February 29 Edify Devotional

Today’s Devotional Theme      Fill 'Er Up   Daily Scripture Matthew 3:13-15 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?" But Jesus answered him and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him."  Encouragement In this exchange between Jesus and John the Baptist, Jesus illuminates one of the purposes for water baptism. Jesus says that being water baptized is a necessity for us to walk in and fulfill God's righteousness in our lives. This particular account in Jesus' life and ministry has always convicted my heart. Jesus was always motivated by doing what is right and righteous. This has always made me aware that I should attempt to do the same. There is a thought that has always occurred to me when I read this passage. If the King of the Universe needed to be baptized to fulfill righteousness, what should I do? Apply God’s Word There are many things that scripture teaches us that we must do to have right-standing with God. Number one is believe on His Son Jesus. This is and, since the birth of the New Testament, has always been water baptism. If you have not been baptized yet, you too should do so to fulfill all righteousness in your life. Come into His Presence Father, we want to be just like Jesus. We want to fulfill all righteousness in our lives. Help us, Father, in every area of our life to be like Your Son Jesus. Let it begin as we accept Him as our Savior and follow Him into baptism. In Jesus' name, amen. Brian Fatheree Pastor Email Pastor Brian

Victory Christian Center 18180 US Highway 150 Bloomington, Illinois 61705 309.663.7233 www.VictoryPeople.org www.Facebook.com/VictoryPeople.org

February 27 Edify Devotional

Today’s Devotional Theme      Trust in GOD Daily Scripture Psalm 58:11 (HCSB)  "Then the people will say, 'Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!'" Encouragement Political campaigns and who to vote for seem to be the topics of the day. There have been many horrific mistakes made that have caused the righteous to suffer, much like the original audience who may have read this psalm as well as subsequent generations. Many have asked, "Where's God in all of this?" The psalmist cries out to God concerning these corrupt rulers, asking Him to destroy them (vv 6-10). He looks forward to a day when both he and his people will be delivered from corrupt leadership. Apply God’s Word Our hope is not in a political party. The Bible says that whoever solely trusts in another human being is not wise (see Jeremiah 17:5-8). One political party is not necessarily less corrupt than the other. Both parties have seen their days of corruption. The psalmist urges us to put our trust in the Lord, because, no matter how bad it gets, God's ultimately going to win out because only He created the world, and both sets up and tears down kings according to His will (see Genesis 1-2; Daniel 2:21). Don't place your trust in any elected official. No matter what happens, God has the last word. Come into His Presence Father in heaven, we humble ourselves and ask Your forgiveness for placing too great a trust in people. No matter the outcome of any situation, political or not, we choose to humble ourselves and say, "You know more than we do, and we choose to trust in You, the One who's still on the throne." Let us always remember this as we go about our day, enduring the difficulties and persecutions that come with it. In Jesus' name, amen. Greg Minassian Pastor Email Pastor Greg

Victory Christian Center 18180 US Highway 150 Bloomington, Illinois 61705 309.663.7233 www.VictoryPeople.org www.Facebook.com/VictoryPeople.org

