Banquet With The King

Daily Devotional focusing on spiritual "food" at the King's Banquet Table. In 2024 this blog will explore verses to meditate on as we examine our "choices" daily, pursuing a deeper relationship with God as we grow in Christian maturity. This web page has had over 230,000 page views by people in over 135 different countries who are seeking God through His Word. God has promised if you seek Him, you will find Him. May you be blessed reading Banquet With The King.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

How Do You Become Part of God’s Family?

Prayer – Abba Father, bless my family, friends, and neighbors who love and adore You, as I do. I’m so glad to be part of the Family of God—to be Your daughter. Open my eyes and heart to be acceptable in all that I think, say and do that I would graciously serve You and others in Your family. May our sinful nature be destroyed—and our lives be dictated by Your love.

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:12-17

Meditate. Consider God’s glory.

Brothers and Sisters! It great to be part of a large family—and God’s Family is so enormous that it stretches across thousands of years and countless generations! Can you even imagine from Abraham to us today? Well, actually the family timeline may extend to us from Adam, who walked with God during the cool of the evening in the Garden of Eden…and Enoch who lived in such close fellowship with God that God took him from the earth (Genesis 5:22-24). They both had close relationships with God. That was long before Abraham. Think about close friends with whom you’ve enjoyed fellowship—they are like family. That’s how I imagine it was for those who were known as “friends” of God, like David, during the Old Testament times. Now we can have a close relationship with the Lord and we are even promised, as Paul wrote to the Romans, that God has adopted us as His own children when we believe in Jesus as our Savior and are filled with the Holy Spirit. If you are not a child of God—why not? It is a choice that you can make today. Repent, believe, and become God’s child—even as an adult.

Are you willing to share in God’s glory and His suffering? Paul says that is part of the deal. When you are a member of any family you share in the times of joy and sorrow. That’s part of life. Do you want to isolate yourself to the point that you feel nothing? Do you only want happiness? To be part of God’s Family you just have to turn to Him, talk to Him, and allow Him to be part of your life. Experience life to the fullest—forever.

Verse of Salvation ~ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:11

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Spiritual Life After Death

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you that You have given eternal life all those who believe in You. That includes me. My body may one day die…but You, along with the Holy Spirit, have given me life…forever. How I look forward to living with You forever.

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:9-11

Meditate. Consider spiritual life.

The Spirit lives within me. What a great realization. Equally wonderful is the realization that God will raise each believer’s mortal body—just like He did Jesus. Up from the grave He arose! So, one day there will be a great exodus to Heaven. How is that all going to fit together? God’s plan is a bit of a mystery. It is a great puzzle just waiting to be put together. We’ve got to delve into the Scriptures praying for discernment for ourselves to totally understand. Is that something you want to do? I certainly do! We don’t know the hour or the specific day(s) when things will happen, but God has given clues and words of prophesy for the future. Just as Paul wrote to the Romans in this passage today: You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) Since you have the Spirit of God, you don’t need to have any fear of the future. No fear, just trust in the Lord. He has this under control. With Him we have spiritual life…even after death.

Verse of Salvation ~ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Monday, May 29, 2023

50 Days Later

Prayer – Holy Spirit—I call on You—as well as my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, confessing that He is my Savior. It is in obedience that I work out my salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in me, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. Acts 2:1-6

Meditate. Listen for the sound of the Holy Spirit.

Harvest in Israel

Pentecost or Shavuot is a Holy Feast, also known as the Feast of Weeks, that celebrates God giving of the Torah to the Jewish people. The Torah—the first five books of the Old Testament—is to guide all of us in how we are to live in the world. Exodus 23:16 give us instructions for Shavuot which is established in Deuteronomy 16:9-10. It is a harvest festival in which the Israelites were to offer a freewill contribution to the Lord marking the fruitful grain harvest. It occurred on Pentecost, 50 days after Passover.

As a fulfillment of the Old Testament, a spiritual harvest began on Pentecost when Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of Holy Spirit as God the Father had promised (Acts 1:4-5). The disciples began to speak in languages of visitors from every nation—with the power of the Holy Spirit—so that everyone could understand God’s message in their own language. There were about three thousand people in Jerusalem that day who believed in Jesus and were baptized after they heard Peter preach following his infilling of the Holy Spirit. Three thousand! That is a lot of people—more than the population in the small farming community in which I grew up.

