A Walk with God: Come and See a Devotional for Those Who Are Seeking Truth

Copyright © 2012 John Marceau

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-6330-5 (e)

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2012921469

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/14/2012

Contents

WALKING WITH GOD

HE CHOOSES OUR INHERITANCE FOR US…

MY FOOD – HIS WILL

CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY

A CHURCH INDICTMENT

SALVATION WHICH ENDURES

….REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

THE LIVING & SHARP WORD

SEE THAT YOU DO NOT REFUSE HIM WHO SPEAKS ….

GOD IS OUR ALL IN ALL

.…FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING

WE WHO HAVE RECEIVED GRACE

MY TONGUE IS THE PEN OF A READY WRITER

THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT

BLESSED BE OUR GOD

THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK

ETERNAL vs. EVERLASING

SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME

GOD HAS SPOKEN

ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY

CAPTIVITY

I COME IN MY FATHER’S NAME

…..But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED AS OUR EXAMPLE

PRIDE VS. HUMILITY

WALKING WITH GOD: A Workman Approved

WALKING WITH GOD: By Faith

WALKING WITH GOD: As Our Inheritance

WALKING WITH GOD: His Yoke

WALKING WITH GOD: In His Presence

WALKING WITH GOD: As an Overcomer

WALKING WITH GOD: In His Guidance

WALKING WITH GOD: In His Forgiveness

WALKING WITH GOD: In His Fullness and Enlightenment

WALKING WITH GOD: As His Disciple

WALKING WITH GOD: In His Ministry

WALKING WITH GOD: In His Spirit

WHY WE READ OUR BIBLES

LOST IN TRANSLATION

UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD

THE MIND

REVELATION 20:6-22:21 ESV

THE AUTHOR

COME WALK WITH GOD

W ith Bible in Hand the devotions within the pages of this book will draw you deeper into the word of God through diligent study. For the deepest conversation with our creator, John Marceau encourages every disciple to come and see and to search the scriptures to see if what is being spoken is aligned with the scriptures. Test each chapter and find for yourself a deep and rich conversation with our Most High God leading to a sweet and holy relationship with Jesus.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A special thanks to God the Father, the continued salvation of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit for empowering and giving the inspiration to embark on such an endeavor. Many prayers went into the preparation and choosing of each chapter, for which we are very grateful. This compilation has been blessed with many helping hands, both family and friends. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Dan Cope, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Martin (Wednesday night home bible study group) for their support, true fellowship in the Word of God and being the iron that sharpens iron. Thank you to Thomas Graham for your friendship/fellowship in Christ as well as providing a profound foreword for this book. A book is often judged by its cover which is true for the photograph. Thanks to Vivian Lowe, a sister in Christ who has shared her gift to capture the essence of this book through the lens of her camera. Thank you to all who contributed in one way or another for your prayers and encouragement.

DEDICATION

J ohn Marceau is co-leader of a small group home bible study as well as the author of this book. Our time with the Lord is very precious and sustains us through life and the diligent study of His word. We are blessed to have a co-leader who is inspired to walk with God and to teach us further through weekly devotions. Each devotion is intended to draw its reader deep into the word of God which has complete authority.

John Marceau takes the calling of the Lord Jesus Christ upon his life very seriously. He has been called to read and study the word of God diligently to show himself approved so that he may edify and equip his fellow saints to perfection through the Word of God as well as drawing the Lord’s disciples deeper into the word.

He has spent many hours musing, praying, studying and meditating upon the devotions placed upon his heart. Each devotion is the harvest of personal testing and growth. John’s love for his brothers and sisters in Christ often bring him to tears as he longs for them to know our mighty God in a deep and personal way through the study of HIS word.

The devotions within this book were sent, by John, through emails and other on line networks, reaching only a few. As a gift to John in appreciation for the love he pours upon us through his dedication to his calling, John’s home bible study group presents this compilation of his writings within this book to him and all who long to walk with God with a student’s appreciation to the teaching of the truth that encourages all to delve deeper into the Holy scripture which has everything pertaining to life and godliness. We hope that each individual devotion would guide you to the treasure hidden deep within the living word of God as they have done for each of us.

Thank you John for your steadfastness in edifying God’s saints through His Holy word.

FOREWARD

A rcheology tells us that a common method of writing before and during the New Testament times was on tablets of wax. These tablets were made of a flat thin board, some seven by nine inches in extent, and surrounded with a small raised beading. On this encircled surface wax was poured, which when hardened was the writing surface. These tablets were so common in the Roman Empire, that man comparable to our modern rural letter carriers covered stated routes over the countryside. These men were called Tabulari. The first time these tablets of wax are mentioned in the New Testament was in Luke 1:63 when Zacharias announced that the forerunner of Jesus would be named John, Jehovah has shown grace.

