May 6, 2020
Let's continue to look at this PRECIOUS GIFT we have been given in the HOLY SPIRIT. Jesus has indeed been faithful to His promise.
Read John 14:16-18 "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." (John 14:18)
God the Holy Spirit
Read Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
There is only one true God – perfect, eternal, existing as 3 distinct persons:
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit
Read Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Let's remember some of the accounts of the Holy Spirit's work in the past...
The work of creation – Genesis 1:2
Inspiring and directing the writers of God's Holy Word – 2 Peter 1:20-21
The conception of Jesus Christ – Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35
The resurrection of Christ – Romans 8:11
Let's celebrate together some of what this precious gift of the Holy Spirit does for us today....
What a precious gift!!
Have a blessed week!
Derek Triggs
Read John 14:16-18 "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." (John 14:18)
God the Holy Spirit
Read Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
There is only one true God – perfect, eternal, existing as 3 distinct persons:
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit
Read Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Let's remember some of the accounts of the Holy Spirit's work in the past...
The work of creation – Genesis 1:2
Inspiring and directing the writers of God's Holy Word – 2 Peter 1:20-21
The conception of Jesus Christ – Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35
The resurrection of Christ – Romans 8:11
Let's celebrate together some of what this precious gift of the Holy Spirit does for us today....
- Seals – It is official, we now belong to our God with His seal and image pressed within us. This Holy Spirit is just a glimpse or deposit of all that is yet to come.
- Regenerates – Praise our Lord we have been born again and are now a new creation through Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2:1-5; John 3:6)
- Indwells – When we repent and are baptized into Christ, this gift of the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
- Convicts – Not only does the Spirit bring needed conviction to the believer's heart, but He often uses us to reach and bring conviction to those that are lost. (John 16:8)
- Guides – Where would we be without the Spirit of God's guidance in our lives? (Romans 8:14; John 16:13; Galatians 5:25)
- Comforts / Helps – How often do we rely on the Spirit's comfort or help? (John 14:16)
- Teaches – By God's grace may we continue to be lifelong learners through the provision of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27)
- Intercedes – How often do we find ourselves at a loss, not knowing what or how to pray? (Romans 8:26)
- Empowers – It is only through the Spirit's power that we continue our Lord's work, ever seeking to make ready His return. (Acts 1:8)
What a precious gift!!
Have a blessed week!
Derek Triggs
April 29, 2020
The Holy Spirit
Before Jesus went to the cross, He began to speak to His disciples of a promised Gift yet to come.
Let's begin by remembering some of Jesus' words about this promised gift in John 14:16-18.
This precious gift of the Holy Spirit is our Helper, or Comforter, who will come alongside (call to one's aid). We can't live the Christian life without this gift of God's spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us, consoles us, encourages, and intercedes for us. Romans 8:26
Aren't you thankful for such help and comfort through the Holy Spirit? Jesus knew the Spirit would be so critical that He encouraged His disciples, reminding them that He will intercede on their behalf to the Father for such a gift. Jesus was seeking to prepare His disciples whom He loved, for His soon departure to return to His Father. They needed to know and take comfort that they would not be left alone or forsaken.
The gift of the Spirit works both in and through us for our Lord's glory. This gift of the indwelling Spirit is referred to as "another" in John 14:16. This "another" means 'one of the same kind.' Before He left, Jesus was promising the disciples that this gift to come would be like Him, as God the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus had truly come to reveal to us the heart of our heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit would continue to make the heart of the Father and Son very personally known and experienced to those He loved.
So this gift of the Spirit would indwell, empower, and guide these disciples to continue the purposes of our Lord and His kingdom. He assures them that the Spirit will remain with them forever.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19
John 14:17 – The Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Truth. Just as Christ had been speaking the Truth to those He loved, the Holy Spirit would continue to help lead and guide them in the Truth.
Read John 14:26 and 16:12-15
Just a bit earlier in John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." The Father, Son, and Spirit are all Truth.
Wow! What a precious gift! Now this Spirit of Truth dwells within the heart of believers forever. May we continually pray that He gives us an ever growing hunger and understanding for the Word.
John also reminds us that this precious gift is exclusive! Read John 14:17.
This precious gift of the Spirit of God is only for those who accept and walk with Christ. If you don't accept the Son, you will not know this precious gift of the Spirit or know the Father. Those yet lost in this world remain in bondage and don't have such a Helper and Guide to enable them to recognize and walk in the Truth. How alone and lost they must often feel. But Jesus promised His disciples and You and me that He would not leave us alone.
Let us thank our heavenly Father anew for this precious gift of the Holy Spirit.
· Pray that He comforts and directs us in this time of waiting and uncertainty.
· Pray for a new hunger and understanding of God's Holy Word.
· Pray for a fresh empowering to continue to share the hope of Christ with those yet lost and alone.
· Be still and recognize this Gift of access and fellowship with the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit.
Before Jesus went to the cross, He began to speak to His disciples of a promised Gift yet to come.
Let's begin by remembering some of Jesus' words about this promised gift in John 14:16-18.
This precious gift of the Holy Spirit is our Helper, or Comforter, who will come alongside (call to one's aid). We can't live the Christian life without this gift of God's spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us, consoles us, encourages, and intercedes for us. Romans 8:26
Aren't you thankful for such help and comfort through the Holy Spirit? Jesus knew the Spirit would be so critical that He encouraged His disciples, reminding them that He will intercede on their behalf to the Father for such a gift. Jesus was seeking to prepare His disciples whom He loved, for His soon departure to return to His Father. They needed to know and take comfort that they would not be left alone or forsaken.
The gift of the Spirit works both in and through us for our Lord's glory. This gift of the indwelling Spirit is referred to as "another" in John 14:16. This "another" means 'one of the same kind.' Before He left, Jesus was promising the disciples that this gift to come would be like Him, as God the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus had truly come to reveal to us the heart of our heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit would continue to make the heart of the Father and Son very personally known and experienced to those He loved.
