Insight and Encouragement: April 2022

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Friday, April 29, 2022

Proverbs iof Steel for April 29, 2022

April 29 – Devotion on Ephesians

Eph 5:21: 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

In Vs 21, Paul begins a section on interpersonal relationships. Paul was educating the believers in Ephesus on a new way to relate to each other. The culture they had just come from was as foreign to godly lifestyle as could be. Ephesus was a hedonistic and immoral society. All forms of sexual perversion were offered and practiced in the city. Pleasure, was the name of the game, and families were often fragmented and harmed in it. Paul was to set the record straight. He says that we are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. As Christ took on the form of s servant lifestyle so we should to the same. Jesus thought He was God chose to submit himself to the will of His Father. We in turn should do the same. Love means that you put the needs of others before yourself. A submission is an act of the will You choose to allow others to have an opinion in your life. You walk in love and in turn, this shows that you are a disciple of Christ. This was in direct contrast to what was shown in the streets of Ephesus.

Thursday, April 28, 2022

PROPHECY TO THE NATIONS - AFGHANISTAN

Proverbs of Steel for April 28, 2022

Quotes for April 28, 2022

April 28 – Devotion on Ephesians

Eph 5:20: Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In vs 20, Paul then states a powerful truth. In everything and in all things gives thanks. No matter where, what, why, when, and how we are going through we are to give thanks. It is the will of God for us. In Christ, we have everything we will ever need. Through Jesus Christ, we have been given eternal, abundant life and all the benefits thereof. We are to live in an attitude of gratitude. Being thankful allows us to see the solution to every problem. Thanksgiving enables us to look beyond the present to the future. Being thankful allows us to see the faithful, care, and keeping power of God. Being thankful keeps us positive and excited about what will happen next. The beauty of all this is that Jesus Christ is the one who gave us this privilege and responsibility.

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

PRAYER TIME FOR APRIL 27, 2022

Proverbs of Steel for April 27, 2022

Quotes for April 27, 2022

April 27 – Devotion on Ephesians

Eph 5:19: 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.

In Vs 19, Paul then lists things that are done in public meetings and also in private devotions that are things of the Holy Spirit. You speak and encourage others in psalms which are the readings of David and others. Hymns are songs of the faith with theology and great truths of the bible in musical form. You sing songs of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the author and the inspiration of these songs and choruses are the majesty, glory presence, and reality of God. Each of these mentioned is worship which is an attitude of the heart expressed. The form Paul is talking about is singing and making music from your heart to the Lord. This proves that music was a vital part of the primitive church. It was important and vital in Paul’s days and still has that role in the church today. It prepares the person for the preaching, teaching, and application of the Word of God.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Proverbs of Steel for April 26, 2022

Quotes for April 26, 2022

April 26 – Devotion on Ephesians

Eph 5:18: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

In Vs 18, Paul goes back to a familiar theme. ON the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on the inhabitants of the Upper room in Jerusalem they were accused of being drunk. Sometimes when a person is overflowing with the Holy Spirit they almost appear drunk. My wife Lois was actually stopped by the police one night after a church service and given a sobriety test because she was laughing and seemed out of control. The people in the car told the police what happened and after she passed the test they let her continue. Being filled with the Spirit means to walk in love, grace, mercy, kindness, and joy. It is living the fruit of the Spirit and demonstrating the gifts of the Spirit from moment to moment. It means having the goals, aims, and living the plan of the Spirit throughout each day of our lives.

Monday, April 25, 2022

Proverbs of Steel for April 25, 2022

Quotes for April 25, 2022

April 25 – Devotion on Ephesians

Eph 5:17: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

In Vs 17, Paul then tells his audience that they must not be foolish. This is again another exhortation to be wise in how they live each day. Paul was aware of the fact that he could lose his life at any moment and how harsh life was at his time. He was also aware of how wasting time and pursuing the wrong things could mean we could miss the will of God. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul had exhorted people to present every part of their life to God and being transformed in the renewing of their mind to know what the will of God was. Today the Bible is God’s compass and guidebook for our lives. It shows God playbook and will for our lives. We are to bring Christ into our world and show love through our lives. To do any else is considered foolish. Prayer is the avenue in which we talk to God. When we read the bible and pray we will not be foolish but understand God’s will.