What is your Giants
Author: Pat Aman

Let’s take a moment to talk about giants that we may have in our lives.

Sometimes we let things overwhelm us and we do not let God take care of them.

I wonder if David even felt afraid for just a second of the Philistine giant, Goliath, in his life. Goliath who was three to four times the height of David. He was wearing at least 278 pounds of Armor besides his own big body which could have weighed 400-600 pounds, being well over 13 feet tall. He wore a bronze helmet, bronze leg plates, and a bronze javelined was strapped to his back. In his huge hand, he carried a spear. The point alone possibly weighed about twenty pounds. Goliath had a armor barrier who bare his shield that walked before him.

Goliath told David to come here and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with a sword, spear and javelin, but I come in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

1 Samuel 17:44. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!
Before this, young David had taken his staff in hand, stooped down, and picked up five smooth stones and placed them in a pouch.
1 Samuel 17:40. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
With a Shepherd’s staff in one hand and a sling in the other he approached the giant. With one stone He flung the stone, it hit Goliath in the head and killed him.

The key to this scripture is He came in the name of the Lord.

What are the giants in your life?

How can God help you overcome them?

I believe it is good not only to pray, but to turn to His Word for the answers. There are directions and power in prayer and God’s Word.

Whatever these giants are in our lives, we must not run from them. We must face them head-on as David did with Goliath. Put on your spiritual armor and stand firm, unafraid, trusting God for strength.

The exciting thing about all this is when we put on the full armor of God and obey Him, then we can stand back, call TIMBERRRR– and watch the giant fall!

“God has given us the armor to dress in daily. So put it on and watch the giants in your life fall.” Pastor Pat Aman

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

1. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
2. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
3. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
4. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
   15.and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
5. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
6. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
7. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2020 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” and Christian Faith Publishers ….

Church in Philadelphia
Author: Pat Aman…

““To the angel of the ““To the angel of the church in Philadelphia So He promises the faithful church, first of all, the door is open to salvation and the Kingdom, the door is open to blessing, and the door is open to opportunity for service and evangelism write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:7-13‬ ‭

Philadelphia is written to a church that needs no warning, that needs no chastening, that needs no threatening because here you have a true church. Two of the seven churches have nothing condemning them in the letter because they are the regenerate church. The church at Smyrna, the church at Philadelphia were faithful, godly, loyal, effective. And we see these two churches as the models throughout all of church history of good, solid, regenerate, faithful churches.
I don’t want to make a point that really isn’t here, but it does strike me that the blood-bought, redeemed, saved church is in a chaotic mixture. Did you notice that? Only two out of seven – only two out of seven were completely faithful. Now, if that’s some kind of a typical percentage, then the weak, sinful church is the more common church. But this church is a blessing. Let’s read the letter.

Here He encourages the Philadelphia folks by saying, “I am absolutely holy, and I put a premium on truth, and my holiness and my truth have scrutinized you, and there is nothing to condemn.” And that poses the reality for me and for all of us that it is possible for a church, a human church, a church with people like us, to be looked at by the holy One and the true One and to be commended. And while we want to admit that we are human and that we fail and we struggle and we sin, we must see in this the graciousness of our God and of our Lord to see in us something to be commended.

I think again sometimes we assume that the Lord is never happy with any of His churches. Not so. There’s no such thing as a perfect church because there’s no such thing as a perfect person, and if there’s not even one perfect person, then every church is an assembly of a whole lot of imperfect people. So the problem is significantly compounded.
But it is possible, it is within the realm of reason and biblical revelation to assume that the Lord can look at a church and feel like it is worth celebrating. How encouraging. He introduces Himself as the One who can unlock the treasure house, and by His sovereign authority and His sovereign power, open up its riches to those He chooses. He has the key to all the riches, and He will dispense them at His own discretion. There’s a note of sovereignty in this, by the way. There goes along with that authority a certain amount of sovereignty. He can determine who gets into the treasure house to experience the blessings.