Part of what Peter preached was from the Old Testament prophet, Joel:

'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants--men and women alike--and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below--blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.' Acts 2:17-21

Things may get a little scary in the last days…smoke and fire…the sun darkened and the moon looking blood red. But don’t be alarmed. God will be with us—He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Keep your account short—confess your shortcomings—your sins—daily and be at peace with the Lord. Be prepared for those last days. Claim that promise in Joel—repeated in Acts 2… But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Like those visitors to Jerusalem, are you calling on the name of the Lord? Are you or will you be saved?

Verse of Salvation ~ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Reviesed from September 11, 2015

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Sunday, May 28, 2023

How Do You Enter the Kingdom of God?

Prayer – Lord, teach me how to talk to others about the Kingdom of God! If they ask, “How do I enter or become part of the Kingdom of God?” what can I say?

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. "Rabbi," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you." Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?" Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit." John 3:1-8

Meditate. Consider God’s Spiritual Kingdom.

Are you listening to the Holy Spirit?

Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

How can an old man…be born again? What did Nicodemus mean by an old man? My husband just turned 80 yesterday…but he doesn’t seem like an “old man” most of the time! The experience of being born again is best for young people—but it is really essential for everyone at any age. No one is too old to be born again…to begin a new spiritual life with God. That is really what is being discussed in this dialog between Jesus and Nicodemus, who came secretly to speak with Jesus. This Pharisee didn’t want the other Pharisees to know that he was talking to Jesus. They didn’t trust Jesus—but Nicodemus was seeking the truth, especially about the relationship between Jesus and God. Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit is the one who instigates spiritual birth. That is what “being born again” is all about.

How do you enter the Kingdom of God? You must repent of your sins—confess them directly to God in prayer. That action results in “being born again” and allows a person to become part of the Kingdom of God—to be part of His chosen family. Funny thing is, once again, it is our choice. God gives us the opportunity to choose for ourselves if we are willing to repent and want to eternally serve Him. Choose today whom you will serve.

Verse of Salvation ~ For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. - John 3:16-17

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Birthday Blessings

Happy 80th Birthday Jerry!

Prayer – Lord, on this special day—celebrating 80 years—bless my husband, Jerry, with continued health, peace, strength, joy, and love overflowing. He is so dedicated to our family…and friends…and a faithful follower of You. Thank you for 80 wonderful years that You have bestowed on him

This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Meditate. Rejoice.

What is your favorite verse? After 80 years, Jerry is still rejoicing…and is glad for his life, graced by God. This verse today from Psalm 118 is his favorite and he recites it often. It actually became his life verse after hearing an extended family member, John Franklin, recite it years ago. They both have that joy of the Lord in them, although John left this earth for his heavenly home with Jesus several years ago. Jesus continues to fill us all with an outpouring of His love, grace, mercy, peace, patience, joy, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. What would our lives be like without Jesus…without the Holy Spirit? Painstakingly miserable. I often hear Christians ask, “How do others live without the Lord?” Their lives are either miserable or they are so self-reliant that they feel they don’t need God. Most Christians have not only an attitude of repentance, but one of gratefulness for all that the Lord does for them on a daily basis. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it! Thank Him and praise Him for each day—and for His love, grace and mercy in your life. I do.

Verse of Salvation ~ In that day the people will proclaim, "This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!" Isaiah 25:9

Happy 80^th Birthday – Jerry

Love You So Much

Where have the years gone?!?

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Friday, May 26, 2023

Dove Descended

Prayer – Holy Spirit, I am so grateful that You descended on Jesus when He was baptized, and thankful that You have also come into my life— reminding me of Jesus’ teachings and leading me along the right path through life.

Holy Spirit descended like a dove.

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." Matthew 3:16 -17

Meditate. Consider God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—together.

There weren’t any phones in Jesus’ day, but John the Baptist was out by the Jordan river hollering for people to change their ways. He was calling people to a baptism of repentance as they prepared for the appearance of their Messiah, that the Kingdom of God was at hand.

