April 11, 2023 ~ Linda K. Milam April Devotions: "The Good Shepherd"

And so, I continue. . .  

SCATTERED SHEEP

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7

Ezekiel 34:12-13 ~ 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. KJV 

The second phrase in verse 12 is one of the greatest promises God could make. By the beginning of sin in the pulpit, people are also drawn away from God and into sin. Yes, we all make our own choices, but when the "leaders of the flock" begin to let standards down, promoting - "little sin" is not to bad philosophy, it will lead to great destruction for many. But there is HOPE! God said, ". . . so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." 

Christian, have you been drawn into sin? Are you playing around in the worldly things that Satan has tempted you with, and caused you to move you away from God? Clearly God has a plan for each one of us. When we were saved, the next step after baptism and the joining of a good Bible Preaching church is to ground ourselves in the Word of God, prayers, church attendance and Bible reading! When God promised to find us, help us, and return us to our rightful places, He meant it. Allow Him to take FULL control of your life!  You will never regret it, I KNOW! Be blessed today! God Loves YOU!

HE CARES! Do You Know HIM?  Lord, help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You. Amen.  With love and prayers, may we be your faithful Philippians 2:16 Missionaries?

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 

Listen to Bro. Tom on www.wbofradio.com "The Jewel For The Day" program, every Monday - Friday at 6am and 2pm EST.

In the name of Jesus, may we be HIS emissaries and used by Him to help others. 

Tom and Linda Milam

Missionaries to America and around the world! 

PRAY BIG FOR OTHERS AND YOURSELF! GOD WANTS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS!

 

May 9 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“An Heir to All Blessings”
Ephesians 1:1-14

All that God has ever had, all he has now and all that He will ever have, He gives to us that are His, by atonement and redemption. In the beginning, Christ was there and then came in a fleshly body to suffer mercilessly, to die a thief's death, but then arise after three days, and then ascend, back to his Father. He was the Father’s choice one, and never ceased being His Son though He took on the sins of the entire world. We also are sons of God by heirship, adoption and regeneration. God made a promise to all those that would come to Him, through faith believing on His Son, would have all that He has by heirship. What a marvelous mysterious covenant. God became man, that men could get to Him, by a blood sacrifice, a “cutting” if you please. 

Jesus saw us, in the beginning and God by incarnation came down to us, He condescended to a lower estate, in the form of Christ to be our redeemer, after all, had He came down in His Spiritual, Holiest estate; no one would be able to contain such magnitude of illumination, power and brilliance. God Himself could not mix and mingle among sinners unless He would come as a man and become the first fruits of us that believe. 

The blood He shed, the marks He suffered and the cross He bore are forever ours. Whatever He got, He got for us; If any bliss it is ours. Whatever gifts He received are ours also. He stood in perfect obedience, that is ours to claim; The gifts of atonement, resurrection, ascension and intercession are our gifts from Him and by Him in joining us to Him in heirship. By His own mouth we are called the “Sons of God,” because in Him our names are recorded.

“Claiming”

All God has is at our disposal,

Our part is to obey, and claim with reposal

                                ~ Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:

  “We also are sons of God by heirship.”

Bible Reading Schedule: II Kings 21-23

Weekly Memory Verses: 1 Peter 2:21  

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

April 10, 2023 ~ Linda K. Milam April Devotions: "The Good Shepherd"

And so, I continue. . .  That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7

Ezekiel 34:10-11 ~ 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. 11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.  KJV

"The Good Shepherd" ~ who is he? As we continue our study God reveals his judgment on the men and women who are our spiritual leaders, for their own gain! There is nothing "spiritual" about a person who rules over others spiritually so to speak, yet has no spirituality in themselves. We see them don't we, and think how can God allow this? Why doesn't God do something about those that take advantage of the flock. These things we will never deal with, it is for God to handle. Woe unto them, God promised He would deal with them. Yes, we are to be open and aware of those that are false teachers, God says they will be around us, especially in the last days! 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Sadly, we have MANY vacant pulpits today because of the impropriety of men who fed themselves instead of the flock. Reputations, families, lives ruined because of sin in their lives. Some even jailed for heinous offences. May God have mercy on their souls. But this should NOT give us cause to fall away from the LORD God as they did. Because of sin, they are removed from their position of power over the flock, and God will move the flock away from the fallen leader.

