+Dev+ Michael D. Inman

Date: November 1, 2011 9:01 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Giving as Worship

Giving as Worship

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 CORINTHIANS 8:9)
Scripture Focus: Acts 2:42-4:37, 2 Corinthians 8-9

Since its inception, the church has, in some form or another, taken up an offering. In our day, however, while the practice has not died, the rich, theological meaning behind why we give as an act of worship has fallen on hard times. Often writing a check for the offering basket is done in the same perfunctory manner with which we write a check at the grocery store.

But giving financially to our churches - both in times of abundance but especially in times of economic need - is one of the most practical ways in which the Gospel impacts our life. At its heart, the Gospel is a gift from God: the gift of Jesus Christ to us that secures us an eternal home which our money could never buy. It is a gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17) that secures our favorable status before God. To the extent that our worship services draw our minds and our hearts to the magnitude and worth of that inexpressible gift, our hearts will be compelled to give as an act of worship to the great Giver, the one who has given us eternal life.
Insight: Do You Ever Think Of Your Money As Something Without Much Spiritual Importance? How Does The Gospel Change Your Perspective On Giving?
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 31, 2011 11:57 PM
Topic: +DEV+ We Are What We Worship

We Are What We Worship

"Those who make [idols] will be like them, and so will all who trust in them." (PSALM 115:8)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 115

The psalmist in our reading today makes what is, in effect, the spiritual equivalent of our common saying: "You are what you eat." By claiming that those who worship idols will take on idol-like characteristics, he is saying: "You become what you worship."

This truth carries with it a profound warning as well as a quickening hope. It warns us by revealing the life-shaping consequences of valuing, trusting, serving, pursuing, desiring, and devoting ourselves to the "idols" of our age. Those who worship power will become tyrants. Those who desire control will be controlled by that desire. Those who rely on their own strength will be proven weak.

Yet this principle also contains great hope. Those who have been rescued by the living God from serving idols will become like Him! As we, through God's empowering and transforming grace, grow to value, trust, and serve our Lord, we will begin to take on His characteristics. As we worship His holiness, we will be holy. As we esteem His wisdom, we will be wise. As we trust His strength, we will be strong.
Insight: In What Ways Do You See Your Life Shaped By What You Value Most?
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 31, 2011 1:02 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Worship: Not an Individual Sport

Worship: Not an Individual Sport

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see
the Day approaching. " (HEBREWS 10:25)
Scripture Focus: Nehemiah 8:1-8, Acts 2:42-47

It is often said, "If you want something done right, do it yourself."
The more people involved, it seems, the more complicated, confusing,
and confounding any project can become. (If you've ever served on a
committee, you are particularly aware of this phenomenon.) It is
tempting at times to adopt this same attitude in our Christian lives,
especially when it comes to worship. More people in your church means
more opinions and musical preferences; hence more "worship wars."
Accordingly, many Christians today choose to retreat to more private
forms of worship for their primary spiritual bread.

Yet there is a special place in God's salvation plan for the gathered
worship of His people, without which our worshiping lives are
incomplete. Complicated and awkward as it may be at times to worship
alongside other people, the gathered worship of God's people paints a
rich picture of the kind of unity for which Christ gave His life.
Only gathered worshipers can show themselves to be a people "from
every tribe and language and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9).

Insight: Though The Lord Encourages Private Worship As Part Of A
Living Relationship With Him, Never Allow That To Eclipse The
Importance Of Regular Corporate Worship.
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Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 28, 2011 12:52 AM
Topic: +DEV+ A Meeting with Heaven

A Meeting with Heaven

"But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city
of the living God." (HEBREWS 12:22)
Scripture Focus: Hebrews 12:28-29

The author to the Hebrews makes an astonishing claim here about
worship under the new covenant. He's writing to a congregation of
Jews tempted to return to the visible, tangible worship of the old
covenant. So he contrasts that kind of worship with the heavenly
worship of the new covenant in order to persuade them of the
superiority of Jesus. In essence, he claims that when new covenant
Christians come to worship, they take part in the heavenly gathering
of all God's people who have ever lived to worship the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit.

