witness Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

More Than Resurrection

More Than Resurrection by Kirk Hunt

But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

John 12:10-12 NKJV
Please also read John 12:1-11 NKJV

Lazarus was not just a witness, but hard evidence. The man was dead. Then buried. Then decayed. Then Jesus raised him from dead. The power to resurrect someone is difficult to deny.

Despite performing the ultimate in miracles, the Chief Priests refused to have faith in Jesus. They were even willing to murder Lazarus, to silence his testimony. Destroying the evidence remains a popular criminal strategy.

Lazarus is not a pathway to salvation. His death, then being raised from the dead, is notable, but does not touch or impact salvation. Lazarus was not a perfect, final sacrifice. He could not atone for anyone’s sins, even his own.

Jesus died. Jesus resurrected. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12 NKJV).

Lazarus was a friend of Jesus. I assume he possessed redeeming qualities. Lazarus has no part in your salvation. Silencing him could not stop the ministry of Jesus.

Perhaps you are a great Christian witness. You might be evidence of the power of Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus is still the only path to salvation.

Jesus was the perfect, final sacrifice. He atoned for your sin, and especially mine. It is only by His Name men and women can be saved.

Think: Only Jesus gives salvation to men and women.

Pray: “Lord, thank You for the set and sure path to salvation through Jesus Christ.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

Gift In The Room

Gift In The Room by Kirk Hunt

A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

Proverbs 18:16 NKJV

Where there is excellence or skill, consideration is given by people. Sometimes, too much. God’s people (saints) should always operate in excellence. Your gift puts you in the room(s) to be an ambassador of Father-God.

Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations. Your gift, exercised with skill, used in grace, for a Godly purpose, gets their attention. While they are looking, you are preaching the Gospel message directly.

Make no mistake, all of God’s people preach. The mistake is thinking that your Gospel message always involves your words. The way you do what you do communicates a lot about you. And the God you serve.

Your name comes up in rooms you never knew existed. In front of people you did not think or know were looking or listening, and they have their purposes. You, a saint of God, follow the Great Commission.

And when they discuss your work, they dissect the hows and whys of your results and gift. In that moment, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is communicated. Or His Name is blasphemed, if you are a hypocrite.

God’s people are living letters, read by men and women. We are supposed to explain, in detail, how a loving God is searching for all of His children. Like any loving father, God wants to be reconciled with all of His kids. Are you using your gift to help or hinder Him reuniting with His children?

Think: My gift make room for me. Am I preaching the Gospel or something else?

Pray: “Lord, help me to preach Your Gospel, even when I am not in the room.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

A Life Of Peril And Calling

A Life Of Peril And Calling by Kirk Hunt

In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren

2 Corinthians 11:26 NKJV
Please also read 2 Corinthians 11:22-28 NKJV

The Apostle Paul could have had tenure. He had the intelligence, education and connections to establish a Christian Academy and live comfortably. He could have taught and published with zero risk to himself. Instead, he lived a life of peril.

Paul lived a life of danger, risk and suffering for the Gospel. Paul’s history, and scars, gave him tremendous credibility among the Roman legions. Some traditions report that Paul single-handedly evangelized the Praetorian Guard, elite soldiers and body guards of the Caesars.

Personally, I find more comfort in the scarred face of a veteran than the smooth skin of an academic. I like living proof that it can be done, or at least survived. I feel better knowing somebody else struggled, stayed with God, and overcame the same “little problems” I face.

Your scars are a blessing. They give you knowledge and experience you could never get any other way. They give you credibility with people you might not otherwise effect.

For someone, your scars are comfort and reassurance. Struggling folks often do not want to hear from someone smooth and polished. More often, they want to hear from a survivor. They want to hear from someone just like you.

Think: The scars, in service for God, are really a blessing.

Pray: “Lord, help me to faithfully persevere in Your calling on my life.”

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.

Sojourners And Pilgrims

“Sojourners And Pilgrims” By Kirk Hunt

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

James 3:17 NKJV

Sojourners and pilgrims are temporary residents of a place but make no effort to become permanent citizens. It is not, nor should be, adversarial. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are foreigners and voyagers, seeking our final destination in God’s Kingdom.

