​The Word of Grace Devotion for August 24, 2020

We Will Be Changed!

1 Corinthians 15:51-52, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

Beloved, we live in a world of the temporal. Nothing lasts forever. Everything deteriorates. But there awaits for us something eternal that will never give out or break down or fall apart. We will be changed!

The mystery Paul speaks to us about here in 1 Corinthians refers to that change. Scripture says, “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” In other words, some of us will not see death. There will be a “final generation” who will be transformed into resurrection bodies at the return of Jesus.

Now, Paul uses the word, “changed” twice in these verses and it denotes a change from the temporal to the eternal. We will receive a new body, a forever body. This change also occurs for all believers, including those who have already passed away, “the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

This remarkable, instant gathering of Christians unto Jesus in the clouds has been called the rapture, after the Latin word for caught up in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. There will come a day when in God’s eternal plan, He gives those dead in the Lord their resurrection bodies, and then in an instant He gathers all His people to meet Jesus in the air. All the redeemed on the earth at that time will raise up to meet the Lord in the air!

When will these changes happen? Paul tells us, “52In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound.” The last trumpet refers to the last trumpet believers hear on this earth.

The last trumpet was a figure of speech that came from the Roman military, when they broke camp. The first trumpet meant, “Strike the tents and prepare to leave”; the second trumpet meant, “fall into line”; the third and last trumpet meant, “march away.” This last trumpet describes the Christian’s “marching orders” at the rapture of the Church.

Beloved, Jesus is coming and we will soon be changed! I can’t wait!

I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you!

 

In Him,

​The Word of Grace Devotion for August 17, 2020

Our Salvation

Psalm 35:1-3, "Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. 3Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.” NIV

Beloved, we are so often tempted to take matters into our own hands. When we perceive that we have been wronged we desire vengeance knowing that the Lord has told us multiple times that vengeance belongs to Him. How do we rectify this? We pray!

King David understood this need for vengeance. King Saul was constantly pursuing David and David wanted to lash out but instead he took it to the Lord saying, “Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.” This Psalm is an Imprecatory Psalm, which asks God to defeat and destroy the enemies of His people.

Instead of personally taking vengeance we also should pray. Spurgeon said, “Every saint of God shall have this privilege: the accuser of the brethren shall be met by the Advocate of the saints.”

As David asked the Lord to, “2Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. 3Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me,” so we also ask God to come to our defense.

Indeed, the Lord is not only our eternal salvation but also our salvation here on earth as King David said, “Say to me, “I am your salvation.” Yes, we are not only saved from the God’s wrath so that we may enter heaven, but if the Lord wills, also from the wrath of men who desire to destroy us. Like King David, we need to hear again and again that God is our salvation.

Beloved, King David grew to know that God was his Savior both eternally and temporally. He is our salvation. We need not attempt to rectify every wrong but trust the Lord to work on our behalf. He is our salvation!

I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you!

 

In Him,

Pastor Joe