How might such a perspective change the way we view and experience
worship in our churches? I admit that getting to church (and paying
attention) is not always an easy thing on Sunday morning, especially
for those with kids! But might not the truth that when we get there,
we will commune with God Himself and with the whole gathering of
God's people in heaven serve to motivate us to make a greater effort?
May God grant us that perspective every week!

Insight: Our Worship Is Heavenly Because The Savior We Worship Now
Sits In Heaven At God's Right Hand. Praise God Today For This Amazing
Truth.
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 26, 2011 7:16 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Vain Worship

Vain Worship

"They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (MARK 7:7)
Scripture Focus: Mark 7:1-13, Ephesians 2:11-22

This was certainly the last thing they wanted to hear. Everything to which they were devoted, everything about which they were passionate, and everything they did in service to God was futile, purposeless, vanity. In essence, this was Jesus' charge against the Pharisees who, on the outside, appeared to be resolutely devoted to God and His ways. Yet while they honored God with their lips, Jesus, invoking the words of Isaiah, regarded their worship as vain because their hearts were far from Him.

Naturally, we all tend to worship like the Pharisees. We want to approach God on our terms. We think as long as we outwardly say and do the right things, we can keep God at arm's length. Indeed, our hearts are far from Him. Yet God Himself provides the antidote to vain worship. Those whose hearts were once "far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). The death and resurrection of Christ alone has the power to change our worship from vain to vibrant.
Insight: Do You Ever Feel You're Just "Going Through The Motions" In Worship? Let The Gospel Transform Us When We Feel That Way.
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Topic: +DEV+ The Holy Spirit in Worship

The Holy Spirit in Worship

"[The Spirit] will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." (JOHN 16:14)

Scripture Focus: John 16:4-15, Philippians 3

I imagine Jesus' disciples would have slumped a bit in their seats at the news. Jesus, their companion and teacher for the past three years, would soon be leaving them. What were they to do in His absence? How would they have the courage or strength to continue the work He had charged them to do? Not only that, but how would a band of Jewish tradesmen who routinely missed the significance of Jesus' message during His earthly ministry ever become the founders of the church and authors of the New Testament?

Jesus' answer to such apprehension is the Holy Spirit. The "Helper" whom Jesus would send to His church would be the one who would "guide them into all the truth" (John 16:13), and "convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment" (16:8). In other words, the Spirit would point them to Jesus. Like flood lights on the front of a mansion whose purpose is to draw attention to the beauty of the house, the Holy Spirit illumines our Lord to us when He seems far away. Let's give praise to the Spirit today!
Insight: Does Jesus Ever Loom Small On The Horizon Of Your Life Or Worship? Ask God To Illumine You With His Spirit So You Might See More Of Jesus!
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 24, 2011 7:11 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Worship the Son

Worship the Son

"Then the man said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him." (JOHN 9:38)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 2

It certainly would have raised a stir. Since their wanderings on the
plains east of Egypt, the Israelites would have known to worship the
one true God and the one true God only. This would explain, of
course, the outrage that ensued when a Jewish rabbi repeatedly -
without hesitation or rebuke - received worship from men and women.
Foreigners fell down and worshiped Him days after His birth (Matthew
2:11). His disciples worshiped Him when they saw Him command the wind
and waves (Matthew 14:33). A man born blind, seeing Jesus for the
first time, fell down and worshiped Him (John 9:38). Who is this Man
who receives worship?

He is no mere man. He is the very Son of God who took on human flesh.
He has existed from all eternity (John 1:1). He created the world
(1:3), and sustains it by His power (Hebrews 1:3). He is equal to the
Father (John 10:30). Yet in history, He took on a human nature only
to lay it down in death and take it up again in eternal life. Worthy
is the Lamb who was slain!

Insight: Jesus, As Much As The Father And The Spirit, Is Worthy Of
Our Worship. Let His Work For You Inspire And Encourage Your Worship
This Day.