So this gift of the Spirit would indwell, empower, and guide these disciples to continue the purposes of our Lord and His kingdom. He assures them that the Spirit will remain with them forever.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19
John 14:17 – The Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Truth. Just as Christ had been speaking the Truth to those He loved, the Holy Spirit would continue to help lead and guide them in the Truth.
Read John 14:26 and 16:12-15
Just a bit earlier in John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." The Father, Son, and Spirit are all Truth.
Wow! What a precious gift! Now this Spirit of Truth dwells within the heart of believers forever. May we continually pray that He gives us an ever growing hunger and understanding for the Word.
John also reminds us that this precious gift is exclusive! Read John 14:17.
This precious gift of the Spirit of God is only for those who accept and walk with Christ. If you don't accept the Son, you will not know this precious gift of the Spirit or know the Father. Those yet lost in this world remain in bondage and don't have such a Helper and Guide to enable them to recognize and walk in the Truth. How alone and lost they must often feel. But Jesus promised His disciples and You and me that He would not leave us alone.
Let us thank our heavenly Father anew for this precious gift of the Holy Spirit.
· Pray that He comforts and directs us in this time of waiting and uncertainty.
· Pray for a new hunger and understanding of God's Holy Word.
· Pray for a fresh empowering to continue to share the hope of Christ with those yet lost and alone.
· Be still and recognize this Gift of access and fellowship with the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit.
April 22, 2020
Last week's devotionals focused on Christ's resurrection appearances. Today I want to focus on one appearance that was very unique and came much later. Let's look at the apostle Paul's account of his untimely birth, when our risen Lord appeared to him.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-10
The risen Christ would appear to Saul who would later be called the apostle Paul. Saul was dramatically confronted by the Lord as he was seeking to persecute the young Christian church.
Read Acts 9:1-31
Now, of course, to better understand why this young Pharisee named Saul was on this journey, breathing out such threats against followers of the Way, we must remember his recent encounter with Stephen.
Read Acts 7:1 – 8:3
No doubt, the Lord used Spirit-filled Stephen's message and testimony in the midst of such opposition and even in his death to begin a work on Saul's calloused heart. As Saul makes his trek down the Damascus Road, angry and determined to stamp out this threat to his God and faith, Saul experiences Christ first-hand in His glory and great mercy. Christ's glory was so great that Saul was blinded for 3 days to vividly help him realize his true spiritual blindness. It also gave him time to process how wrong he had been in his abuse to Christ's followers. Young Saul's baptism into Christ would be one of the most critical events in the life of the early church. Saul, soon to be Paul, had an immeasurable impact for the Gospel. May we continue to share the hope that is ours in the risen Christ, never underestimating the impact of just one person brought to Christ! Paul would boldly proclaim the hope of Christ's victorious resurrection as an apostle to the Gentiles. He was Christ's chosen instrument to proclaim His name before Gentiles, kings, and to his own people.
It's quite a contrast seeing angry Saul leading a mob of persecutors, now being meekly led by the hand into Damascus. Clearly our risen and victorious Lord now had his attention. This man seeking to apprehend others had now been apprehended by our Lord. May we continue to pray for those lost souls we know and love with every confidence that our Lord can indeed get their attention and use them for His glory! Might Saul's conversion be a glimpse ahead to Israel's future salvation once they realize who they have rejected and get a real glimpse of His glory.
We also celebrate how God used a disciple of Damascus named Ananias. We don't hear much about him besides God using him here to go and pray over young Saul. Ananias would minister to Saul through prayer which would bring healing and empowering for this new dynamic servant of our Lord that would soon impact the world. Ananias reminds us to never underestimate our prayers for another brother or sister that God may go on to use in ways beyond what we could imagine.
Will you be that humble disciple of prayer that helps commission our Lord's warriors for the Gospel?
Ananias is also reminded by our Lord that we never have to fear when the Lord calls us to His purpose. My prayer is that we have a fresh encounter with our risen and victorious Lord in His glory, just like young Saul had on the Damascus Road. Like Saul, soon to be Paul, may we have a new passion and fearless determination to proclaim Christ. As expressed by Paul in Acts 22:10, "What shall I do, Lord?!"
For additional study, it is also encouraging to hear Paul's later accounts of his encounter with Christ in Acts 22:1-21 and 26:1-29.
Many blessings,
Derek Triggs
Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-10
The risen Christ would appear to Saul who would later be called the apostle Paul. Saul was dramatically confronted by the Lord as he was seeking to persecute the young Christian church.
Read Acts 9:1-31
Now, of course, to better understand why this young Pharisee named Saul was on this journey, breathing out such threats against followers of the Way, we must remember his recent encounter with Stephen.
Read Acts 7:1 – 8:3
No doubt, the Lord used Spirit-filled Stephen's message and testimony in the midst of such opposition and even in his death to begin a work on Saul's calloused heart. As Saul makes his trek down the Damascus Road, angry and determined to stamp out this threat to his God and faith, Saul experiences Christ first-hand in His glory and great mercy. Christ's glory was so great that Saul was blinded for 3 days to vividly help him realize his true spiritual blindness. It also gave him time to process how wrong he had been in his abuse to Christ's followers. Young Saul's baptism into Christ would be one of the most critical events in the life of the early church. Saul, soon to be Paul, had an immeasurable impact for the Gospel. May we continue to share the hope that is ours in the risen Christ, never underestimating the impact of just one person brought to Christ! Paul would boldly proclaim the hope of Christ's victorious resurrection as an apostle to the Gentiles. He was Christ's chosen instrument to proclaim His name before Gentiles, kings, and to his own people.
It's quite a contrast seeing angry Saul leading a mob of persecutors, now being meekly led by the hand into Damascus. Clearly our risen and victorious Lord now had his attention. This man seeking to apprehend others had now been apprehended by our Lord. May we continue to pray for those lost souls we know and love with every confidence that our Lord can indeed get their attention and use them for His glory! Might Saul's conversion be a glimpse ahead to Israel's future salvation once they realize who they have rejected and get a real glimpse of His glory.
We also celebrate how God used a disciple of Damascus named Ananias. We don't hear much about him besides God using him here to go and pray over young Saul. Ananias would minister to Saul through prayer which would bring healing and empowering for this new dynamic servant of our Lord that would soon impact the world. Ananias reminds us to never underestimate our prayers for another brother or sister that God may go on to use in ways beyond what we could imagine.
Will you be that humble disciple of prayer that helps commission our Lord's warriors for the Gospel?
Ananias is also reminded by our Lord that we never have to fear when the Lord calls us to His purpose. My prayer is that we have a fresh encounter with our risen and victorious Lord in His glory, just like young Saul had on the Damascus Road. Like Saul, soon to be Paul, may we have a new passion and fearless determination to proclaim Christ. As expressed by Paul in Acts 22:10, "What shall I do, Lord?!"
For additional study, it is also encouraging to hear Paul's later accounts of his encounter with Christ in Acts 22:1-21 and 26:1-29.
Many blessings,
Derek Triggs
April 17, 2020
Once again, let's remember Jesus' love for His disciples as He seeks to affirm to them the victory and hope of the resurrection. Take comfort that He meets us right where we are.
Jesus appears to the disciples John 21:1-17
Is there anything in your heart or life that might inspire our Lord to ask: "Do you love Me more than these?" Like Peter, is there anything between you and your Lord that needs tended to that might be affecting your relationship with Him or your fulfilling His purposes through you?
Be encouraged by Jesus' determination to restore both Peter's confidence and calling after he denied Him.
What "catch" does the Lord want to bless you with if you are willing to follow His lead?
Like Peter, do we ever need reminded of Christ's original calling in our lives?
In these 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus would appear unexpectedly. This reminds us that Jesus will appear in the sky at any time. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
This great catch of fish is also a reminder that without Christ we can do nothing. John 15:5
Be encouraged by Peter's life; our Lord is eager to forgive. Our love for the Lord is directly associated with our fulfilling His calling and purpose.
Jesus appears to the disciples John 21:1-17
Is there anything in your heart or life that might inspire our Lord to ask: "Do you love Me more than these?" Like Peter, is there anything between you and your Lord that needs tended to that might be affecting your relationship with Him or your fulfilling His purposes through you?
Be encouraged by Jesus' determination to restore both Peter's confidence and calling after he denied Him.
What "catch" does the Lord want to bless you with if you are willing to follow His lead?
Like Peter, do we ever need reminded of Christ's original calling in our lives?
In these 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus would appear unexpectedly. This reminds us that Jesus will appear in the sky at any time. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
This great catch of fish is also a reminder that without Christ we can do nothing. John 15:5
Be encouraged by Peter's life; our Lord is eager to forgive. Our love for the Lord is directly associated with our fulfilling His calling and purpose.
April 16, 2020
Let's remember Jesus' love for His disciples as He seeks to affirm to them the victory and hope of the resurrection. Take comfort that He meets us right where we are.
Thomas John 20:24-29
Like Thomas, do we realize what we miss out on when we neglect the fellowship of other believers? How does it affect our faith? How does it affect our seeing and experiencing our victorious Lord?
Hebrews 10:23-25
How often do we allow doubts to affect our fellowship and worship with other believers?
What proof do we require to truly act on and live out our faith in the risen Christ?
How often is our faith limited by only those things seen and touched?
Hebrews 11:1 & 6
Be encouraged that our Lord reveals Himself even to the one that doubts! Aren't you forever grateful for the day and hour that the risen Lord personally revealed Himself to you!?
Thomas John 20:24-29
Like Thomas, do we realize what we miss out on when we neglect the fellowship of other believers? How does it affect our faith? How does it affect our seeing and experiencing our victorious Lord?
Hebrews 10:23-25
How often do we allow doubts to affect our fellowship and worship with other believers?
What proof do we require to truly act on and live out our faith in the risen Christ?
How often is our faith limited by only those things seen and touched?
Hebrews 11:1 & 6
Be encouraged that our Lord reveals Himself even to the one that doubts! Aren't you forever grateful for the day and hour that the risen Lord personally revealed Himself to you!?
April 15, 2020
Once again, let's remember Jesus' love for His disciples as He seeks to affirm to them the victory and hope of the resurrection. Take comfort that He meets us right where we are.
Jesus appeared to the 10
Luke 24:36-47; John 20:19-23
You can know today the very real peace that comes with Christ's presence.
Hebrews 13:20-21; Romans 5:1-2; Philippians 4:6-7
We can have new hope in our new bodies yet to come.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 John 3:1-2
Just as Jesus affirms, we can have a renewed confidence in God's Word.
Luke 24:44
Celebrate the precious gift and promises God has given us in the Holy Spirit.
· We are sealed in Him (Ephesians 1:13)
· We are regenerated (John 3:6)
· He indwells in us (1 Corinthians 6:19)
· He convicts us (John 16:8)
· He guides us in Truth (John 16:13)
· He teaches us (John 14:26)
· He intercedes for us (Romans 8:26)
· He gives us assurance (Romans 8:15-16)
· He empowers us (Ephesians 5:18)
Allow Christ's victory to move you from fear to courage!
John 17:18
Jesus appeared to the 10
Luke 24:36-47; John 20:19-23
You can know today the very real peace that comes with Christ's presence.
Hebrews 13:20-21; Romans 5:1-2; Philippians 4:6-7
We can have new hope in our new bodies yet to come.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 John 3:1-2
Just as Jesus affirms, we can have a renewed confidence in God's Word.
Luke 24:44
Celebrate the precious gift and promises God has given us in the Holy Spirit.
· We are sealed in Him (Ephesians 1:13)
· We are regenerated (John 3:6)
· He indwells in us (1 Corinthians 6:19)
· He convicts us (John 16:8)
· He guides us in Truth (John 16:13)
· He teaches us (John 14:26)
· He intercedes for us (Romans 8:26)
· He gives us assurance (Romans 8:15-16)
· He empowers us (Ephesians 5:18)
Allow Christ's victory to move you from fear to courage!
John 17:18
April 14, 2020
Let's remember Jesus' love for His disciples as He seeks to affirm to them the victory and hope of the resurrection. Take comfort that He meets us right where we are.
On the Emmaus road
Luke 24:13-35; Mark 16:12
Be encouraged that Jesus is patient enough to walk alongside His disciples on their journey:
· Patiently assessing where they are in faith and understanding.
· Willingly walking with us and teaching us from His Word. (John 14:26, 1 John 2:27)
· Displaying a sense of humor when Jesus says "What things?" (Luke 24:19)
Be encouraged by Jesus' words and rebuke to these disciples to invest in God's Word.
Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:17
Jesus meets us in the midst of our discouragement and disappointment.
May we be eager to share with others our experiences with our resurrected and victorious Lord!
May we recognize Jesus' presence with us today!
On the Emmaus road
Luke 24:13-35; Mark 16:12
Be encouraged that Jesus is patient enough to walk alongside His disciples on their journey:
· Patiently assessing where they are in faith and understanding.
· Willingly walking with us and teaching us from His Word. (John 14:26, 1 John 2:27)
· Displaying a sense of humor when Jesus says "What things?" (Luke 24:19)
Be encouraged by Jesus' words and rebuke to these disciples to invest in God's Word.
Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:17
Jesus meets us in the midst of our discouragement and disappointment.
May we be eager to share with others our experiences with our resurrected and victorious Lord!
May we recognize Jesus' presence with us today!
April 13, 2020
Let's remember Jesus' love for His disciples as He seeks to affirm to them the victory and hope of the resurrection. Take comfort that He meets us right where we are.
Mary Magdalene
Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18
Like Mary, may our recognition of Christ's deliverance in our lives be evident by our love and worship of our risen Lord today.
Proverbs 8:17
Like Mary, in love may we always recognize and rejoice when our Lord calls us by name.
John 10:27-28; John 10:3
Like Mary, may we also be so excited to share the joy of our risen Lord!
John 20:18
Be encouraged by Jesus' words that by His death and resurrection we have access to the Father.
John 20:17
Mary Magdalene
Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18
Like Mary, may our recognition of Christ's deliverance in our lives be evident by our love and worship of our risen Lord today.
Proverbs 8:17
Like Mary, in love may we always recognize and rejoice when our Lord calls us by name.
John 10:27-28; John 10:3
Like Mary, may we also be so excited to share the joy of our risen Lord!
John 20:18
Be encouraged by Jesus' words that by His death and resurrection we have access to the Father.
John 20:17
April 9, 2020
Read John 13:1-20
As we continue on this difficult road to the cross, can we even begin to realize Jesus' mixed emotions? The cross was so close that the thought of all the suffering He was about to face had to be overwhelming. Yet, we also see this sense of joy and anticipation as Jesus looks beyond the cross to the victory and glory to follow. Not only being with His Father again, but also the provision and victory that He would provide for His disciples and those that would believe in the message. In the little time He has left, Jesus seeks to get away from the crowds to be alone with those He loves. Jesus clearly goes out of His way to express His love for these disciples by washing their feet (that is love!).
In some of His final moments, Jesus is also seeking to convey another lesson to His disciples. Clearly Jesus had their attention now, and they were shocked. Remember, these guys were constantly arguing about position or authority in the kingdom. In love, Jesus humbles Himself as a servant and begins to wash His disciples' feet. Again, this washing would have reminded Him of the difficulty of His approaching sacrifice. However; I can't help but wonder if He also saw ahead to the countless hearts and lives impacted for the kingdom through these men's dirty and yet beautiful feet? What about when He came to Judas? Did He weep at His feet while trying to look in His eyes?
As we continue on this difficult road to the cross, can we even begin to realize Jesus' mixed emotions? The cross was so close that the thought of all the suffering He was about to face had to be overwhelming. Yet, we also see this sense of joy and anticipation as Jesus looks beyond the cross to the victory and glory to follow. Not only being with His Father again, but also the provision and victory that He would provide for His disciples and those that would believe in the message. In the little time He has left, Jesus seeks to get away from the crowds to be alone with those He loves. Jesus clearly goes out of His way to express His love for these disciples by washing their feet (that is love!).
In some of His final moments, Jesus is also seeking to convey another lesson to His disciples. Clearly Jesus had their attention now, and they were shocked. Remember, these guys were constantly arguing about position or authority in the kingdom. In love, Jesus humbles Himself as a servant and begins to wash His disciples' feet. Again, this washing would have reminded Him of the difficulty of His approaching sacrifice. However; I can't help but wonder if He also saw ahead to the countless hearts and lives impacted for the kingdom through these men's dirty and yet beautiful feet? What about when He came to Judas? Did He weep at His feet while trying to look in His eyes?
- May we be willing to humble ourselves and serve as our Lord did, to express His love to others (even our enemies).
- More than ever, may we now be those clean and beautiful feet, eager to bring good news to those yet lost!
April 8, 2020
We have been on this difficult journey with Jesus this week as He is resolutely making His way to the cross. We have seen God's plan foretold by the prophets unfolding perfectly in these final days. We actually notice that Jesus is the one directing the perfect fulfillment of these prophecies. On Wednesday, it is believed that one of Jesus' own disciples was making plans and preparations to betray our Lord.
Read Luke 22:1-6
Passover was one of three primary Jewish feasts where the men were expected to gather into Jerusalem. Passover commemorates God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt through the sacrifice and provision of that Passover Lamb – all pointing to this moment in time. With such a crowd and with such a celebration of deliverance from oppressors, the Romans would naturally be concerned about this talk of a Messiah and a revolt. So the Romans were determined to keep the peace.
In verse 2 we see clearly that the Jewish religious leaders seemed to share some of the same concerns of the Romans. They seemed concerned about Jesus' growing following and knew they had to stop this threat. These Jewish leaders were seeking the opportunity to take Jesus' life. However, they were scared of the growing crowd of His so-called followers. Because of such fear, they would likely have sought an opportunity either before or after the Passover to kill Him, but Judas seems to change all of that. Judas' betrayal provided these evil leaders the perfect opportunity to take Jesus captive under the cover of night and away from the crowds. How difficult this was for Jesus, knowing that the very religious leaders of God's people were seeking to kill the Son of God sent to them and they were seeking to do it during the most sacred time in their religion. It is interesting when you consider that only God could make such an arrangement – that those influenced by Satan were actually bringing about their own defeat in the killing of Christ.
Verse 3 is heartbreaking when we consider how Judas allowed the enemy to have such sway in his life, even while walking with Jesus so long and sharing in His ministry. But the blind Jewish leaders were eager to hear Judas' proposal and more than willing to pay him 30 pieces of silver to betray Christ (Matthew 26:15).
Read Luke 22:1-6
Passover was one of three primary Jewish feasts where the men were expected to gather into Jerusalem. Passover commemorates God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt through the sacrifice and provision of that Passover Lamb – all pointing to this moment in time. With such a crowd and with such a celebration of deliverance from oppressors, the Romans would naturally be concerned about this talk of a Messiah and a revolt. So the Romans were determined to keep the peace.
In verse 2 we see clearly that the Jewish religious leaders seemed to share some of the same concerns of the Romans. They seemed concerned about Jesus' growing following and knew they had to stop this threat. These Jewish leaders were seeking the opportunity to take Jesus' life. However, they were scared of the growing crowd of His so-called followers. Because of such fear, they would likely have sought an opportunity either before or after the Passover to kill Him, but Judas seems to change all of that. Judas' betrayal provided these evil leaders the perfect opportunity to take Jesus captive under the cover of night and away from the crowds. How difficult this was for Jesus, knowing that the very religious leaders of God's people were seeking to kill the Son of God sent to them and they were seeking to do it during the most sacred time in their religion. It is interesting when you consider that only God could make such an arrangement – that those influenced by Satan were actually bringing about their own defeat in the killing of Christ.
Verse 3 is heartbreaking when we consider how Judas allowed the enemy to have such sway in his life, even while walking with Jesus so long and sharing in His ministry. But the blind Jewish leaders were eager to hear Judas' proposal and more than willing to pay him 30 pieces of silver to betray Christ (Matthew 26:15).
- May we try to imagine the pain that Christ felt - how long had He known how far Judas' heart truly was from Him?
- How many times did He seek to reach Judas in love and truth?
- How much did Jesus hurt for Judas?
- How much did it hurt to be betrayed by one of His own disciples while He was already facing such difficult circumstances?
- Are there still some today that seem so close to Jesus and yet their hearts are still so far away? How do we reach them?
- How might we encourage our fellow brothers and sisters in their faith?
April 7, 2020
Let's consider briefly one incident as Jesus makes His difficult journey to the cross.
Mark 11:19-24
Earlier Jesus had cursed this fig tree that was full of leaves but was not producing fruit. In the Old Testament, the fig tree is associated with the nation of Israel. So Jesus curses this fig tree as a picture of the coming judgment of the nation for their poor spiritual condition (fruitlessness). This poor condition was seen most clearly in their rejection of Christ as their Messiah which would bring judgment much like this now withered fig tree. While Peter seems surprised and eager to point out how fast the tree withered, Jesus must be hurting and angry at Israel's rejection.
Notice Jesus response to Peter's amazement – Read Mark 11:22-24
Jesus is not only dealing with the pain of rejection from the nation, but He was also hurting at the lack of faith of those closest to Him. Jesus has come and is making this difficult trek that He might provide the resources of heaven to those He loves. Yet even His disciples, who had been with Him so long and witnessed so many miracles, could not see and realize all that His coming and sacrifice was making available.
As Christ's disciples today, may we seek to realize all that is available to us for the asking and for His glory!
For further study: Mark 11:11-14, Matthew 21:18-22, Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 9:10
Have a blessed week as you prepare your heart for Resurrection Sunday!
Mark 11:19-24
Earlier Jesus had cursed this fig tree that was full of leaves but was not producing fruit. In the Old Testament, the fig tree is associated with the nation of Israel. So Jesus curses this fig tree as a picture of the coming judgment of the nation for their poor spiritual condition (fruitlessness). This poor condition was seen most clearly in their rejection of Christ as their Messiah which would bring judgment much like this now withered fig tree. While Peter seems surprised and eager to point out how fast the tree withered, Jesus must be hurting and angry at Israel's rejection.
Notice Jesus response to Peter's amazement – Read Mark 11:22-24
Jesus is not only dealing with the pain of rejection from the nation, but He was also hurting at the lack of faith of those closest to Him. Jesus has come and is making this difficult trek that He might provide the resources of heaven to those He loves. Yet even His disciples, who had been with Him so long and witnessed so many miracles, could not see and realize all that His coming and sacrifice was making available.
As Christ's disciples today, may we seek to realize all that is available to us for the asking and for His glory!
For further study: Mark 11:11-14, Matthew 21:18-22, Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 9:10
Have a blessed week as you prepare your heart for Resurrection Sunday!
April 6, 2020
Let's look at some of Jesus' final week before His willing sacrifice on the cross.
We remembered Jesus' triumphal entry on Palm Sunday.
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-19
Daniel 9:25
Zechariah 9:9
Psalm 118:25-26
Let's focus on Luke 19:39-48.... Here Jesus is weeping over the city of Jerusalem. It's hard to imagine not only His pain, but also the pain He must have also felt for His Father.
Consider how many prophets and prophecies of old spoke ahead to Christ's coming. Jesus had just fulfilled very specific prophecies as He presented Himself to God's people as their long-awaited Messiah and King. Not only was the specific way He entered foretold, but also the very time He would present Himself. So we have crowds worshipping Him as the Son of God, but religious leaders that rebuked Him. They were the very ones who should have recognized the revelation of these prophecies and also helped others recognize their significance.
Jesus clearly knew how short-lived this worship would be and the pain He would soon endure. The pain of rejection is intensified because it had been foretold and expected for so long. In the midst of Jesus' pain and rejection, He must have thought of the many prophets that had gone before Him, who often also experienced such rejection and even death by God's people. Jesus was mourning all that He and His Father sought to provide for Israel and yet they would refuse. Jesus weeps as He sees ahead to the destruction of this city and temple that His Father loved so much. Judgment would be brought on God's people for rejecting Christ. This judgment and destruction would come in AD 70 at the hands of the Romans. The city, the temple, and countless lives would be utterly destroyed. Jesus would then clear the temple as a rebuke to a religious Israel who had gotten so far from the heart of God.
The people had so neglected God's Word that they could not recognize the significance of who was among them. (God's promises were being fulfilled.)
I challenge you today...
Derek Triggs
We remembered Jesus' triumphal entry on Palm Sunday.
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-19
Daniel 9:25
Zechariah 9:9
Psalm 118:25-26
Let's focus on Luke 19:39-48.... Here Jesus is weeping over the city of Jerusalem. It's hard to imagine not only His pain, but also the pain He must have also felt for His Father.
Consider how many prophets and prophecies of old spoke ahead to Christ's coming. Jesus had just fulfilled very specific prophecies as He presented Himself to God's people as their long-awaited Messiah and King. Not only was the specific way He entered foretold, but also the very time He would present Himself. So we have crowds worshipping Him as the Son of God, but religious leaders that rebuked Him. They were the very ones who should have recognized the revelation of these prophecies and also helped others recognize their significance.
Jesus clearly knew how short-lived this worship would be and the pain He would soon endure. The pain of rejection is intensified because it had been foretold and expected for so long. In the midst of Jesus' pain and rejection, He must have thought of the many prophets that had gone before Him, who often also experienced such rejection and even death by God's people. Jesus was mourning all that He and His Father sought to provide for Israel and yet they would refuse. Jesus weeps as He sees ahead to the destruction of this city and temple that His Father loved so much. Judgment would be brought on God's people for rejecting Christ. This judgment and destruction would come in AD 70 at the hands of the Romans. The city, the temple, and countless lives would be utterly destroyed. Jesus would then clear the temple as a rebuke to a religious Israel who had gotten so far from the heart of God.
The people had so neglected God's Word that they could not recognize the significance of who was among them. (God's promises were being fulfilled.)
I challenge you today...
- Remember Christ's pain and tears
- Recognize the significance of Christ's willing and difficult journey to the cross
- Recognize the gift that has been entrusted to us in God's Word – the foretelling of His first coming and what is yet to be fulfilled through Christ.
- Evaluate our worship and religion practices – not losing sight of the heart of our God and what He is seeking to do among us.
Derek Triggs
April 3, 2020
Jesus' first coming was a critical central point in human history - dividing time as we know it. His coming had been spoken of and anticipated long before He came to dwell among us. Hundreds of prophecies of the Old Testament have described multiple aspects of His ministry. For thousands of years, God's people, Israel, had been longing for this coming Messiah, the Anointed One, God's chosen Servant and King that would come to deliver them. The Messiah was a promised descendant of Abraham and King David. The prophets of old described hundreds of details of His coming and His ministry... His virgin birth, lineage, ministry, rejection, suffering, death, resurrection, and much more...
Now, on this side of the cross, we can clearly see that Jesus fulfilled all theses prophecies that spoke of His first coming perfectly. But it seems that most of Israel at the time of Jesus' first coming was more eager to hear of this Messiah as a conquering King of Kings that would deliver them from their oppressors and return the nation to its days of glory, far beyond the days of David and Solomon. They were looking for the day when this King would rule the world from David's throne in Israel. Let's look at some of the prophecies that speak of this coming King and Kingdom, which we now know speak more of His second coming...
2 Samuel 7:12-13
Psalm 89:33-37
Psalm 2:8-9
Zechariah 6:12-13
Isaiah 9:6-7
Psalm 24:9-10
Psalm 45:6
Psalm 46:4-10
Psalm 72:5-20
Psalm 89:1-37
Jeremiah 23:5-8
Isaiah 2:1-11
Isaiah 11-12
Zechariah 14:9-21
Zechariah 9:9
Continue to be in prayer for our nation and world.
God bless,
Derek Triggs
Now, on this side of the cross, we can clearly see that Jesus fulfilled all theses prophecies that spoke of His first coming perfectly. But it seems that most of Israel at the time of Jesus' first coming was more eager to hear of this Messiah as a conquering King of Kings that would deliver them from their oppressors and return the nation to its days of glory, far beyond the days of David and Solomon. They were looking for the day when this King would rule the world from David's throne in Israel. Let's look at some of the prophecies that speak of this coming King and Kingdom, which we now know speak more of His second coming...
2 Samuel 7:12-13
Psalm 89:33-37
Psalm 2:8-9
Zechariah 6:12-13
Isaiah 9:6-7
Psalm 24:9-10
Psalm 45:6
Psalm 46:4-10
Psalm 72:5-20
Psalm 89:1-37
Jeremiah 23:5-8
Isaiah 2:1-11
Isaiah 11-12
Zechariah 14:9-21
Zechariah 9:9
Continue to be in prayer for our nation and world.
God bless,
Derek Triggs
April 1, 2020
May we continue to be encouraged, recognizing that God's redemptive plans continue to unfold. Today, let's remember back to prophesies of old that also speak ahead to Christ's first coming, ministry, death, and resurrection...
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel."
Micah 5:2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity."
Hosea 11:1 "When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son."
Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the Lord of hosts.
Psalm 78:2 "I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,"
Isaiah 56:7 "Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples."
Psalm 41:9 "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."
Zechariah 11:12 "I said to them, "If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!" So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages."
Zechariah 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man, My Associate,"
Declares the Lord of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; and I will turn My hand against the little ones."
Psalm 38:11 "My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away."
Psalm 34:20 "He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken."
Psalm 8:5 "Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!"
Psalm 27:12 "Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence."
Psalm 22:1 "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning."
Psalm 69:21 "They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
Psalm 31:5 "Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God."
Jonah 1:17 "And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights."
Psalm 16:10 "For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay."
Let's celebrate today God's heart for redemption and His unfolding purposes among men! Continue to be in prayer for our leaders, nation, and world, in the midst of this trying time -
And let us also pray that people would recognize their need for Christ.
God bless and keep you,
Derek Triggs
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel."
Micah 5:2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity."
Hosea 11:1 "When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son."
Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the Lord of hosts.
Psalm 78:2 "I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,"
Isaiah 56:7 "Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples."
Psalm 41:9 "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."
Zechariah 11:12 "I said to them, "If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!" So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages."
Zechariah 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man, My Associate,"
Declares the Lord of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; and I will turn My hand against the little ones."
Psalm 38:11 "My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away."
Psalm 34:20 "He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken."
Psalm 8:5 "Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!"
Psalm 27:12 "Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence."
Psalm 22:1 "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning."
Psalm 69:21 "They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
Psalm 31:5 "Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God."
Jonah 1:17 "And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights."
Psalm 16:10 "For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay."
Let's celebrate today God's heart for redemption and His unfolding purposes among men! Continue to be in prayer for our leaders, nation, and world, in the midst of this trying time -
And let us also pray that people would recognize their need for Christ.
God bless and keep you,
Derek Triggs
March 30, 2020
JESUS - May we remember the humble beginnings and the suffering of this Servant.
Isaiah 53:1-12
"Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
3 He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
9 His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
10 But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors."
May we see again why the nation Israel struggled to recognize their promised Messiah...
He was poor and plain, ordinary, He was beaten, despised and rejected, killed alongside criminals, cursed as one hung on a tree, He was submissive and passive....
In a sense, we can understand why they didn't recognize Him, and yet Isaiah gave them one of the most vivid descriptions of His suffering years in advance!
Praying for you and your families!
Derek Triggs
Isaiah 53:1-12
"Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
3 He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
9 His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
10 But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors."
May we see again why the nation Israel struggled to recognize their promised Messiah...
He was poor and plain, ordinary, He was beaten, despised and rejected, killed alongside criminals, cursed as one hung on a tree, He was submissive and passive....
In a sense, we can understand why they didn't recognize Him, and yet Isaiah gave them one of the most vivid descriptions of His suffering years in advance!
Praying for you and your families!
Derek Triggs
March 27, 2020
Let us consider anew how difficult it was for Jesus to make that transition and begin the journey to the cross.
"From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." ~Matthew 16:21-23
How difficult it was for His disciples to hear, accept, and understand.
As the disciples were truly beginning to grasp the significance of who He was as the Messiah, Jesus has to prepare them for His death.
Mark 8:27-33
Is it all that different for us, as His disciples today? Don't we often struggle as well to grasp that the Son of God had to suffer and die for us? Let us remember to be ever grateful for Jesus' difficult journey for you and me. May we remember Jesus' words...
"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." ~John 12:27
Praying for you!
Derek Triggs
"From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." ~Matthew 16:21-23
How difficult it was for His disciples to hear, accept, and understand.
As the disciples were truly beginning to grasp the significance of who He was as the Messiah, Jesus has to prepare them for His death.
Mark 8:27-33
Is it all that different for us, as His disciples today? Don't we often struggle as well to grasp that the Son of God had to suffer and die for us? Let us remember to be ever grateful for Jesus' difficult journey for you and me. May we remember Jesus' words...
"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." ~John 12:27
Praying for you!
Derek Triggs
March 26, 2020
Let us make this prayer our own...
1 God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.
2 That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And guide the nations on the earth. Selah.
5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
~ Psalm 67
May we so seek the Lord in this time, that God is able to have His way in our hearts, and bless His people that others might take notice and turn to Him.
1 God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.
2 That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And guide the nations on the earth. Selah.
5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
~ Psalm 67
May we so seek the Lord in this time, that God is able to have His way in our hearts, and bless His people that others might take notice and turn to Him.
March 25, 2020
In the midst of such uncertainty, let us take comfort in our certain and unchanging God.
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Our unchanging God is a God of LOVE....
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
Our unchanging God is a God of MERCY...
Ephesians 2:4 "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, made us alive with Christ..."
1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
Hebrews 4:16 "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Psalm 40:11 "You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me."
Luke 6:36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Our unchanging God is a God of GOODNESS...
Exodus 34:6 "Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;"
Psalm 27:13 "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"
Mark 10:18 "And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone."
God bless you!
Derek Triggs
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Our unchanging God is a God of LOVE....
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
Our unchanging God is a God of MERCY...
Ephesians 2:4 "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, made us alive with Christ..."
1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
Hebrews 4:16 "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Psalm 40:11 "You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me."
Luke 6:36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Our unchanging God is a God of GOODNESS...
Exodus 34:6 "Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;"
Psalm 27:13 "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"
Mark 10:18 "And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone."
God bless you!
Derek Triggs
March 24, 2020
Are you ready?
Are you eager?
Are you waiting?
1 Corinthians 1:7 "So that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ..."
1 Corinthians 16:22 "If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha." ('O Lord come!')
Philippians 3:20 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 4:5 "Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near."
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 "For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come."
Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
Jude 1:21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."
Titus 2:13 "...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus."
As the Bride of Christ, we are to be eager and waiting for the Bridegroom, that could come at any moment. It is our blessed hope!
May God richly bless!
Derek Triggs
Are you eager?
Are you waiting?
1 Corinthians 1:7 "So that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ..."
1 Corinthians 16:22 "If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha." ('O Lord come!')
Philippians 3:20 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 4:5 "Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near."
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 "For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come."
Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
Jude 1:21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."
Titus 2:13 "...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus."
As the Bride of Christ, we are to be eager and waiting for the Bridegroom, that could come at any moment. It is our blessed hope!
May God richly bless!
Derek Triggs
March 23, 2020
To the saints:
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" ~ 2 Corinthians 9:15
May we celebrate anew this indescribable gift that we have been given in our Lord Jesus Christ - a gift that those of old could not fully imagine and only longed for!
Read 1 Peter 1:10-12 and Matthew 13:17
Both the prophets of old and even angels looked ahead with hope and expectation to such a day and time of Christ's provision. May we consider the blessings of this gift in Christ -
Read Ephesians 1:3-9
You have been chosen, adopted, and forgiven. We have the provision and resources of heaven available to us! We have been given spiritual understanding to accomplish His purposes.
Read 1 Peter 2:9-12
In Christ we are a royal priesthood, citizens not of this world, but of heaven. Let us live in such a way that we help point others to Christ.
Read Hebrews 10:19-24
We are blessed with such access to our loving heavenly father – may we take full advantage of this privilege!
Have a blessed day!
Derek Triggs
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" ~ 2 Corinthians 9:15
May we celebrate anew this indescribable gift that we have been given in our Lord Jesus Christ - a gift that those of old could not fully imagine and only longed for!
Read 1 Peter 1:10-12 and Matthew 13:17
Both the prophets of old and even angels looked ahead with hope and expectation to such a day and time of Christ's provision. May we consider the blessings of this gift in Christ -
Read Ephesians 1:3-9
You have been chosen, adopted, and forgiven. We have the provision and resources of heaven available to us! We have been given spiritual understanding to accomplish His purposes.
Read 1 Peter 2:9-12
In Christ we are a royal priesthood, citizens not of this world, but of heaven. Let us live in such a way that we help point others to Christ.
Read Hebrews 10:19-24
We are blessed with such access to our loving heavenly father – may we take full advantage of this privilege!
Have a blessed day!
Derek Triggs
March 22, 2020
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Greetings on this Lord's Day – the day that we celebrate the resurrection, victory and hope that is ours in and through Christ! Let us celebrate together with family around the Word and prayer.
Let's read the words of David in Psalm 63:1-8.
May that be our testimony! Like David, let us have a new thirst for the Lord, both day and night. May we cling to our Lord in this time!
Take new comfort in the words of the Psalmist...
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." ~ Psalm 46:10
I encourage you as the body of Christ to respond to Paul's plea to the Church in 1 Timothy 2:1-6 and Romans 13:1-2.
Let us pray for our leaders, that God direct them for His purposes. Let us acknowledge that God continues to work out His purposes through earthly authorities, whether with them or in spite of them. May we continue to pray for the salvation of our leaders as well as family and friends, that they would realize their need for the Lord in their life.
Please know that you remain in our thoughts and prayers. We love you all!
Derek Triggs
Let's read the words of David in Psalm 63:1-8.
May that be our testimony! Like David, let us have a new thirst for the Lord, both day and night. May we cling to our Lord in this time!
Take new comfort in the words of the Psalmist...
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." ~ Psalm 46:10
I encourage you as the body of Christ to respond to Paul's plea to the Church in 1 Timothy 2:1-6 and Romans 13:1-2.
Let us pray for our leaders, that God direct them for His purposes. Let us acknowledge that God continues to work out His purposes through earthly authorities, whether with them or in spite of them. May we continue to pray for the salvation of our leaders as well as family and friends, that they would realize their need for the Lord in their life.
Please know that you remain in our thoughts and prayers. We love you all!
Derek Triggs
March 21, 2020
Psalm 62:5-8
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
March 20, 2020
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"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." ~ Hebrews 11:1 & 6
Now is the perfect opportunity to tell people about the hope that is ours in and through Christ! Do those you love know such faith? Let us truly seek the Lord in this time.
I'm reminded of what was said of Abraham –
"By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." ~ Hebrews 11:9 & 10
Through faith may we know the hope of such a city - what a reunion that will be!
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Let us comfort others.
"Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:50-53
We will be changed! Let us take comfort in Jesus' words.
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." ~ John 14:1-3
May God bless you today!
Derek Triggs
Now is the perfect opportunity to tell people about the hope that is ours in and through Christ! Do those you love know such faith? Let us truly seek the Lord in this time.
I'm reminded of what was said of Abraham –
"By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." ~ Hebrews 11:9 & 10
Through faith may we know the hope of such a city - what a reunion that will be!
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Let us comfort others.
"Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:50-53
We will be changed! Let us take comfort in Jesus' words.
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." ~ John 14:1-3
May God bless you today!
Derek Triggs
March 19, 2020
May we take comfort in the words of David as we worship our Lord –
1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
~ Psalm 23
Let us continue to be still and remember to look to our Lord in this time, celebrating the intimate relationship we can have with Him and all that He means in our life today.
May we seek Him anew:
Let us walk in step with the Spirit that our Lord may guide and protect in every decision.
Please know that you and your family remain in our thoughts and prayers. May the Lord richly bless you today with His love and goodness!
Derek Triggs
1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
~ Psalm 23
Let us continue to be still and remember to look to our Lord in this time, celebrating the intimate relationship we can have with Him and all that He means in our life today.
May we seek Him anew:
- That we not be in want
- That He might lead and direct our steps
- That we might have peace and rest in His presence
- That our lives might bring Him glory and honor today
- That no matter what we may walk through today, we don't walk alone
Let us walk in step with the Spirit that our Lord may guide and protect in every decision.
Please know that you and your family remain in our thoughts and prayers. May the Lord richly bless you today with His love and goodness!
Derek Triggs