Thursday, November 29, 2012
David Platt world missions Together for the Gospel 2012 sermon jam .m4v
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Jonah: The World's Greatest Fish Story (Jonah) John MacArthur
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ANGUS T. JONES TRASHES 'TWO AND A HALF MEN' It's Ungodly FILTH
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Living in Grace
Read | 2 Corinthians 5:17
Before the apostle Paul's conversion, if someone had suggested that he would impact the world for Jesus, he'd probably have laughed. In fact, his original goal was to rid the world of Christians.
God's grace can impact anyone; no sin is beyond the reach of His forgiveness. This amazing gift of redemption changes lives. Contrary to what many think, being a Christian does not mean adding good deeds to one's life. Instead, believers receive forgiveness by God's grace, and a completely new nature. Our inward transformation results in obvious outward changes.
A beautiful illustration of this is the butterfly's metamorphosis. Once it's in a chrysalis, a caterpillar doesn't merely act or appear different from the outside; it truly has changed inwardly as well.
Transformation for believers occurs in many areas. For example, our attitudes change--salvation by God's grace results in humility and gratitude. Out of thankfulness for this undeserved free gift flows compassion for the lost and a desire to share the gospel with them. Experiencing Christ's forgiveness also results in a longing to serve Him. This does not need to be in a formal church setting; we serve Him by loving others, helping those in need, and telling them about salvation.
While there are still natural consequences for our sin, God offers us forgiveness and redemption through Jesus. He made a way to restore our broken relationship with Him. What's more, our Father transforms our lives so we will become more like His Son and reflect His heart to others.
Everything is under grace! We are saved by grace through faith. We most also not forget though, that grace has an expiration date!
Before the apostle Paul's conversion, if someone had suggested that he would impact the world for Jesus, he'd probably have laughed. In fact, his original goal was to rid the world of Christians.
God's grace can impact anyone; no sin is beyond the reach of His forgiveness. This amazing gift of redemption changes lives. Contrary to what many think, being a Christian does not mean adding good deeds to one's life. Instead, believers receive forgiveness by God's grace, and a completely new nature. Our inward transformation results in obvious outward changes.
A beautiful illustration of this is the butterfly's metamorphosis. Once it's in a chrysalis, a caterpillar doesn't merely act or appear different from the outside; it truly has changed inwardly as well.
Transformation for believers occurs in many areas. For example, our attitudes change--salvation by God's grace results in humility and gratitude. Out of thankfulness for this undeserved free gift flows compassion for the lost and a desire to share the gospel with them. Experiencing Christ's forgiveness also results in a longing to serve Him. This does not need to be in a formal church setting; we serve Him by loving others, helping those in need, and telling them about salvation.
While there are still natural consequences for our sin, God offers us forgiveness and redemption through Jesus. He made a way to restore our broken relationship with Him. What's more, our Father transforms our lives so we will become more like His Son and reflect His heart to others.
Everything is under grace! We are saved by grace through faith. We most also not forget though, that grace has an expiration date!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wretched: Will everyone go to heaven?
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Friendly Fire
“Friendly fire” can be as deadly as an enemy bullet. Always be mindful that attacks can come from the closest of friends and family. They are the ones who can hurt if you let your guard down and forget that you are not wrestling against flesh and blood (see Eph. 6:12–20). It was Peter who attempted to discourage Jesus from going to the cross. But Jesus knew the source of the attack and said, “Get behind me, Satan” (Matt. 16:23). Do the same in your heart when attacked in such a way. Keep your shield of faith held high.
Job 2:9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Job 2:9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Grace Changes Everything
Read | 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Our lives are hopeless without God. We are born with a "flesh" nature and continue to choose wrong paths throughout our lives. The penalty for sin is death and eternal separation from God. No one is exempt from this biblical truth. And there is nothing that any of us can do to change the situation.
Enter God's grace, His unmerited favor toward us. We can't do anything to earn it. He blesses us according to His goodness, apart from anything we have done.