This little group had some power. They may have been few in number, most likely were; probably poor; probably low class; probably general, run-of-the-mill, undistinguished citizenry.

This was a saved church. These people obeyed the Lord.

So He promises the faithful church, first of all, the door is open to salvation and the Kingdom, the door is open to blessing, and the door is open to opportunity for service and evangelism.

Tonight let each of us be the kind of saints as the church in Philadelphia.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2020, “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson So He promises the faithful church, first of all, the door is open to salvation and the Kingdom, the door is open to blessing, and the door is open to opportunity for service and evangelism write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:7-13‬ ‭

Philadelphia is written to a church that needs no warning, that needs no chastening, that needs no threatening because here you have a true church. Two of the seven churches have nothing condemning them in the letter because they are the regenerate church. The church at Smyrna, the church at Philadelphia were faithful, godly, loyal, effective. And we see these two churches as the models throughout all of church history of good, solid, regenerate, faithful churches.
I don’t want to make a point that really isn’t here, but it does strike me that the blood-bought, redeemed, saved church is in a chaotic mixture. Did you notice that? Only two out of seven – only two out of seven were completely faithful. Now, if that’s some kind of a typical percentage, then the weak, sinful church is the more common church. But this church is a blessing. Let’s read the letter.

Here He encourages the Philadelphia folks by saying, “I am absolutely holy, and I put a premium on truth, and my holiness and my truth have scrutinized you, and there is nothing to condemn.” And that poses the reality for me and for all of us that it is possible for a church, a human church, a church with people like us, to be looked at by the holy One and the true One and to be commended. And while we want to admit that we are human and that we fail and we struggle and we sin, we must see in this the graciousness of our God and of our Lord to see in us something to be commended.

I think again sometimes we assume that the Lord is never happy with any of His churches. Not so. There’s no such thing as a perfect church because there’s no such thing as a perfect person, and if there’s not even one perfect person, then every church is an assembly of a whole lot of imperfect people. So the problem is significantly compounded.
But it is possible, it is within the realm of reason and biblical revelation to assume that the Lord can look at a church and feel like it is worth celebrating. How encouraging. He introduces Himself as the One who can unlock the treasure house, and by His sovereign authority and His sovereign power, open up its riches to those He chooses. He has the key to all the riches, and He will dispense them at His own discretion. There’s a note of sovereignty in this, by the way. There goes along with that authority a certain amount of sovereignty. He can determine who gets into the treasure house to experience the blessings.

This little group had some power. They may have been few in number, most likely were; probably poor; probably low class; probably general, run-of-the-mill, undistinguished citizenry.

This was a saved church. These people obeyed the Lord.

So He promises the faithful church, first of all, the door is open to salvation and the Kingdom, the door is open to blessing, and the door is open to opportunity for service and evangelism.

Tonight let each of us be the kind of saints as the church in Philadelphia.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2020, “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson

Church in Thyatira
Author: Pat Aman…

““To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’ —just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:18-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The church at Thyatira was due to them compromising with sin within the church. Thyatira was a church that became corrupt from within. There was a sickness in the church which could only be cured from that of true repentance and real identification and genuine forsaking of the sin and a putting on of purity. Don’t forget that these were real churches with real people facing real problems and spiritual opposition just like we do today. So this is very relevant to our lives.

Thyatira was well-known for a couple of things. It was famous for its dyeing industry and was a centre of the indigo trade, purple cloth was very expensive in those times. (In Acts 16 Paul met a woman called Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth who came from Thyatira). It was famous for its coppersmiths and also for its many trade-guilds.

Unlike some of the other cities around, the church in Thyatira hadn’t suffered a lot of persecution from either the Roman authorities or the Jews.

So why in our letter does Jesus seem to be so harsh with them?