--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 23, 2011 9:09 PM
Topic: +DEV+ A Response to Grace

A Response to Grace

"how much more, then, will the blood of Christ cleanse our conscience
from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"
(HEBREWS 9:14)
Scripture Focus: Hebrews 9:11-22

The common view of religion today suggests that worship is something
humans invented and performed to get God on their side. "If I pray
enough, give enough, or serve enough, then God will bless me." Yet
true worship never begins with us. Rather, true worship is always a
response to the initiating grace of God. For the old covenant people
of God, the exodus was the event that inspired countless songs of
praise and devotion (see Exodus 15; Psalm 105). For generations to
follow, the elderly would remind the younger that all their service
to God - worship included - would not have been possible without
God's redemption (Deuteronomy 6:20-25).

But now the greater exodus has come. Jesus Christ, the true Passover
Lamb, has delivered us not from earthly servitude, but from the wrath
of God, through the sacrifice of Himself on the cross. Far from
requiring our worship to atone for our sins, God inspires our worship
by atoning for them Himself through the work of Christ. Is your
worship flagging? Then remember all that God has done!

Insight: Do You Ever Feel Unworthy To Worship God? Remember Today
That God Has Qualified You Through Jesus.
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE

Father, thank You for being so patient with me. For the many times I
mess things up and You are still there for me, I am grateful. You
are truly my heavenly Father. How thankful I am for Your tender
mercies, Your sympathy toward me when I need You most. I reverence
You, Lord. How marvelous are Your wondrous ways, how kind Your
forgiving grace.
When I'm not wise in my spending, You still provide my needs; when I
stumble, You hold me up. You watch over me through day and night.
You protect me from harm's way, wrapping Your wings about me as an
eagle protects her young. She carries them on her wings and doesn't
let them fall. Thank You for carrying me, too.
Praise You for Your endless love and compassion. You have kept me
safe from disaster so many times. You heal my illnesses. You
strengthen my mind, soul and body. Thank You for the love You show
me every day.
Forgive me for my thoughtlessness and the times I mistreat You. I
can't understand why You love me!
I marvel that you know me so well. You know the hairs on my head.
You care about the pain in my head, my hands, my back, my feet. When
a sparrow falls, You care. How much then You must care for me.
Help me, Father, to think before I act, to be more cautious, and to
take better care of myself. Thank You for Your patience and
forgiving love. written by - Anita Donihue From her book 'When I'm
On My Knees'

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His
holy name. Bless the Lord, O may soul, and forget not all his
benefits.... " Psalm 103:1-13

By Anita Donihue
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 19, 2011 7:42 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Triune Worship

Triune Worship

"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.'" (GALATIANS 4:6)
Scripture Focus: Galatians 4:1-7

As Christians, we have the great privilege of worshiping a God like no other. One aspect of our God that today is often acknowledged but rarely makes much practical difference in our worship is His triune nature. The God of Scripture is one (Deuteronomy 6:4), but He exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What difference should God's triune nature make for our worship of Him? To ask such a question is to plumb the depths of Christian theology and worship.

In short, we offer praise to each member of the Trinity for His role in our salvation. And as we draw our minds and hearts to one, they will irresistibly be drawn to the other two. As we remember the Father's plan to redeem us, we can't help but think of the execution of that plan in the sending of the Son. As we remember the Son, we think of the "Spirit of his Son" sent into our hearts. And as we think of the Spirit, our hearts cry out, "Abba, Father." Give praise to our triune God!

Insight: Our Worship Will Inevitably Reflect The God That We Know. How Does Your Worship Reflect The Triune God?

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one

Date: October 17, 2011 7:36 PM
Topic: +DEV+ God is Looking for You

God is Looking for You

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of
worshipers the Father seeks." (JOHN 4:23)
Scripture Focus: John 4:1-26

If anyone is on the outside, she is. This Samaritan woman's
promiscuous lifestyle has led her to five different husbands during
her lifetime. Her mixed Samaritan blood also keeps her outside the
pure Jewish circles that surround her. So she chooses to draw water
during the hottest time of the day, when she is sure to encounter no
one.

