HOW TO SPOT A FALSE TEACHER…

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

2 CORINTHIANS 11:13-15: “These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end, they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.” NLT

OBSERVATION: How do you spot a false teacher? How do you discern the truth from the lie? Do you need a degree in Christian Apologetics to identify what the truth is, or are there some very basic and simple tests that anyone can use?

With the rise of social media, there has been an explosion of preachers and those who claim to be apostles competing for our attention on social platforms through our phones and computers. Each one claims to be proclaiming the truth. Many proclaim to have an inside track on a new and deeper understanding of God’s Word.

Is this something new to our day and age?

No! Paul was warning against false apostles and false teachers just a few decades after Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension. A generation had not even passed, and false teachers were already infiltrating the church. Imagine what they could have done if they had the social media tools we do now!

Now, with the introduction of AI, it is even more challenging to distinguish the true from the false. What used to take a Hollywood producer to manufacture, anyone with a smartphone and an AI app can create something that looks real and can fool even the careful observer. This can give credence and support to the message they are sharing.

What is the average believer to do?

Paul does not leave us hanging. He does not warn us about an issue without giving us the practical wisdom we need to address it. Before Paul’s warning about false teachers, he shows us how they distort the truth. There are three simple tests we can apply to help us discern truth from lies.

“But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

Paul was concerned that the Corinthian believers would be deceived just as Eve was deceived by Satan’s cunning in the Garden of Eden. Paul even warns them that Satan does not come with flames of fire and a pitchfork in hand. Satan comes and poses as an angel of light, so we must have some tangible tests.

THE FIRST TEST: Is the historical Jesus the center of their message?

Is the message of the teacher more about themselves and their faith than about Jesus Christ (come in the flesh, crucified on the cross, risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father)? The centrality of Jesus Christ is the message of a true teacher and the most important test as to whether they are preaching the truth! The enemy will always try to draw one away from the centrality of Jesus Christ!

“So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:21-23 NLT)

THE SECOND TEST: Is the power of the Holy Spirit working through their message?

Paul was afraid that the Corinthians believers were receiving a “different spirit” than the one they had received. It is easy to substitute emotional manipulation or activity for the moving of the Holy Spirit. Yet, Jesus was clear on how to distinguish a false spirit from the Spirit of God. It is not in what is happening in the externals of life that determines the move of the Spirit of God. It is what is happening in the hearts of men and women as they hear God’s Word. The Holy Spirit will not simply manipulate our circumstances – He will change our hearts!

“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. [Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.” (John 16:8-11 NLT)

THE THIRD TEST: Are they preaching the True Gospel of Jesus Christ?

The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is – Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. It is salvation by grace through faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ. It does not demand adherence to the Law or any manmade set of rules or expectations. It is not earned by “sowing a seed” into the preacher’s ministry or any other action. It is the FREE GIFT of God, PERIOD! Anything that makes it Jesus + (fill in the blank) is another gospel and not the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

True preachers do not condemn the sinner, but neither do they excuse the sin. They preach the whole counsel of God’s Word. Sin is called sin, and the only remedy for sin and death is the Cross of Christ. Jesus is always the focal point of a true teacher. They do not focus on money. They are not concerned with position. They are only concerned with proclaiming the truth and seeing souls saved by the wonderful grace of God! Paul warns all those who would preach a different Gospel.

“Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9)

There will always be false teachers and apostles trying to draw away the faithful from the truth of the Gospel. God, in His faithfulness, and through the ministry of His true Apostles, has given us these three simple tests. We should apply them regularly, lest we too be drawn away from the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.

1. Are they preaching the historical Christ?

Jesus, God born into this world as a human, living a sinless life, bearing our sins on the cross, dying in our place, defeating sin and death by rising from the dead, ascending victoriously into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father.

2. Are they preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit?

Are lives being transformed? Are people being convicted of their sin and turning to Jesus? Are they being empowered to live a godly life, and are they walking in victory over the power of the enemy?

3. Are they preaching the True Gospel?

Is it the message of faith once and for all delivered to the saints, the whole counsel of God’s Word, a faithful proclamation of the Cross, an invitation to be saved by grace through faith alone, apart from works?

Heavenly Father, give me a discerning heart. Help me to apply these three tests to what I hear and also to what I teach. May everything I do be to proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified – PERIOD!

In Jesus’ Name!

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DON’T MISS THE MIRACLE! (All Things Are Possible To Him Who Believes!)

Posted on June 13, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

2 KINGS 7:17B-20: “…So everything happened exactly as the man of God had predicted when the king came to his house. The man of God had said to the king, “By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost one piece of silver.” The king’s officer had replied, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” And the man of God had said, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” And so it was, for the people trampled him to death at the gate!” NLT

OBSERVATION: Are you facing overwhelming odds? Do you find yourself at the foot of a mountain that is too steep to climb? Have you received some bad news that seems unchangeable…short of a miracle from God? In every situation we face in life, we must always keep the door of our hearts open to the miracle power of God. I don’t want to find myself in the position of the King’s officer when all looks hopeless.

