The Right Mind

The Right Mind by Kirk Hunt

Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

Luke 8:35 NKJV

The demon-possessed man had been a terror to the Gadarenes. Instead of joy and reverence at his healing, the town elders were unhappy and afraid. Since they asked Jesus to leave, I question if they were in their right minds.

When God moves in His sovereign power, men and women are not always happy. Too often, the disruption of the status quo ruins folks’ plans and arrangements. Also too often, people are uncomfortable with what they cannot control.

The Gadarenes had adapted to the situation of the demon-possessed man. Jesus ruined that adaptation. The power of God through Jesus exceeded their ability to exercise control or authority. Instead of reverence for God’s power, they reacted in fear to Messiah.

Consider how you respond to God’s power in your life. Is your mind right with Him? Do you accept His sovereign authority in joy and reverence, or are you fearful and resentful?

God’s power exceeds us. God’s grace often disrupts our plans and changes our arrangements. Do you respond with a mind right with Him?

Think: When God exercises His power, am I responding with a right mind?

Pray: “Father-God, help me to respond correctly to You and Your sovereign power.

Copyright © March 2023, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

To Deceive, If Possible

To Deceive, If Possible by Kirk Hunt

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.

Matthew 24:24-25 NKJV

Jesus Christ, Himself, warned us that false messiahs and false prophets would deceive people. Men or women, out of greed, or delusion, or ego, would lead too many into error and sin. Reveal God’s truth by comparing everything you see and hear to the Bible.

Will some people lie to you? Yes, they will. Can you believe the wrong thing for a time? Yes, you can. You have been warned.

Seek God’s truth by studying God’s Word. Compare the words of every teacher and leader you see or hear to Bible text. When in doubt or conflict, believe the Bible.

False prophets and false messiahs always want you to believe something in conflict with the Bible. You cannot trust even their miracles. Even sincere men and women can be in error. You can always trust God’s Word.

Deception will come, but you do not have to be deceived. The simple believe every word, but the prudent considers well his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15, NKJV) The stakes are high. Take the time to make sure you are following the Bible.

Think: Weigh and measure all you hear and see against the Bible.

Pray: “Father-God, help me measure everything by Your Word.”

Copyright © July 2022, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Where Is Your Pleasure?

Where Is Your Pleasure? by Kirk Hunt

And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NKJV

Too often, the truth hurts me. I may flinch, but I refuse to turn away. I have to work hard for it, but I always seek to find pleasure and joy in God’s truth. His truth always brings life and increase for His sons and daughters.

You can always take pleasure in the lies. They are, after all, easier to hear. Unfortunately, the lies always lead to death, loss, and condemnation.

Ask a drug addict. Ask anyone deep in debt. It was fun at first, but the pain and hurt outweigh the temporary pleasures.

The preacher said, God will only save you from your enemies, not your friends.” God can separate you from an addiction, but you have to want to be clean and stay sober. God can separate you from the lies, but you have to want His truth.

If you want His truth, all you have to do is ask. You may have to work hard to find joy and enjoyment in God’s truth. When you are living in His grace and blessing, it will be worth it.

Think: Do I love God’s truth? Do I find pleasure in His truth or the lie?

Pray: “Lord, help me to love and take pleasure in Your truth.”

Copyright © September 2021, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Seek Faithful Teachers

Seek Faithful Teachers By Kirk Hunt

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV

Too many, including myself, have put the blame on the false teachers. Suddenly, I understand that the students and followers should be held accountable. You have to want the truth, in the first place.

I am guilty of not always wanting to hear the truth. Scripture has a way of roughing up God’s men and women. Still, find a faithful Bible teacher and dig in. Do your homework and follow along in your own copy of the Bible.

A faithful Bible teacher has one agenda: To teach God’s truth from God’s Word. A faithful Bible teacher does not care about your political leanings, cultural bias or level of sensitivity. A faithful Bible teacher cares only that you hear the pure and untainted Word of God.