Consider the apostle Paul, whose original intent was to persecute anyone claiming the name of Jesus. He played a significant role in the brutal violence aimed at Christians and, in his own words, was the "chief" of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15 kjv). Nothing he did deserved God's love.
Divine grace led the Almighty to reach down and forgive this hateful zealot who blasphemed Jesus' name. God lovingly transformed him into a man who dedicated himself to sharing the gospel message. Paul's life illustrates grace beautifully.
We are unable to do enough good deeds to earn our way to heaven. Salvation is possible only because by grace, Christ died on the cross. The one who took the punishment for our sin deserves all credit for our redemption.
Jesus' death covered the sins of the entire world. There is no transgression too great for Him to forgive. We can add nothing to His act of atonement; all we can do is receive this free gift. If we repent (turn away from sin) and trust in Christ as Savior, God will save us, making us His children forever.
Our lives are hopeless without God. We are born with a "flesh" nature and continue to choose wrong paths throughout our lives. The penalty for sin is death and eternal separation from God. No one is exempt from this biblical truth. And there is nothing that any of us can do to change the situation.
Enter God's grace, His unmerited favor toward us. We can't do anything to earn it. He blesses us according to His goodness, apart from anything we have done.
Consider the apostle Paul, whose original intent was to persecute anyone claiming the name of Jesus. He played a significant role in the brutal violence aimed at Christians and, in his own words, was the "chief" of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15 kjv). Nothing he did deserved God's love.
Divine grace led the Almighty to reach down and forgive this hateful zealot who blasphemed Jesus' name. God lovingly transformed him into a man who dedicated himself to sharing the gospel message. Paul's life illustrates grace beautifully.
We are unable to do enough good deeds to earn our way to heaven. Salvation is possible only because by grace, Christ died on the cross. The one who took the punishment for our sin deserves all credit for our redemption.
Jesus' death covered the sins of the entire world. There is no transgression too great for Him to forgive. We can add nothing to His act of atonement; all we can do is receive this free gift. If we repent (turn away from sin) and trust in Christ as Savior, God will save us, making us His children forever.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Alienated
Atheists attest to the fact that their spirit (their God-conscious part) is dead. They know God exists intellectually—because of their conscience and creation—but they are not aware of His omnipresence because they are dead spiritually. They are like a fish in the ocean that is not aware of the ocean.
“We are born dead in trespasses and sins, alienated, cut off, detached from the life of God. The day that man believed the devil’s lie (which is sin), he forfeited the life that distinguished him from the animal kingdom—the life of God. When sin came in, the life went out.” Ian Thomas
Ephesians 4:18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
“We are born dead in trespasses and sins, alienated, cut off, detached from the life of God. The day that man believed the devil’s lie (which is sin), he forfeited the life that distinguished him from the animal kingdom—the life of God. When sin came in, the life went out.” Ian Thomas
Ephesians 4:18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
Overcoming Discouragement
Read | Psalm 42:5-11
Whenever you're feeling down, the best place to turn is the Psalms. In today's passage, the writer asks: "Why are you in despair, O my soul?" (v. 5). Surprisingly, this question is the first step in overcoming discouragement.
Look within. Before you can deal with your despair, you need to know what is causing it. If you're not sure, ask the Lord to help you figure out what's going on inside you.
Look up. The next step is to lift up your eyes to the Lord and place your hope in Him. Remember, discouragement comes to everybody at one time or another, but it doesn't have to stay. In the course of time, you "shall again praise Him for the help of His presence" (v. 5).
Look back. Despair has a way of erasing our memory of all the good the Lord has done for us over the years. Instead of wallowing in our present misery, we must make an effort to remember His past care and provision. Then our faith will overpower discouragement (v. 6).
Look Ahead. Knowing that God's plans for us are good, we can look forward to what He going to do in the future. His lovingkindness will support us by day and bring comfort by night as we trust Him to work all things out for our good (v. 8).
When your focus is right, you'll respond correctly to discouragement. The key is to fix your eyes on the Lord. Circumstances may cause you to think He's forgotten about you (v. 9), but His Word promises that He's there and will bring you through the valley. Even if you feel lonely, you're never alone.