I don’t want to MISS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A MIRACLE!

I remember it like it was yesterday! I was 21 years old. It was a quarter to midnight. I was driving to work the graveyard shift at the Grocery Store where I was employed. I was listening to an “Old Time” Gospel preacher. Not really my style, but for some reason, I was captivated by his message. Then, with a billowing voice, he paused and said…

“IF YOU ONLY BELIEVE YOU WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD!”

It felt like the whole car began to shake. I sensed the presence and power of God. I knew it was time for me to open my heart to a miracle from the hand of God!

2 Kings 7:17-20 is a remarkable summary of a remarkable story. King Jehoram of Israel and the entire city of Samaria were surrounded by King Ben-Hadad of Aram. The army of Syria established a siege so that Samaria would face famine, internal defection, and ultimate death. All the Aramean army had to do was wait.

Everything looked completely hopeless!

This is when Elisha spoke to King Jehoram. Elisha’s words seemed like empty platitudes in the midst of such dire circumstances. Elisha proclaims to the King,

“…Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.” (2 Kings 7:1 NLT)

When our circumstances hem us in, when all looks hopeless, when we cannot see past the fog of our distress, we must always keep our hearts open to hear a message from the Lord! It is in the darkest hours of our lives that we need to listen the most. God will always speak to us. God will always lead us. The question is, how will I receive His word?

When the officer who was assisting the King heard Elisha, God’s proven spokesperson, he replied,

“…That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!…” (2 Kings 7:2 NLT)

While every answer from the Lord is not found in a miracle, the position of the King’s officer closed the door on even the possibility of a miracle. He doubted that God had the power to do such a thing. He believed his doubt and fear more than he believed the word from the Lord.

The rest of the story is an interesting turn of events. God Himself stirs up the Aramean army with fear. They fled, leaving all of their possessions and provisions behind. Four lepers, who were facing certain death, decided to surrender and take their chances with the Arameans. When they arrived at the camp, everyone was gone. They ate, they celebrated, they took some possessions, and then they repented, realizing God’s provision must be shared.

God did what the King’s officer said He could not do. God and God alone routed the enemy and laid all of the provisions for the city of Samaria, just as Elisha had predicted. Everyone in the city was saved and participated in the wonderful provision God had given – except for the King’s officer. Placed at the gate to oversee the hungry mob, the officer was trampled underfoot as the mob desperately rushed to the abandoned Aramean camp.

The King’s officer – MISSED THE MIRACLE!

Some teach that God will always work a miracle in our lives if we have enough faith. Others believe that miracles passed away with the completion of the Canon of Scripture. Neither of these positions stands up to the test of the whole counsel of God’s Word. While God does not always work a miracle in my life, I must always position my heart to believe…

HE IS STILL ABLE TO WORK A MIRACLE!

I must never close the door. I must always position my heart in faith. I must always trust Him, listen to His voice, pore over the pages of Scripture, and realize that with God – ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! I want to be like the four lepers who placed their lives in God’s hands and experienced a miracle. I don’t want to be like the King’s officer who closed the door on even the possibility of a miracle!

However God may choose to meet my needs, it is always His grace, mercy, and power that is at work. If He miraculously removes the mountain in front of me, it is the provision of His powerful hand. If He provides me with climbing equipment and tells me to scale the mountain one step at a time, it is still the provision of His powerful hand. In either circumstance, my heart must always trust God’s Word. I must always believe that…

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM WHO BELIEVES!

Heavenly Father, I don’t want to live like the King’s officer. I want to always keep my heart open to Your miraculous power invading the impossible situations in my life. Paul walked in the confidence of Your Miraculous Power. It was not dependent upon his circumstances but in Your nature. And, so, with the Apostle Paul, I open myself to Your miraculous power and love. I proclaim in faith, as Paul proclaimed,

“We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.“ 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT

In Jesus’ Name!

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MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR A “COMMON SENSE” TOUR!

Posted on May 31, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

PROVERBS 2:7-12: “He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted.”

OBSERVATION: Who should I believe? Who is telling the truth? What is real and what is AI? Should I believe what I see or what I hear? Is there any way to find the truth through all the commotion?

Many believe that the source of truth is found in a political party or in the right cable news station. When I grew up, we had 3 news networks. Today, one cannot even count the sources of news outlets, internet sources, and podcasts that profess to give us the news. To many, this has not made it easier to discern what is true. It has simply muddied the waters.

Discerning truth from error does not start from an external source. It begins with my heart. I must truly desire truth. I must be open to truth. I must have an open and honest heart if I am ever going to receive truth. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, writes…

“He (The Lord) grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.”

