💬 Uplift your faith and find courage in the Word.
JK Woodall, a contributing member of FaithWriters, shares powerful insight and encouragement in his newest devotional.
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Your Position Doesn’t Exempt You from Preparation
By JK Woodall
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Opening Thought:
You may be called, anointed, chosen, and even positioned in a place of promise—but that doesn’t exempt you from the process of preparation. The wilderness is often God’s training ground for destiny. Even Jesus, already declared the Son of God, had to be prepared through testing.---
1. Position Is Not a Pass
> “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
—Matthew 4:1 (ESV)
Jesus had just been baptized in the Jordan River, and the heavens opened:
> “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
—Matthew 3:17 (ESV)
He was positioned—affirmed by the Father, filled with the Holy Spirit, and publicly acknowledged.
But immediately after that, He was led into the wilderness.
📌 Lesson: Public affirmation doesn’t bypass private preparation.---
2. The Wilderness Is Not Punishment, It's Preparation
The wilderness is not always about being lost—sometimes it’s where God humbles and tests us before elevation.
> “And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart…”
—Deuteronomy 8:2 (ESV)
Israel had left Egypt (bondage) and was headed to Canaan (promise), but they had to go through the wilderness first.
Why? Because their minds were still in Egypt, even if their feet had left it.
📌 Lesson: God uses the wilderness to reveal and remove what can't go into the next season.---
3. Even in Promise, There's Process
Jesus was in the Promised Land (Judah), and yet He still entered the wilderness of Judea. That wilderness was inside the promise, but still a place of testing.
> “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
—Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)
📌 Lesson: Just because you're in the right place doesn't mean the process is over. Being in the Promised Land doesn't mean you won't be tested there.---
4. Preparation Precedes Power
When Jesus left the wilderness, He returned with power:
> “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.”
—Luke 4:14 (ESV)
Only after His testing did Jesus begin His public ministry.
📌 Lesson: The wilderness unlocks the authority you’ll need for what’s next.---
Final Reflection:
Don’t despise your wilderness—it’s not the end of your journey; it’s the classroom of your calling.
> “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace... will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
—1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
Your position in Christ is secure—but preparation is what builds the strength to carry your purpose.---
🖊️ —JK Woodall
“Let the wilderness make you ready.”
Month of Devine Messages.
Grace and peace to you in the mighty name of Jesus!
Welcome to the month of June, the sixth month of the year—positioned perfectly as a moment of divine alignment, purposeful preparation, and supernatural favor.
In the Bible, the number six is associated with man, as humanity was created on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26-31). It represents human effort, but also the point just before divine completion—before God's perfect rest on the seventh day. So June is a month of transition—from human striving into God’s perfected plan.
In Luke 1:26, the Bible tells us:
> “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee...”
This was the divine moment when Mary received the announcement that she would carry Jesus, the Savior. June represents a month of divine messages, supernatural visitation, and the birthing of destiny.
🔥 June is the month when what God has been preparing in secret begins to take visible form.
This is your season of unveiling. What you've prayed for in January, planted in February, labored over in March, watered in April, and believed for in May—now begins to manifest in June.
Declare this with me:
> “I welcome the sixth month with faith and expectation. This month, divine messengers will visit my house. What was hidden will be revealed. What was delayed will be released. In Jesus’ name, amen!”
Step into June with boldness, with gratitude, and with the confidence that God is not finished with your story.
Happy New Month and welcome to Your Season of Divine Fulfillment!
Blessings,
Dr. JK Woodall
Senior Pastor, Revival Center
Bible Study Notes
Revival Center Hesperia California
Leviticus 10:1–11 (Part I) — Inappropriate Worship
By JK Woodall Ministries
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Opening Theme:
God is holy, and His presence requires reverence, obedience, and spiritual discernment. Leviticus 10 teaches us that worship must never be self-directed—it must always be God-commanded.
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Text Review: Leviticus 10:1–11 (ESV)
> Verses 1–2:
“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.”
Key Focus:
The phrase "each took"—Hebrew: laqach (לָקַח)—implies a deliberate action. This mirrors earlier biblical accounts of rebellion:
Genesis 3:6 (ESV): “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food… she took of its fruit and ate.”
Eve seized what was not hers to take—motivated by desire, not obedience.
2 Samuel 11:4 (ESV): “So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her.”
David took Bathsheba, driven by his will, not God's word.
Similarly, Nadab and Abihu took liberty in God’s sanctuary, assuming worship could be redefined by emotion, status, or personal preference.
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> Verse 3:
“Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the Lord has said: “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.”’ And Aaron held his peace.”
Key Point:
God's holiness is not flexible. Worship must sanctify (set apart) His name. When God is not honored properly in leadership or worship, His judgment is swift to correct.
Isaiah 42:8 (ESV): “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”
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> Verses 4–5:
Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan to remove the bodies of Nadab and Abihu from the camp. They carried them outside the camp in their tunics.
Application:
Even in judgment, there is order. God’s house must be kept holy. Their death became a public warning—one that preserved the sanctity of worship.
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> Verses 6–7:
“Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die... for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.”
Key Insight:
Mourning practices were prohibited for Aaron and his remaining sons. Why? Because their public role as priests demanded they honor God's righteous judgment—even in the pain of personal loss.
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> Verses 8–9 (ESV):
“And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, ‘Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die.’”
Contextual Insight:
This command suggests Nadab and Abihu may have been intoxicated when offering unauthorized fire. God warns against altered states in the place of worship.
Ephesians 5:18 (NIV): “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Worship must be clear, focused, and Spirit-led—not distorted by substance or self.
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> Verses 10–11:
“You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes…”
Application:
Priests were not only to minister—they were to teach. Worship leaders must know the difference between holy and profane and instruct others accordingly.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV): “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved… who correctly handles the word of truth.”
