Devotional messages written by Peter for Seeds of the Kingdom from Ellel Ministries
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in…
Romans 8:37-39, NIV
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I was deeply moved and challenged the other day as I read the London Daily Telegraph’s account of the ultimatum that had been given by the new Islamic rulers in Northern Iraq. The message that went out to every Christian family was ‘convert to Islam, leave or be executed’. Their houses were daubed with the words ‘Property of the Islamic State’ and as the Christians fled the region their possessions, cars, phones, whatever they were carrying was confiscated from them. One Bishop was quoted as saying, “All we have left is our faith” as they walked into the unknown. For the first time in 1600 years there are now no believers left in the city of Mosul.
The Bishop’s words deeply challenged me. In their extreme situation these brave believers valued their faith above everything – nothing was worth more to them than their belief and trust in the living God. I looked around at everything that we considered home and couldn’t hold back the tears of empathetic suffering with our brothers and sisters in Iraq who had just lost everything, yes everything – except what mattered most to them.
They were living out in today’s world, the reality of what Paul had written about to the Romans two thousand years earlier. When Paul himself was facing death through persecution, he declared in his letter, and through the Scriptures to believers throughout the rest of time, that whatever happens, there is absolutely nothing that can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
As I prayed for those exhausted, but faith-filled believers, the Lord challenged me to ensure that the wonderful truth of today’s Scripture would always be engraved on my own heart. He challenged me never to depart from the reality of living with such a grip on God’s eternal truths, so that whatever happens I can rejoice in Paul’s wonderful words. It is only when the security of everything we have in this world is threatened that we can fully realise how much we love and depend on the Lord – for everything!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that everything we have in this world is nothing compared with the reality of knowing your love in Christ Jesus. Help me never to forget those who are suffering for their faith and to live for you in the sure knowledge that there is nothing that can ever separate me from your love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“O Lord, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. And I – in righteousness will see your fac…
Psalm 17:14-15, NIV
“O Lord, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. And I – in righteousness will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”
It’s sometimes hard to see the success and apparent prosperity of people who have turned their backs on God, lived their lives in unrighteousness, and made their earthly achievements and material possessions their aim in life – especially when you are going through hard times yourself, as was often the case for David, who wrote the Psalm from which our Scripture for the day is taken. In just the previous verse he was crying out to God to rescue him from the wicked!
But even though David wrestled, as we all do, with these underlying injustices of the present life, there was something much deeper in David’s life which enabled him to be an overcomer, whatever the prevailing circumstances were like. In his heart he really knew what God was like. The nature and character of the God he loved and who loved him was so interwoven into David’s life experiences that he knew he would never be disappointed by God.
In verse 15, David turns his attention away from the present life, away from the fact that not only are those with evil intent in their hearts sinners, but we all are, and makes a remarkable prophetic declaration of faith, something that would only eventually become possible because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, his glorious resurrection and the fact that right now He has gone to prepare a place for you and me the redeemed of God (John 14:1-4). David, a man who openly confessed his own sin declared that “in righteousness” he would see the face of God. It is only with sins forgiven and the slate wiped clean that one day we will be clothed in righteousness divine. And in righteousness, we will see the face of God!
There are times in life when I’ve looked forward to something with great anticipation, but when it actually happened, the realisation was something of a disappointing let down. The little that David had experienced of God was such that he knew, in a way that was beyond human understanding, that when he saw God face to face, it would not be a disappointing let down – but that he would be satisfied – which means full to overflowing with the joy of the experience!
Sometimes people think of death as something to be feared – but to those who know and love the Lord, death has no sting (1 Corinthians 15:54-58). It is the gateway to the clothing room of Heaven – where we experience first-hand the righteousness of Christ and are clothed in righteousness to enter the holy presence of the living God! Human eye has not yet seen or experienced the glorious vision that will then be ours – but we do know that Jesus came to show us what the Father is like – and we can know for sure, therefore, that we will be overflowing with joy – yes, we will be satisfied, in fact more than satisfied – and we will never tire of the experience!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that as a believer who knows Jesus, I will one day enter Heaven clothed in righteousness and that I will, never, never tire of enjoying being in the presence of God. Help me, Lord, to lift up my eyes from all the difficulties that surround me and focus my spiritual eyes on the realities that await me in glory! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may particip…
2 Peter 1:3-4, NIV
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
My grandmother kept a promise box! As kids we would pick out a scriptural promise, but if we didn’t like it very much we would put it back and choose another one! We were very selective over which promises we wanted to learn!