Let's make sure our hearts, minds and souls are focused on God and His leading, guidance and direction for our lives. He will be in control and He will help us to serve and minister in His name and Biblical correct. May He ever forgive us when we fail Him and others.

Can you say you are a child of God and have a sincere desire to serve Him and not man. We have a responsibility in this as well as the false teachers. We must maintain an CLOSE relationship with God so that we have the discernment needed to point out these people. I pray you are saved and can do this.

HE CARES! Do You Know HIM?  Lord, help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You. Amen.  With love and prayers, may we be your faithful Philippians 2:16 Missionaries?

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 

Tom and Linda Milam ~ Missionaries to America and around the world! 

Listen to Bro. Tom on www.wbofradio.com "The Jewel For The Day" program, every Monday - Friday at 6am and 2pm EST.

In the name of Jesus, may we be HIS emissaries and used by Him to help others. 

PRAY BIG FOR OTHERS AND YOURSELF! GOD WANTS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS!

May 8 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

 “Leave Your Cot and Don’t Go Back To Bed!”
John 5:1-15

There were many people that lay about the pool of Bethesda waiting patiently for the troubling of the waters. There was nothing mystical or magical about the water until the Angel of the Lord came down and stirred it, then those with their dreaded diseases, came into the waters to be healed. They were all alike sick, but not all were sick alike, they each needed a personal touch from God. When the impotent man, that had been in his infirmity thirty eight years, got saved and healed that day, he was immediately changed and he didn’t go back to bed, he carried it away while praising Jesus and witnessing to those around him.

Has sin diseased your mind, body and soul, and left you in despair? Come to Jesus, confess your sins, believe and trust Him, He will help you by His saving power and He will give you joy and peace in believing. You will never be the same again, once Jesus has touched you. This man at the pool had no knowledge as to who Jesus was, didn’t even realize that this was the son of the Living God. But he had faith, and caused him to see his need before Jesus ever spoke to him. The man realized he needed to repent, before he was ever made divine. Never let the evil of ignorance keep you from being the right kind of witness for Christ. Do you clearly know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? If you do, then you will be able to witness to anyone, anywhere at any time. Can you tell everybody that it was Jesus, who made you whole?

“Somethin’”

All of God’s sheep, will produce somethin’ 

Either a little wool, or a little mutton

                                                ~ Tom Milam

(“I’m a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about somebody, that will save anybody.”)

Daily Jewel:

“You’ll never be the same again once Jesus has touched you.”

Bible Reading Schedule: II Kings 18-20

Weekly Memory Verses: 1 Peter 2:21  

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

April 9, 2023 ~ Linda K. Milam April Devotions: "The Good Shepherd"

And so, I continue. . .  

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7

Ezekiel 34:7-8 ~ 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 8  As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; KJV

Our Study today continues from yesterday as to being a good shepherd to the Lord's people (flock). As Ezekiel writes, the people were being neglected, unfed, and cared for and God was not pleased at all.  There are men (and some women) who stand before people and call themselves the Lord's "shepherd", which can have many titles. In the Bible days the titles would be King, Prince, or spiritual leader, Sunday School teacher. The same goes today - as spiritual leaders we should be ever conscious of the "flock" that God leads our way. In our ministries we have people from all walks of life that approach us and plead for help in so many ways. Financial, health, home, all that goes with all that. How will we react when we are asked for help? Will we do as God would want us to do, knowing these also are God's flock? Will we reach them with the Gospel if we are "turning them away" because that won't be a plus to the flock, but potentially drain the "coffers" so to speak? GOD WILL SUPPLY AND MANAGE THE COFFERS; no need for us to worry about that, especially when we are obedient to Him.

May God forgive us when we fail as "good shepherds" and may he remind us always that we are also of the flock. No better, no worse, but God called. Be a blessing to someone today! We are so shorthanded of GOOD SHEPHERD'S ~ BE ONE TODAY!

HE CARES! Do You Know HIM?  Lord, help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You. Amen.  With love and prayers, may we be your faithful Philippians 2:16 Missionaries?