But certainly to her disappointment, someone is already there. A man.
A Jew. A rabbi. It could not be worse. But the news He brings her is
unlike any she has heard. He offers her water that will quench an
eternal thirst. Yet perhaps even more surprising than this, He tells
her that God the Father is seeking people who will worship Him in
spirit and in truth.

What a shock this must have been for a woman used to being on the
outside, to know that God Himself was looking for people like her -
not to judge, not to condemn, not to punish, but for the purpose of
worshiping Him. May God find what He seeks in us also!

Insight: God is still seeking worshipers today. Has He been looking for you?

--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 16, 2011 9:03 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Larger than Life

Larger than Life

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." (MATTHEW 13:44)
Scripture Focus: Matthew 13, Hebrews 12:1-2

Worship is the native language of the kingdom of heaven. And if the kingdom is as Jesus describes it here in these parables - that is, something so valuable for which we will joyfully lose all other things - then worship ought to be characterized by profound joy. Yet, I think if we're honest, our worship often is not saturated with the "solid joys and lasting treasures" which none but Zion's children know. At times, worship for me can become merely cerebral, a transfer of information rather than a joyful encounter with the living God. Other times, what I mistake as true joy in worship escapes my heart quickly after the benediction. The weight of everyday life descends yet again.

How can we become more joyful worshipers? What we need is a re-evaluation of our lives. If we value the kingdom of heaven above all else, then we will rejoice to speak its native language. The kingdom must be larger than everyday life. When you're known by Jesus, the Man who "sold all he had" and bought you, your joy is larger than life.
Insight: An Unhealthy Preoccupation With Life's Concerns Will Dampen Worship. Remember, You Are "Seated With Christ In Heaven." Let That Truth Saturate Your Worship.
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 14, 2011 12:01 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Warped Worship

Warped Worship

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen." (ROMANS 1:25)
Scripture Focus: Romans 1:18-32
Bob Dylan got it right when in 1979 he wrote, "You're gonna have to serve somebody." The question is not whether you worship, but what you worship. Often we live under the illusion that if we're not worshiping God, then we must not be worshiping anything at all; but the truth is that we all worship something. We all have ultimate allegiances. We all live for something and are devoted to something. Indeed, you're "gonna have to serve somebody."

It's often tempting to see the struggles in our lives as simply a matter of what we do or don't do. But Scripture diagnoses our problem as something much more fundamental - as a matter of what we worship. Therefore, if we have any hope of beginning to live for God, then what we worship must be changed. We must begin from the inside out. And that is exactly what the Lord promises to do in the Gospel: "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols" (Ezekiel 36:25). Let's put Jesus Christ at the center of our worship.
Insight: Scripture Claims That Everyone Worships Something Or Someone. What Do You Worship? Ask The Lord To Increase Your Desire To Worship Him Alone.
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Topic: +DEV+ Worship: Expressing the Worthiness of God

Worship: Expressing the Worthiness of God

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name." (PSALM 96:8)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 96

What does it mean to worship? In many Christian circles today, the word "worship" has simply become synonymous with "singing." I would like to suggest a fuller definition to be used throughout these devotionals. Our English word, interestingly, does not have roots in the Bible. Rather, it comes from an Anglo Saxon root meaning literally "worth-ship." In other words, at its heart, to worship means to ascribe greatness or worthiness to someone or something.

This definition highlights the essential God-centeredness of Christian worship. God is most worthy to be praised. God is the greatest treasure that exists. He is most holy, most gracious, most wise, most compassionate, most jealous, and most glorious. Therefore worship begins and ends with God Himself - ascribing to Him the glory that is due His name.

Who is God? What is He like? Who am I compared to God? What has God done? What has He still promised to do? Answering such questions is at the heart of what it means to worship and "ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name."

Insight: In What Ways Do We Make Worship More About Us Than About God? Consider Who God Is And What He's Done. Praise Him For It!