You are a temporary resident of your place. No matter what it says on your title deed or mortgage contract. Christians are (or should be) marching to Zion, the beautiful city of God.

As you travel through this current land, bless and witness to those around you. Let your honorable, Godly conduct compel men and women to praise and magnify God. Let your passing through this world seem like a visitation by God to those left behind.

Of course, God’s Kingdom should be established within you. That is how you can leave His glory behind as a witness and enticement for others to seek God. You can only teach or demonstrate what you know.

As God’s people, we are only passing through. By living a truly Godly life, we can leave good works and God’s glory in the wake of our travels. What we leave behind should lead people to God and His Kingdom.

Think: I am passing through to God’s Kingdom. Do others want to join me on my journey?

Pray: “Lord, help me to travel to Your Kingdom.”

How Do You Use Your Power?

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“How Do You Use Your Power?” by Kirk Hunt

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

Luke 9:54 KJV

The Disciples wanted to command (not request) fire from heaven to destroy an entire village. Admittedly, providing hospitality was an important virtue in that culture. Refusing to provide for Jesus and the Disciples was, at a minimum, a serious breach of etiquette.

Even if a deliberate insult, flash-frying an entire village must count as an overreaction. Despite teaching and training from Jesus Himself, the Disciples missed the lesson on power use. Power should never be exercised without wisdom.

Did they have the power? James and John certainly thought so. Still, Jesus rebuked them on their purpose and motivation: “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” Broiling folk for insults was not the lesson Jesus was trying to teach.

God gives His saints power and wisdom. Every exercise of power by a Christian should be done in further building the Kingdom. For His glory. For His purposes. Certainly not as a naked display of willfulness.

Our modern culture needs us to use His power. To heal the wounded. To comfort the distressed. To unshackle the spiritually imprisoned.

Are you a Christian? Then you have His power. Always use His wisdom when you use His power.

Think: God gives us power and wisdom.

Pray: “Lord, help me to use the power You gave with, and in, Your wisdom.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Some Dreams Tell The Story

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“Some Dreams Tell The Story” by Kirk Hunt

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

2 Kings 8:5 KJV

The Shunammite woman and her household returned from Philistia. Unfortunately, she found her property occupied by squatters (or worse). Ironically, she now needed to speak to the King (see 2 Kings 4:13).

In between cases, King Jehoram (aka Joram) commanded Gehazi to relate the record of Elisha’s ministries and miracles. Elisha’s resurrection of the dead became a featured story. In the middle of the account, the Shunammite walked in.

Despite the fact that he was now a teenager, the boy remained a miracle. Twice, God had directly intervened in his life (and his mother’s). First, through the prophesy of his birth. Again, at his resurrection. With her hands on her hips, the Shunammite told the story of how God made her dreams come true.

Some dreams tell the story of God’s power, and more importantly, His love. It may be that you have lived your life just to tell God’s story. Put your hands on your hips and tell the story of how God brought your dreams to life.

Think: God gives life to our dreams. Sometimes, so we can tell His story.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to tell Your story with my life and times.”

Testify

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“Testify” by Kirk Hunt

“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Mark 5:19-20 KJV

“You can’t fool me. That’s him. What are we going to do?”

Imagine the reception that the formerly possessed man received when he came home. His friends and family weren’t sure to embrace him, or flee the scene. Borrowed clothes and sane eyes couldn’t hide his helter-skelter past.

Once everyone decided he had changed, they wanted to know just one thing: How? What had changed a monster back into a man? Who or what had the power to recover a hopeless case?

With every eye on him, the recovered man told his story. “I met a man who reacted with power and compassion instead of fear and dread.” The audience reaction comes as no surprise.

As God’s men and women, we are witnesses to God’s grace. We are the lost souls and hopeless cases that only His power could save. We should tell the story more often.

Testify. They need to hear. You need to remember.

Think: I am a living witness to God’s power. I should be quick to testify.

Pray: “Lord, help me to tell the story of how you changed my life.”