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True Worship: Spirit and Truth
> John 4:23–24 (NIV):
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Jesus reveals that worship is no longer bound to a temple or tradition—it is rooted in Spirit-led obedience and truth-driven expression.
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We Were Created to Worship HIM
Isaiah 43:21 (ESV): “The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”
Romans 12:1 (NIV): “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Worship is not what we want to offer—it’s what God commands us to bring. We were not created to invent worship, but to reflect HIS holiness through it.
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Reflection Questions:
1. Am I worshiping from God’s command or my own creativity?
2. Have I “taken” anything—position, praise, or presence—that rightfully belongs to God?
3. Do I approach God’s presence with reverence and order?
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Closing Scripture:
> Hebrews 12:28–29 (ESV):
“Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
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Next Session (Part II Preview):
We will examine how Aaron responded to God’s judgment, the connection between leadership and worship, and how New Testament priests (believers) are called to uphold holiness in every aspect of spiritual life.
By JK Woodall
For generations, the image of Eve holding a bright red apple has been etched into Christian consciousness—painted into stained glass, children’s Bibles, and Western imagination. But when we return to the source—the Word of God—we’re left with a striking realization: no apple was ever mentioned.
Genesis 3:6 states:
> “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…”
No name. No apple. Just “fruit.”
So, where did this idea of the apple come from?
It likely stems from a Latin translation pun. The word for “evil” in Latin is malum, and the word for “apple” is also malum. Somewhere between medieval art and poetic license, the forbidden “fruit” was rendered as an apple—a mistranslation that eventually became tradition.
But Genesis does name one tree's leaves—the fig tree. When Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened, they didn’t run to grab apple leaves or citrus branches:
> “They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” (Genesis 3:7)
This small detail carries huge theological weight.
If they used fig leaves for covering, it means fig trees were nearby. And if fig leaves were available immediately, could it be the fig tree was the very tree from which they ate? There is no verse that says they moved to another tree to find these leaves.
Apple? What apple?
In fact, the fig tree carries heavy symbolism throughout Scripture. Jesus later curses a barren fig tree—not because He despised it, but because it represented the appearance of fruitfulness with no substance (Mark 11:12–14). Just like the appearance of righteousness Adam and Eve tried to sew together in Eden.
God wasn’t fooled by their fig-leaf solution then. And He’s not fooled now.
This commentary challenges us to go back to Scripture and leave behind tradition for truth. The fall of man wasn’t about fruit identification—it was about disobedience, independence, and the false covering of guilt. But even in that moment, God already had a plan for redemption.
So next time someone asks about the apple in Eden, remind them:
“Apple? What apple?”
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"Sound Doctrine II" by Dr. Jermaine K. WoodallDear Beloved,
As I reflect on the current state of the Church and our walk with God, I am struck by the notion of "sleepwalking." Many of us are unaware of the urgency and purpose of our calling, drifting through life as if we are in a deep slumber. This is a spiritual slumber that dulls our senses and hinders our growth in Christ.
1. The Warning: A Call to Awaken
In the book of Ephesians, Paul urges us to wake up from spiritual lethargy and rise to the call of God on our lives. He says:
“Therefore He says: 'Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.'”
—Ephesians 5:14 (NKJV)
This verse beckons us to awaken from the spiritual sleep that blinds us to the fullness of life in Christ. Jesus didn’t come for us to merely exist, but to live abundantly in Him. The world may lull us into complacency, but Christ has called us to a purpose far beyond the mundane.
2. Understanding the Danger of Spiritual Sleepwalking
Jesus Himself warned of the spiritual slumber that can take root in our hearts. In the parable of the ten virgins, we see a stark contrast between those who were prepared and those who slept when they should have been ready:
“But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'”
—Matthew 25:5-6 (NKJV)
The wise virgins had prepared themselves, while the foolish ones were unprepared, having slept through the call. Let us not be found asleep when Christ returns. Let us not be caught off guard, but instead, keep our lamps full and our hearts ready.
3. Jesus’ Charge: Stay Alert
In Mark 13:33, Jesus reminds us to be vigilant and aware of the times:
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”
—Mark 13:33 (NKJV)
Jesus calls us to remain alert, to be attentive to His will, and to stay watchful for His return. Sleepwalking through life means failing to notice the opportunities God has placed before us. It means failing to discern His voice in the noise of the world. Our hearts must be in tune with Him, eagerly awaiting His return.
4. The Solution: Walking in the Light of Christ
If we are to rise from spiritual sleep, we must allow the light of Christ to shine in our lives. The Apostle Paul encourages us to walk in the light, not in darkness:
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).”
—Ephesians 5:8-9 (NKJV)
The light of Christ exposes our hearts and shows us areas where we have fallen asleep. As we walk in His light, we grow in goodness, righteousness, and truth, becoming more like Christ every day.
5. A Wake-Up Call: Embrace the Life Christ Offers
The Church today must heed the wake-up call. We can no longer afford to sleepwalk through our faith. God is calling His people to rise, to be alert, and to walk in the fullness of His calling.
Let us remember that Christ came to give us life—real life, abundant life, eternal life. We are no longer called to be sleepwalkers but to be awake and active participants in the Kingdom of God. As we await His return, may we find ourselves ready, watching, and fully alive in His presence.
Prayer:
Lord, awaken us from our spiritual slumber. Open our eyes to see the urgency of our calling. Help us to walk in the light of Your truth and to remain vigilant as we await Your return. May we no longer sleepwalk through life but live purposefully, bringing glory to Your name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
In Christ’s Love,
[Your Name]
Senior Pastor, Revival Center