February 26 Edify Devotional

Today’s Devotional Theme      The Cure   Daily Scripture Galatians 3:13-14 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Encouragement  It “favors” the middle-aged and elderly but also afflicts new babies. It’s more prevalent among the poor and in polluted areas, but the affluent and well-connected are by no means immune. It starts small, often goes undetected for years, and eventually sends tentacles of destruction throughout the body. If you haven’t guessed, “it” is cancer, one of the most dreaded and deadly diseases of our time and history. Although the Bible doesn’t say, cancer may have got its start as part of God’s punishment for Adam and Eve’s sin. I’ve long thought that punishment included God’s making the first man and woman’s genes subject to mutations – random changes that can bear the seeds for the uncontrolled growth and ongoing mutations that characterize cancer. The tendency for disease that God brought on mankind’s genetics to pass from generation to generation has existed from the earliest times. Good news, however! A cure or cures for cancer is likely within the lifetimes of our kids – or sooner! Modern medicine is moving from chemotherapy – actually poisoning the cancer cells in a person’s body, toward the nascent field of immunotherapy – recruiting the body’s own immune system itself to selectively kill off cancer cells. Apply God’s Word The word “cancer” doesn’t appear in the English translations of the Bible I’m familiar with. The word “tumor” does, however. Some of those verses may allude to cancer. We can be sure the ancient Hebrews fell victim to various cancers and no doubt had a word for it. All this aside, we can rest on God’s promise to heal all our diseases, as Psalm 103:3 tells us. Today’s scripture brings home the promise in Psalms 103. Cancer, among a myriad of other maladies – notably leprosy – was part of the “curse of the law” that God saddled His wayward, idol-chasing children with. But God’s Son and Anointed has ripped that curse off of us. Medical science and miraculous healings alike hold the promise that cancer (and other diseases) won’t be with us forever. Come into His Presence Lord God, we take heart that better lives for us lie ahead as we obey Your Word and do Your will. Ultimately we will be free of all diseases when we go to be with You! We thank You for this. In Jesus’ name, amen. Mark Bacon Teacher & Mentor Email Mark

Victory Christian Center 18180 US Highway 150 Bloomington, Illinois 61705 309.663.7233 www.VictoryPeople.org www.Facebook.com/VictoryPeople.org

February 25 Edify Devotional

Today’s Devotional Theme      When The Devil Comes Knocking   Daily Scripture John 8:44 “He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Encouragement The devil can be sneaky and very subtle in his tactics. He can get into our mind and plant things there that are not true; yet if we are not careful, he can get us to think on these things and possibly believe them. We need to be aware of what we allow to come into our minds because it can infect our spirit. For example: Have you ever been in a situation where everything seems to be going wrong? A heaviness has come over you and you are feeling stressed, and consumed with a lot of negative emotions (sad, anxious, angry, fearful, depressed...) We have a tendency to collect the bad things one on top of another... "Just add that to the long list of the other things that are going wrong!" It's a mountain of doom and gloom!  We start telling others about our situation... "and this, and this"...  We are speaking curses upon ourselves, and instead of asking for prayer we receive sympathy and pity which is not the solution. I have called out to God... What is wrong with me? Why am I feeling this way? Why am I acting like this? The Lord said, "It's because you have been hanging around with, and listening to, the devil speaking lies to you. There is nothing about him that is good, righteous, or pure... You have allowed him to play with your emotions and steal your joy!" Oh my... I thanked Him for the revelation, I repented which stopped the devil's influence, and received God's peace. Now the mountain I had built was only a mole hill in comparison to the truth. ‭ Apply God’s Word If the devil comes knocking at the door of your mind, turn the porch 'light of Jesus' on to reveal who it is that is trying to get in. Don't allow him to get a foothold within the door and enter in (Eph 4:27) Take captive the negative thoughts and emotions, and see things through the eyes of Christ who is the lover of your soul. This is the way to slam the door in the devils face, putting a stop to the things he is trying to get you to buy, lock the door, and put up a no trespassing sign so that he can't return! Come into His Presence God, help us to realize the temptations and lies of the devil, and to resist him IMMEDIATELY! We need You to stand guard at the door of our minds to help us filter out the thoughts that aren't from You. The devil is not welcome within our lives and we thank You that You have given us the power to resist him (Jas 4:7) and tell him to flee in Jesus' name! Amen. Kalyn Petersen Greeter Ministry Director Email Kalyn

Victory Christian Center 18180 US Highway 150 Bloomington, Illinois 61705 309.663.7233 www.VictoryPeople.org www.Facebook.com/VictoryPeople.org