In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." ... People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. ... "I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am--so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire." Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?" But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him. Matthew 3:1-2, 5-6, 11-15

Jesus’ baptism was not like the repentance baptism of others who were being baptized by John. They had something from which to repent—actions for which to be sorry. Jesus was sinless. He was tempted—just like we are, but he did not sin. That was why John didn’t feel worthy to baptize Jesus. Would you?

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:14-15

Have you heard the message from John the Baptist and responded by repenting, being born again and being baptized? Has the Holy Spirit descended on you as it did on Jesus?

Verse of Salvation ~ For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 1 Peter 1:23

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What food is worthy of a celebration at an eightieth birthday? No ordinary cake or cupcake will do. How about an Elephant Ear? Recipe for a great, crunchy, crispy Elephant Ear that has just the right amount of cinnamon and sugar—not too sweet:

Make a trip to Viera’s Bakery in Pasco, 6411 Burden Blvd, Pasco. Open 5AM to 10 PM every day!

Enjoy it with a cup of hot coffee…or an ice-cold Chi Tea Latte.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Baptized by Water or Fire?

Prayer – Baptizing. Purify my heart, Lord.

Baptism in the Jordan River - Israel

I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11

Meditate. Baptism. Water or Holy Spirit?

Baptism has early roots in other religions and in the Levitical rituals for purification. Here is an example of an early Jewish ritual for cleansing.

All those who touch a dead human body will be ceremonially unclean for seven days. They must purify themselves on the third and seventh days with the water of purification; then they will be purified. But if they do not do this on the third and seventh days, they will continue to be unclean even after the seventh day. Numbers 19:11-12

Paul and Peter both wrote about baptism expressing the Christian view of this ritual and the sacrament we Christians follow.

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:4

And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:21

Water and fire. I think it is interesting that John the Baptist said that he baptized with water, and that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Fire. The fire of the Holy Spirit purifies. Similarly, judgment will result in fire…and then destruction. We don’t often think of fire destroying the ungodly people…but that is just what Peter is conveying in God’s word in 2 Peter 3:3-7.

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created." They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed. 2 Peter 3:3-7

That is the fire of hell in the Day of Judgment. Only the unbelievers, the ungodly people, will have to face that just like the ungodly of Noah’s day went through the flood that cleansed the world of sin. Something to think about. Water and fire. During Noah’s time life went on just like normal—people partying and living their lives until the deluge of water covered the earth. That is what will happen again…up until the time that Jesus returns for His church. Life will go on. Work, marriages, parties, and then the believers will be removed before the evil is let loose. Then later fire will ensue and wipe out the ungodly. Are you ready? Which group will you be in? Those who are Raptured…or those who are left behind to face God’s cleansing fire? The choice is totally yours. No one else can make that decision for you. Not your Mom or Dad, Grandma, spouse, children, friends, neighbor, coworkers—even God Himself. You choose.

Verses of Salvation ~ And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:15-18 (Underlined for emphasis.)

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Born Filled

Prayer – Once again, Lord, I ask You to forgive me for the shortcomings I’ve allowed in my life—my sins…and fill me anew with Your Holy Spirit. Refresh my heart, Lord. Thank you.

But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly." Luke 1:13-17

Meditate. Is your heart like a gas tank that needs to be refilled?

Fill it up—regular! What would that be spiritually?

John’s father, Zechariah, was a priest—the high priest chosen to go into the Holy of Holies that year—and he was told that he and his wife, Elizabeth, even in their old age, would have a son. Before the child was born, he would be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to one day prepare the Jews for their coming Messiah. Did you catch just what that angel said? The rebellious ones would acknowledge the wisdom of the godly. That is a miracle in itself! Usually, defiant people are so disobedient that they wouldn’t respond positively to any godly knowledge, but John the Baptist was predicted to have a way that would guide the Israelites to righteousness, to the Lord. So that he could guide others to the Messiah, John was born filled with the Holy Spirit.

New Life through the Holy Spirit

Verses of Salvation ~ "When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." Titus 3:4-7

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories