A Holy Nation

Exodus 19 : 5 – 8, Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. NKJV

In Christ, we have been made a nation of kings and priests unto our God. It is God and not man who has ordained us to be raised up above all people. However, in order to grasp fully what it means to be a holy nation of kings and priests, we have to look to God’s Word for clarity.

Since the fall, man has struggled with both pride and insecurity. In fact, it was pride and a haughty look that caused man to fall. (Proverbs 16: 18) Even so, it was also caused by the sense of insecurity that Satan found in Eve’s heart. (Genesis 3) Satan convinced Eve that she lacked one thing… to be like her God. He proceeded to tell her that if she ate of the tree of knowledge, she would become like God, knowing good and evil.

As children of God, we must guard our hearts from comparing ourselves to someone else lest we fall into the traps of Satan. Unfortunately, this not only happened to Eve; it also happened to God’s holy people, Israel. Even though God had ordained Israel to be above all the people of the earth so that He could display His love, mercy, and goodness through them, they didn’t see themselves in the same way. They wanted to be like other nations who had their own king.

When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, He reiterated what God had spoken through Moses…we are a holy people before the nations of the world. He didn’t use like vernacular; nonetheless, the meaning is the same. He declared over us in Matthew 5 that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. This sounds a lot like an exalted people to me.  

Jesus also said that we are a city that is set on a HILL that cannot be hidden. God didn’t raise Israel up, nor did He raise us up as new covenant believers to show how good we are. He has raised us to show the world how good He is to us. Jesus instructed us to let our light shine in such a way that men will see our good works and glorify our heavenly Father. However, in order for us to bring glory to the Lord, we will have to carry out God’s will and not our own desires. This is what is implied when God ordained us to be kings and priests. He wants to raise us up in the world so that others can learn about our God and come to faith in His Son, Jesus.

In spite of God’s desire to promote Israel as His very own nation of kings and priests, they chose to be like other nations. They wanted to have a king to rule over them. Israel had fallen prey to their personal foolish desires and insecurities, which caused them to reject their God and His blessings on them. If you read 1 Samuel 8, you will see what the nation of Israel was willing to subject themselves to in order to have their very own king.  

As Christians, we must be very careful that we don’t fall into the same trap as Israel and desire to be more like the world instead of serving God. It’s time for the people of God, who have forsaken their kingdom assignment and identity for the pleasures of this world, to return to their first love. We must be about our Father’s business; we must humble ourselves under His mighty hand so that He can exalt us in due season. God has created us in Christ Jesus to rule in heavenly places. However, Satan will try to seduce us to serve his agenda instead. Are you a Christian? Are you serving God’s will for your life in Christ or are you serving yourself? The Lord tells us in Deuteronomy to choose life so that we and our descendants might live and possess our inheritance.  

Serving Christ by Serving Others,
Pastor Asa Dockery 

You're Coming Out Of This Storm

Psalms 9: 3 – 14, My enemies will fall back and perish in your presence; you have vindicated me; you have endorsed my work, declaring from your throne that it is good. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked, blotting out their names forever and ever. O enemies of mine, you are doomed forever. The Lord will destroy your cities; even the memory of them will disappear. But the Lord lives on forever; he sits upon his throne to judge justly the nations of the world. All who are oppressed may come to him. He is a refuge for them in their times of trouble. All those who know your mercy, Lord, will count on you for help. For you have never yet forsaken those who trust in you. Oh, sing out your praises to the God who lives in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds. He who avenges murder has an open ear to those who cry to him for justice. He does not ignore the prayers of men in trouble when they call to him for help. And now, O Lord, have mercy on me; see how I suffer at the hands of those who hate me. Lord, snatch me back from the jaws of death. Save me, so that I can praise you publicly before all the people at Jerusalem's gates and rejoice that you have rescued me. TLB

 I can tell you from my own personal battles that it is easy to give into despair and lose all hope when you find yourself overwhelmed by your enemies. Even so, I encourage you not to lose hope when you’re facing a storm because God has kept you; and He will keep you until this season has passed. Remember, we’re in a spiritual battle, and we must resist the enemy’s attacks and threats by standing in faith on God’s promises.

