IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009

One’s faith cannot rise above one’s obedience. (Spoken to my by Sharron Lanham) I knew when I heard it, it was worthy of note taking and passing along to you.

If we think we are lacking in faith, she said, we must check our level of obedience. If our faith level is low, so is our obedience level. I can’t argue with that. Nor would it be wise to.

I am reminded of Scripture as I type. Romans 10:17 (New King James Version)

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And James 1:22 (New King James Version)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

And since the typing of the above, hours have elapsed and through no planning of my own comes this: Deuteronomy 4:27 And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

We are servants; all of us; all mankind serves. We just do. There is no one on the planet who does not serve, that’s just the way it is. From verse 27 we know the people of Israel were disbursed and they were disbursed because of their disobedience and I am convinced and I believe the Whole Counsel of The Word bears out that their disobedience was due to unbelief. Unbelief will destroy a people, a group or an individual. So their unbelief sent them away from God, away from following after Him, away from serving Him. BUT they still served. See that in verse 28. They served little g gods. Little g gods made of wood and stone, little g gods created by man. That was then. What do we do now? Name a little g god that today’s people serve. A career, the power of a political office, a spouse, children, a hobby, pleasure, and the most popular one, the one upon which more money and time have been lavished than any other is SELF. We are servants and we are going to serve period the end. We will either in unbelief and disobedience serve the little g god of self or we will serve the ONE True God, The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Hosea, Peter, Paul, Timothy, John, Martin Luther, C.H. Spurgeon, Billy Graham, Beth Moore and the list could go on. We are servants; no soul you will see in your mirror, on the street, or across the yard will not be serving today. And if that servant is serving the little g god of self that soul is in that act of service doing so in disobedience brought on by unbelief … a lack of faith in the one and only big G Triune God – Father, Son Jesus Christ and Holy Ghost. Am I His servant? Yes I am whenever I am not serving myself. Am I tired of serving me as often as I do? Yes I am. And when I confessed it, He told me this:

29 But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you (truly) seek Him with all your heart [and mind] and soul and life.

In the moment I wake up (that is come to myself) and find myself serving myself if I will, from there, that very place begin to seek Him, I will find Him and I will begin again to serve Him in obedience and my faith will grow. One’s faith cannot rise above one’s obedience.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

ABBA, I pray to wake up today and serve You and others rather than myself. May it be that we have no little g gods before us today. May it be that we will exercise obedience in what You have already taught us and grow this gift of faith You have invested in us. We count it a privilege to bring this list to You again for today’ measure of grace and strength more abundantly than we can use up. As we review the names of this list, ABBA, words fail me to describe the straits of emotions some are experiencing but You know and You are there to help and see them through. Thank You. And we still pray for all these to be heal, some physically, some emotionally and some so in need of the new birth. We pray they will receive the gift of life You have for them. There is a pending surgery for one dear IDOK, she said with other folks having such grave conditions, she wouldn’t mention hers for the list; she deemed her need as less important; but it’s not to You and I pray for this surgery to be textbook perfect and to do just what it is suppose to do and for her to be restored to health. Thank You for Your loving and kind attention to her and to every name on this list. Thank You for continuing to protect and keep safe our IDOK Troops. Thank You for continuing to perfect Your plan for Israel. Thank You for continuing to spread Your Gospel throughout this world; thank You for continuing to pour Your grace upon we Your Church; correct us and fill us I pray. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Katie H. Amber Johns. Joe-Ann. McCarver Family. Vickie and Family. Brittany M and family. Dennis and Lisa J. Jack. Melanie and Jay M. Susanne M. Alice T. Elaine W and Family. Joni and Todd. Roy and Julee. Glenn R and his family. Holly. Donald 2. Ed G. Debra B. Jon E. Katie B. Brian. Donald 1. Loyce McM. DeLois. Mollie B. Marzelle. KC. Neolle T. Mary F. MH and J. Caleb and his family – Rob, Vaughn, Whitaker and Donoghue. Dora. Mattie. Jarrod. BETTY. Brenda and her family. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Darlene’s Sister, Leona. Tammy B and Family. Jackie K. Brian T. Ricky M. Linda and Family. Joe. Michael H. Linda W. Debbie W. Natalie. Jacqueline and Sons (River and Jackson). Sandra. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family Mary.. Susan D. Melissa and daughters. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Darlene and Torkel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Katelyn (B) J Lloyd. Janet and Steve. Bay and family. Bill and Judy. Doug. Larry and Claudia and family. Callie. Ruth. Cynthia. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Chuck. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Andrew and Daughters.

Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry

Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.

Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

ABBA, I have removed the ‘posting’ for the Cleansing of America but I know the prayer is eternal with You.

IDOKs Military Families.

IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Justin G. Michael K. Bay N. T. Palin. Richard M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T. Kyle N(3/09). Jessica D. (4/09) Sgt. Vince Barrientos (5/2009)

IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.

Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G. Tommy W.

Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08)

Military at home, specifically those emotional-spirit wounds that only God and Time can heal – Adam M. Captain Tran. Josh. John L. Drew.

As I post this it is 117°F and clear in Baghdad, IQ (Airport) and the time 3:23 PM AST on August 20, 2009.