Daily Devotions Archives - Colin Dye

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord

Colin Dye — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 09:19:31 +0000

(Psalm 130:1)

The beginning of this Psalm touches a familiar experience for us all. Of course it?s natural and right to turn to the Lord in times of deep distress. We?ve all done that at one time or another. He always draws close to listen and answer. During times of crushing brokenness he is always present to help, comfort and lift us up.

But is that really the point of brokenness? Does God only allow us to be bruised, crushed and broken in order that he may heal us and restore us? Is his primary commitment to provide what?s missing from our lives or give back the things we?ve lost?

The writer of this Psalm can help us find some answers to these questions. He was in the midst of some overwhelming circumstances. Apparently he was submerged under a tidal wave of disastrous events and painful experiences. What does he ask God for? Read the rest of the Psalm and it may surprise you.

He asks for forgiveness. Imagine that! We might have expected him to cry out to God for deliverance, for reversed circumstances, for blessings, for relief from pain. But no. He is looking for forgiveness. We may be tempted to think that this was only a ploy on the part of the Psalmist. He figured that his discomfort was due to his personal sin or the corporate sin of Israel. If he prayed down forgiveness from heaven for himself and the nation, God was duty-bound to bless by reversing whatever situation he was in.

But I don?t think so. God is never obligated to bless because we can never deserve it. It is always by grace. Repentance opens the door for God to bless us but no true repentance is ever about seeking blessings. It is always about seeking God for himself.

When we are going through severe trials, our attitude should never be that of a suffering person demanding relief. Rather we should be courageous enough to look into the depths of our soul for a deeper brokenness. The brokenness of knowing that of ourselves we are utterly hopeless and helpless. From this place we will find a deeper repentance leading to a deeper joy ? the joy of pure communion with the living God. That?s the grace of God.

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The Devil is Driven Out

Colin Dye — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:52:00 +0000

At one time, the arch deceiver, Satan held sway over the minds and hearts of the nations. They were blinded from seeing the truth of God and his promise of salvation. But Jesus came to set the captives free.

Satan is also the old serpent, ‘whose sting brought death to the race and still brings death to the individual through ignorance or rejection’

This means that through his death on the cross he will draw all nations to himself. Jesus? death on the cross opened salvation for all nations and set them free from Satan?s reign of ignorance and
oppression. The devil no longer holds that place of domination over the nations of the world. He has been driven out and now all may come and freely receive God?s salvation.
?Lord, you have penetrated my darkness with the light of your revelation. I lift you up on my heart today and allow the drawing power of the Holy Spirit to bring me close to you.?
The devil cannot hold you captive and blind you to the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ any longer. His death on the cross drove the devil out of the place of controlling the minds and hearts of the people of the nations of the world. You are free to receive everything Christ has for you.
Christ was lifted up to die on the cross, so opening up the way for the whole world to receive him. As you lift him up in your heart and before others through your witness and testimony, he promises to draw people to himself. Live the cross, love the cross and never tire of proclaiming the cross in your life as a disciple. That way your life will be attractive to all who hunger for the truth but cannot yet see it for themselves ? and the Holy Spirit will reveal it to them.
Read John 12:27-32

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The Devil is Disarmed

Colin Dye — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:20:55 +0000

When it comes to overcoming Satan, religion is of no value. In fact, it is one of the greatest weapons he uses against us.

Satan cast out of heaven,he is a defeated foe.

Once we put our trust in religious ritual or ceremony, or any other means of impressing God, we have become religious and miss the grace and power of God in our lives. That way we become easy prey to the devil.

But Christ has come and removed every charge or accusation against us through the blood of his cross, and in doing this, he has totally disarmed the devil forever. He has displayed his triumph over the devil and his evil forces and manifested his complete victory.
?Lord, I bless you for setting me free from the bondage and guilt caused by religion. Thank you that all spiritual charges against me cannot hold because you have totally disarmed the devil of his power.?
The defeat of Satan extends to the spiritual realm where Christ has openly triumphed over the devil. He is totally disarmed, stripped of his authority and has no more power over your life. He can no longer hold you captive through religious guilt or accusation. You are set free in Christ.
The freedom of true disciples consists in this: we know there are no more requirements we have to fulfil in order to be acceptable to God. The controlling forces of religion have been defeated in our life through the blood of Christ.
This deliverance leaves us ready to walk in the new resurrection life of Christ through the daily exercise of our faith. Take up that mindset of belief as you set out today on the next step in your journey of faith. Every day is an adventure to a disciple.