The Lord compelled me to write today’s word to you from Psalms 9 as confirmation that He hasn’t abandoned you. If you’re in a terrible season, it WILL come to an end. Apparently, you have had to face some situations; people have obviously shaken your peace and perhaps your faith. Nonetheless, you must not allow despair to cause you to be moved from trusting in the Lord. God is faithful, and He will keep you in times of trouble; and when the difficulty has ended, God will move those who seek to destroy you far from you.

Satan will use people and harsh situations to try to get us to lose heart or faith in God. Nevertheless, we must not give in to his threats or lies. If you allow the enemy to move you, let it be into the Lord’s presence. We need to remain in the presence of God; however, we especially need to be there when we find ourselves in a vulnerable place, and our faith is giving way to fear and doubt.

It's one thing to face danger; nonetheless, it’s an even greater threat when we find ourselves in a spiritual place where we are giving our hearts over to despair. The Lord wants you to know today that He is still with you; and He will bring you out of this, if you continue to hold on to Him and the Word of God. The One who watches over us neither slumbers nor sleeps, and He is faithful to keep us from harm.  

If you’re on the verge of losing all hope, and you’re about to give in to the spirit of fear, please consider this devotion as a direct word from the Lord to you. It is confirmation that you can hold on until this season is over. The Lord loves you and wants to show you His love through this word. We are told in Romans 10: 17 that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The Word of God is spiritual food, and His presence is the spiritual strength your soul needs to face another day with hope. When God is with you, it’s not over; it’s only the beginning of a new season in Christ. We’re being changed from glory to glory into the image of Christ.  

If you know that this was God’s Word to you today, will you contact us so that we can pray for you? You can email your prayer request to prayer@whcnorth.org.

The One Who Called You Is Faithful,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Promotion

John 15: 14 – 16, You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. NKJV

There are Christians, and then there are obedient Christians. Jesus teaches that if we discipline ourselves to follow His will and not our own, it affects how He views us. Consequently, do you seek the Lord so that you might know and do His will in your life? Are you a disciple of God’s Word? And do you allow it to be the standard by which you live your life? If so, then Jesus sees you as His friend.

In America, we have within our government an organization called the Central Intelligence Agency. This group of people handles some of the most classified and sensitive information concerning our national security. However, as important as this information is to our public defense, it doesn’t even compare to the wisdom that Jesus reveals to those who obey His will in their lives. Doesn’t the Bible teach us that except the Lord watch over the city, the watchmen stay awake in vain? If we should be so consumed with temporal knowledge that we make no time or effort for serving Jesus, what will it profit us eternally? Absolutely nothing!

Jesus’ desire is that we, His disciples be obedient to His voice and His calling, thereby fulfilling His divine purpose in and through our lives. As we are faithful to Him, He will begin to reveal His hidden wisdom and secret plans to us. It is vitally important that Christians learn to be obedient to the Lord. Our submission will allow Him to have greater influence in the direction of the affairs of all men.  

When we are well-trained in our obedience, Jesus will see that we are raised to places of prominence. For example, God revealed to Joseph in the book of Genesis the interpretation to Pharaoh’s dream. Therefore, as a result of having divine insight, Pharaoh exalted Joseph over both the economy and the plan that carried Egypt and the Jews through seven years of famine.

It’s high time for us as the people of God to set our affections on things above and not on the earth. We need to be about our Father’s business; we must allow Him to use us as SALT and LIGHT so that this world might be preserved from corrupt men. You may see yourself as insignificant. Nevertheless, all you need is to be obedient and faithful to God. He will take care of the rest. Who knows? You might just be the next Esther or Nehemiah that God uses to deliver His people.  