Whenever you're feeling down, the best place to turn is the Psalms. In today's passage, the writer asks: "Why are you in despair, O my soul?" (v. 5). Surprisingly, this question is the first step in overcoming discouragement.
Look within. Before you can deal with your despair, you need to know what is causing it. If you're not sure, ask the Lord to help you figure out what's going on inside you.
Look up. The next step is to lift up your eyes to the Lord and place your hope in Him. Remember, discouragement comes to everybody at one time or another, but it doesn't have to stay. In the course of time, you "shall again praise Him for the help of His presence" (v. 5).
Look back. Despair has a way of erasing our memory of all the good the Lord has done for us over the years. Instead of wallowing in our present misery, we must make an effort to remember His past care and provision. Then our faith will overpower discouragement (v. 6).
Look Ahead. Knowing that God's plans for us are good, we can look forward to what He going to do in the future. His lovingkindness will support us by day and bring comfort by night as we trust Him to work all things out for our good (v. 8).
When your focus is right, you'll respond correctly to discouragement. The key is to fix your eyes on the Lord. Circumstances may cause you to think He's forgotten about you (v. 9), but His Word promises that He's there and will bring you through the valley. Even if you feel lonely, you're never alone.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Strengthen yourself in The Lord
Read | 1 Samuel 30:1-8
After an exhausting three-day journey, David and his men finally arrived home to find a scene of devastation. Their homes were burned to the ground, and their families were missing. Utter despair engulfed them, but David's distress soon increased when his men's grief turned into bitter anger and they spoke of stoning him.
Most of us won't experience this extreme a situation, but we can identify with David's discouragement. Sometimes despair follows a personal tragedy or loss, but it can also result from the weariness of ongoing daily pressures. Family problems, unemployment, financial difficulties, and health issues may make discouragement a constant companion. The same can happen with emotional struggles over feelings of unworthiness, failure to overcome an addictive habit, the pain of criticism, or fear of inadequacy.
Despair can grip anyone unexpectedly, but the Lord doesn't want us to stay in a fog of depression. We often can't avoid the situations that lead us into discouragement, but we do have a choice whether to stay in that condition. Instead of caving in to misery, David chose to strengthen himself in the Lord. He recognized that God was the only one who could give him the proper perspective on the problem and provide the guidance he needed.
When you're discouraged, where do you turn? Perhaps the last thing you want to do is read Scripture and pray--at first, the passages may seem like meaningless words and your prayers might feel empty. But if you persist in crying out to God, you'll eventually find His comforting strength.
After an exhausting three-day journey, David and his men finally arrived home to find a scene of devastation. Their homes were burned to the ground, and their families were missing. Utter despair engulfed them, but David's distress soon increased when his men's grief turned into bitter anger and they spoke of stoning him.
Most of us won't experience this extreme a situation, but we can identify with David's discouragement. Sometimes despair follows a personal tragedy or loss, but it can also result from the weariness of ongoing daily pressures. Family problems, unemployment, financial difficulties, and health issues may make discouragement a constant companion. The same can happen with emotional struggles over feelings of unworthiness, failure to overcome an addictive habit, the pain of criticism, or fear of inadequacy.
Despair can grip anyone unexpectedly, but the Lord doesn't want us to stay in a fog of depression. We often can't avoid the situations that lead us into discouragement, but we do have a choice whether to stay in that condition. Instead of caving in to misery, David chose to strengthen himself in the Lord. He recognized that God was the only one who could give him the proper perspective on the problem and provide the guidance he needed.
When you're discouraged, where do you turn? Perhaps the last thing you want to do is read Scripture and pray--at first, the passages may seem like meaningless words and your prayers might feel empty. But if you persist in crying out to God, you'll eventually find His comforting strength.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Who's Son is He?
To us there is but one God, the Father . . . and one Lord Jesus Christ . . .
–1 Corinthians 8:6
Ultimately, in one way or another, or at one time or another, we shall be faced with this question: What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He? If Jesus Christ is not who He claimed to be, He is a deceiver, or an egomaniac. We must answer this question with both belief and action. We must not only believe something about Jesus, but we must do something about Him. We must accept Him, or reject Him.
