Freedom – herbcotton.org

Why Do We need to Focus on the Truth?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Psalm 119:129-136 King James Version (KJV)

129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.

135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

My Opening Prayer:

Father, open my heart so that I might see the truth, and open the hearts of your people who are seeking a word from you. Father, may all who pray, ask you to sanctify them by the power of Your Word. Father, we need mercy in this world so that we will not have to face the wrath of God when the time of mercy has expired at the first death.

Father, please save the lost from the penalty of sin, and keep the redeemed from the power of sin, and we look forward to the day when Jesus will deliver us from the presence of sin. Father, may we work while it is the day because night is coming when no man can work. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Allow me to ask you a penetrating question about what I heard and received in last weekend sermons at my church. I got a double barrel of truth; Saturday night and Sunday morning.

I heard the truth that confession purges your heart of the shame that appears when the light of the Word of God shines into the dark places of your mind, heart; this darkness affects your total body; from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet.

My family and friends, we are all imperfect people. We all miss the mark of our creator, and He gets the final word. The Bible says:

Romans 6:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s time for each one of us to have a real talk with God. The next step is to talk with three to five closest friends of the same sex in our circle of influence. Notice what the Bible says:

Galatians 5:16 King James Version (KJV)

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Prayer:

Father, I pray that men and women who are within reach of this message will surrender their hearts to You, and will surrender their shame in exchange for the deliverance of our mind, soul, and body from the darkness of death, and move into the light of the presence of God now and for eternity. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

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How Are You Using Your Freedom?

Text:

Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Observation:

Are you using your God given freedom in Christ to serve one another in love?

Yesterday I heard a very soul penetrating sermon by my pastor that had these three points.

Look
Lift
Love

How can you love like this? God would not ask you to do it if He did not provide the means.

Galatians 5:17-18 (NLT)

17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

Are you living daily by the power of the Holy Spirit of God who lives in you? Does the Holy Spirit of God, who is love, live in you?

Romans 5:5 (NLT)

5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Prayer:

Father God, we have so much to be grateful and thankful for as we celebrate the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:9 (NLT)

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

Father, You have provided the means for us to love others. Father, help us to appropriate the power of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives to love others. In the might name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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Have We Lost Our Way?

Text:

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Observation:

Are you fearful and afraid of what this world has come to? People ask me, “Have you ever seen anything like this?”

I have lived long enough, seen lots of things, and there are lots of things I have not seen, and lots of things I do not know. But, I have learned that I don’t have to concern myself about those things because I know the one who sees and knows everything.

I do not look to any person from the past, or the present, or the future, to give me freedom because my freedom comes from my creator and my redeemer.

John 8:34-36 (ESV)

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Who is your deliverer? Who is your leader?

There are many voices in the world and in the church who are speaking. The voices and the fingers are speaking and pointing in so many ways. Who are you listening to, and who are you following?

I am listening to the voice of God. He speaks to me through His Word, prayer, and other Spirit led people who know God, and are known by Him. The Holy Spirit is my teacher, and guide. I have decided to follow my creator and redeemer; my Savior and my Shepherd.

Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

To follow anyone else is to be led astray. Jesus knows the way because He is the way.

John 14:6 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name above every name on earth, and in heaven. Father, I am so grateful for Your provisions, power, protection, and peace. So glad that I can live in freedom and in peace because the Prince of Peace has overcome the world. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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What Is Your Response?

Text:

Psalm 105:1-3 (ESV)

1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Observation:

I woke up this morning with the LORD on my mind. I begin to praise and thank Him for all of my blessings. I thanked Him for the freedom that I have that I received from His loving heart and hands.

The bible says:

John 8:34-36 (ESV)

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Who are you a slave of? Are you a slave to sin, or a slave of the Savior?

Romans 1:1 (HCSB)

1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news—

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, I pray for America today, and I pray for the kingdom of God that Jesus is building. Father, may Your kingdom come, and may Your will be done on earth, and in Your people.

Father, thank You for the freedom we have in Christ. Father, I thank You that those who Jesus has set free, no power on earth or above the earth can take it away. Satan can’t steal the gift of freedom that the Savior has given Your children.

Father, this is my prayer for each one of Your children who can say, “I Am Redeemed”.

Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB)

10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Father, make us more holy and hopeful than we have ever been before. Make us holy like You are holy, and may our hope be in God alone. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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My One Word Goal for 2016 – First

Text:

Matthew 6:33 (HCSB)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Observation:

I did not select my one word goal for this year. Rather, it found me. I considered a long list of words, but this one captured my heart.

I was looking for a word that would be a worthy goal, and also for one that would make a huge difference in my life if I was able to accomplish it. Additionally, it had to be achievable.

The verse that I am using for the text today is the word that God used to touch my heart, and convince me that first was my word for 2016.

In the first week of this year God has used the Word & Prayer to cement this word in my heart. During the week God spoke to me at the end of the week with this word.

Psalm 119:1-3 (ESV)

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

The FIRST thing for me this year will be to seek the Lord with my whole heart.

This fits in so well with my Life Goal, which is to PLEASE GOD. The Lord used this verse to speak into my heart.

Psalm 119:10 (ESV)

10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

My greatest and first desire is to be seen by God the way he saw David; not the way he saw Saul.

1 Samuel 15:22-23 (ESV)

22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for the love and forgiveness that You have for your people.

Father, I ask that each of us would decide in our hearts that we are going to put of first importance doing that one thing that we can do that will be pleasing in Your eyes; to give to You our whole heart.

Father, convict and convince us, by the Holy Spirit, that surrender is the pathway to freedom in Christ. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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How Do You Know If There Is a God?

Text:

1 Timothy 6:15-16 (ESV)

15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Observation:

How are you conducting your search for God? Are you looking for him through the limited capabilities of your eyes and your mind? Do you think that you can find God in this feeble manner?

There are some things that have been settled a long time ago. One of the oldest books of the bible gives us an understanding of how to approach and enter the presence of the only true God who dwells in unapproachable light.

Job 42:1-6 (ESV)

1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;

6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

One of the amazing truths of the ages is that if sinful man draws near to God that God will draw near to you. The next move to knowing God is for you to turn from the direction you are walking, and turn to the Lord. Why not follow the example of Job? When you see yourself in the light of God’s greatness, you are closer to God than you will ever be. Why not take that step today?

2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)

2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

“Faith is trusting what the eye can’t see.

Eyes see the prowling lion. Faith sees Daniel’s angel.

Eyes see storms. Faith sees Noah’s rainbow.

Eyes see giants. Faith sees Canaan.

Your eyes see your faults. Your faith sees your Savior.

Your eyes see your guilt. Your faith sees his blood.”

Unknown

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that we may decrease so that You may increase. Father, the greatest need we have in our life is to know You, and be known by You. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

John 3:30 (ESV)

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Daily Bread

Title: Do You Know How to be Free and Blessed?

Text:

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
¹⁰For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Observation:

This thought recently gripped me. What is the value of the stirring of the heart if your life is not changed? Selah.

It’s amazing what God can do in us and through us when we submit to His ownership, and do what He says for us to do in His Word. This is the key to having a blessed life; one day at a time. The grace of God is so amazing and so liberating. God does not desire to box you in; His desire is to set you free.

Are you free and blessed?

John 8:36 (NLT)
³⁶So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that nothing is impossible with You. Father God, help us and strengthen us to be all that You created us, and redeemed us to be. Lord, I thank You that I am free and blessed. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.