A TRUE FRIEND

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 19

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

These are marble heads in the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth in Greece.

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Key Verse: 1 Samuel 19:4

Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I give my whole life to You for this new day. I’m in Your Word daily. I’m in prayer daily. Please protect me by Your Word, Your Spirit, and by the solid Bible-based teaching of my local church. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve given a great deal of thought to what is called “prophesying” in the New Testament Church. Philip, a deacon of the first church, had four daughters who were “prophetesses” (Acts 21:9). I believe that we need to let the Bible interpret the Bible. Revelation 19:10 tells us that, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” I also believe that these young girls were winning souls to Jesus on the streets of Samaria, where their Dad had a revival (Acts 8). The “Testimony of Jesus” happened on the streets of Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 2. Peter said on that occasion, quoting the prophet Joel, that “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy.” These girls were not foretelling the future. They were not lying naked on the ground like Saul in today’s reading (verse 24). They were telling everyone about Jesus! Witnessing for and about Jesus is the continuing evidence of keeping filled with the Holy Spirit. I don’t think that anyone should claim to be keeping filled with God’s Spirit if they fail to give the “Testimony of Jesus” consistently. Prophecy, one of the gifts of the Spirit, referred to in 1 Corinthians 12:10 and also in 1 Corinthians 14, is for the edification and comfort of believers. I need this gift. Prophesying, as it happened on the birthday of the Church, is something different which continues to happen every time we testify, in order to win a precious never-dying soul to Jesus.

Yours for New Testament prophecy,

David

P.S. I want to acknowledge two very special people, Rev. Don and Edith Osbourne. Don established 100 Huntley Street telephone counselling and follow-up centres across Canada and the USA in the seventies and eighties. His wise choices of leaders for each centre resulted in a most powerful exercise in New Testament prophecy, “the testimony of Jesus.” Many thousands of people were led to Jesus on those telephones. Thank you Don. The reason I’m moved to write this tribute is because Don’s beloved wife Edith departed this life for the next earlier this month. Edith is a special person of beauty and grace. In 1977 our organization was desperately in need of help in the move into computers from hand kept records. Edith provided that expertise in a most efficient way. Her team of data entry employees as well as the entire Crossroads team will be forever in Edith’s debt. Don and Edith have spent the last few years in Victoria, British Columbia, where they cared for Norma-Jean and me in their home on several occasions. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to God for the gift of these true friends. We love you Don and all your family. I’m asking Jesus to let Edith know, there in His immediate presence, how much she is loved. See you soon Edith!