Jesus made clear who He was, and why He came into the world. He asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” They told Him of a variety of designations on the human level. Then Jesus turned to them and asked, “But whom say ye that I am?” Whereupon Peter replied with his historic affirmation, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13–16).
This is the apex of faith. This is the pinnacle of belief. This is where the faith of each must rest if he hopes for salvation. Christ is inescapable! You, too, must decide, “What shall I do with Christ?”
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
You are the Christ, Lord Jesus, Son of the living God! In adoration I worship You—my Redeemer.
–1 Corinthians 8:6
Ultimately, in one way or another, or at one time or another, we shall be faced with this question: What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He? If Jesus Christ is not who He claimed to be, He is a deceiver, or an egomaniac. We must answer this question with both belief and action. We must not only believe something about Jesus, but we must do something about Him. We must accept Him, or reject Him.
Jesus made clear who He was, and why He came into the world. He asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” They told Him of a variety of designations on the human level. Then Jesus turned to them and asked, “But whom say ye that I am?” Whereupon Peter replied with his historic affirmation, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13–16).
This is the apex of faith. This is the pinnacle of belief. This is where the faith of each must rest if he hopes for salvation. Christ is inescapable! You, too, must decide, “What shall I do with Christ?”
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
You are the Christ, Lord Jesus, Son of the living God! In adoration I worship You—my Redeemer.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Seek The Lord
Too many believers are satisfied to have a shallow relationship with the Lord. They'll seek answers to prayer or relief in times of suffering but are unwilling to sit quietly for an extended period of time just getting to know Him through prayer and His Word. Yet the most important pursuit in a believer's life is building a relationship with God. To forfeit this great blessing is a tragedy.
God doesn't need anything from you, but He desires your loving devotion and intimate fellowship. Is that what you want too? If so, are you willing to make the necessary commitment? Seeking the Lord cannot be hurried. It will cost you time and effort, but the rewards are worth any sacrifice.
God doesn't need anything from you, but He desires your loving devotion and intimate fellowship. Is that what you want too? If so, are you willing to make the necessary commitment? Seeking the Lord cannot be hurried. It will cost you time and effort, but the rewards are worth any sacrifice.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Genius The Movie Trailer
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
God's Word
Do we delight in the Word of God? Do we rejoice in God’s Word as one who finds great treasure? (See Psa. 119:162.) The key is to consume the Word of God, to meditate upon the Word, to digest it and let it become part of us. The Bible is a supernatural book, and can give us supernatural energy to do the will of God (see also Neh. 8:1–12). Too many fail to read the Bible every day. They find time to feed their stomach each day, but refuse to make time to read God’s Word. Don’t let your belly take precedence over reading the Bible. Forget your food rather than forget the Word of God. (See Exod. 34:28.)
Jeremiah 6:10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
That they may hear?
Indeed their ear is uncircumcised,
And they cannot give heed.
Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them;
They have no delight in it.
Jeremiah 6:10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
That they may hear?
Indeed their ear is uncircumcised,
And they cannot give heed.
Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them;
They have no delight in it.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The Function of the Law
The reason for sorcery, adultery, false witness, and other transgressions of God’s Law is a lack of the fear of God. Never hesitate to preach the fear of God. It causes sinners to depart from sin (see Prov. 16:6). Preach the thunderings and lightnings of Mount Sinai and preach future punishment!
The preaching of the Law without retribution will not be effective in winning souls for Christ. It has been well said that God’s Law without consequence is nothing but good advice. The world will agree with “You shall not kill.” That makes sense. They will smile at “You shall not commit adultery.” They know it destroys families. They will give assent to “You shall not bear false witness.” They know that it harms friendships. The Ten Commandments certainly are good advice. However, when you preach the Law with the message that God “will judge the world in righteousness” (as Paul preached in Athens; see Acts 17:22–31), your listeners may be provoked to say, “We will hear you again on this matter” (Acts 17:32). And sinners will be soundly saved.