Truth cannot be divorced from common sense. If it is true, it will make sense. Truth, although veiled, when revealed, makes sense. When one turns their heart toward the Lord, their spiritual eyes are opened, and what they did not understand becomes crystal clear, and it makes perfect sense.

Solomon pleads with his son,

“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:2-5 NLT)

When we open our hearts to God, when we seek His wisdom, when we concentrate on His understanding, when we hunger for His insight, something wonderful happens. We receive the gift of common sense! We see through all the smoke and mirrors. We begin to discern the truth from the error. We are not caught up in the emotional whirlwind of the world’s pundits.

We are led by the Spirit of God!

“Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted.” (Proverbs 2:9-12 NLT)

Years ago, I did a 10-week series from the Book of Proverbs that I titled “The Common Sense Tour.” I took 10 of the top current cultural issues and looked to the Book of Proverbs for insight. Each week, I would read the entire Book of Proverbs and write down every Scripture that was relevant to this issue. I was amazed by the wisdom and common sense I received as I did this.

In the heated cultural climate we live in, the only way that we can stay grounded and exercise common sense is to cultivate the fear of the Lord in our lives. We fear the Lord as we seek His wisdom, understanding, and truth. As we come to Him with open and honest hearts, He grants us a treasure of common sense. In fact, the Holy Spirit inspired Solomon to write an entire book filled with the common sense we need. It is as relevant today as it was when it was first written.

The wonderful thing about truth is that it never changes. Neither does the nature and condition of man’s heart. The only thing that can change a human heart is the grace of God through faith in the completed sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When we place our complete trust in Jesus, we are born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, and we receive a treasure of common sense!

“When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them, and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” (1 Corinthians 2:13-14)

So, the next time I read that Facebook post, listen to my cable news channel, or read news in my web browser, how can I discern the truth from error? I need to take a “Common Sense Tour” through the Book of Proverbs (and the entire Word of God). Only as I stay anchored in God’s Word will I be able to discern truth from error and receive His…

“…treasure of common sense!”

In Jesus’ Name!

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WATCH YOUR BLIND SIDE!

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

1 KINGS 2:19-23: “So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak on Adonijah’s behalf. The king rose from his throne to meet her, and he bowed down before her. When he sat down on his throne again, the king ordered that a throne be brought for his mother, and she sat at his right hand. “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “I hope you won’t turn me down.” “What is it, my mother?” he asked. “You know I won’t refuse you.” “Then let your brother Adonijah marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem,” she replied. “How can you possibly ask me to give Abishag to Adonijah?” King Solomon demanded. “You might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! You know that he is my older brother, and that he has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side.” Then King Solomon made a vow before the Lord: “May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request.” NLT

OBSERVATION: Am I aware of what is on my blind side? It is easy to go through life oblivious to what is on our blind side. We all have weaknesses in our lives, and our perspective is limited. Without insight from the Holy Spirit or the counsel of a godly friend, we are all vulnerable.

The account of Adonijah’s request to marry Abishag, the virgin nurse who had cared for King David in his final days, seems innocent enough. It was no doubt veiled in words of affection as Adonijah approached Bathsheba and asked her to approach her son, King Solomon, to request on his behalf.

Adonijah had attempted to establish himself as King of Israel while David was still alive. It was Bathsheba who interceded with King David, reminding him of his promise to make her son, Solomon, the next King. King David honored his word to Bathsheba, and Solomon was established as King of Israel.

Those who had gathered around Adonijah, Solomon’s older brother, quickly abandoned him when they learned the news. Adonijah ran to the altar, grabbed its horns, and begged for mercy from King Solomon.

“Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, ‘Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!” Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.” (1 Kings 1:51-52 NLT)

Solomon showed mercy towards Adonijah. Adonijah had access to the King’s Court, and, even though the text does not give us this information, from what happens next, we can assume that Adonijah was still scheming how to usurp the throne and establish himself as King.

One thing one could attempt to do in these times, as they positioned themselves to usurp the King’s throne, was to entice his concubines (female attendants) to their side. These female attendants would symbolize their strength and give the usurper valuable information. Adonijah’s request to marry Abishag, David’s nurse, was such a ploy. Yet, it was hidden in the request of romantic love, and even Bathsheeba did not see through it!

What did Adonijah hope to gain from this marriage? Abishag was the closest person to King David in his final days. She cared for him, kept him warm, fed him, and was his constant companion. There was no sexual relationship between the two, but no doubt a strong personal and emotional relationship. It is not difficult to imagine that David confided in her in his final days in ways that he did with no one else.

Adonijah wanted to learn all of these secrets. He wanted to use this marriage to penetrate the inner circle of King Solomon and learn his weaknesses. He craftily planned this rebellion, preying on Bathsheeba’s blind spot, and hoped he could take advantage of King Solomon in the same way.

