Category Archives: devotional

Everything will change (John 12:30-32), March 18, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Have you ever thought about the key events in history that really changed the world. Stop and see if you can name a few.
Scripture
1. John 12:30-32
2. Jesus: The voice you hear has not spoken for My benefit, but for yours. Now judgment comes upon this world, and everything will change. The tyrant of this world, Satan, will be thrown out. When I am lifted up from the earth, then all of humanity will be drawn to Me.
Devotional
1. There are some key events in history that change everything. Think about it
  1. The Renaissance
  2. Pax Romana
  3. Life of Muhammad
  4. Reformation
  5. World War I
  6. World War II
  7. Printing Press
  8. Berlin Wall
  9. American Revolution
2. None compare to what Jesus did for us
  1. God spoke to the crowd
  2. God gave us a means of escape from the punishment for our sins
  3. God gave His life that we might have eternal life
3. Everything changed; we can be changed, too, if we will let Him change us
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

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The miracle of growing things (John 12:23-28), March 17, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
I admire farmers for what they do. It seems their work never ends, but I’m also fascinated by the miracle of life and the analogies Jesus uses with growing things as He speaks.
Scripture
1. John 12:23-28
2. Jesus (to Philip and Andrew): The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth: unless a grain of wheat is planted in the ground and dies, it remains a solitary seed. But when it is planted, it produces in death a great harvest. The one who loves this life will lose it, and the one who despises it in this world will have life forevermore. Anyone who serves Me must follow My path; anyone who serves Me will want to be where I am, and he will be honored by the Father. My spirit is low and unsettled. How can I ask the Father to save Me from this hour? This hour is the purpose for which I have come into the world. But what I can say is this: “Father, glorify Your name!”
Devotional
1. Jesus’ words got me thinking about wheat production?
  1. Learned some facts about growing wheat in OK in make a profit
  2. One grain of wheat buried in the ground produces one stalk of wheat
  3. The stalk has a head with from 8-15 spikelets
  4. Each spikelet holds 2-2.5 grains of wheat
  5. Each head has 20-30 grains of wheat
  6. Farmers sow 18 – 22 seeds per square foot to produce a profitable crop
  7. Need 60 heads per foot for profit
  8. Harvest two or three times a year
2. Tells us a few things about wheat you might not know and how it might relate to Jesus’ words
  1. The seed must die and be buried before it is can grow again
  2. The plant that grows out of the ground looks nothing like the seed from which it came
  3. But it produces a lot of seeds that look just like it did before it was buried
  4. Produced a lot more of them also, 40, 60, 100 fold
  5. Cut several times in the seasons but revives to the suffering makes it come back and produce more
  6. Heads are usually bigger the second cutting than the first
3. Jesus talked about the necessity of His burial
  1. He came to die and His death would return Him to His place of glory
  2. His death would bring glory to the Father and fulfill His own destiny
  3. It would also do something for us that we cannot imagine
  4. He makes us part of His kingdom
  5. We become like Him when we follow Him
  6. When we allow Him into our lives and gain new life in Him we become part of that stalk that produces grains of wheat
  7. When we feel buried in all the suffering, maybe it is just the harvesting of the wheat we have produced so we can produce more
4. Wheat is a fascinating plant when you walk through the fields and grab a few heads of the ripened grain in your hand
  1. Next time you pass a field of wheat or corn or anything growing out there, think of the miracle happening and what God might be wanting to do through you as you become part of the harvest of souls and the means of bringing others into the kingdom as well
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Extravagant giving may not be so bad (John 12-7-8), March 16, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Have you ever given someone an extravagant gift and others kind of scolded you about it? We probably all have if you think back through your life. Men can think about that tiny little rock on their fiance’s finger. That’s a lot of money for such a small thing, isn’t it? But is it really extravagant? Jesus got one of those gifts one day and everyone complained.
Scripture
1. John 12:7-8
2. Jesus: Leave her alone. She has observed this custom in anticipation of the day of My burial. The poor are ever present, but I will be leaving.
Devotional
1. When young men get down on their knees and ask for a young lady’s hand in marriage, she usually expects a gold or white gold ring with at least one diamond in it, right? It’s just the way of things, or it least it has been for a long time.
  1. Diamonds are measured in karats
  2. 200 milligrams which is 7/1000’s ounce
  3. Perfect cut and highest quality 1 carat diamond is $17,000
  4. Is that extravagant?
  5. Ask your fiance
2. Jesus and His disciples were eating with Lazarus at his home in Bethany
  1. Martha was working as hostess serving the guests
  2. Mary sat at Jesus feet and poured pure nard
  3. Comes from a plant grows to about 1 meter (3 ft) in height and has pink, bell-shaped flowers. It is found in the Himalayas in Nepal, China, and India at an altitude of about 9,800 to 16,400 ft. Rhizomes (underground stems) can be crushed and distilled into an intensely aromatic amber-colored essential oil, which is very thick in consistency.
  4. Other gospels tell us she broke an alabaster jar to pour out the precious liquid
  5. The alabaster stone from which the jar was carved probably came from the quarries of Alabastron in Egypt, the place from which the stone for the sarcophagus for Seti I and many of the canopic jars came
  6. Each item on its own cost months or maybe even years of labor wages for their purchase
3. Not just Judas, but several of the disciples who were with Jesus complained about the waste
  1. Look at what that money could have bought
  2. Look how many people we could have fed
  3. Look what we could have done for the poor
  4. Look how much ministry we could have done if she had sold that perfume and given the money to us instead of pouring it out on your feet
  5. Jesus, scold her!
4. He didn’t
  1. Sometimes extravagance is the right thing to do
  2. She showed extravagant love through her gift to the One who set her free
  3. We give extravagantly to the one we wish to live with for the rest of our lives
  4. We think nothing of shelling out those months of pay to put the right ring on our bride’s finger
  5. Why should we complain when someone pours out an expression of love for their savior?
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