Here is the problem. Thyatira was a city of craftsmen and merchants. The major problem for the church was posed by the many trade guilds in the city. Guilds had a patron god; the local god of Thyatira, a representation of Apollo, probably served that purpose. The feasts of the guilds were held in a temple and were viewed as religious occasions; the meat was offered to one of the gods. The participators shared it with him, and the occasions frequently ended in debauchery.

How could Christians participate in such meetings?

Then against that background, Jesus says this… I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching, she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

Jezebel is probably not an individual but a symbolic name. Jesus is referencing King Ahab’s, Queen Jezebel. In 1 Kings, a book in the Old Testament Queen Jezebel led Led King Ahab astray and tempted him into worshipping false Gods, and he, in turn, led his people into worshipping false idols.

So that is the problem. It’s just like your Parents and mine always said. “Birds of a feather flock together. Or you become like those you hang about with, and that is not always good, depending who you hang around with.”

Was it only me who had a Parents who worried about who I hung around with? I distinctly remember parents saying, “there will be consequences you will get yourself into trouble if you do not stand up for yourself and your beliefs. “

That is the warning that Jesus is giving. He is saying to that church, I know the guilds you hang around in I know how they influence and tempt you into worshipping idols. There will be consequences.

We might think that’s OK we don’t worship other gods. There is no Jezebel tempting us into going the wrong way. But is there?

What is it that we put before God? Isn’t anything we put above Jesus an idol?

Who do we allow to influence us?

When Jesus says we should welcome the stranger and protect the widows, and orphans it seems obvious.

When Jesus says love your neighbour is up there with loving God, of course, we want to do that. But when society says to look after number one, where do we take our lead from?

Maybe Jesus warning to Thyatira is more relevant to us today two thousand years later than we would like to admit.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2020, “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson

The Church In Pergamum
Author: Pat Aman…

““To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” Revelation‬ ‭2:12-17‬ ‭

Satan has often used two ways to render the church powerless. The first is that he persecutes the church and the second is he seduces the church.

Most often, at least with true believers, persecution has back fired on the Devil and made the church much stronger and purer. Like a fire melting away the dross and refining metal, the church is often made purer.

It means something to be a Christian in places where it cost you. Would we remain faithful to Christ if being a Christian meant you would be unemployed, live in poverty, and chased down?

Satan’s other way is more subtle and often much more effective, he doesn’t attack us from without but he lulls us to sleep from within. He gets us off track and switches the real gospel with a false gospel; he tricks us into thinking that there are other things as important as serving Christ and loving the lost. . He gets us to believe that holiness is an option and that a true commitment to Christ is too radical and weird. He seduces us as we sometimes might think sin is not all that bad. He wants us to think that we can have the best of both worlds. He says you can have Christ and all that the world has to offer as well. Look around, he says, every other church is doing it. Because of our sinful nature and the desires of our flesh we take the bait and swallow the lie hook line and sinker. We often forget,

James 4:4 (ESV)You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Unfortunately with the church suffering had not perfected it but had caused it to give in, a little here and a little there. Oh they still considered themselves Christian but they were not the pure church that the Lord wanted them to be. They had allowed compromise to remain within the church. While this compromise was in some respect doctrinal it was mainly in holiness. This church upheld the name of Christ and faith in Christ but compromised its commitment to Christ. The church told the truth with it’s lips but lied with it’s life.

Are you living and worshipping in a compromise church?

How about your personal relationship with God, are you living a compromised life?