God protected King Solomon from this deception. In this instance, the Holy Spirit revealed Adonijah’s deception to Solomon and protected him from his blind side. Solomon evaded a takeover threat to his new rule, and no doubt, his mother saw how she was tricked into bringing this request to her very own son.

This is a long breakdown of an event that is revealed in only a few short verses, but books could be written on the subject! We all have blind spots in our lives. Most accidents are not caused by running into something that we see. Rather, they are caused by something we don’t see, something that approaches us from our blind spots. The enemy is an expert in taking advantage of these in our lives.

How do we avoid the blind spots in life that can cause us to make uncalculated mistakes?

My wife has a condition with her eyesight that limits her peripheral vision. While I can see peripherally on my right and left, my wife cannot see on her left and has limited sight on her right peripheral vision. Over the years, she has faced several accidents, thankfully none that were serious, that resulted from cars approaching her on her left side.

Recently, we purchased a new car that has all the bells and whistles of modern safety, including blind-spot warnings! We both feel much better knowing that she has added protection when on the road. This practical application reminds us that we all need adequate protection as we travel on the highway of life. Here are three simple things that act as the blind-side warning system in my wife’s car.

GOD’S WORD: Daily abiding in God’s Word keeps my mind renewed and my focus on the pathway of life. Through God’s Word, I receive daily alerts of the blind spots in my life.

HOLY SPIRIT: As I grow in God’s Word and learn to listen in prayer, I begin to develop a spiritual ear and hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. John writes in his first epistle that it is the Holy Spirit’s anointing in our lives that teaches us and keeps us in the truth (1 John 2:20-21).

GODLY COUNSEL: Solomon writes in the Book of Proverbs, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” (Proverbs 27:6 NKJV) A good friend who offers godly counsel can help us see things we normally would miss.

The text does not tell us if King Solomon consulted with anyone after his mother’s request. Yet, I am sure that the final advice his father, King David, gave to him as he assumed the throne, helped Solomon see his blind spots. Without this, and without the Holy Spirit’s help, Solomon might have faced another uprising to unseat him from the throne.

We all need help with our blind spots! The enemy is always trying to take advantage of us and exploit our weaknesses. Yet, when we abide in God’s Word, when we abide in prayer and listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, and when we seek godly counsel from trusted and proven friends, like Solomon, we too can avoid the collisions of life!

Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful reminder that I need help dealing with my blind spots. Speak to me each day through Your Word! Help me listen attentively and obediently to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. And, give me the grace to humble myself, allowing others to speak into my life, helping me see my blind spots and weaknesses. As I do these three things, help me walk in the victory that You have set before me.

In Jesus’ Name!

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GOD WILL FULFILL HIS PLAN FOR MY LIFE!

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

PSALMS 139:16-18: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” NLT

OBSERVATION: Does God really have a plan for my life? Is my life just a chain of events without any purpose? Do I have a destiny? Do I live with confidence each day that I am in God’s plan? Will my life really make a difference?

I have not met many people who don’t care about the outcome of their lives. There are those who have been battered by the enemy so long that they have given up, but deep down, they want their life to matter. They want to know they are not just a blip on the screen of life.

We all want to know that we matter!

Psalms 139 is the declaration that you and I matter! We are not an accident. We are not an afterthought in the heart of God. We are not just taking up a slot in life until we die. God has created us with forethought, personal investment, and a unique calling and destiny. Listen to the declarations of the Psalmist as he writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!

  • Your saw me before I was born.
  • Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
  • Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
  • Your thoughts toward me were precious.
  • Your thoughts about me could not be numbered.
  • You are always with me, no matter where I am.

The Psalmist is not writing about the people of God as a whole. He is writing about himself. He is standing in the place of you and me. He is contemplating the greatness of God that is directed toward one person. He stands in awe as he contemplates God’s great love, design, and purpose directed toward his life.

So, let’s look at that list again, and this time make it personal. God is saying this to you. He is focused on you. He loves you. The Lord says…

  • I saw you before you were born.
  • I recorded every day of your life in My book.
  • I designed every moment of your life for My good purposes before a single day had passed.
  • I am always thinking about you, proclaiming – “You are precious!”
  • I love you more than you can imagine.
  • I am always with you, in every situation, in every trial, in every victory.
  • I am yours, and you are mine!

Most of our lives are lived on the battlefield. We face difficulty, and it is easy to think that God is not in control. We may feel distant from God. We wonder if He is really working in our lives. Psalms 139 speaks to all of these questions and doubts. It is the declaration of God’s heart toward you and me. It is the promise of His faithful love working His good purposes in our lives. It is what Paul proclaims in Romans, Chapter 8.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.” (Romans 8:28-30 NLT)

The Scriptures never promise us a life without difficulty. We live in a fallen world and we have an enemy who is always trying to thwart God’s purposes in our lives. However, the Scriptures promise us that we are not an accident. Our life is not without purpose. And, God is working out His pre-ordained purposes in our lives as He redeems everything in our life and works it toward His good purpose!