As children we learned the words, but it is only as an adult that I began to really understand that unless I met the conditions attached to the promise then I couldn’t expect to receive the promised blessings. It’s only as we walk in the ways of God, outlined by the conditions, that we can then, in faith, trust God for the blessings.
Then, when I read our Scripture for today, I saw something even more important about the promises of God – it’s like a promise within a promise! Many times I have prayed with people who have been desperate over the fact that they seemed incapable of preventing themselves from slipping back into the practice of known sin. Their desire for cleansing and purity was clear enough, but somehow or other they couldn’t sustain the walk. If that is something you’re struggling with right now, then this scripture is for you.
For the promise within the promise is this – that when we enter in to the blessings of God by fulfilling the conditions for the promises of God, we will be ‘participating in the divine nature’ – which literally means that our character is taking on the nature of God. Now it is clear that God is not touched by the world’s corruption, so the more we take on the nature of God, the more easily will we escape from the corruption of this world. So may I encourage you to spend time looking at some of the many promises of God there are in the scriptures, then ask God to help you fulfil the conditions. I believe you will be amazed at the new freedom you begin to walk in from the desires that would make you vulnerable to the temptations of the enemy.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the many amazing promises there are in Your Word. Help me to discover each one of them and live out the conditions for blessing in my own life, and then to walk in greater victory over the temptations that come from the corruption there is in this world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Romans 16;19, NIV
“Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil”
Paul’s letter to the Romans is an amazing exposition of the foundations of Christian truth, which we would do well to read at regular intervals throughout our Christian life. His teaching comes to us under the anointing of the Holy Spirit with the very power of God. In the last chapter he sends his greetings to many different believers and members of his wider family and right at the end he urges the Christians in Rome to keep away from those who put obstacles in the way of believers and who create division by bringing contrary teaching (Romans 15:17-18).
Then, in our verse for today he rejoices in the fact that the Roman Christians are famous for their obedience to the word of God, as it has been taught to them. The message of obedience is one that goes throughout Scripture – from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus himself said, “if you love me you will obey me.” (John 14:23). No wonder Paul rejoiced over the believers in Rome who had really understood that the key to knowing God’s blessings was to walk in obedience to His love.
What Paul said next speaks right into the day and age in which we live. Today we are growing up a generation who have little understanding of what is right and good and who have been robbed of their innocence at a very early age. Satan has so used the media and, even, our educational systems to destroy the very foundations that are so precious and which make for a lifetime of being able to live within the blessings of God.
When I read these words from Paul’s timeless messages to the Church contained within his letter, I found myself praying with renewed urgency for our children and grand-children – that there will be a renewed determination within the Body of Christ to protect them from the onslaughts of evil and that God will plant in their hearts a desire to know and live within the parameters of what is right and good. But what we pray for the next generations must also be our own desire – otherwise our prayers for the generations to come will be nullified by the hypocrisy of our own hearts!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the amazing teaching Paul gave us in his letter to the Romans. Help me, Lord, to always desire that which is innocent, wise and good and to be diligent in my prayers for the coming generations who are growing up in a society that has blurred the boundaries of truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ephesians 1:4-6, NIV
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
Think about the words – before the creation of the world. It was before God said ‘Let there be light’, and before anything that was made was made. Do you find this scripture too big to get your understanding round it? Let’s close our eyes for a moment and think about it. Before God created the world – there was nothing – except God. That’s when He chose us to belong to Him.
God chose us before anything else. This was priority to God! We aren’t some sort of afterthought. I was reading the Genesis story this week and the way God created the world in six days. The pinnacle of God’s creation is man, when God breathed His spirit into man. He didn’t just go along creating and whoops! Out came man. No. We’re God’s forethought; and not just that, but He foreknew what would happen.
We’re adopted. What does that mean? It was in the plan of God right from the beginning and it pre-dates creation. It will outlast this world as we know it. It’s rooted in God’s own nature. Adoption is a legal status. If you adopt a child, then legally that child is yours. You take over the responsibility for caring for that child completely as a parent of the child, just as much as if you had biologically given birth to the child.
Maybe we should consider afresh the wonder of our adoption into God’s family through the One He loves – Jesus Christ. Adoption was always part of God’s plan for you and me. God didn’t just wake up one day to find that man had failed through sin, humanity had orphaned themselves in the world, and He then came up with the idea of adopting us into His family. No. God planned it before the very beginning! God looked at us in our need and formed His plan for His only begotten Son, the perfect spotless lamb of God, to be crucified and risen. What did God choose us to be? We’re adopted as sons.