Two points here show the direction that John has taken in writing this manuscript entitled, Walking with God. Archeology has shown tablets similar to these and pieces of broken pottery were used to draw up contracts, invoices, trade agreements and personal notes. First and second century Christians, desiring to memorize certain passages of Scriptures, wrote them on some of these tablets of wax then apparently lost them or did not erase the words for some reason or another. Many were discovered hundreds of years later. Soon, other material was used to write on. The first point is Scripture was used extensively in correspondence with daily living; including prayers for the sick and the salvation of loved ones! The Word became a living thing for the early Christians. You will discover that John has been faithful to rely fully on God’s Word in his writing.

Secondly, John has shown his obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, on the basis of His authority, to make disciples of all nations and to edify and build up other believers through God’s Word. One will discover that John fosters fellowship (Acts 2:42); displays faithful obedience (Philippians 2:12); through the reliance of the Holy Spirit with perseverance (1 Corinthians 15:58) and good works (James 2:14-26) with all kindness, humility, gentleness, love, self-control and peace among other believers; for the Glory and Honor of the Father.

The purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21). This is accomplished by edification, which involves building one another up in the faith (Ephesians 4:13-16); by instruction in the Word of God; by the maturing of every believer in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:2, 15: 3:16-17); to communicate and advance the Gospel of Christ to the entire world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:41-42; John 20:21); by discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2); by the development of mutual accountability of all believers to each other (Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 18:5-14); by fellowship (Acts 2:42, 47; 1 John 1:3); by prayer (Acts 2:42); by keeping of the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38-42); and by the disciplining of sinning members of the congregation in accordance with biblical standards (Matthew 18:15-22; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:16-15; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Titus 1:10-16). The manuscript before you is John Marceau’s ministry and I believe will help to that end.

Thomas E. Graham

Highland Park, California

WALKING WITH GOD

By J. C. Philpot

T he prophet Amos, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and thus speaking for God, puts a very pointed and pregnant question, where he asks, " Can two walk together except they be agreed? " (Amos 3:3.) The inquiry thus launched forth, and permanently embodied in the word of God, embraces a very wide scope, and is true naturally as well as spiritually. Take, for instance, two people in ordinary life—one quiet, reserved, studious, fond of retirement and solitude—the other noisy, boisterous, devoted to pleasure and gaiety, a sportsman and a gambler. Can these two men be bosom friends and intimate associates? As much as sheep can willingly lie down with dogs, or doves nestle with vultures. There must be a similarity of tastes, inclinations, tempers, and habits, before such a mutual pleasure can be taken in the society of each other, as shall result in any close or permanent intimacy.

Can God, then, walk with man, or man walk with God, except they be agreed? The thing is impossible, God and man continuing what and as they are. God is holy, man unholy. God is infinitely pure, man desperately wicked. God dwelling in the light which no one can approach unto, man sitting in the very darkness and shadow of death. Yet, according to the testimony of the sacred record, Enoch walked with, and pleased God; (Gen. 5:22, Heb. 11:5;) Abraham was the friend of God; (Isa. 41:8;) and Corinthian believers were the temple of God. (2 Cor. 6:16.) Thus it is plain from God’s own unerring testimony that there is a way whereby God and man may become agreed, and as such walk together; for not only may man walk with God, but God can also walk with man, according to his own promise, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. They thus walk together—God walking in them, and they walking with God. Are they, then, agreed? They are, or how else could they walk together, if the inspired question of Amos is to stand firm and true?

There must be an agreement in love and hatred. What God hates we must learn to hate; what God loves we must be taught to love. Sin is the especial object of God’s hate; and it must be the special object of ours. Christ is the especial object of God’s love; and he must be the object of our heart’s warmest, tenderest affection. Pride, hypocrisy, presumption, self-righteousness, the lusts of the flesh, covetousness, oppression, and persecution—in a word, everything worldly and wicked, earthly, sensual, and devilish, is and ever must be hateful and abominable in the eyes of infinite Purity and Holiness. If not made hateful to us, where is the agreement, where the walking with God? Humility, brokenness, godly fear, tenderness of conscience, spirituality of mind, singleness of eye to God’s glory, separation from the world, faith, hope, love, submission, and resignation to the divine will, filial obedience, and heavenly fruitfulness in every good word and work—if these, and all other graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit, are pleasing and acceptable to God, must they not be also to us, if we are to walk with him in holy agreement?

STUDY NOTES

HE CHOOSES OUR INHERITANCE FOR US…

Psalm 47:4 NASB

S omeone once told me that God is all sovereign except over the free will of man. When I heard this I was sorely grieved. How can an all sovereign God be sovereign with an exception? I often think of who I was and where I came from before I was delivered from the power of darkness and carried away into the Kingdom of Gods Son. (Col 1:13 KJV) As to who and where I am today, I can conclude that it is not by coincidence. It is by the grace of God, that I am what I am and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain. (1 Cor 15:10 KJV) Scripture has taught me that I was dead in my trespasses and sins and that I once walked in the futility of my own mind, following the course of this age according to the power of the prince of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, of whom I was part. (Eph 2:1-2; 4:17 KJV)