Read Colossians 2:11-15

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The Devil is Destroyed

Colin Dye — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:30:03 +0000

The devil is at war with God for the souls of men and women and the whole human race. But God has destroyed his plans once and for all. He sent his Son into the world to be born as human being, meeting the devil on our territory ? human nature.

Now that our sin has been taken away and the fearful judgment of death removed, the devil has lost his grip forever!

This means Jesus was able to confront the devil, and through his death surrender to the Father?s will to die on the cross and defeat Satan forever. Jesus? death destroyed the devil and ?rendered him inoperative.? He no longer has any power over us. Now that our sin has been taken away and the fearful judgment of death removed, the devil has lost his grip forever!
?Thank you, Lord, for overthrowing the devil and destroying his hold on me. You tasted death for me and for every person and have released me from the fear of death and condemnation.?
Jesus became man in order to pitch the battle for humanity on the same ground it was lost ? human nature. His death atoned for our sin and delivered us from the condemnation and eternal death we were due to receive. The devil now is defeated and totally inoperative in this area.
You have been delivered from the fear of death and condemnation. You can now serve God freely from the heart. Neither love nor faith can operate out of fear because perfect love casts out fear and faith works through love. This means you can serve God acceptably and walk in love before him. This is the real motivation of those who are united with Jesus Christ and are following the example he set on this earth. Plant your feet in his footsteps today.
Read Hebrews 2:10-14

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Seated with Christ, Hidden with Christ

Colin Dye — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:15:10 +0000

You have been so completely saved, renewed and transformed that your old life is dead, gone forever! And you are so completely identified with Christ that he now is your very life.

You are hidden together with him in heaven with God. This is where everything that is truly to do with you takes place. It?s this heavenly reality that determines everything about you and gives you the resolve and the courage to follow Christ, despite the pull of earthly pressures and the old ways of thinking and living that belong to your former life without God.
?Lord, my new life is what counts. I am no longer what I once was and I thank you for that. Please help me see clearly my new identity and the complete transformation you have worked in me.?
Your new identity is totally identified with Christ, who he is and where he is. You share this heavenly perspective with him and it gives you the determination to deal with the earthly desires which
would otherwise kill your passion for Christ and lead you astray.
Setting your hope fully on what God has done for you in Christ means you will be totally satisfied with living your life from a heavenly perspective. That will also give you the encouragement you need to press on in your struggle against sin and the things in your life and circumstances that don?t seem to line up with your heavenly position.But the greatest encouragement of all is not how much you think you have achieved for Christ, but all that it already yours through him.
Read Colossians 3:1-5

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On the Throne with Christ

Colin Dye — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:40:25 +0000

Read Ephesians 2:1-7. Being included in Christ through faith means that we are one with him. His history becomes our history and his position is our position also. We were dead in our transgressions and sins, but now we have been made alive in Christ and have been made to sit together with him in heavenly places.

Your true place is in the heavenlies, seated with Christ on the throne of the universe. This is faith position which will become a practical and visible reality in the future kingdom of God. Right now you are in training for reigning!

This also means that we will enjoy a glorious future with Christ ruling and reigning with him for all eternity. Our present position is by faith and is a spiritual reality. But when Christ returns this will become a manifest reality for all the world to see. It all begins when we see ourselves seated on the throne with Christ.
?Lord, I take up my true place in the heavenlies and choose to look at my life from your heavenly perspective. Help me prepare for my work of serving you now and forever in the life to come.?
Your true place is in the heavenlies, seated with Christ on the throne of the universe. This is faith position which will become a practical and visible reality in the future kingdom of God. Right now you are in training for reigning!
There can be no greater contrast between what we were before we came to Christ and where we are now. Far from being dead in sins, controlled by Satan and heading for hell, we are now seated with Christ on the executive throne of the universe. Not only are we destined for heaven, we are actually positioned there now, in Christ. The revelation of this will change your life ? how you live, look at your circumstances and orientate your life.

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The Highest Place in the Universe

Colin Dye — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:58:26 +0000

Jesus Christ is seated in the highest place of honour and authority in the universe. That position has been given to him by God, the Father, who raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand making him Lord over all.

Jesus Christ is seated in the highest place of honour and authority in the universe.

Jesus Christ is now infinitely exalted over every principality, power, might and dominion, both in this world and in the next. And the Church has a share in this same authority. Being part of his body means we, who are included in Christ by faith, have him as our glorious and triumphant head. And this also means that we enjoy exactly that same spiritual position before God as Jesus does.

Key Thought

Your union with Christ through faith means that his position becomes your position also. Knowing this is the key not only to submitting to him as your head, but learning how to administrate his authority and triumphant victory over the principalities and powers in this age.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for your triumphant victory over the principalities and the powers, and for the authority of your name which is higher than any other. I go out today in your strength and victory.