May we all lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us and let us run the race that God has set before us with great joy and endurance. Jesus desires to call us His friend.

Serving His Purpose,
Pastor Asa Dockery

The Word Gives Us Life

Genesis 2 : 4 – 7, This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. NKJV

In John 10: 10, Jesus said that He came to give us life and that more abundantly. It was, and it still is, God’s intention for His children to be blessed in every area of our lives. Both Paul and Peter declared in their epistles that we, who have been born again by the incorruptible Seed of God’s Word, are blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing in Christ. Nevertheless, most do not know or haven’t received the riches of God in Christ Jesus because they lack the knowledge of truth.

Jesus teaches us in John 6 that if we don’t eat His flesh and drink His blood, we won’t have life. However, if we partake of His flesh and drink His blood, we will have life. Jesus isn’t literally speaking of eating His flesh. Nonetheless, He gives us this illustration to show that we must be more than just hearers of the Word of God, if we desire to receive spiritual nourishment from it. The Lord wants us to become partakers of His Word so that we can receive His life. Those who live by the lusts of the flesh will perish, but those who live by and through the Word of God shall live forever. Consequently, we must get into the Word of life and hide it in our hearts so that we won’t transgress against it and then suffer death.

You may be wondering why I chose today’s scripture from Genesis 2 and what it has to do with what I’ve written thus far. You will notice that according to Moses’ time-line, when Adam was formed from the dust of the ground, God had not yet allowed any trees, shrubs, or vegetation to grow outside the Garden of Eden because it hadn’t rained and there was no man to till the ground.  Imagine with me how desolate it must have seemed to Adam when he became a living being, opened his eyes for the first time, and saw nothing but dirt all around.

Let me reemphasize that there was nothing living outside the garden; therefore, God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden in order for Man to have the things that were needful for him to continue to live. Why would God first bring man into a place where there was nothing to live off of and then place him in a small garden? It was a prophetic illustration of us (Christians) being in a world that is filled with sin and death; nevertheless, now, because of our faith, we have been placed in Christ, just as Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden. Our very existence comes from being connected to Christ in the Spirit. We do this by living in the Word and keeping it hidden in our hearts.

Jesus tells us in John 16, “In this world we will have tribulations; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Why did He tell us this? If we should try to live according to this world’s ways, then we will have tribulations. Instead, we can rejoice while the world is in tribulation because we have been hidden in Christ; He has already overcome the world, and so have we, through our faith in Him.

In other words, God has already provided everything that we need in Christ; and we are to look to Him for our needs to be supplied. There is no need for us to go to the world seeking any need because the Lord has seen to it that we will have all our needs met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Furthermore, God has promised us that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will even grant us the desires of our heart. Nevertheless, we must be very careful to guard our hearts so that we don’t give Satan a place, lest we open our hearts to destruction and decay as Adam and Eve did in the garden.

From the moment Adam and Eve turned their hearts against God and His commands, they began to experience spiritual separation, which is death. They were still physically alive, but they were disconnected from God’s life. Death slowly but certainly robbed them of every blessing that God had freely given to them while they were in the garden of provision. After they sinned, God drove them from the garden. They had to work hard with great sorrow after committing sin against the Lord. God was no longer the provider of their needs because they had made the decision to become “their own god”.

It’s time for the nations and all believers, who have known God and have experienced His goodness in their lives, but have turned away from Him, to return and live again. Jesus said that unless we abide in Him (His word), and He abides in us, we won’t have life or bear fruit. However, if we will abide in Him, and He in us, then we will abide in His life; we will bring forth much fruit, and our fruit will remain. Spiritual fruit doesn’t decay. God’s blessings don’t add sorrow to our lives. Let’s pray and ask the Lord to turn our hearts back to Him and His Word so that He can become “our God” once again. It is time for REVIVAL! We need to be revived by the truth of God’s Word and live again for Him, alone.