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 

Tom and Linda Milam ~ Missionaries to America and around the world! 

Listen to Bro. Tom on www.wbofradio.com "The Jewel For The Day" program, every Monday - Friday at 6am and 2pm EST.

In the name of Jesus, may we be HIS emissaries and used by Him to help others. 

PRAY BIG FOR OTHERS AND YOURSELF! GOD WANTS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS!

April 8, 2023 ~ Linda K. Milam April Devotions: "The Good Shepherd"

And so, I continue. . .  

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7

Ezekiel 34:4-6 ~ 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. KJV  

Chapter 34 of Ezekiel exposes God's great concern of the "shepherds" leading the people. They were more interested in what they could obtain or gain than what they could do for God's people. These "shepherds" (princes, kings, leaders) main goal was to "fleece the flock" so to say. God was very unhappy about this, and it shows not only here in Ezekiel, but He also revealed in the book of 1 Peter; When Peter wrote, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;" (1 Peter 5:2), he meant spiritual shepherds. Peter also wrote this keeping in mind that Jesus is always the THE Shepherd among God’s people (1 Peter 2:25); "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

If we are leaders of people in any capacity, we are to use the good judgment God gives us, AND in every way deal honestly and decent to others! If you are in a position where people come to you to seek help in any way; we must obey the Word of God and lead with humbleness, using Jesus as our Guide when we minister to others. In His teaching on the Good Shepherd in John 10,"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."  Jesus explained this principle. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Peter later wrote of this same idea (1 Peter 5:2) "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;" All faithful "shepherds" are to care for the flock, sometimes at our own significant self-sacrifice. 

Will you be able to stand before God one day Christian, and say you fulfilled your duties as a "shepherd" by the Word of God? Today is the day you can change that if you are not. Turn it all over to God, let Him help and lead you! Be blessed,

HE CARES! Do You Know HIM?  Lord, help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You. Amen.  With love and prayers, may we be your faithful Philippians 2:16 Missionaries?

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 

Tom and Linda Milam ~ Missionaries to America and around the world! 

Listen to Bro. Tom on www.wbofradio.com "The Jewel For The Day" program, every Monday - Friday at 6am and 2pm EST.

In the name of Jesus, may we be HIS emissaries and used by Him to help others. 

PRAY BIG FOR OTHERS AND YOURSELF! GOD WANTS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS!

May 7 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“And He Healed Them”
Matthew 12:15; Isaiah 55:13 

We can never weary our Saviour with our constant coming to Him. He never gets tired of our drawing from His strength. He never gets aggravated at what we feel are petty and frivolous complaints. We have a right to come to Him, by the shed blood that’s been applied to our lives and He never gets disgusted with our pleading it on ever case, small or great.

Our problems, no matter how severe, doesn’t shake His ability to operate nor diminish His power to do it over and over again. Are you handicapped with something? Is it a serious fever? Let Him touch your brow; Could it be twisted limbs? He’ll give you power to rise above your inability to perform as well as you would like; Could it be a mental disorder, blindness or maybe some form of cancer? It might be any number of things that attack the mortal body, but at a word He, the great Physician, can make them all flee. We have a Saviour that is touched by the feeling of our infirmities, His grace is sufficient to heal us all, from iniquities to simple enquiries.

My hope is in Jesus, my friend, and my hope is in Jesus for you and your needs. Are you unsaved? My hope is in Jesus, that you will turn to Him, in full confession of sin and ask for forgiveness, then walk in a new repented life.

I woke up this morning and soon remembered again how He gave his life for me and purchased all of my needs and desires at the cross. He took on Himself all of my hurts, diseases and sins, “By His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:5. The greatest miracle ever performed, is the saving of a soul; But are you also hurting, has fear gripped you? Have you spent all on other physicians? Touch the hem of His garment, He’ll give you grace to overcome the worst of problems.

“His Touch”

The Church on earth, trust the holy Spirits dealing,

And all of Heaven host, boast of God’s divine healing.

                                    ~ Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:

“We Can Never Weary Our Saviour.”

Bible Reading Schedule: II Kings 16-17

Weekly Memory Verses: Psalms 23:1-6

Psalms 23:1  A Psalm of David.>> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.