Malachi 3:5 And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
The preaching of the Law without retribution will not be effective in winning souls for Christ. It has been well said that God’s Law without consequence is nothing but good advice. The world will agree with “You shall not kill.” That makes sense. They will smile at “You shall not commit adultery.” They know it destroys families. They will give assent to “You shall not bear false witness.” They know that it harms friendships. The Ten Commandments certainly are good advice. However, when you preach the Law with the message that God “will judge the world in righteousness” (as Paul preached in Athens; see Acts 17:22–31), your listeners may be provoked to say, “We will hear you again on this matter” (Acts 17:32). And sinners will be soundly saved.
Malachi 3:5 And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
Obstacles to Obedience
Read | 2 Kings 5:11-17
Obedience is a powerful action that can unleash God's glory in ways beyond our imagination. Yet obeying is often difficult because our desires are being put to the test. Sometimes we're afraid to do what He says, for fear of losing what is important to us. But choosing not to obey may actually cost us the very thing we desire most.
Three obstacles initially kept Naaman from following God's instructions--and almost kept him from a miraculous healing.
Pride. As a high-ranking official, Naaman feared losing his dignity, were he to obey. Conversely, his servants had the wisdom to see how pride was robbing him of life. How often do we balk at doing what God says, from fear of looking foolish?
Self-centered expectations. Naaman was furious when his very specific expec-tations weren't met. We, too, often get angry at the Lord when He doesn't comply with our demands. But if we really want His perfect will, we absolutely must "let Him" do things His way.
Unbelief. Because Naaman's faith only extended to his vision of how he would be healed, he initially didn't see how obeying would cure his leprosy. It took the faith of his servants to help him see the truth: that obedience was key to unlocking God's answer to his greatest need.
The call to obey often uncovers strongholds from which the Lord wants to free us. When we choose to respond in faith, He reveals Himself in a new way to us that strengthens our trust in Him--because ultimately, our greatest need is to know Him better.
Obedience is a powerful action that can unleash God's glory in ways beyond our imagination. Yet obeying is often difficult because our desires are being put to the test. Sometimes we're afraid to do what He says, for fear of losing what is important to us. But choosing not to obey may actually cost us the very thing we desire most.
Three obstacles initially kept Naaman from following God's instructions--and almost kept him from a miraculous healing.
Pride. As a high-ranking official, Naaman feared losing his dignity, were he to obey. Conversely, his servants had the wisdom to see how pride was robbing him of life. How often do we balk at doing what God says, from fear of looking foolish?
Self-centered expectations. Naaman was furious when his very specific expec-tations weren't met. We, too, often get angry at the Lord when He doesn't comply with our demands. But if we really want His perfect will, we absolutely must "let Him" do things His way.
Unbelief. Because Naaman's faith only extended to his vision of how he would be healed, he initially didn't see how obeying would cure his leprosy. It took the faith of his servants to help him see the truth: that obedience was key to unlocking God's answer to his greatest need.
The call to obey often uncovers strongholds from which the Lord wants to free us. When we choose to respond in faith, He reveals Himself in a new way to us that strengthens our trust in Him--because ultimately, our greatest need is to know Him better.
Monday, November 19, 2012
God's Opportunities
Read | 2 Kings 5:1-10
Every time we follow God's leading, our obedience opens the door for Him to do great things in our lives. Yet we often resist obeying because His directions appear impractical and unreasonable--and so we doubt His intentions toward us.
Naaman couldn't understand why the Lord would tell him to go wash seven times in the Jordan River. He thought he'd already exercised faith in coming to the prophet Elisha. He'd hoped for a spectacular supernatural healing of his disease--not to be sent on what seemed an irrational fool's mission. After all, the great Syrian commander didn't see anyone else dipping in the muddy waters and being healed. But God's instructions were specifically for him, and no one else.
If you decide you'll do what God says only on the basis of what you see others doing, you'll miss out on His best for you. Suppose Naaman decided he just couldn't do something that appeared so crazy. He would have died a leper. Likewise, when you hold out on completely obeying God, you'll never know what He would have done in your life had you only trusted Him.