Alive In Christ,
Pastor Asa Dockery

A Hungry Heart

Psalms 119: 33 – 40, Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey. Make me walk along the right paths, for I know how delightful they really are. Help me to prefer obedience to making money! Turn me away from wanting any other plan than yours. Revive my heart toward you. Reassure me that your promises are for me, for I trust and revere you. How I dread being mocked for obeying, for your laws are right and good. I long to obey them! Therefore in fairness renew my life, for this was your promise-yes, Lord, to save me! Now spare me by your kindness and your love. Then I will have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust your promises. TLB

There are a whole lot of distractions in the world that can lead us astray from the Lord and into temptation. The key to overcoming the diversions that are sent to you by Satan is to watch for anything that tries to pull you or your heart away from serving the Lord. We’re all humans; and on occasion, we can get blindsided by our flesh and become distracted spiritually.

The psalmist teaches us how to guard our hearts from the trappings of our flesh that can cause us to stray from God’s path for our life. We must be willing to admit to ourselves, and to the Lord, that we have weaknesses; and we must also pray to the Lord that He will keep us from being led away into temptation through our flesh nature. Our humble heart will show the Lord that we know our weaknesses, and that we desire to walk in His ways and obey His will. It also invites the Lord to be our shield and defense from subtle attacks of the enemy that could cause us to sin against the Lord.

If you haven’t already, you will discover that there is a waiting period between your obedience to God and in Him releasing the promise in your life. There is always a season of testing between believing in God and coming to know God beyond any doubt. It is in the waiting seasons of life that we must be on guard against the strategies of the wicked one. It is also during these times that our flesh can become weak and cause us to entertain thoughts concerning giving in to pleasures of this present world.

The psalmist teaches us to be mindful of God’s goodness and faithfulness when we find ourselves growing weary while waiting on the Lord. He sought the Lord to keep him from slipping away from loving God more than himself. This prayer is an admirable one for believers to pray. It shows the Lord that we hunger after Him more than we desire to indulge in the world’s delicacies. We should love the Lord more than the pleasures of this world.  After all, our existence on this earth isn’t about having pleasures; it is about receiving life for our soul so that we can live for God. Do you have a hungry heart for God, but struggle to show that hunger? I pray that this word today will give you the enlightenment that will help you remain true to your convictions and to the Lord. God rewards those who DILIGENTLY seek Him.

Seeking to Be Filled with God’s Goodness,
Pastor Asa Dockery

A Mighty Harvest

Luke 5: 4 - 7, When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. NKJV

While I was praying recently, the Holy Spirit brought this story to my mind about Peter and the great catch. During my prayer time, I was asking the Lord to send us help to reach the “sea” of humanity that is lost and in need of spiritual direction in their lives. The main purpose of our ministry, “Keys to Kingdom Living,” is to teach believers both about the kingdom of God and how to become disciples of Christ.

In the above story, we read that Simon replied to Jesus’ command to let down his nets for a catch. He told Jesus that they had toiled all night and were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, when Jesus gave the command to let down their nets, He knew that the barren season for the fisherman was about to end. All that Jesus required of them in order to receive a mighty catch of fish was for them to believe His instructions and to act on them.

Much to Simon’s amazement, the catch far exceeded his expectations. The net was not enough; Simon and the other fisherman soon realized that they would need others to assist them in gathering all the fish into the ships so that none would be lost. Simon called on his “partners” to help him bring in the great catch.

Today, I am reaching out to our viewers and our devotional subscribers to ask you to prayerfully consider becoming a “Kingdom Builder Partner” with us so that together we can reach this world for Christ. We have been carrying the message of the kingdom of Christ to the nations around the world via television for more than four years. So far, this year we have reached over 130 nations through Cross.tv, which is only one of the ministries that carries our programs.  