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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 11, 2011 10:55 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Resisting the Devil

Resisting the Devil

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." (HEBREWS 4:15)
Scripture Focus: Matthew 4:1-11

The Bible likens the devil to a "roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). He is the great deceiver who cunningly hunts his prey. He lies in wait looking for opportunities to steal, kill, and destroy.

1 Peter 5 goes on to say that if we resist the devil and stand firm in the faith, the God of all grace will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast. But how do we resist this roaring lion? By looking to Christ.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He met Satan's twisted words and empty claims with The Holy Word; "It is written." Satan skewed Scripture in a futile attempt to get Jesus to sin, but Jesus refuted him with Truth. It is imperative that we be students of God's Word so we can recognize when Scripture is used out of context or misinterpreted. We cannot depend on our own strength to resist Satan's enticements; we will surely succumb. Our only hope is to lean on the same omnipotent power of God's Word that our great High Priest used.
Insight: "I Write To You because You Are Strong, And The Word Of God Lives In You, And You Have Overcome The Evil One." (1 John 2:14)
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 10, 2011 9:09 PM
Topic: +DEV+ The Transforming Word

The Transforming Word
"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart" (PSALM 19:7-8A)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 19:7-14

Have you ever met someone who radiated Christ in their countenance so much so that you knew they were a follower of Jesus - even before they opened their mouth to say a word? Psalm 34:5 says that those who look to the Lord are radiant because the shadow of their shame has been removed. They are transformed by the Gospel of grace, and their lives produce those blessed fruits of the Spirit because they abide in the one True Vine (John 15:5, Galatians 5:22).

As Christians, we are called to "put off the old self" and to be renewed in the thoughts and attitudes of our minds. In fact, we are told to let our minds dwell on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). The law of the Lord is the embodiment of all these attributes! It revives us, makes us wise, gladdens our hearts, enlightens our eyes, warns us, and brings great reward. As God's Word takes root in our hearts, it transforms us from the inside out, until we are radiant for Him.
Insight: "Do Not Conform Any Longer To The Pattern Of This World, But Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind." (Romans 12:2)
--
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...

"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 9, 2011 9:31 PM
Topic: +DEV+ The True Mirror

The True Mirror

"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard,
but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." (JAMES 1:25)
Scripture Focus: James 1:19-27

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me,
'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does
the will of my Father" (Matthew 7:21). The Lord of all creation
cannot be fooled by lip service, for He looks straight into the
heart. Only those who confess their sin, repent of it, and trust in
the finished work of Christ for salvation will be saved. True faith
in Christ yields holy fruit in the believer's life.

In the same way, we are told in James 1:22 to not merely be hearers
of the Word, but doers. The Word of God is a true mirror that never
lies. It does not flatter the one who takes time to study it; rather,
it accurately reveals the stains of sin. Then it points to the only
hope a sinner has of being washed completely clean: the blood of
Jesus.

Let us not eye God's Word with a fleeting glance. Instead, let us
stoop down and peer into His perfect law, beholding its freedom, and
pursue living it out with joy, faith in action!

Insight: May Our Faith Show Itself In Humble Obedience To The Lord
Out Of Our Gratitude For His Wondrous Gift Of Salvation Through
Christ.
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 6, 2011 11:01 AM
Topic: +DEV+ You Are Mine

You Are Mine

"But now, this is what the LORD says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.'" (ISAIAH 43:1)
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 43:1-13

I recently spent an afternoon in an urgent care facility and was amazed at how many people came in and out. There were people of all different ages, races and stature, all waiting to be acknowledged and helped. As I thought about the myriad of broken lives and hurting souls in the world just trying to survive another day, my heart was drawn to Isaiah 43.

God's words through Isaiah remind us that we "are precious and honored in His sight, and He loves us" (vs. 4). Although we have done absolutely nothing to merit His love and grace, God lavishes it freely on us - costly though it was to Him. He is the one true Savior (vs. 11), humbly demonstrating His love on the bloody cross of Calvary. He calls His children by name, declaring them to be His very own! God's Word is filled with precious promises offering hope and assurance for lonely, desperate, weary souls. Christ did not come simply to "acknowledge" us. Those who trust in Him are redeemed by His saving blood and belong to Him!