Also, you must make the effort to learn from God’s Word for yourself. Your Bible teacher cannot have a relationship with God for you. You must seek Him and His truth for yourself. And there will be times in your Christian journey when only God’s voice will satisfy you.

It is your soul and therefore your responsibility. If you can read and understand this devotional, then you can read and understand the Holy Bible. Do your part of the hard work of learning God’s Word.

Think: It is my responsibility to find and support a faithful Bible teacher.

Pray: “Lord, help me to learn Your Word as deeply as I can.”

 

Copyright © November 2018, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Profane And Idle Babblings

Profane And Idle Babblings By Kirk Hunt

But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort

2 Timothy 2:16–17 NKJV

 

It was not that long ago that cursing and foolish talk was a negative. Men and women would demonstrate their education, or refinement, by speaking in words and phrases that you would proudly repeat to others. It seems now that profane and idle babblings pervades throughout society and sadly the Church.

Foul language and foolishness are ugly, coming from unbelievers. Such things are especially foul, coming from those who call themselves Christians. Christians are called to be a peculiar people. In this case peculiar refers to careful conduct that puts a positive light on Christ and fellow Christians.

All Christians are a witness regarding Jesus Christ. Do you testify to the purity and grace of Jesus? Does your conduct and speech draw, or repel, non-believers?

Holding yourself to a higher, purer form of conduct and communication will make you stand out. Trust me, they will notice. Do they wait eagerly for you to slip up? Some, yes.

What comes out of your mouth may not be cursing, per se. You can speak the absolute truth with hurtful intent and wicked motives. Deliberately, or thoughtlessly, injuring others with your words is just as wicked and sinful as anything else.

Think: Is my life and conduct profane or pious? Am I thoughtful or thoughtless when I speak?

Pray: “Lord, help me to be a good witness of You.”

 

Copyright © April 2018, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Itching Ears

Itching Ears By Kirk Hunt

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV

If you are like me, you hate to be wrong. Prayerfully, you are also like me, and you sincerely desire the discomfort of real truth over the illusion of fables or myths. The lust for lies over truth is called “itching ears” by the Apostle Paul.

Human beings prefer to glide from win to win, with nary an uncomfortable factoid to be seen or felt. God’s people, followers of Jesus Christ, are constantly being battered by inconvenient and even distasteful things like facts, data and Real Truth™. Last I checked, all of God’s people are also human beings, therefore you may be vulnerable to itching ears.

The unredeemed may be misled. After all, they do not have God’s power or the Holy Spirit to guide them toward truth or away from error. God’s people do not have that excuse.

God gives wisdom to those who ask it of Him. You do ask for wisdom, do you not? In order to ask for Godly wisdom, you must first turn your own desires toward the things of God.

What do you allow yourself to want? Do you sincerely seek God’s truth or justification for your lustful urges? Are your ears itching?

Think: I should direct my desires to God’s truth, no matter how my ears itch for something else.

Pray: “Lord, give me Your wisdom and truth, no matter what.”

 

Copyright © April 2018, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Their Own Desires

Their Own Desires By Kirk Hunt

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV

 

The classic strategy of a swindler is to promise “something for nothing.” The desires and lusts betray the “victim” more powerfully than the confidence man or woman. Unfortunately, this applies to God’s people as much as anyone else.

 

If you want anything more than God, it is a lust. If you want something enough to alter or deliberately misinterpret God’s Word, it is a lust. The desires for control, ego or status can be lusts, just like money, sex or power.

 

And there is always someone out there who will tell you what you want to hear. False teachers (read: con artists) will gear their lessons to the biggest paychecks, not your well-being or Godliness. Local or national, near or far, the false teachers we heap up for ourselves preach false stories that lead to destruction.

 

Why do you want what you want? What does the Bible say about what you want? What does the Bible say about how you are working to get what you want? The honest answers to these questions will tell you what you need to know about your desires.

 

Read and study the Bible yourself. Compare every “teacher” you hear to the Bible, our one true source. Do not let your own desires lead you astray.

 

Think: My own desires and lusts will lead me astray, if I let them.