The demand on this ministry is increasing, and we would love for you to partner with us to help bring in the harvest of souls and to disciple them. Every week, we receive reports from viewers/subscribers in various nations telling us how Keys to Kingdom Living programs and Kingdom Moments Devotions have greatly impacted their lives.

If you have read our devotions and/or viewed our programs for a while and would like to take the next step and become a financial partner with this ministry, it would help us fulfill the Great Commission. I sense very strongly in my spirit that the time has come for me to establish a partnership so that others can also reap the blessings that are on these ministries by standing with us with prayer and financial support.

Philippians 4: 15 – 17, Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. NKJV

There came a time in Paul’s ministry that he needed the support of others in order to carry out the calling of God on his life to teach others about Christ. He said, “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” As we partner together, God will reward you for your participation in this ministry through partnership.

Please consider becoming a “Kingdom Builder Partner” with us today so that together more souls can hear about the goodness of our Lord Jesus. I have asked the Lord for 100 partners to help with a monthly donation of $20.00 so that we can let down our “nets” for a great harvest of souls.

If you would like to learn more about our ministry, please go to www.whcnorth.org. On our website, you will learn about our core values, beliefs, and vision statement. We have been established in full-time ministry for more than 12 years.  

In His service,
Pastor Asa Dockery
pastorasadockery@whcnorth.org

Protection

Proverbs 4: 20 – 23, My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. NKJV

As believers in Christ, we have been redeemed from the curse of sin and death. Consequently, we must place our faith in this truth without wavering, lest we open the door of our hearts to the enemy. The Word of God not only tells us that our God is just in all His ways, and that He loves us; it also gives us countless examples, which prove He is faithful to His people. If you’re wondering why I mention the character of God while teaching on afflictions, allow me to explain. We must arm ourselves with the truth about God so that we will be able to stand when we find ourselves afflicted by Satan.

Paul teaches us how to be effective in spiritual warfare by putting on the whole armor of God. Therefore, it is crucial that we get into the Word of God and learn about Him and His divine nature. If we don’t know intimately the God that we say we believe in, then Satan can use pain and disappointment to find an opening in our armor. Not only do we need to know our God so that we can be strong in battle; we must know what He has said in His Word about us.

If we should go into a season of affliction and not have a good understanding of God’s ways and His nature, then we are susceptible to being hurt. This brings us to the reason for today’s word. Once our hearts are wounded by the enemy concerning our faith in God’s goodness, we can begin to see things in a different perspective. A perfect example of this is when Satan convinced Eve that God didn’t want her to eat of the tree of knowledge because she would be like God. She didn’t know God’s ways the way she should have. Therefore, she became hurt at God and began to see what was forbidden as something that was favorable for her future.

Eve took on a “wounded spirit” mentality. Consequently, she saw herself as a victim of God’s doing. Satan was successful in turning her heart against God without her realizing that Satan was the instigator. When a believer becomes wounded in their heart during a time of battle or affliction, it can cause them to become cynical (distrustful, pessimistic, sarcastic) about God and His Word.  

I can tell when a Christian has been wounded in their heart and has allowed cynicism to replace faith. Instead of them walking in agreement with me as their pastor, or in agreement with the promises of God, or what God’s Word declares about them in Christ, they begin to “find fault” with authority and spiritual matters. It is because they have allowed a lying spirit of the enemy to convince them of something that isn’t true about God concerning their situation. When a person becomes cynical, they can be easily led down a dark and foreboding path of bitterness and of isolation away from God’s presence.  

There is so much that can be taught on this subject. However, I pray that what I’ve written will help you to guard your heart. If you are hurt, or you experience hurt in the future, be careful that you don’t open yourself to believe a lie about God and what He has declared over you as one of His children. One of the signs of believing a lie is a change in your perception of God. God never changes. Therefore, it is us who has changed how we view God. If God be for you, then who can be against you?

Keeping Our Hearts Protected,
Pastor Asa Dockery