That was no magic show (John 11:43-44), March 15, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Do you like magic shows? I’m always fascinated by them and like to see if I can catch the magician in some mistake that reveals his secrets. 2,000 years ago, that was no magic show at Lazarus’ tomb, though
Scripture
1. John 11:43-44
2. After these words, He called out in a thunderous voice.

Jesus: Lazarus, come out!

Then, the man who was dead walked out of his tomb bound from head to toe in a burial shroud.

Jesus: Untie him, and let him go.

Devotional
1. A couple of months ago, I saw the Illusionists. It’s a group of magicians that do a variety of tricks on stage that really boggle the mind.
  1. A couple of the acts were pretty weird, like running sharp objects through his body. I didn’t care so much for that.
  2. Escape from a water chamber similar to Houdini’s water chamber, but without the straightjacket
  3. One that really fascinated me was a man who just manipulated playing cards.
    1. Hidden in pockets
    2. Appeared from thin air
    3. Thousands of cards
2. We enjoy watching things we can’t figure out
  1. Enjoy trying to catch the magician in his tricks
  2. Try to find the wires or hidden pockets or figure out the strange technology they used to fool you into thinking something magical has happened
  3. Their skills are sometimes incredible
3. 2,000 years ago those around the tomb didn’t see a magic trick
  1. No incantation
  2. No technology, wires, or mirrors
  3. No double to take Lazarus’ place
  4. Jesus prayed, thanked His Father for hearing His prayer
  5. Called in a loud voice
4. The dead man walked out of the tomb bound from head to toe in a burial shroud
  1. Jesus brought life into a dead body
  2. Arms bound to sides
  3. Legs bound together
  4. Enough life to get up, walk out of the tomb wrapped from head to toe, probably hopped out
  5. Took away the stench of death, too
  6. Untie him, and let him go.
  7. Free him from the shroud as I freed him from death
  8. No magic, just power over death
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Effective prayer (John 11:39-42), March 14, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Is silent prayer effective? Yep. Is vocal prayer effective? Yep. Is prayer effective? Yep. When it’s for the right reason.
Scripture
1. John 11:39-42
2. Jesus: Remove the stone.

