Rex Jennings

17 hrs

In Touch Daily Devotional

David: A Picture of Servanthood
God will work through any person whose heart is submitted to Him.
April 1, 2025

Psalm 78:70-72

70 He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds;
71 From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance.
72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.

Throughout his life, David served God in multiple capacities. The biblical account shows how his devotion in various roles allowed him to be used mightily by the Lord:
• Shepherd. David was anointed king long before he took the throne (1 Samuel 16:1-13 1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, ``How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons."
2 But Samuel said, ``How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, ``Take a heifer with you and say, `I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'
3 ``You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you."
4 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, ``Do you come in peace?"
5 He said, ``In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, ``Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, ``Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, ``The LORD has not chosen this one either."
9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ``The LORD has not chosen this one either."
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, ``The LORD has not chosen these."
11 And Samuel said to Jesse, ``Are these all the children?" And he said, ``There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, ``Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, ``Arise, anoint him; for this is he."
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.) During his days of waiting, he learned to be strong and brave, and to take care of those weaker than himself. An early life of obedience to his human father taught him the humility he would need later to depend on God.
• Psalmist. David’s writings reveal his hunger for the Lord. He is open about his fear, depression, defeat, loneliness, and sorrow. By describing valley experiences and communing with the Father in the night watches, David provides us with intimate glimpses of the God he knew so well.
• Commander. He ruled Israel for 40 years, and his people called Jerusalem the “City of David.”
His life also teaches us about the consequences of sin and the limitlessness of God’s grace. King David served God’s purpose not only when he lived but also ever since: Through writings by and about him, countless believers have been blessed by David’s obedience, service, and talents. He is a great example of what God can accomplish through those who yield their life to Him.

17 hrs

Love Worth Finding Daily Devotional

April 1, 2025 – Afraid to Love John 13:34-35 Sermon: 1686 How to Love as Jesus Loved, Part 1

Pray Over This

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Ponder This

Lawlessness abounds in the world. There is brutality at every corner. It causes us to be suspicious. It causes us to retreat. It causes people to say, “Do not open the door no matter who knocks on it unless you know who they are.” It tells us if a person stops by the side of the road, looking like he or she is in trouble, be very careful before you stop to help that person. Our instinct is “Don’t.” Don’t help. Don’t get involved. Keep your doors shut. Don’t become a part of this situation or that situation. We withdraw. We stop loving. Why? Because of the fear of lawlessness.
We are frightened, intimidated, and afraid to love. We especially have no desire to love those who are very lost—those we believe to be wicked and vile. Yet just before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus Christ gave this “new commandment”: “Love one another; as I have loved you.” This includes those people that are hurt, lost, and broken. You are to love people as Jesus Christ loves. It’s going to be hard, yet this is how our Savior leads us to live. Love others in the same sacrificial and abundant way He has loved us.
• Who are the people you are scared to love? What do you fear might happen if you extend love to them?
• How has Christ loved you? How can you love others in that same way?
Practice This
Extend love to someone who is hard for you to love.

17 hrs

God’s Horseback Gospel

April 1

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created." (James 1:16-18, NIV) Lord, teach us to appreciate Your gifts, in Jesus' name. Please check out today's poem, "He Mattered," and the daily "Pass the Reins" devotional at: https://www.godshorsebackgospe....l.com/daily-poem/he- Thanks, and God bless your day. (Please share.)

1 d

In Touch Daily Devotional

Our Relationship With God
Bible study, prayer, and obedience are habits that help us maintain a healthy connection to God.
March 31, 2025

Psalm 119:33-40

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness.

By trusting in Christ, we enter into a lifelong relationship with the Father. As believers, we have a responsibility to keep that connection healthy.
First, we must learn about our new family. In the Bible, God gave a detailed description of His attributes and values. And through Jesus’ earthly life, we can better understand His Father’s divine character.
Second, we should stay in close contact with the Lord through prayer and study of His Word. It’s important that we resist the temptation to put people, work, or pleasure ahead of Him.
Third, we must respond to what God has communicated to us. He’s given instructions for living and explained what pleases Him. In healthy families, people pay attention to each other.
Finally, we’re to grow stronger in our likeness to God. As we cooperate with the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, we will start to think and act like our heavenly Father.
God the Father provided salvation through His Son, who died so we could become spiritually alive. Jesus set an example for us to follow: a life of loving, obedient service.
God’s Spirit is doing His sanctifying work in us (1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.) Are we doing our part to keep the relationship healthy?

1 d

Love Worth Finding Daily Devotional

March 31, 2025 – Living in Victory Galatians 5:18-23 Sermon: 2186 How to Keep Your Spiritual Fire Burning, Part 2
Pray Over This
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:18-23
Ponder This
When I was a younger preacher, I thought if I could be pure enough, holy enough, and clean enough, then the Holy Spirit would fill me. But I had it 180 degrees backward. I could never be clean and pure until I was filled with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we have the idea that being filled with the Holy Spirit is an attainment—it isn’t. It is receiving a gift from God, just like when you were saved.
You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God because you don’t have what it takes. That doesn’t mean you can cling to your sin and expect God to fill you, but it does mean the only way you will ever be victorious over sin is to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit of God is the transforming fire of God. Fire transforms whatever it is burning into its own likeness. It turns whatever it’s burning into fire itself. When you are with the Lord Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, you are being transformed from glory into glory. And because the Holy Spirit of God is the transforming power of God, He not only consumes, but He also transforms.
• What are some things the Holy Spirit has changed in your heart?
• What is an area of your life in which you do not reflect Christ? How are you seeking to surrender that area to the Holy Spirit’s transformation?
Practice This

Ask friends in the faith for testimonies of how they have been transformed by the Spirit.