He chose us to be sons – to be holy and blameless. The truth is we didn’t choose God. Our adoption as sons is not based on our fitness for it. He adopted us whilst we were enemies in rebellion to Him (Romans 5:10)! So our adoption is nothing to do with how good we are –it’s based on the sovereign will and free grace of God. That means that our adoption is not fragile. It’s not uncertain, meaning it could change tomorrow! Whenever you feel wobbly or doubtful about your assurance of salvation, or where you are in God, be absolutely sure about this. Your adoption is eternal. It pre-dates this world. And it post-dates this world!
Prayer: Father God, we thank You that You’ve always had a plan for us to be in intimate relationship with You. Thank You for choosing us to be Your sons and daughters. We’re so grateful that we’re in a covenant relationship with You, and that You don’t change Your mind about adopting us into Your family through our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s too marvellous for us to grasp. Please seal this truth deep in our spirit by the power of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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1 Corinthians 16:13, NIV
“Be on our guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything on love.”
In this Scripture Paul hands us a key ring, from which five keys are hanging. They are keys which have been given to us by the Lord to use on our journey of faith. They are keys to successful living – not success as measured by the very materialistic world in which we are living, but success as seen from the perspectives of the spiritual realms and eternity.
Paul was a great teacher. He had the wonderful gift of being able to encapsulate profound principles in just a few words. If followed, these principles will enable believers to not just live out their days on planet Earth, but to live well, in harmony with our Creator and in anticipation of enjoying eternity in fellowship with other believers with Him.
The first key helps us to recognise that we are living in a world where Satan has been given authority by man as the god of this world. As such Paul warns us to be on our guard against everything that the enemy can throw at us to try and take us off course. Secondly he urges us to stand firm in the faith – that means in what we know to be the truth from the Word of God. In 1 Timothy 4:16 Paul tells Timothy “to watch his life and doctrine closely”, knowing that if we get off course and finish up in deception the consequences for the believer are serious.
The third and the fourth keys urge us to be courageous and strong – in much the same way as Joshua spoke to the children of Israel as they entered their Promised Land, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The final key reinforces the message of that wonderful 1 Corinthians chapter 13 – do everything in love. For without love in our hearts even the good things we do are of little value.
So, as you press on to make a success of everything you do for the rest of your days, keep this key ring in your spiritual pocket – and never forget to use the keys on a daily basis!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for these wonderful keys to living the Christian life. Help me, Lord, to always remember that they are intended for daily use and I pray that you will strengthen me day by day with Your Holy Spirit to live for You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Luke 24:32, NIV
“They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
The experience of those two disciples, who walked home to Emmaus after the crucifixion of Jesus, has always been one of my favourite Scripture stories. Cleopas and his friend were desperately trying to understand what had happened following the terrible trauma of the crucifixion and after hearing reports that the body of Jesus was now missing. They were wrestling with all they had gone through and the apparent impossibility of an empty tomb.
It was as they walked and talked that they were joined by a stranger who asked what they were talking about. And so it was that this stranger, in reality the risen Lord himself, gave them one of the most wonderful Bible Studies that there can ever have been, as he opened up to them the Old Testament Scriptures, telling them everything that was there concerning himself. No wonder they wanted to persuade this stranger to stay with them for the night.
It was only as He broke bread together with them that “their eyes were opened and they recognised him” (Luke 24:31). Suddenly they understood why it was that, as He shared the Scriptures with them, they sensed something happening inside which they could only describe as their hearts burning within them. This experience is a deep inner knowing of the presence of God and the revelation of the truth about God. It’s something that believers today can know through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley used similar words to describe what happened to him at a meeting in Aldersgate Street, London, when he said that “at a quarter to nine in the evening my heart was strangely warmed”! That experience marked the beginning of his remarkable life as a travelling evangelist which turned Britain upside down. John Wesley was never the same again. He was empowered for life by that inner witness of the Spirit of God. Almost immediately he set out on his extraordinary evangelistic journeys across the length and breadth of the UK.
Cleopas and his friend reacted in just the same way – both to the experience they had and the certain knowledge they now had about the resurrection. They were motivated for action and even though it was now late they were wide awake and set out immediately back to Jerusalem to find the eleven and tell them “It is true. The Lord has risen!” (Luke 24:34)
When we are gripped in our hearts by the truth about God, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we can never be the same again. It’s as if the inner presence of God sets our hearts ablaze. I pray that as you read the Word of God and you love and serve the God of the Word that your hearts will burn within you and the rest of your life will never be the same again.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for this amazing story of how, when you expounded the Scriptures, hearts were set on fire with the knowledge of the truth about You. I pray now that as I read the Scriptures your Holy Spirit will set my heart ablaze and set me on the rest of my life’s journey with the sure knowledge of Your love and presence with me day by day. In Jesus` Name. Amen.