 

Pray: “Lord, help me keep my desires on You.”

 

Copyright © April 2017, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Free In The Truth

Free In The Truth By Kirk Hunt

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:31–32 NKJV

Lots of folks try to sell you the “secrets” of freedom. There are other folks who claim that they alone know the truth. Only Jesus and the Word of God have the truth, or can truly set you free. Everything else is either an error or a con.

The truth is not free. The price of truth is a lifetime of reading (studying) and thinking about (meditating on) God’s Word. Knowing God’s Word, even imperfectly, leads to more and greater freedom than you can imagine. Jesus wants you to abide in God’s Word.

Do not be intimidated by Scripture. Set aside a regular time (preferably daily) and read your Bible. Then think about how it applies to your life. You do not need a Theology degree to begin hearing everything God wants to say to you.

Suggestion: For a week, spend 10 minutes a day less on social media, and 10 minutes a day more on Scripture. You will be shocked at the difference it will make in your understanding of God’s Word and His truth.

Jesus’ words (in red) are simple. “Study my Word…the truth shall make you free.” No one with a Bible is locked out of real truth.

Real disciples abide in God’s Word (Scripture). Knowing God’s Word gives you the truth. The truth makes you free.

Are you free yet?

Think: God’s Word makes me free. Do I seek His Word?

Pray: “Lord, help me to love Your truth and righteousness.”

 

Copyright © February 2017, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Believe The Truth

Believe The Truth By Kirk Hunt

And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NKJV

Apostle Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to warn God’s people to love the truth and reject lies. The truth is often simpler and less complicated than the lie. The problem is that the lie appeals to something sinful in us.

All too short a time after the establishment of the Church at Thessaloniki, someone was teaching that Jesus had already returned and raptured His Church. Paul spoke against this apostasy but then addressed the deeper issue of loving the truth.

Paul states it is important for God’s people to cultivate a love for the truth. He states just as clearly that men and women can take “pleasure in unrighteousness.” Which do you choose; truth or unrighteousness?

Addicts believe the drug is a benefit. Adulterers believe in their reasons to lie and betray. Swindlers believe the money in your account is theirs, rather than yours. Of course, there are subtler ways to believe a lie, rather than the truth.

Do you love the truth, rather than a lie? Are you willing to believe a lie and be damned? The choice is binary. Either you seek God’s truth or you love the enemy’s lies. Believing the lie means accepting a delusion that leads to condemnation.

Believing the lie requires that you set aside the facts and data. Loving the truth makes it easier to spot the lies. Seek His righteousness. It is easier in the long-run.

Think: Do I really seek the truth, or do I prefer unrighteousness?

Pray: “Lord, help me to love Your truth and righteousness.”

 

Copyright © January 2017, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

The King’s Actions

The King’s Actions By Kirk Hunt

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Matthew 2:17 NKJV

King Herod actions cannot be seen as anything other than ruthless, cruel and monstrous. He ordered the death of every male child in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas. His purpose in murdering babies? Preserving his station and power.

Warned through a dream from God, the wise men outwitted and outmaneuvered Herod. Herod then resorted to brute force to achieve his ends. From his position of power and wealth, Herod delivered death to the cradles and cribs of Bethlehem.

The result? God’s omniscience and omnipotence again thwarted Herod. Jesus and His family found safety in Egypt. Herod could never have overthrown the building of God’s Kingdom, but he tried.

The massacre of the innocents is not all that is recorded of Herod’s reign. Herod established the Herodian Dynasty. He also re-built the Second Temple, expanded the Temple complex, and brought water to Jerusalem.

Herod’s construction projects and political accomplishments are not the mainstay of his legacy. Instead, he is remembered as a murderous, blood-soaked tyrant who impoverished his own people.

What actions are you taking? Are they part of building God’s Kingdom? When you stand before God, the True King, what will He say of your actions?

 

Think: Are my actions designed to build God’s Kingdom, or something else?

Pray: “Lord, help me to take the actions that build Your Kingdom.”

 

Copyright © December 2016, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.