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2030, “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson

Church In Smyrna
Author:Pat Aman

““To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:8-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Christians in Smyrna were not wealthy. They were not of high society. They couldn’t afford a big, beautiful buildings that would attract attention in Smyrna and give them a respectable place in their community. They had absolutely nothing but their faithful lives to enticed people to join. They couldn’t afford to take off work to get things done at the church. They couldn’t afford education. They had pressing bills at home. Poverty presents its own bundle of dilemmas that includes feelings of insignificance, inferiority, and depression. Life wasn’t easy for the Christians in Smyrna. And yet… they had found true LIFE! They had found a peace that surpasses understanding! They had a deeper purpose for living than just getting by, serving their earthly masters, and living out their days. They had found the ultimate reason for living! A sure hope for their future! This earthly life had no meaning for them they were headed for a better place! They had far greater riches than the wealthiest of the wealthy! They had a far greater standing with the One who directs the highest society! They were rich even beyond what they could fathom

Jesus calls them to remain faithful in their suffering: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life”. Here, a specific crown is mentioned for those who die as a result of suffering for Christ. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Jesus makes a final promise to the believers in Smyrna: “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” Revelation2:11

The overcomers, or “conquerors,” refer to all believers 1 John 5:4-5.

The second death is a reference to the final judgment of the wicked

Believers will not be hurt “at all” by that judgment; their sin was judged at the cross, and, in Christ, there is no more condemnation. Romans 8:1

So, again we see the promises of living a Godly life. Not giving into carnally, and every lasting judgement. But the blessings of our Father God…

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2020 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” and Westbow a division of Thomas/Nelson

Church In Ephesus
Author: Pat Aman

““To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:1-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When we are first saved, we are on fire…And this is quite natural to have an excitement and zeal for learning and living by God’s instructions.

But as time goes by, just like the smell of a new car, our excitement starts to decline. Our excitement for God can fade or dissipate. Maybe because we are in a church congregation that does not teach us about life, or building one another up in prayer. Even the Pastor and other members are in a sluggish routine and has fallen into the same trap. Maybe we get slack in prayer time and Bible study. Maybe we let life’s ups and downs take us away from assembling together with other Christians.

What apparently happened to these members at Ephesus was that over time, they began drifting away from God. Christ told them that they needed to “repent and do the first works” if they wanted to remain a part of the Church of God (Revelation 2:5).

We must remember that God will remove any and all candlesticks in our lives that we put before Him. Anything that becomes an altar of self indulgence, and removes God from our lives.

Just as God told the Church In Ephesus to get back to Him, and the ministry set before them, we must do the same.
Return to God our first love.

God bless you,
Pat

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2020 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” and Christian Faith Publishers ….
Study Notes: The NKJB

I am going to take the next seven nights and talk about seven churches in Revelations. “which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Letter to the Church of Sardis
Author: Pat Aman…

Rev 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

1 These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

What is our Lord saying to the church at Sardis, and through them, to us?

The diagnosis was spiritual death. But resuscitation was possible.

Is your Christian walk lively? Or have you become stuck in a rut? Are you
going through the motions, or are you excited about going to church, reading God’s word, conversing with your Heavenly Father?

Once upon a time, most of us were excited about our faith. But eventually,
it usually becomes “old” to us. How can we revive it? Try something fresh.

If you usually prefer traditional worship, give one contemporary service a try. You may not want to attend all the time, but it could quick start your faith excitement. It speaks to people in the vernacular – just as Jesus did. Try a new version of the Bible. Oh boy, I hit a rock there.

Remember, even the King James was translated by men, from the original
transcripts, so do not let yourself fall into not reading the newer translations.

Read a new (to you) Christian author, or revisit an old one that inspired you.

Get involved in service. That’s God’s intent for us, and we aren’t complete spiritually, if we are not using the gifts He has abundantly blessed us with.

And pray, pray, pray. God wants you to have a lively faith walk. But be careful what you ask for; you will get it! He may drop you out of your comfort zone.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2020 “Coffee With Pat
Daily Devotionals” and Christian Faith Publishers
Study Notes: The New King James Bible

Are You Being Deceived?
Author: Pat Aman..

Matthew 24 says, “For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and they shall show great signs and wonders. Insomuch that If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

This verse shows it is the reason that each of us should stay in the Word.

Before I make my point in this devotional let me say, I know we are having to live stream our church services during this time of crisis and that is wonderful.