If God is for us – who can be against us? If God loves us – who can separate us from His love? If God has an ordained purpose for our lives – who can thwart His purposes? Nothing in this world, no power, no attack of the enemy, can keep us from the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…except ourselves!

We have a choice. We can rest in the declaration of God’s Word over us, or we can capitulate to our doubts and fears. Jesus invites us to His Cross! If I come, just as I am, with all my doubts, fears, and insecurities, He will sustain me. He will be my victory. He will lead me. He will love me into His image.

He will fulfill His good plan for my life!


Just as I am without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come


I come broken to be mended
I come wounded to be healed
I come desperate to be rescued
I come empty to be filled
I come guilty to be pardoned
By the blood of Christ the Lamb
And I’m welcomed with open arms
Praise God just as I am

In Jesus’ Name!

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WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT! (The Dangers of AI)

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

1 CORINTHIANS 2:4-5: “And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.” NLT

WARNING! THIS IMAGE MAY BE “AI” GENERATED!

OBSERVATION: I was sitting on my chair in the living room. My wife and I were relaxing, drinking coffee, and scrolling on our phones (something we could not even imagine doing when we first got married). Just then, my wife said, “Did you hear this?” Then there was a long pause, and she said…

” Never mind, it’s AI!

We live in a day when anything can be counterfeited. It is almost impossible to distinguish between what is real and what is AI. AI is rapidly taking over our lives. While I rejoice in the great strides AI is making in the realm of medical research, I am nervous about how it is affecting the rest of our lives. I am especially worried about the church!

This concern does not come from one who is a techaphobe. I adopted personal computers when they first came out in the early 80s. I have kept up with all the latest technology ever since. I gladly embrace new technology and have seen how it has been a great help in my personal, business, and ministry life.

However, when I consider AI, I need to take a pause.

When I was a young pastor, I used to have my Bible on my desk, a huge Strong’s Concordance, and several commentaries as I studied and prepared a message. This process was very analog, and I needed to fully rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit. I put in serious time as I studied and prepared. I remember handwriting long lists of Scriptures as I would study a topic in the Bible.

Fast-forward to today. I can Google any question and get a Gemini AI summary answer. I am working on a translation for one of my Children’s discipleship books and using ChatGPT to process it. It would be easy to take the next step. It would be easy to lean fully into AI and allow it to write a book (I get many ads for this since I have published) or prepare a sermon (there are many services now for pastors that will do this!).

This is where I see the great danger of AI!

Paul, when he spoke to the Corinthians, made a clear distinction about how he approached them in his ministry. I am taking some liberty as I look at this Scripture again. I am inserting some words for emphasis only to apply them to this conversation and consideration regarding AI.

“And my message and my preaching were very plain (analog). Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches (AI-generated, without study), I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit (prayer, reflection, meditation, inspiration). I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom (man-made ideas, machine-generated content) but in the power of God (the anointing of the Holy Spirit).” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NLT)

While I know this is not what Paul intended, I think it is still in the spirit of what he wrote. We have already grown so dependent upon multimedia in our presentations. How could we even consider giving a message without a PowerPoint or video to emphasize our subject? How could our worship team lead worship without a sound system, special lighting, or special effects?

Now, consider what would happen if Pastors, Teachers, and Leaders began to rely upon AI (I fear many are already doing this!). Where would the times of prayer and seeking the leading of the Spirit go? Where would the hours of reflection and pouring over the Scriptures go? Where would the sincere originality of expression from God’s unique vessel go? And, most importantly…

Where would the power of God go?

Today, we are facing an onslaught of attacks against our faith. Everything is trying to pull us away from a simple and full dependence on the Holy Spirit. We find ourselves in a time crunch. We think, “I will just take a shortcut this one time.” No one seems to know the difference. So we do it again, and again, and again, until we are depending upon a machine to speak to us instead of the Holy Spirit of God! Paul reminds us why this is so dangerous.

“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-12 NLT)

Revelation comes from the Holy Spirit, through God’s Word, not from AI. Inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit, through God’s Word, not from AI. The anointing that breaks the yoke comes from the power of the Holy Spirit and not from AI. The wonderful blessings of God come through the Holy Spirit and not from AI.

I have used AI to help me plan a vacation to Germany – but I will never let it replace my times of prayer, reflection, meditation, and listening to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit as I meditate upon God’s Word and ask Him to speak to me! A machine can never replace the Holy Spirit. Words of man’s wisdom can never change the hearts of men and women. They may illicit an emotional response, but they can never change their hearts and souls. If we want to be effective in our ministry, in our churches, in our lives…

WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Heavenly Father, give me spiritual discernment in this age of machine-generated counterfeits to know the difference between the truth and the deception. Grant me the grace to resist the temptation to rely on anything else except the power of Your Holy Spirit. Help me be a wise steward in how I use all technology and keep my heart from the trap of taking shortcuts to know You and Your truth! Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon me anew today to keep me in the center of Your will!

I am not averse or afraid of AI, but today, as I reflect upon the Scriptures, I choose the Holy Spirit!

In Jesus’ Name!

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A WORSHIP REVIVAL or the HOKEY POKEY?

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

ROMANS 12:1: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”

OBSERVATION: What does worship have to do with the Hokey Pokey? As I thought about this verse in Romans, I immediately thought about the Hokey Pokey. My wife and I love to visit Antique Stores, and there was an old sign hanging on the wall that showed two people dancing that said,

“The Hokey Pokey! What if that is what it’s all about?”

Paul calls us to worship at the beginning of Romans, Chapter 12. It is not the usual call to stand up and get ready to sing. Today, we view worship as the 30 minutes of singing before a time of prayer and the sermon. When we hear of a worship revival, it is usually focused on extended times of singing and prayer. Is this what Paul had in mind?

In the Hokey Pokey, you start putting your right hand in. Then you take your right hand out, put it back in again, and shake it all about. You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around, and everyone sings…

“That’s what it’s all about!”

The song progresses until you get to the part when you put YOUR WHOLE SELF IN. So, when is it really the Hokey Pokey? When is it really worship? Is it worship when we put our singing in and take our singing out? Is it when we put our prayers in and take our prayers out? Is it when we put our message in and put our message out?

Are any of these truly the way to worship?

Jesus addressed these questions when He quoted Isaiah concerning the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Scribes.

“Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” (Mark 7:6-8 NLT)

The religious class in Jesus’ day was doing the Hokey Pokey, and they thought they were truly worshipping God. The only problem was that they never got to the end of the song. They were satisfied with the mechanics of worship but missed the heart of worship. In fact, their heart, their “whole self,” is exactly what they left out of their worship.

Paul is very clear as he calls us to worship. God desires ALL of us. We are to bring ALL of us, our bodies, as a living sacrifice. If we bring our songs but our actions are left to our own choosing, we are not truly worshipping the Lord. Everything else is merely a warm-up if we don’t put our …

“Whole Self In!”

“…I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (Romans 12:1 NLT)

Our bodies, our entire life, our actions, our attitudes, our hearts, this is the sacrifice God is looking for. It is a complete and absolute surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If we sing songs but hold back other areas of our life from the altar, we are only in the preamble of worship. If we continue this way, we are in jeopardy of becoming lip worshippers.

God is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is both a call to give our hearts and our bodies to the Lord. Our heart (spirit) is to be in submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our body is to be obedient to God’s Word (truth). If we give Him our heart but leave other areas of our lives outside the truth, we are not worshipping the Lord the way He desires.

If Paul were leading the worship service on any given Sunday morning, he would not say, “Okay, let’s all stand and put our right hand in!” No, Paul would call us to put our “whole self in!” Worship is a call of absolute surrender. It is a call to give everything I know and even those I am unaware of to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Only when I do this am I truly worshipping God in spirit and in truth!

Heavenly Father, bring about a revival of worship in my life. Search me and know me. Reveal to me any area of my life that I am withholding from You. May I surrender all. May I offer my body, soul, mind, and strength to You as a living sacrifice, as my true and acceptable worship.

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

In Jesus’ Name!

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THE DUMBING DOWN OF GOD… (Lessons from a Cathedral)

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

ROMANS 11:33-36: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” NLT

OBSERVATION: How great is our God? How majestic are His ways? How unsearchable are His mercies? How unfathomable is His grace?

In the culture of the church today, do we still ask these questions? Do we have a sense of holy reverence for our Creator? Or have we brought God down to our own level? Do we see Him as just one of the gang? Do we approach Him as we do our next-door neighbor or someone we meet at our church?

Many have seen pictures of the great cathedrals in Europe. When I was in Germany on a business trip, I had the chance to visit one of them. When I walked into the sanctuary, the first thing I noticed was the extremely high ceilings, as if they were reaching up into the heavens. As I stood there, I felt small. There was a sense of awe as I looked at the paintings on the ceilings and the stained glass windows that told the story of the Gospel.

Fast-forward to most any new church in America. Most of our churches look like any local business complex. The interiors are modern and focused on creating a mood that spotlights the platform. There are usually no windows. We are not prone to look heavenward. All that is above us is a black ceiling and speakers. We approach each Sunday as we would any concert or entertainment venue. Jesus is portrayed as merely our friend. God no longer is seen as “OTHER.”

We have dumbed down God to bring Him to our level!