Can a dead man choose? Did Nebuchadnezzar choose a heart of a beast and for seven years live as one? (Dan 4:14-16 KJV) Did Cyrus choose to be Gods shepherd and perform all Gods pleasure in releasing His people from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem? (Is 44:28 KJV) Was it Jacob who chose to be the father of the twelve tribes of Israel? Or was it Josephs choice to be thrown into a pit to die, only to be later sold into slavery and then thrown into prison for something he did not do? (Genesis 37, 39, 50:20 KJV) The answer to these and many more is an emphatic NO. I am well pleased to accept fully that God chose me, I did not choose Him. (acts 13:17; Jn 15:16, 19; 17: 11 KJV) It is He who chooses my inheritance. After all, was it not according to the good pleasure of my God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His son in me so that I may preach Him amongst the people? (Gal 1:15-16 KJV)

I am aware there are some who would not agree with this evaluation, but rather place our salvation into the hands of man and his ability to choose for himself what is prudent and right, as he chooses his own so-called destiny. The arrogance and pride of man is nothing but an abomination to God, (Pro 6:16 KJV) but he who is of a humble and contrite heart He will not despise. (Ps 51:17 KJV) To be able to praise God and glorify Him with our very lives for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves is the most honoring and liberating sacrifice man has to offer. What sort of people ought we to be knowing that we have been given to Jesus and He to us as the portion of our inheritance and of our cup who also maintains our lot? (Eph 1:11, 18; Ps 16:5 NASB) Can we with great confidence proclaim and exclaim that He chooses our inheritance for us, even determining the time and boundaries of our habitation? (Acts 17:26 NASB) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Who hath been His counselor? Who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Rom 11:33-36 NASB)

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

– Psalm 8:4-9 KJV

STUDY NOTES

MY FOOD – HIS WILL

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.

– John 4:34 ESV

A t this point in Jesus’ ministry we are given a profound look into the reason and purpose for which He came. Having spent many an hour with a woman He had to see (we know this because while traveling from Judea to Galilee He had to go through Samaria) which was by divine appointment, His disciples returned urging Him to eat. His response was a shock to them because He told them He had food to eat that they knew not about. Quite a surprise since they themselves were returning from a nearby town where they acquired said food to sustain them on such a long journey. Here He states, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. The reason for His coming was due to the fact that He had been sent. The purpose for which He came was to finish His Fathers work.

Why is it that His disciples did not know the reason or purpose for which He came? The simplest and most logical reason was that it was not yet revealed to them. How often do we go through life not knowing the reason or purpose for which we exist? Some have concluded that we exist only to do well for others and inspire hope that brings change to ones’ life. Others believe making the best of one’s’ situation will bring about contentment thereby fulfilling their desires of living a good life. Still yet others believe that the good karma they exhibit in this life will roll over to the next thus producing an evolutionary chain from life to life that will soon produce a state of nirvana for all existence.

Jesus said, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. Food is a vital part of life here on earth. It produces nourishment, satisfaction, and sustenance that our bodies need in order to sustain life. This very fact we cannot refute. There is another food that Jesus refers to and that is the will of Him who sent me. We all can agree that we did not come into being by our own volition. We did not choose where to be born, when to be born, nor did we come knowing why we were born. With that said one could only conclude that we were sent by someone greater than ourselves and that we are to accomplish, not our will, but rather the will of Him who sent us.

We read in Luke 4 the first sermon Jesus ever gave in His public ministry. It was in the town of Nazareth where He had been brought up and as was His custom He entered the synagogue and stood up to read from the book of Isaiah chapter 61:1-2 KJV. Saying, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. He then closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say unto them, today has this scripture been fulfilled in your ears. Luke 4:18-21 KJV

And again, at the end of His ministry, having taken upon Himself the sins of the world and being crucified on a cross, knowing that all things are now finished, and that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, having been put on a sponge upon hyssop, and brought to his mouth he said, it is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36 KJV

Is there any more cause for us not to do the will of Him who sent us? No longer should we look out for our own interests, but rather we ought to live for the interest of Him who gave His life for us so as to redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works.(His work)Titus 2:14 NASB

As I mentioned earlier, food is a vital part that our bodies need in order to sustain life. This life I speak is biological. It is a body that needs nutrition in order to survive. This body is perishable yet there is a life apart from our biological makeup that constitutes a living spirit. To address this life of the spirit Jesus says man does not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Deuteronomy 8:3: Matthew 4:4 KJV

Allow me for a moment to explain how this life of the spirit operates as I connect the dots. First, the apostle John tells us; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5 NASB Then in v, 14 we are told the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. To explain this we go to John chapter 5 where the Jews intend to kill Jesus for making Himself equal with God. Jesus then rebukes them in a manner whereby they are confronted with their own selfmade piousness. Thinking that they have life because they search the scriptures, they miss the very reason for which the scriptures were written and that was to reveal Jesus of whom all scripture convey.

Secondly, John chapter 6 shows us how Jesus supplies the food we need by