Insight: Whenever You Feel Alone In The Water And Flame, Remember God's Promise That The Holy One Of Israel Is With You!

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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...

"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."



Worth watching!!!!
It's incredible that this 1948 cartoon has come this close to depicting our current day situation. It's worth your time.

EVERY PERSON IN THE USA SHOULD SEE THIS! JUST THINK, THIS WAS FORECAST 62 YEARS AGO!

What can a cartoon produced in 1948, teach us today, that's of any value? You'd be very surprised! Pay close attention! Keep in mind this was done in '1948'. Keep telling yourself that as you view it.

This is one of the best I have ever seen. This should be viewed by every AMERICAN.
Click on 1948 Cartoon below -

This Cartoon Seemed Far-Fetched In 1948

1948 Cartoon
http://nationaljuggernaut.blogspot.com/2009/09/this-cartoon-seemed-far-fetched-in-1948.html
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 5, 2011 11:07 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Noble Character

Noble Character

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (ACTS 17:11)
Scripture Focus: Acts 17:1-15

The Bereans were commended in the Bible for receiving the message of the Gospel with great eagerness and daily examination of the Scriptures. The Greek word used here for "examine" is also used to describe Herod as he examined Jesus (Luke 23:14-15) and the Sanhedrin's examination of Peter and John (Acts 4:9). The Bereans mulled over the evidence like jurors do at a trial. They did not simply accept what Paul said. Rather, they intently studied his words in light of God's Word.

God's Word is the "plumb line" that stands up to inspection. It is copiously filled with cross-references, historical facts, and prophecies fulfilled. There is no supplement for it! We must not simply accept the words of men, but rather go to The Source, peering through the lens of Truth. Jesus said that if His Word abides in us, we will know the Truth, and the Truth will set us free (John 8:31-32). May we, like the Bereans, receive God's Word readily and examine the Scriptures daily, seeing how the truth of Jesus sets us free indeed.
Insight: Can It Be Said That You Are Of "Noble Character"? Do You Eagerly Receive The Message Of Jesus Christ And Spend Time Searching The Scriptures?
--




Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...


"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."
Date: October 4, 2011 9:55 PM

Topic: +DEV+ Revival

Revival
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear and forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 CHRONICLES 7:14)
Scripture Focus: Genesis 17:1-5

Before reading the Scriptures, a well known evangelist reminds us that we are about to hear the very words of God: "This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!" He is aware of the trap we can fall into of becoming dulled to the Bible and indifferent to its message. The Word of the Lord both commands and merits great reverence.

Nehemiah narrates a powerful scene of repentance and revival, and the stage is set with the reading of God's Law. As Ezra the Priest opens the Holy Book, the people stand to their feet, showing respect for the Word. They lift their hands in agreement, exclaiming: "Amen!" and then fall on their faces before the Lord, worshipping Him in humility. The people's hearts are so moved by what they hear that they begin to weep for their sin and guilt before God. But their mourning soon turns to jubilant celebration of God's grace and mercy toward them, for the joy of the LORD is their strength!

May God's Word fall upon our hearts also and cause revival.
Insight: It Is Important That We Engage In Corporate Worship And Sit Under The Teaching Of God's Word Often. Is This Something That You Value?
--

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...

Date: October 3, 2011 11:03 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Behind The Name

Behind The Name

"I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your Name and your word." (PSALM 138:2)
Scripture Focus: Genesis 17:1-5
Bible names carried much weight and often reflected the character or information about the person or place being named. Abram was given a new name by God - Abraham, "Father of many" (see Genesis 17:5). A name could hardly be more fitting! In 1 Samuel 7:12, Samuel set up a stone memorial to God's help and called it Ebenezer, meaning "stone of help." While not a popular name today, we find it in one of our great hymns, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" where verse two says, Here I raise my Ebenezer/ Hither by Thy help I'm come (Robert Robinson, 1757).
The names God gives Himself in His Word echo His character. Through them, He personally reveals aspects of Himself, giving us a storehouse of His promises and character attributes. He is El-Shaddai, the "God Almighty" (Genesis 17:1). He is Jehovah-Jireh, "the Lord will provide" (Genesis 22:14). He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, "the Lord our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6). He is the Almighty God who provides righteousness for sinners through Jesus.