With the technology we have today God’s Word is being preached around the world, and many souls have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

But, I hear people constantly saying that they are watching difference ministers on every iPad, computer, iPhone, Comcast hour after hour.

Every time I turn around they are sharing with me something that they have heard from ministers somewhere.

They can even quote the message word for word. They are taking every word that is being preached and not even making sure that what they heard is exactly what the Bible says…

But when I ask them to quote a bible verse they have memorized, they cannot do it. When I ask them to tell me a time that they knew God spoke to them, they cannot.

These are the people who are going to get deceived. These are the people who have already been deceived. These are church members, Christian people.

What a sad thing because when they are alone in their homes needing an answer for direction, and needing to hear the voice of God, I promise you a on line minister will not be there for you, but God and His Holy Word, the Bible will be…

We need to turn the off the electronic devices and get the Bible down from the shelf, open it and see what God has to say to us.

The Word of God is what Jesus used to defeat Satan in the wilderness and the Word of God is what will help defeat Satan in our lives.

The Word of God is what will teach us, so that we will not be deceived by false prophets.

Today make a choice to change your life and your circumstances.

Open the Book – God’s Road map…Your sword…

Just as Apostle Paul taught Timothy, Bible study and prayer time is important in helping to keep us strong.

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

We must remember 2 Timothy 2:15 is not just a command to study the Bible, being an approved workman involves much more. Paul wanted Timothy to understand that to be a workman that God could approve, he would have to be diligent in his service to God. God is not the kind of Master that accepts shoddy work! By earnestly applying himself in service, Timothy would not need to be ashamed as he stood before God in the day of judgment.

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Remember, Satan himself knows the Bible and quotes it to deceive you. Please study so you will know when you are being deceived

Love, Prayers and Blessings
Pastor Pat

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2020 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” and Christian Faith Publishers ….

Faith to Risk, Trust, and Surrender
Author: Pat Aman

I want us to look at Abraham.

I could go on a different direction with Abraham, but I think today I will talk about three areas he was tested.

Abraham’s ability was tested in three areas of faith; faith to risk, faith to trust, and faith to surrender.

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your
country, from your family, and from your father’s house. To a land that I
will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you, and make your name great; I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of earth shall be blessed.”

1. Faith to risk. Abraham already had land and prosperity. He was
   settled. But God had greater things for him to do. Abraham had to take a
   step of faith. He had to risk losing or giving up all he had so God could
   bless him more. He had to have the faith to risk, so he could gain.
2. Faith to trust. That meant he had to totally put all his trust in
   the word of God. He could not look back, or at the present. He could not
   worry over what had been or will be. He had to put his future in the
   hands of God.
3. Faith to surrender. This meant he had to surrender his will, wants,
   likes, his total life and being to the plan God had for him. He had to
   say. “God I surrender all to you. I give you my everything. Now take me and mold me and my family to what you want us to be. Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes. Hard words to say.He surrender his all, and put his trust in God and risk losing everything to gain.

Abraham is the father of faith, and the faithful. Thought his life,
faith is exemplified. From this “friend of God”. James 2:23 says, “And
the scripture was fulfilled which says,”Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.”

We learn that faith is not perfect character or integrity. Rather, it
is simply taking God at His word. By doing do, Abraham became the model of faith for the believer. His life demonstrates how we benefit from believing what God says despite evidence to the contrary.

Remember, do not fear when God’s direction takes a turn you do not
understand. He knows what He is doing.

Believe God’s promises to you. He knows how to bring them to pass although you may not.

Avoid striving to fulfill God’s promises by yourself. Doing so always backfires and produces undesired results.

Trust that God will provide as He promises. His nature is to provide.

And last but not lest. God’s provision are strategically located
along the pathway of faithful obedience.

Blessings, Love and Prayers
Pastor Pat

(Proverbs 17:22)”A Merry Heart Does Good, Like Medicine, But A Broken Spirit Dries The Bones

This devotion is a 1989-2020 © WestBow/Thomas-Nelson and Patricia Aman

After being out of the state for about 15 days, I have had a time getting over the exhaustion of travel and bronchitis. It has taken me just as long to recuperate as it did the traveling time.

I realized it is time to go before my Father God in prayer and resting. It is time to be anointed in a new oil. A refreshing of the Holy Spirit.

I Am Emptying My Alabaster Box
Author: Patricia Aman

Have you ever just felt like throwing your hands up and screaming? If you say NO, I will pray for you because we all have felt this way at sometimes in our life. There are times like these when we need to have a Mary Heart. We need to go and pour ourselves out at the feet of Jesus.

As I think of Mary anointing Jesus feet. She once was a broken person, but, Jesus touched her. Because Jesus had touched her and gave her a new life, the Holy Spirit spoke her to anoint Jesus, preparing Him for the steps He would soon take to walk the Road to Calvary.

I love the story of Jesus, Mary and the Alabaster Box.

I often tell people, “do not judge others by what you see, because you do not know what is in their Alabaster Box!” Quote: Pat Aman

She broke a box of ointment and poured it on Jesus. This ointment was valued at 300 pence. Pence was the daily wage of the average worker. Therefore, in modern terms, it was worth about $15,000.00.

This spikenard was produced from a rare plant that grew in India. It was very expensive, and many people saved for years to be able to provide this for their own funeral preparations. However, this woman, poured it out on the Lord Jesus.

A lot of preachers teach about how expenses the oil/perfume cost. Others teach that it meant Mary was giving her best, her all. But, I think of it this way. ‘What was really in Mary’s Alabaster Box?

I like to imagine that as she broke the vessel so that she might extract every drop of ointment for use on the Lord Jesus, she was also showing Jesus every broken part of herself.

The vessel was her broken life, filled with the oil of all the hurts, sorrow, jealousy, hatred, disappointments and even happiness that she had experienced. Yes, she had paid a great price in her life, the way she had lived, but, Jesus only saw the broken vessel as clay that He could mold into a beautiful vase. And he did not judge or smell the unpleasant odor of her sins, but the sweet-smelling aroma of her love and her willingness to sacrifice everything to follow her Lord and Savior.

Whatever you may think about when reading this story, Mary gave all she had to Jesus for His glory! She totally opened herself up to Him. She did not try to hide one part of herself.

I wonder have we broken the Alabaster Box of our lives and poured out ourselves, every drop for Him? All the brokenness of our sinful lives.

God is seeking people who have surrendered everything they have, everything they are and everything they hope to be. He is looking for people who will assume the place of servants before Him. He is looking for those who will merely respond when He speaks to them. He is looking for those about whom He can say, “They have done what they could.”

I think of Apostle Paul also when I read this story. In 2 Timothy 4, he says,“6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

I feel that after Mary anointed Jesus, she also, felt the very same way that Paul did.

Are you now ready to break the Alabaster Box of your life? Please right now, open your Alabaster Box to Jesus. He is waiting to pour His glory out on you, as you give glory and honor to Him.

We must all be Mary’s in our worship. We must totally empty our Alabaster Box at the feet of Jesus. Mary did not care what Martha thought. She did not care about what all the men in the room thought. She let her hair down in public, which was totally something a women did not do, and gave her entire worship to her Savior. She poured her heart and soul out. She totally emptied herself.
Sounds like that is what you do also….It is what we all need to do….Not worry what is going on around us, what others may think. It is just about God getting His glory.

Blessings, Love, and Prayers,
Pastor Pat

(Nehemiah 8:10) “The Joy Of The Lord, Is Your Strength.”

(Proverbs 17:22)”A Merry Heart Does Good, Like Medicine, But A Broken Spirit Dries The Bones

This devotion is a 1989-2020 © WestBow/Thomas-Nelson and Patricia Aman
http://coffeewithpat.com