February 24 Edify Devotional

Today’s Devotional Theme      You Can't Take It With You Daily Scripture Psalm 49:16-20 (HCSB)  "Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases. For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down. Though he praises himself during his lifetime- and people praise you when you do well for yourself- he will go to the generations of his fathers; they will never see the light. A man without valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish." Encouragement What this psalm is trying to teach is that the best things in life are not things. As the old saying goes, "He who dies with the most toys still dies." As a hospital chaplain, I have witnessed my fair share of deaths and have noticed that this Scripture rings true. Some have died poor, while others well off, but they all have one thing in common: they're all dead. While that is sad to face, it is true, and we cannot take anything with us. What a shame it is when one builds their entire life around perishable things like money, job security, education etc., rather than the important things of life like knowing Jesus and spending time with family. Earlier in the psalm it speaks of man not being able to redeem himself before God because the cost is too high. The psalmist is correct, for only God can redeem man...and God, the Son has redeemed man through the shedding of His blood on Calvary. Through God's grace and Christ's shed blood, we are redeemed when we place our faith in Jesus. This is the only way mankind could ever be redeemed (see Acts 4:12).  Apply God’s Word Rejoice if you have great wealth, a good job, etc. Those are not bad things. In fact those are blessings from God. But don't wrap your whole life around them and boast in the fact that you have made yourself. Further, don't find security in things, because tomorrow they may be gone. I know of a man who was in the hotel business in Corpus Christie, Texas. He was so wrapped up in doing well for himself and his work. One day a tidal wave took it all out! If you're going to place your trust in something, place it in something far more precious than earthly thing. Place your trust in Jesus. He's the One you'll see after you die. Not your car, house, job, or bank account. Come into His Presence Lord, help me to keep things in perspective. Remind me each day whether I'm blessed with much or little to enjoy my blessings, but not to the point to where I believe they will save my soul. Only You can do that and I place my trust in You today. In Jesus' name, amen. Greg Minassian Pastor Email Pastor Greg

Victory Christian Center 18180 US Highway 150 Bloomington, Illinois 61705 309.663.7233 www.VictoryPeople.org www.Facebook.com/VictoryPeople.org

February 23 Edify Devotional

Today’s Devotional Theme      Please God or Please Yourself?   Daily Scripture Matthew 6:2-4 (ESV) “When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  Encouragement  God expects us to help others, both in and outside our immediate church family. But our motives matter for extending a helping hand, whether financially or otherwise (e.g. shoveling our less-able neighbor’s driveway or giving a ride to the grocery store). Notice I say “we” and not “you” because I need to answer the question of motives, too. God’s people have always had the needy among them from earliest times. Both The Old Testament and Jesus’ teachings are peppered with references to helping those less fortunate. If I can cast it in black or white, our satisfaction in lifting up others lies either in garnering the praises of our friends and neighbors or in pleasing God. We’ll reap a reward for our help either way. In the first case we can throw out our chest when someone praises us for our help. Pride and a vague feeling of “I’m better than they are” will likely be our only reward. It’s way too easy to say, “Well, sure I’m doing it for the sake of the Kingdom.” But just how sure are we that our motives for extending help are pure, done out of humility? I’ll admit I haven’t always been too humble. Apply God’s Word Jesus’ exhortation in today’s verses is both easy and hard. Easy because the message is crystal clear: give of your resources to those who are lacking. Hard because at least for me it’s only natural to enjoy the praise of others for my good deeds. Moreover, a piece of me wants my resources to stay mine! That “natural” reaction tends to oppose the stark image given by Jesus: don’t even let you left hand in on the help your right hand is offering. I want the “treasure” from my help to be eternal and heavenly (Matthew 6:20), not fleeting and earthly. I trust you do as well. Come into His Presence Lord God, we want our motives to be pure, not self-serving, but borne out of a genuine, heartfelt concern for the welfare of others. We can’t clean up our own selfish motives; only You can. So let us let You! In Jesus’ name, amen. Mark Bacon Teacher & Mentor Email Mark

Victory Christian Center 18180 US Highway 150 Bloomington, Illinois 61705 309.663.7233 www.VictoryPeople.org www.Facebook.com/VictoryPeople.org