Insight: Intertwined Through All Of Scripture, From Genesis To Revelation, Is A Crimson Thread Of Redemption Always Pointing To Christ.
--


Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: October 3, 2011 12:11 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy Fulfilled

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son." (HEBREWS 1:1)
Scripture Focus: John 5:31-47

Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. In Old Testament times, God chose men such as these to be His mouthpiece to deliver His message to the people. He spoke to them through dreams, visions, and even personally. Therefore, these "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). No matter the time or place, the heart of the message was the same: repent, turn to the Lord, and be redeemed.

The prophets warned the people of the severe punishment that awaited them if they continued in sin. But they also foretold the coming of a Messiah who would ransom God's people and purchase back His wayward bride. In Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees (John 5), He made it clear that He is the promised Messiah of which Scriptures testify. Although the Pharisees knew what the Bible said, they were blind to The Word made flesh standing right in front them. God desires for us to know more than words on a page. He has personally spoken to us through His Son, Jesus.
Insight: Woven Through All Of Scripture, From Genesis To Revelation, Is A Crimson Thread Of Redemption Always Pointing To Christ.
--

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...


"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: September 30, 2011 1:17 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Faith Nourished

Faith Nourished

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (HEBREWS 11:6)
Scripture Focus: Romans 10:8-15

Over the years, I have met many teenagers and adults who wrestle with the question, What is my purpose in life? I think that if we were all honest, we would admit to wondering this ourselves at one time or another.

Thankfully, the Bible answers that question. According to Revelation 4:11, we were created for God's pleasure, that He might receive the glory, honor, and power due unto His Name.When fulfilling God's perfect purpose for our lives, we experience the joy, peace, and soul satisfaction that He intended for us. But how do we know if we are pleasing God?
Hebrews 11:6 advises that the way to fulfill this chief purpose in life is through faith in Christ. Faith is a gift from God, and His Word is the instrument by which He brings it about. "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). When we earnestly seek God through His Word and prayer, faith is built and nourished and the Author of our faith is pleased.


Insight: Is God's Word Near You - On Your Lips, In Your Heart? Confess With Your Mouth And Believe In Your Heart That Jesus Is Lord!
--




Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...


"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: September 29, 2011 1:20 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Hiding Place

Hiding Place

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He
is a shield for all who take refuge in him...Who is the Rock except
our God?" (2 SAMUEL 22:31-32)
Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 22

In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom recounts the inspiring
story of her family's quest to offer a place of refuge for those
oppressed by the Nazis. This passion eventually led to their
imprisonment. But their faith in the Lord and dependence upon His
grace grew ever stronger.

While sitting in a prison cell, Corrie's father led a time of prayer
and sharing God's Word, as he had done regularly at home. Although he
was not allowed to have a Bible in the concentration camp, much of
God's Word was hidden in his heart. Facing a cell of despairing
souls, He quoted from Psalm 119:114, "You are my refuge and my
shield; I have put my hope in Your Word."

The Ten Boom family trusted God to protect and defend them, much
like David did when he was pursued by his enemies. They sought
comfort and hope not in their surroundings, but in the flawless Word
of the Lord. They sheltered under the Rock of God's promises and
looked to Him as their Hiding Place. He is a shield to those who hope
in His Word!

Insight: Are You Facing A Situation That Is Overwhelming And
Discouraging? Hide Yourself In The Power-Filled Words Of The Savior
And Take Refuge In Him.
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."


Date: September 27, 2011 8:54 PM
Topic: +DEV+ The Refiner's Fire

The Refiner's Fire

"'Is not my word like fire,' declares the LORD, 'and like a hammer
that breaks a rock in pieces?'" (JEREMIAH 23:29)
"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." (DEUTERONOMY 4:24)
Scripture Focus: Malachi 3:2-3

Someone once described to me the process of refining gold. The gold
is subjected to a very hot fire until it melts. This causes imbedded
impurities to separate and rise to the surface. The dross can then be
skimmed off, allowing the worker to see his reflection on the surface
of the pure, precious metal.

God desires to prepare a people for Himself (Zechariah 13:9). But
first, the Master Refiner must remove our dead hearts of stone and
replace them with living hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). We need the
holy fire of God's Word to melt our stony hearts and burn away the
dross of sin and impurity. Christ died to cleanse and redeem even the
vilest of hearts. He alone has the power and authority to forgive sin
and free the captive from its power.

Once the refining fire of God's Word softens the heart, He then
hammers and shapes it, forging something glorious for His holy use.
He is preparing for Himself a spotless bride that will reflect His
glory (Ephesians 5:25b-27).

Insight: Are You Yielding Yourself To The Fire And Hammer Of God's
Word So That His Glory Can Be Reflected In Your Life?
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

PEOPLE ASK WHY?
Why Carry a Gun?

My old grandpa said to me 'Son, there comes a time in every man's
life when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and
Usually it's when he becomes too old to take an ass whoopin.'

I don't carry a gun to kill people.
I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don't carry a gun to scare people.
I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.

I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid.
I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I'm evil.
I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I hate the government.
I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

I don't carry a gun because I'm angry.
I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life
hating myself for failing to be prepared.

I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone.
I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and
not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.

I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy.
I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a cowboy.

I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man.
I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the
ones they love.

I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate.
I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.

I don't carry a gun because I love it.
I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

Police protection is an oxymoron.
Free citizens must protect themselves.
Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate
the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the
mess.

Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to
take an ass whoopin'.... .author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

************ ********* ********* ********* *******
A LITTLE GUN HISTORY

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953,
about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were
rounded up and exterminated.
------------ --------- ---------
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5
million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.
------------ --------- ---------
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a
total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend
themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
------------ --------- ---------
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million
political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up
and exterminated.
------------ --------- ---------
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000
Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.
------------ --------- ---------
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000
Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.
------------ --------- ---------
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one
million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up
and exterminated.
------------ --------- --------
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century
because of gun control: 56 million.
------------ --------- ---------
You won't see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians
disseminating this information.

Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and,
yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.

Take note my fellow Americans, before it's too late!

The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind
them of this history lesson.

With guns, we are 'citizens'. Without them, we are 'subjects'.

During WW II the Japanese decided not to invade America because they
knew most Americans were ARMED!

If you value your freedom, please spread this anti gun-control
message to all of your friends.

The purpose of fighting is to win.
There is no possible victory in defense.
The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more
important than either.
The final weapon is the brain.
All else is supplemental.

SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN!
SWITZERLAND' S GOVERNMENT TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFLE.
SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY CIVILIZED
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!

IT'S A NO BRAINER!
DON'T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN
EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.

--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: September 26, 2011 12:15 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Teach Us to Pray

Teach Us to Pray
"This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us we have what we asked of him." (1 JOHN 5:14-15)
Scripture Focus: Luke 11:1-13

One of the extraordinary gifts that God has given to His children is the gift of prayer. But we, like the disciples, need Jesus to teach us to pray. Left to ourselves, we are senseless and ignorant before the Lord (Psalm 73:22). Christ, however, gave Himself to prayer and set aside precious time to converse with His Father. He is the ultimate example, and He teaches us how to pray by His Word and Spirit.

1 John 5:14-15 says that when we pray in faith and in accordance with God's will, we can be confident that our Father hears us and will answer. But how do we know what God's will is? We must search the Scriptures! When we pray God's Word, we come into agreement with God's will and can expect answers. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray by interceding on our behalf in harmony with God's will (Romans 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Holy Word.

Today, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts with God's Word so that we may know how to pray as Jesus prayed.
Insight: Jesus said, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (John 15:7).
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."