Martha: Lord, he has been dead four days; the stench will be unbearable.

Jesus: Remember, I told you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God.

They removed the stone, and Jesus lifted His eyes toward heaven.

Jesus: Father, I am grateful that You have heard Me. I know that You are always listening, but I proclaim it loudly so that everyone here will believe You have sent Me.

Devotional
1. I know people that are scared to death to pray out loud.
  1. They are afraid they’ll say the wrong thing.
  2. They think someone might think poorly of them because of the words they say.
  3. They get their tongues tied and nothing seems to come out right
  4. They’re afraid they’ll forget something they really want to say
2. I know others who think you really need to pray out loud to keep focused during prayer
  1. It’s too easy to let your mind wander
  2. It’s easier to gather your thoughts
  3. It helps you articulate your praise to God
  4. It helps you focus on others instead of yourself
  5. It forces you to think more clearly about what you’re doing
3. Jesus shows us that prayer is effective no matter how we pray as long as it’s for the right reason.
  1. “Father, I’m grateful You have heard Me.”
  2. But He hasn’t said anything out loud yet. He has obviously prayed, but communicated silently with His Father.
  3. “I know You are always listening”
  4. “I proclaim it loudly so that everyone here will believe You have sent Me.”
  5. His vocal prayer is heard so others will know His specific prayer to the Father for Lazarus’ resurrection
4. What was all of this about?
  1. Everything Jesus did was to bring glory to God
  2. He stated before He left for Bethany that His delay and actions would bring glory to His Father
  3. All His prayer requests sought direction to give the most glory to God
  4. His actions aimed glory to God and not Himself
5. Jesus came to Bethany to bring glory to His Father
  1. He would raise Lazarus from the dead
  2. He would show He was one with the Father since only God had the power to give life
  3. He would point all of those action toward one purpose and one cause
  4. Bringing glory to His Father
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Can you believe? (John 11:23-26), March 13, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Sometimes the things people say are just really hard to believe. Can you imagine what it was like for Mary and Martha when Jesus asked them to believe we truly never die?
Scripture
1. John 11:23-26
2. Jesus: Your brother will rise to life.

Martha: I know. He will rise again when everyone is resurrected on the last day.

Jesus: I am the resurrection and the source of all life; those who believe in Me will live even in death. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die. Do you believe this?

Devotional
1. Some people try everything they can to cheat death.
  1. Trillion dollar industries
  2. Cosmetics
  3. Exercise regiments
  4. Vitamins
  5. Cryonics
2. Imagine when Mary and Martha heard these words for the first time
  1. “Believe in Me and live”
  2. “All who believe will have life everlasting”
  3. Easy until looking death in the face
  4. “Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die”
  5. “Do you believe this?”
3. Two different major sects among mainstream Jews
  1. Pharisees believed in resurrection after death
  2. Sadducees believed death was final and there was no resurrection
  3. Listened to Jesus and believed what He said, believed there was a judgment and resurrection
  4. Couldn’t put together the thought of moving between the two
  5. Couldn’t think about His power over death
4. Still the question hung in the air
  1. Do you believe everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die?
  2. Mary and Martha watched their brother take his last breath
  3. They washed his body and wrapped it in linen clothes filled with spices
  4. They put their brother in a tomb four days earlier
  5. He will never truly die? What do you call what happened?
5. We have 2,000 years of testimony from people who have lived the assurance of Jesus’ message.
  1. Still we have trouble believing
  2. Yet Mary and Martha voiced the words and took Jesus to the tomb with the expectation of Jesus doing something spectacular for their brother
  3. If they could believe that we never truly die when we believe in Him, without having knowledge of His resurrection, don’t you think we should be able to believe
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Personality of a specialist (John 11:14-15), March 12, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
I’ve heard a lot of reports of people with cancer, heart problems, strokes, all kinds of maladies in the last few weeks and I’ve heard families complain sometimes about the specialist caring for their loved one. Rough bedside manner. No people skills. Don’t seem to care. I’ll let you in on a secret in just a minute.
Scripture
1. John 11:14-15
2. Jesus: Lazarus is dead, and I am grateful for your sakes that I was not there when he died. Now you will see and believe. Gather yourselves, and let’s go to him.
Devotional
1. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but in the medical world, there seems to be an inverse relationship between bedside manner and perfection of subspecialty skills.
  1. Brilliant people with exceptional medical knowledge and skill
  2. Can diagnose and treat when no one else seems to be able to
  3. Knows exactly what to do and wonders why no one else can see the problem
  4. Horrible bedside manner
    1. Matter of fact
    2. No social skill
    3. Blunt without emotion or feeling
  5. But they’re good, maybe the best
  6. Perhaps okay to put up with lack of social skill when they are the best at their craft
2. Jesus sounds a lot like that when He talks to the disciples in this passage.
  1. Lazarus is dead
  2. For your sakes
  3. Grateful I wasn’t there when He died
  4. Don’t cry.
  5. Let’s go
3. Knowing Jesus is the best at what He does, don’t always expect Him to be all soft and squishy with you
  1. Sometimes needs to tell it like it is
  2. Sometimes needs to just cut to the chase and let you have the news you need to hear
  3. Sometimes needs to have no bedside manner to get your attention so you can heal best
  4. Great Physician
    1. Physically
    2. Mentally
    3. Spiritually – only He can save us from our sins
  5. He’s the specialist, it’s okay for Him to get rough with us sometimes
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Jesus has some weird ways to think about sleep (John 11:9-11), March 11, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Jesus makes us think about sleep in some ways you might have never thought about sleep before. Some may even think it a little weird.
Scripture
1. John 11:9-11
2. Jesus: There are 12 hours of daylight, correct? If anyone walks in the day, that person does not stumble because he or she sees the light of the world. If anyone walks at night, he will trip and fall because he does not have the light within. (Jesus briefly pauses.) Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, so I will go to awaken him.
Devotional
1. I wish I could face the reality of death as easily as Jesus did. Of course, He knows the other side of that curtain and we don’t. He tells us about it. We hear reports of near death experiences from some, but we really don’t know what lies on the other side of the grave until we actually go through that process. I don’t know about you, but I’m not anxious to go through it.
  1. Not necessarily afraid of death
  2. But not anxious to go through it to face that unknown
2. Lazarus experience help us face that unknown better
  1. Just sleeps
  2. Waiting to wake up
    1. Most wake up on the other side of this life
    2. He woke up again on this side
3. Sleep is the time our bodies heal
  1. Minds organize the day through dream process
  2. Cells work their hardest to repair the damage done through the day
  3. Empties themselves of toxins and sends them to the liver and kidneys
  4. Body mends and prepares for the next day
4. Jesus looked to the tomb and saw something besides decay and death and finality
  1. He saw life and vitality
  2. He saw joy and renewal and continued relationship
  3. He saw beyond the grief of the moment and looked into the future where He would receive His friends in heaven
5. We all need sleep in this life and Jesus knows we will sleep before we move into the next one
  1. He did not call it death because He doesn’t want us to fear it
  2. He wants those who believe in Him to recognize it for what it is, transition from one state of life to another
  3. When we follow Him we don’t need to fear death
  4. It will be like Lazarus experienced and Jesus described
  5. “Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, so I will go to awaken him.”
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Only one purpose (John 11:4), March 10, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Why do you ask God for the petitions you raise to Him? Jesus had only one purpose for every request. You know what it was?
Scripture
1. John 11:4
2. Jesus: His sickness will not end in his death but will bring great glory to God. As these events unfold, the Son of God will be exalted.
Devotional
1. Wouldn’t it be nice to go into every hospital room and announce these words to every family member of every patient there? Wouldn’t that bring joy to your heart to tell everyone on their deathbed because of cancer or some traumatic injury or heart attack or stroke that they would get up from their bed and have a rich full life?
  1. Our world doesn’t work that way very often
  2. Sickness often ends in death
  3. Graveyards attest to the finality of this life
  4. We are all destined to die
  5. Even Lazarus went back to a tomb one day
2. Medicine has gotten better
  1. Life has been extended
  2. Life expectancy reaches toward centennial years
  3. A few decades ago, 60 was old
  4. Social security set at 65 because government didn’t expect to have to pay very long when it was established. Average life span was 67.
3. Jesus had something else in mind
  1. Wanted those around Him to know He had power over death
  2. Wasn’t the first time
  3. Centurion’s daughter
  4. Widow’s son in Cain
  5. None had been dead four days
  6. Practice was to bury the dead within 24 hours
4. Lazarus would have already begun to decay and smell in the heat of the middle east, even closed away in a cave
5. Shows us anything is possible for God, He is the creator of life
  1. He can take it and He can give it
  2. He did the same with His own life, yesterday’s words, no one can take it from Him, He willingly gives it up and has the authority to do so
  3. But not for show
  4. Not as some circus act
6. Why do we ask for the impossible?
  1. Do we do it for ourselves
  2. Do we ask for our convenience or because of our grief
  3. Do we ask so that God will be glorified
7. Jesus’ sole purpose was to glorify His Father and delayed His coming to Mary and Martha so that God would be glorified and for no other reason. He loved them and Lazarus.
  1. Didn’t want to see them grieve
  2. Didn’t want to see their pain and anguish
  3. Wanted to glorify His Father more, though
8. What is your motivation for the petitions you raise to God
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Go figure; I’m convinced (John 34-38), March 9, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
I don’t know if probability was a science in Jesus’ day, but it sure gives us something to think about today.
Scripture
1. John 10:34-38
2. Jesus: You know what is written in the Scriptures. Doesn’t it read, “I said, you are gods”? If the Scriptures called your ancestors (mere mortals) gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scriptures cannot be set aside— what should you call One who is unique, sanctified by and sent from the Father into the world? I have said, “I am God’s Son.” How can you call that blasphemy? By all means, do not believe in Me, if I am not doing the things of the Father. But examine My actions, and you will see that My work is the work of the Father. Regardless of whether you believe in Me—believe the miracles. Then you will know that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.
Devotional
1. I don’t know when you last saw a hundred dollar bill, I don’t see them very often anymore with all the electronic transactions we do now days, but a few decades ago, they were pretty common. The problem with hundred dollar bills a few decades ago, though, they were not common enough that people could tell the real thing from the counterfeit.
  1. Good engravers, good parchment, good ink
  2. Public could be fooled
  3. Bank tellers handled enough they knew the difference quickly
2. Started putting security strips in every denomination $5 and larger beginning in 1990
  1. Tried to thwart counterfeiters
  2. Micro-engraving around portraits
  3. Green-black ink in numbers seen at different angles
  4. Polyester strips with denomination printed on it
  5. Counterfeits look real enough, but when put to the test, they fail
3. Jesus told those around Him to put Him to the test
  1. Scriptures supported His claims
  2. Tasks performed in the name of the Father supported His claims
  3. Miracles supported His claims
  4. Examine Him the same way you examine a US bill and you’ll see He meets all the requirements
  5. Nothing is missing when stacked against all the criteria of who the Messiah is supposed to be and what He is supposed to do
  6. What exactly are the odds? Professor of mathematics Peter Stoner gave 600 students a math probability problem that would determine the odds for one person fulfilling eight specific prophecies. (This is not the same as flipping a coin eight times in a row and getting heads each time.) First the students calculated the odds of one person fulfilling all the conditions of one specific prophecy, such as being betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. Then the students did their best to estimate the odds for all of the eight prophecies combined.
  7. The students calculated that the odds against one person fulfilling all eight prophecies are astronomical-one in ten to the 21st power (1021). To illustrate that number, Stoner gave the following example: “First, blanket the entire Earth land mass with silver dollars 120 feet high. Second, specially mark one of those dollars and randomly bury it. Third, ask a person to travel the Earth and select the marked dollar, while blindfolded, from the trillions of other dollars.”¹
4. Is Jesus who He says He is? That’s the odds of only fulfilling 8 of the sixty He fulfilled, so get your pencil and go figure. I’m convinced!
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”