I am not advocating the return to cathedrals. First, this would be cost-prohibitive. Second, while you sense an awe in a cathedral, there is also a cold, impersonal feeling. The modern church has leveled the playing field regarding the closeness of God, but they have lost the awe of God in the process. What is the answer?

Jesus called us friends, but He also called Himself Lord. Jesus humbled Himself when He became a man, but He never ceased being God. While Jesus walked this earth, He was a humble carpenter, but when He rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven, He was seated at the right hand of the Father. He did so as the glorified Christ. He no longer walks around in a robe and sandals.

John gives us a glimpse into the Jesus we now serve.

“When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” (Revelation 1:12-18 NLT)

John’s reaction to what he saw is a mirror of Paul’s summary of the Lord at the end of Romans, Chapter 11. While Jesus still reaches down to us and calls us into intimate fellowship with Himself, He stands as the glorious one, the one with eyes like flames of fire. Jesus is the risen, glorified, holy, and wonderful second person of the Godhead. He is not our next-door neighbor or our chum from high school. Jesus is the Creator, the Holy One, the God who is to be revered and worshipped.

We cannot dumb down God to our level.

The wonder is that God reaches down to us at our level. We cannot bring Him down to our level, but He freely reaches down to us. We hear Him say, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the living one, I died, but look-I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”

Paul, after contemplating the wonders of God’s grace to the Gentiles and His future promise of restoring the nation of Israel by His mercy and grace, throws up his hands, looks to the sky, and prays…

“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever!“ (Romans 11:33-36 NLT)

What should I glean from all of this? The answer is not found in a cathedral or the modern landscape of today’s sanctuaries. It has nothing to do with what surrounds us, but it has everything to do with the focus and perception of our hearts. We are never called to bring God down to our level. He freely comes to us. This is the wonder of His mercy and grace. We should never be fully comfortable with this or take it for granted.

Like looking at the high ceilings in a Cathedral, we should look heavenward, standing in awe of God’s majesty and glory, with our hands lifted and our hearts filled with praise!

His ways are not our ways. He is not our “buddy.” He is the Lord God of all Creation. He is not to be approached casually, yet He calls us into His presence freely. He is high and lifted up, yet He calls us into His throne room through the blood of His Son. He is the Most High God, yet we can call Him “Abba” because of all that Jesus Christ has done for us.

The only response we can give to such a God is our worship!

Heavenly Father, help me to rediscover Your majesty while I walk in the unfathomable wonders of Your mercy and grace. As I come into Your presence, boldly through the blood of Jesus Christ, may I come in sincerity, humility, and worship. Create a cathedral in my heart where I can always look up and proclaim the wonders of Your grace, mercy, and love!

In Jesus’ Name!

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NOTHING IS GREATER!

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

ROMANS 8:35-37: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” NLT

OBSERVATION: Does God love me? Does God really care about what I am going through? These are the questions I have asked myself many times as I have walked through difficult times in my life. If God loves me, if He truly cares, then why is He allowing me to go through this trial?

Paul addresses this question in his letter to the Romans. If anyone understood difficulty and suffering, it was the Apostle Paul. Listen to his own words.

“Five different times, the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once, I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27 NLT)

WOW! I think this qualifies Paul to speak about what it means to go through difficulties in one’s life. Yet, Paul also understood the goodness of God and the power of Christ’s love that were always available to him in these difficult times.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (Romans 8:31-32 NLT)

So what does all of this mean? Could my questions about God’s love and care when I am walking through difficult times be a misunderstanding of His promises? Is my relationship with the Lord based on what happens each moment of my life, more than the assurance of His power and love working in me and sustaining me during these difficult times?

Again, Paul does not hide from these difficult questions. He speaks to them directly from his own life and the promises of God’s Word!

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?… No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.“ (Romans 8:35, 37 NLT)

Could it be that the current “Promise Theology” has led us to believe that when we walk through the valley of life, God has left us, that He no longer loves us? If life is going well, God loves me. If life is going badly, God doesn’t love me. If I am experiencing blessings, I am walking in faith. If I am going through times of trouble or calamity, I must be walking in the flesh.

Paul does not see it this way. The Bible does not teach a “Promise Theology.” While ALL the promises of God find their YES and AMEN in Christ Jesus, this does not mean that the believer is shielded from times of difficulty, persecution, and suffering. God’s promises do not equate to a “Get Out of Jail” card. Life is not a game of Monopoly.

Life is a walk of faith!

Faith calls us to cling to the love of Christ in the good times and the bad. Faith assures us that God’s love does not change. He loves us when we are on the mountaintop and when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. His love never leaves us. It sustains us. Comforts us. Empowers us. Reassures us. His love never fails!

Paul summarizes the keeping power of God’s love in the final verses of this chapter.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NLT)

In life, in the good times and bad, when we consider God’s love, we can stand in the full assurance of faith because…

NOTHING IS GREATER!

