time

MESSAGE SUMMARY: Penitence is not a once in a lifetime occurrence. Penitence is a daily and moment by moment, real time, occurrence. None of us is perfect, and not one of us always does the will of God. Paul, in Romans 2:4-5, is unequivocal in establishing the need for your continuing penitence and the consequences of your not repenting of your sins on a real-time basis: “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.". Therefore, we all need to repent and return to the Lord. You can become cocky and arrogant in your spiritual life – “I am a Christian; God has done this for me.”. As the Psalmist tells us in Psalms 32:5 of his confession and his penitence: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.". You can rest on our perceived laurels; but these perceptions, of personal goodness and righteousness, can lead you quickly to a need for your penitence.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Most merciful God I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I might delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen. 

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): Mathew 3:8-11; Romans 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Psalms 140:1-13.

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Am I Ready to Pray? (Bude, Cornwall, UK)”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

God Loves You No Matter What You Have Done or Said About God – You Cannot Separate Yourself from God’s Love

MESSAGE SUMMARY: No one, including you, can separate you from the love of God. While we were and are still sinners, Jesus the Christ died for us. God loves you exactly where you are; God loves you no matter what you said about Him; and He loves you no matter what you have done. In Romans 5:8-11, Paul confirms God’s unconditional love for us: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.".

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, I now take a deep breath and stop. So often I miss your hand and gifts in my life because I am preoccupied and anxious. Grant me the power to pause each day and each week to simply rest in your arms of love. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 132). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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):  Romans 6:23; John 17:1-26; John 5:24; Psalms 139b:13-24.

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Am I Ready to Pray? (Bude, Cornwall, UK)”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Cancel not! Rather Bear All Things, Love Your Enemies and Pray for Those Who Persecute You!

MESSAGE SUMMARY: On Ash Wednesday we are invited to the observance of a Holy Lent. It is meant to include self-examination and repentance. We do not hear much about repentance.

Here is a challenge. With the help of the Holy Spirit, examine how you respond to others who disagree with you. Examine not the content of the argument or disagreement. Examine your response. For we live in age where the culture teaches us to part ways, disassociate, and unfriend. The Cancel Culture is making its way into the life of all American churches in all denominations.

So what if we have different opinions about vaccines, masks, homeschooling or the new store up the road. Are peacemakers meant to cancel others? Jesus followers are given the Holy Spirit precisely to make us more like Jesus, to think more like Jesus. How would Jesus respond? With love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Doesn’t the love of Jesus always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere? We are to love our neighbor as ourself! We can’t control how others respond. We can control how we respond. Canceling ought not be the response of the Jesus follower. If we are meant to deliver good news, cancelling, unfriending, and disassociation cannot be on the table.

You are invited to a Holy Lent, to self-examination and repentance.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Most merciful God I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I might delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen. 

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).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Galatians 5:22-26, I Corinthians 13:4-7, Mark 12:28-34

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Am I Ready to Pray? (Bude, Cornwall, UK)”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Cancel not! Rather Bear All Things, Love Your Enemies and Pray for Those Who Persecute You!

MESSAGE SUMMARY: On Ash Wednesday we are invited to the observance of a Holy Lent. It is meant to include self-examination and repentance. We do not hear much about repentance.

Here is a challenge. With the help of the Holy Spirit, examine how you respond to others who disagree with you. Examine not the content of the argument or disagreement. Examine your response. For we live in age where the culture teaches us to part ways, disassociate, and unfriend. The Cancel Culture is making its way into the life of all American churches in all denominations.

So what if we have different opinions about vaccines, masks, homeschooling or the new store up the road. Are peacemakers meant to cancel others? Jesus followers are given the Holy Spirit precisely to make us more like Jesus, to think more like Jesus. How would Jesus respond? With love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Doesn’t the love of Jesus always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere? We are to love our neighbor as ourself! We can’t control how others respond. We can control how we respond. Canceling ought not be the response of the Jesus follower. If we are meant to deliver good news, cancelling, unfriending, and disassociation cannot be on the table.

You are invited to a Holy Lent, to self-examination and repentance.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Most merciful God I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I might delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen. 

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).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Galatians 5:22-26, I Corinthians 13:4-7, Mark 12:28-34

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Am I Ready to Pray? (Bude, Cornwall, UK)”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Preparing for Lent: The Journey – Day 3 of 3

INTRODUCTION -- Preparing for Lent: The Journey, Day-3 includes:

• The Anglican Youth Fellowship Choir, from Kampala Diocese, Uganda and led by Group Manager Andrew Lumbuye, performs “Come Lord Jesus”
• Archbishop Miguel Uchoa, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Brazil and an Anglican Primate, reflects on Lent and the Church’s mission
• All Saints Cathedral Worship Team from, All Saints Cathedral Nairobi Kenya performs, the song “KWAKE YESU {On Christ the Solid Rock}”
• Jesse and Leah Roberts, of Poor Bishop Hooper -- American writers, and performers of many Christian faith-based songs (including the albums and music collections First Born, Every Psalm, and The Golgotha Experience), reflect on Lenten music and share a special song – “Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley”

MESSAGE SUMMARY: On Wednesday, March 2, many Anglicans, along with many other denominations and churches around the world, began their observance of the Christian season of Lent with their Ash Wednesday services. Beginning today and the two days following, A Word from the Lord is providing three videos, through Gafcon Global Anglicans, with the hope that they will help you to continue to prepare your hearts and minds as you walk with Jesus in your journey this Lenten season. Gafcon’s videos have included people, songs, cultures, and images from around the World so that you can be encouraged and equipped to consider your own mortality within the context of God’s Grace of Eternal Life given to us through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross and His Resurrection on Easter at the end of Lent.

There is a broad range of practices that Anglicans and other denominations and churches follow during the Lenten season. In an age of increasing instant gratification, the practice of Lent, leading up to Easter, runs against the tide in many cultures. With these three-days of videos from Anglicans round the World, we see the Anglican diversity in the practice of Lent from many cultures, languages, and races. What is Lent about and what are some songs of worship which can, as Reverend Canon Wes Jagoe says, "...help us slow down and focus on our relationship with the Lord"?

Also, Rev. Jodie McNeil of Australia, shares,

"I've started to see that it is good to synchronize my calendar with Christian brothers and sisters from all tribes, tongues, and nations because everyone needs to choose a calendar to follow...but as we live as foreigners and exiles, it seems like a good thing for Christians to celebrate together the rhythm of our church calendar."

Andrew Lumbuye of Uganda, discusses his Lenten perspective and how it provides him a context for selecting songs for Lent,

“Lent is a period of soul searching, reconnecting of getting back to the Lord . . . the songs that I have chosen are those that help us to empty ourselves; that help us cry out ourselves to the Lord . . .”

 

Archbishop Miguel Uchoa of Brazil discusses the Church’s mission for lent within the Gospel of John,

“Lent is the time of reflection and nothing better to reflect on than the mission of the Church . . . when they {the Apostles Andrew, John, and Peter} learn about Jesus and who Jesus was, they want to spend time with Him – learn from Him. That must be our objective.”

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will proclaim Him. (Philippians 1:15f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 1:6-18; John 1:6-18,23-28; John 1:29-34; John 1:35-42.

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Praying with Perseverance (Fowery Parish; Cornwall, UK)”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/ 

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus Explained that His Followers Would Both Pray and Fast, and Prayer and Fasting Are Matters of Heart Between His Followers and God

MESSAGE SUMMARY: There are times when you need clarity, understanding, knowledge and insights from God about the specific issues that you are facing. In your personal relationship with God, the Lord will speak to you; but sometimes it takes both your listening and fasting to hear Him. Jesus, in Matthew 6:18, was speaking to the Apostles as well as those gathered for His “Sermon on the Mount” where he explained that praying and fasting are matters of the heart between Jesus Followers and God. Jesus assumes that his followers will fast: "that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Lay Up Treasures in Heaven.”. Also, when Joel received a Word when the land was to be destroyed, he called a fast (i.e. Joel 1:14): “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.”. Some things you are facing in your life must be dealt with by both prayer and fasting. Fasting releases a spiritual power – in your weakness, God is made strong in your life. Daniel’s prayer, from Daniel 9:3-5, provides a context for asking direction from God: “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.’".

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, you know how difficult it is for me to be in silence before you. At times it feels almost impossible, given the demands, distractions, and noise all around me. I invite you to lead me to a quiet, silent place before you — to a place where I can hear you as Elijah did. In Jesus’ name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 123). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Joel 1:13-16; Matthew 6:16-18; Daniel 9:3-7; Psalms138:1-8.

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Am I Ready to Pray? (Bude, Cornwall, UK)”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB