Note for 20250927 - End Of “I” (By Phillip)
Daily Devotional
Note for 20250927 - End Of “I” (By Phillip)
1. Opening
There are a few ways in which you can partake in the Daily Devotional:
We are to receive the Word of GOD by the Spirit, so I strongly urge you to pray before you receive the Devotional. Let Christ take the lead in your Spiritual Development.
Introduction
Good morning, friends, or whatever greeting fits when you receive this.
To start off: the title of this message was given to me last week Sunday already, and I spent the whole week waiting on the Lord for when I could write it. I was not given the go-ahead until this morning, on my Sabbath, when God permitted me to write to you.
This teaching, I warn you, cuts ever so slightly deep to the bone. In this world it is different to look at yourself rather than at other people. It is difficult to find fault in our own actions rather than in the actions of others. Usually, when we see someone do something that brings out anger in us, it’s that very thing in us that we are angry at.
This was just the prep work before we begin. Let us now go and be quiet before the Lord.
2. Scripture with Devotional Reflection
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (KJV)
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
As we read here in 1 Corinthians, we are not our own. You see, it has become the norm in this world to “own your body,” you know — all those self-help people who declare, “Become the best you that you can be.” The problem is that the best “you” that you can be is still guilty.
It is only through the price that Christ Jesus paid on that cross that the guilty verdict on us is removed and replaced by the word “Forgiven.” God’s law states clearly that the penalty for sin is death.
We can stand in rebellion against the Word of God (which means we are guilty), or we can accept the Word of God and lay ourselves down before the throne. Like this:
Romans 12:1 (KJV)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Now you see, some would read this and the question in their hearts would be “But how?”
When you are out in public — striking up a conversation with someone in the shops, at the petrol station getting fuel, or on that late-night cold drink run — you have that moment to lay yourself down and declare Jesus to someone (if you are led to do so).
A living sacrifice before the throne means you put your needs aside and give yourself to God so He can do with you as He pleases. Because if you are not given over to God, then you are given over to this world.
And being given over to this world, you might see some stuff. Your day-to-day life may become stress-free, you might see things fall in your favor quite often, and you might even see massive prosperity. You see, this world can bless you too, because as long as you are given over to this world, the message God has written on the walls of your heart will never get spoken.
God can bless you exceedingly and above all expectation — but God’s blessing looks a little different. You won’t have the Ferrari if that Ferrari will take you away from Him. But if it won’t, indeed that car might stand in your driveway as a physical reminder of God’s mercy for you. And then you can be certain that very car will be used to minister. Because God works with purpose — nothing He does is “just for fun.”
Let’s look at this a little deeper:
2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV)
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
Before the world began — that’s crazy to think about! Every step you take, every breath you breathe was given and ordained by God.
When we hold this Scripture in our hearts and can declare it truthfully, it is where “I” ends and God begins. When our lives are handed over to God, it is with the full knowledge that they weren’t ours to begin with.
And the moment we accept that, even our speech changes. Go and speak to a believer who truly walks a road with God and see how long it takes before the conversation turns to God.
I confess here before you: when my mentor and I speak, the most worldly thing we say is the “hello, how are you” when we see each other — other than that, it’s all about God. Because that’s who it’s about. It’s not about us. None of this is. Yet we have self-inserted into a lot of things — it’s part of the human condition where we find ourselves in this moment.
Luke 14:8–10 (KJV)
“When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.”
You see, God has a plan for each and every one of us — and His plan is perfect for us.
I want you to understand something: everything God is doing is for us — from His Son on the cross to the destruction of their world (yes, their world, not ours).
There are so many times in life where this very choice in Luke 14 is spoken about. I want you to think about this from a Father’s perspective. You all know God wants what’s best for us. So when this choice of where we sit comes, God is testing our hearts to make sure His Word is rooting deeper and deeper into us.
Because we are children of God, are we not? God’s Word declares it so beautifully. But if we can humble ourselves in this world — where the portion God has given us is enough, where we become thankful for just drawing breath, where the fear of the Lord is our greatest strength — then we have truly followed The Way.
The beautiful thing is we follow The Way in a spiritual sense first. Because we lay ourselves down in the grave — the end of “I” — and are resurrected in a new man.
When someone from the world gets saved, all their worldly friends disappear. God willing, some actually follow them to Christ, but for the most part the world has their heart, so the world will take them.
When you become God’s child (who you always were, you just needed to accept it), you die in their eyes; you are dead to them. For them it is like attending a funeral.
.
3. Verse of the Day
From the YouVersion Bible App
Ezekiel 36:26 King James Version (KJV)
4. Closing Paragraph
So, friends, in closing this morning: I pray this sits in your heart, that you can truly understand God’s heart for you — to die to this world. That your heart not be of this place anymore, that the end of “I” ends in the Living Water, and that who comes out is a Spirit-filled one of God.
Because His plans for us are beautiful; they are perfect. But as long as the “I” in the mirror is god, then God has no place in your life.
I know these are harsh words, but we live in harsh times. Rather harsh words from one who cares for you than the words this world would have you believe.
Written by the hand of a servant of God
Son of David
Selah. Shalom
5. Resources
Playlists:
Find all playlists compiled on SoundCloud (and feel free to share with your loved ones.)
Find playlists at: https://soundcloud.com/houseofbread4u/sets
NEW: Download Music
We have added the ability for you to download the music you heard in the devotionals. You can listen to the song before hitting the “Download” button to know it is the right song you wanted. For now at least, these are free downloads and my hope is that I can keep it free. Enjoy!
Link: https://music.thehouseofbread.co.za/index.php
Radio Stations:
House of Bread Music Radio App
Download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.houseofbreadmusic
The Stern Watch Radio App
Download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.sternwatch
Or scan the QR Code below
Brought to you by ministry
Comments
Post a Comment
All comments are moderated for the sake of younger and sensitive readers. For debates, please request Discord Server details.