Discipleship Steps

There is no other way of you rising to your potential in Christ without understanding your position in him. You are joined with Christ by faith and are part of the body of Christ under whose feet God has placed every principality, power and force of evil. When you adopt this ?victory mentality? you find a new confidence to place your feet in the footsteps of Jesus, and follow him to the cross where you can exchange his life for yours and see it reproduced in you.

Read: Ephesians 1:15-23

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The Effective Working of God

Colin Dye — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:11:02 +0000

Read: Ephesians 3:14-21 . The word for ?power? in verse 21 is dunamis which means God?s ?potential power?, or his ?power on reserve?. But this power is not just theoretically available to us; it is actively operating according to his ?working? within us.

The word for ?power? in verse 21 is dunamis which means God?s ?potential power? or his ?power on reserve?

This word is energeo literally means, ?the energetic exercising? of God?s power. And it this power that God says, is working in you! Right now, all God?s power is held on reserve for you and is being released in you as you draw on it for the practical purpose of living and achieving for him. God wants you to boldly go and do exploits for him, and he will back you up to the hilt.

Key Thought

God?s power, his infinite, ?super-abundant-above-power?, is yours ? not just as a theatrical possibility, but as a practical reality. That is why you can dream big dreams and let your heart loose on the divine possibilities that are available to you in Christ. Don?t sell yourself short!

Prayer

Lord, please help me. I need a revelation of your power operating in me. I want to do great things for you but I need to experience your power more fully. Release me into your potential for my life.

Discipleship Steps

Discipleship dreams ? that?s what will release God?s faith and his power in your life. Dream of what you could become as your rise up to take hold of your potential in Christ. We are God?s power outlets into the life of this world. Keep connected and draw down that power as you discover that nothing is impossible for you. Be inspired by God?s possibilities, and remember, the effective operation of God?s power in you is not lacking. You can fulfil your discipleship dreams.

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Power To Do Good

Colin Dye — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:24:46 +0000

In everything, Jesus was an example for us and, in his humanity, he relied on the same anointing of the Holy Spirit that he has now made available to us.

We have the power to do good

Jesus was anointed by the Father so that he could be empowered for his life and mission. Jesus rescued us from the clutches of the devil through the power of the Holy Spirit. We now have his ability to stand against the oppression of the devil in our lives and also to set people free from that same oppression. We have been called to do good ? to actually deliver people from the power of Satan. And that can only happen through the power of God.

Key Thought

The power to do good doesn?t come from ourselves. Christianity isn?t some form of spiritual humanism. We are nothing without God?s power at work in us, but through that same power, we can set the captives free and proclaim a message that gives all people who receive him the power to change.

Prayer

Thank you Lord, for your anointing in my life. Help me to use the Holy Spirit?s enabling today to live my life of freedom and also to point others to you and your deliverance from Satan?s kingdom.

Discipleship Steps

Jesus is your model the standard of true discipleship. But remember, this is not about your ability. Rather it is about learning the secret of releasing his anointing in your life to bring about the full measure of liberation and creativity in you. Let God mightily inspire this within you and in your work, rest and worship today. Be everything he enables you to be. You are his liberation soldier ? let him loose through you and you will see the difference his power can make.

Read: Acts 10:37-38

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A Gospel of Power

Colin Dye — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:21:19 +0000

The gospel is a message of power and not just a moral call or an intellectual idea. The difference between Christianity and every other religion is this: God?s power is at work in our lives through Christ.

The gospel is not a mere philosophy or ideology or even a religious message. It is the Power of God…switch it on!

As we receive Christ into our lives he plants his ability on the inside of us. The Holy Spirit lives within us so that our new spiritual nature is capable of loving God and serving him. This is good news indeed. Salvation is God?s enabling for us to be in right relationship with him and, more than that, it is his nature implanted in us so that Christ?s character is powerfully reproduced in us by faith.

Key Thought

The gospel is not a mere philosophy, or ideology, or even a religious message. It is the power of God, delivering a person from condemnation and sanctifying that person on their journey to heaven. This power prepares you for life and living on earth as well as guaranteeing your eternal destiny.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for the power of Christ and his gospel at work in me. I thank you for rescuing me through your power so that I can live for you on the earth and enjoy you forever in heaven.

Discipleship Steps

The central discipleship message of the Word of God is that we are being saved through the power of God and not by our works or our own human effort. This means that there is a power at work in our lives that is carrying us onward, towards our high call of God in Christ. Today, in your struggle against sin and the things that could discourage you or pull you down, remember, it?s not you but Christ in you that really counts.

Read: Romans 1:8-17

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