Alpha Hour Archives - MIDNIGHT PRAYER TROOPS

Daily Devotional “Reproving Sinful Conduct”

Daily Devotional “Reproving Sinful Conduct”
Be different!
November 03, 2023

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“All Scripture is . . . profitable for . . . reproof” (2 Timothy. 3:16).

People who aren’t interested in holy living will avoid being exposed to sound doctrine.

Paul instructed Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy. 4:2).

He knew a time was coming when many people would reject sound doctrine, and “wanting to have their ears tickled, [would] accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and . . . turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths” (vv. 3-4).

That’s certainly true of our day. Many who profess to love Christ seem intolerant of His Word.

Often they fall into spiritual complacency and surround themselves with teachers who tell them exactly what they want to hear.

If they can’t find a comfortable message, they drift from church to church or simply abandon it altogether.

Such people have exchanged conviction for comfort, and need to examine themselves to see if they are genuine believers (2 Corinthians. 13:5).

Their attitude toward the Word is in stark contrast to those who truly love Christ and come to the Word with an earnest desire to learn its truths and live accordingly.

But even true believers can fall into the trap of negligence and compromise.

Perhaps you’ve noticed how sinning Christians often try to avoid exposure to God’s Word.

Sometimes they’ll temporarily stop attending church or Bible studies.

They also try to avoid other believers—especially those who will hold them accountable to what they know to be true.

But like any loving parent, God won’t allow His children to remain in sin for long without disciplining them (Hebrews. 12:5-11).

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Sooner or later they must repent and be reconciled to Him.

An important element in reconciling sinning Christians to God is the faithful prayers of other believers.

God may choose to use you in that way, so always be ready to pray, and eager to restore others in a spirit of gentleness (Galatians. 6:1).

Prayer

Do you know a Christian who is being disobedient to God’s Word? If so, ask God to bring him or her to repentance. Assure the person of your prayers and concern, and be available to be further used in the restoration process if the Lord wills.

Daily Devotional “The Prerequisites for Cleansing”

Daily Devotional “The Prerequisites for Cleansing”
Be different!
October 18, 2023

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“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Continuous confession characterizes Christians.

We’ve learnt sometime past, that the only condition for receiving God’s gracious forgiveness is to “walk in the light”—in other words, to be a true Christian (1 John 1:7).

At first glance, today’s verse appears to contradict that truth by adding a condition—namely, confession of sin.

Such is not the case, however. First John 1:9 could be translated, “If we are the ones confessing our sins, He is forgiving us.”

This verse looks at salvation from man’s perspective and defines Christians as those who are continually confessing their sins.

Confession, like saving faith, is not a one-time act but a continuous pattern throughout our lives.

What is confession? The Greek word means “to say the same thing.”

Confession, then, is agreeing with God about our sin.

Confession affirms that God is just when He chastens us for our sins.

It also restores us to the place of His blessing—something He is always “faithful” to do.

Proverbs 28:13 reinforces that truth, promising that “he who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”

Some may question how a holy God can be “righteous” and still forgive sins.

John has already answered that by noting in verse 7 that forgiveness comes through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul declares that “God displayed [Christ] publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith . . . for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans. 3:25-26).

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True confession involves sorrow because sin has offended God (2 Corinthians. 7:10)—not mere remorse because of its negative consequences in one’s life (as was the case with Saul [1 Samuel. 15:24] and Judas [Matthew. 27:3]).

It also involves repentance—turning away from sin and no longer embracing it (cf. Acts 19:18-19; 1 Thessalonians. 1:9).

Is there a sin you’ve been clinging to? If so, confess and forsake it today, and experience God’s blessed forgiveness.

Prayer

Praise God for being “good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon [Him]” (Psalm. 86:5).

Daily Devotional “God’s Self-Disclosure”

Daily Devotional “God’s Self-Disclosure”
Be different!
October 17, 2023

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“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son” (Hebrews. 1:1-2).

Scripture is the storehouse of divine revelation.

For decades liberal theologians have misrepresented the Bible as merely a collection of man’s religious thoughts and aspirations.

But Scripture is much more than that. It is in fact divine revelation—God’s self disclosure through His Spirit to the human authors.

Man could never know God’s identity, attributes, perspectives, or commands if God hadn’t revealed them to him.

Nor could man know his own origin, purpose, or destiny.

Paul said, “‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.’

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians. 2:9-10).

In 2 Timothy 3:16 he adds, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”

God inspired every word of Scripture and speaks on every page.

Hebrews 1 speaks of two general means by which God revealed Himself: Old Testament revelation (“long ago,” v. 1) and New Testament revelation (“in His Son,” v. 2).

First He spoke to the Jewish fathers through the Old Testament prophets “in many portions.”

That refers to all the books of the Old Testament. “In many ways” speaks of the specific means by which He communicated: visions, prophecies, parables, types, symbols, ceremonies, theophanies, and audible voice.

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From the close of the Old Testament to the arrival of John the Baptist, there were approximately 400 years during which God was silent.

But that silence was shattered when John announced the coming of Christ.

From that time on, God spoke through His Son. The gospels record His life and teachings, the book of Acts shows the propagation of His teachings through the apostles and early church, the epistles apply His teachings to everyday life, and Revelation tells of His triumphant return and the consummation of divine revelation.

Isn’t it wonderful to know God’s perspective on life and history?

Prayer

Thank God that His Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm. 119:105).