Nothing is greater than God’s Love! Nothing can overcome God’s Love! Nothing can separate us from God’s love! Nothing is more powerful than God’s love! My circumstances do not determine God’s love. God’s love has been forever determined and proclaimed from a blood-stained cross and an empty tomb. These stand forever proclaiming that the love of God, through Jesus Christ my Lord, is greater than anything I have done and anything I will ever face! When it comes to God’s love…

NOTHING IS GREATER!

PERIOD!

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfathomable and overwhelming love. Thank You for the promises that Your love is greater than anything I have done and anything I will ever face. Thank You for the cross and the empty tomb that proclaim – “Greater is He that is in me than he (or anything) that is in the world!” Help me to walk each day in the full power and assurance of YOUR GREAT AND UNCHANGING LOVE!

In Jesus’ Name!

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IF YOU DO THIS…GOD WILL DO THAT! (Sound familiar?)

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

ROMANS 4:13-15: “Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary, and the promise is pointless. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!).” NLT

OBSERVATION: How is my Christian life going? Do I look forward to going to worship each Sunday? Do I enjoy my time in God’s Word each day? Is my prayer life focused on listening to God? Do I view every blessing as a gift of God’s grace? Is my love for Jesus growing deeper and stronger?

Each year, one of my doctor’s appointments is for a wellness check. In this appointment, the nurse runs through a list of questions to assess my overall health. These questions act like the check-engine light on a car. If one of them lights up, then something might be wrong.

The opening questions could be our spiritual wellness check. It is easy to go from a vital life of faith into one of duty and drudgery. This happened to the Church in Ephesus. They were diligent in their work and faithful in their teaching, but they had lost their zeal. They had neglected their “first love.”

I have often wondered, “What is it that moves us away from our first love?” I remember when I was so in love with Jesus. I remember when God’s Word was alive and active each time I read it. I remember when serving the Lord was a joy. I remember sensing God’s presence each time I worshipped.

Then…life happens!

Life begins to pile on us, and we become burdened with the affairs and difficulties we face. At this juncture, we face a fork in the road. It is at this fork that we come face-to-face with the enemy of our faith. It is subtle. We often miss it. Many times, it is taught from the pulpit or given as advice from a fellow believer. It goes something like this…

“If you do this…God will do that!”

This was the advice that Job’s miserable comforters gave him in the midst of his suffering. This is the advice that so many self-help books proclaim. This is the advice that we have heard over and over again. The only problem with it is…

THIS ADVICE DOES NOT WORK!

Rather than moving us back to our first love, we find our lives drifting further and further away. Paul addresses this when he speaks about Abraham’s faith. It is important to listen very carefully to what Paul writes, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

“If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary, and the promise is pointless.” (Romans 4:14 NLT)

If the answer to our struggles in life were, “Do this…”, then we would not need to walk in faith. When we begin to see God’s love, His forgiveness, His mercy, His help, as something we earn by doing the right thing, we move from grace to works, from life to death, from hope to despair.

“For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!).” (Romans 4:15 NLT)

This brings us right to the front door of the age-old debate between faith and works. Faith does not mean we sit in the corner and never do anything. Rather, faith calls us to see our relationship with God as the gift it is, and we don’t do things to earn His love and favor; we do them because of His love and favor.

The Scripture declares, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3 NLT)—Abraham’s response to God’s Word was the key. Abraham trusted in God and His promise before Abraham did anything. He did not offer a sacrifice to earn God’s love. He did not pay his tithe to earn God’s favor.

Abraham simply believed…and then he acted!

It was from Abraham’s secure position of being accepted by God through faith that he traveled to a land he never knew, offered sacrifices and paid tithes, rescued his nephew Lot, sired his promised heir at the age of 100, willingly offered his son of promise as a sacrifice to God, and witnessed God intervene and provide both a sacrifice and the promises of the coming Messiah.

Abraham believed God FIRST – and then he obeyed God. Abraham did not obey God, so God would bless him. Abraham obeyed God out of love! This sounds like what Jesus has called us to do!

“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” (John 14:21 NLT)

John 3:16 does not say that God loved the world so much that He looked for those who were working hard to obey His Commandments, and based on their effort and worthiness, He sent His only begotten Son to die for the hard-working individuals. NO! God so loved the world that He freely gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life!

Faith always comes before doing! Love always comes before obedience!

“So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.” (Romans 4:16 NLT)

Heavenly Father, forgive me when I make my relationship with You based on anything other than faith working through love. This morning, I come to the Cross to lay down all my heavy burdens, all my self-effort, all my attempts at trying to serve You and please You in my own strength. Create in me a clean heart and renew me with Your Holy Spirit. May I walk in the joy and freedom of Your Salvation – by grace through faith!

In Jesus’ Name!

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