Our needs are opportunities for God to transform the lives of His children. He knows that for us to become everything He created us to be, we must learn to believe in His trustworthiness--and act on it.
When facing a challenge, you have two choices. You can focus on what you lack and how God doesn't appear to be responding the way you wanted. Or, you can recognize that your need indicates His desire to teach you something--and rejoice over all He plans to accomplish.
Every time we follow God's leading, our obedience opens the door for Him to do great things in our lives. Yet we often resist obeying because His directions appear impractical and unreasonable--and so we doubt His intentions toward us.
Naaman couldn't understand why the Lord would tell him to go wash seven times in the Jordan River. He thought he'd already exercised faith in coming to the prophet Elisha. He'd hoped for a spectacular supernatural healing of his disease--not to be sent on what seemed an irrational fool's mission. After all, the great Syrian commander didn't see anyone else dipping in the muddy waters and being healed. But God's instructions were specifically for him, and no one else.
If you decide you'll do what God says only on the basis of what you see others doing, you'll miss out on His best for you. Suppose Naaman decided he just couldn't do something that appeared so crazy. He would have died a leper. Likewise, when you hold out on completely obeying God, you'll never know what He would have done in your life had you only trusted Him.
Our needs are opportunities for God to transform the lives of His children. He knows that for us to become everything He created us to be, we must learn to believe in His trustworthiness--and act on it.
When facing a challenge, you have two choices. You can focus on what you lack and how God doesn't appear to be responding the way you wanted. Or, you can recognize that your need indicates His desire to teach you something--and rejoice over all He plans to accomplish.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Street meetings - Leonard Ravenhill
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Saturday, November 17, 2012
Pakistan: Radicals Burn Church
Muslims wrote on church wall, “Allah is great, O Allah help and love Prophet”
On Friday afternoon, Sept. 21, a mob of several thousand radical Muslims attacked St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Mardan City, Pakistan. The attackers, armed with rifles and kerosene, overwhelmed security guards and broke into the church. They destroyed Bibles and prayer books, desecrated the altar and set fire to the church building and several surrounding homes and buildings. The mob was returning from a protest against the film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked violence in many Middle Eastern countries this month and led to the death of Christopher Stevens, U.S. Ambassador to Libya. In Pakistan, the government had declared Sept. 21 a national holiday in honor of Muhammad, and the day had been set aside for peaceful protests.
The attack on the 82-year-old church lasted for five hours. The church staff was able to flee, but those who lived on the campus lost everything. An adjoining high school, a Christian library, a computer laboratory, the bishop’s house, the bishop’s office, a pastor’s house and the school principal’s house were all burned. The mob also burned a car, three motorcycles and three bicycles. More than 2,000 Bibles, 100 New Testaments and several hundred Christian books and DVDs were destroyed. The attackers spray-painted the words “God is great,” “Oh God help us” and “Love our prophet” on the church steeple.
St. Paul’s in Mardan, which is about 30 miles from Peshawar, was built by British colonists in 1937. The church is active in sharing the gospel with Muslims and also operates a Christian book store. A mosque is directly across the street from the church. In the last two years, the church staff has received six phone calls in which callers threatened to kill them if they didn’t stop preaching and distributing Christian literature.
The day after the attack, church members and other local Christians gathered in front of the burned buildings to express their disappointment at the local government for failing to protect their church. On Sunday, Sept. 23, more than 1,000 people — many more than the church’s usual congregation of 300 — attended a prayer meeting at the church site.
Pastor Gulam Shad, a church staff member and VOM volunteer, shared a message from Rev. 2:10: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (ESV). He reminded the crowd that the Lord knows our suffering. “The teaching of Christ is to forgive our enemies,” Pastor Gulam said. “His teachings are on forgiveness and kindness. Today we have to be a role model for other nations so they can see from us how we follow the teachings of our Lord.”
The same church was bombed in September 2010, after an American pastor publicly burned a Quran. Three security guards, including a Muslim, were injured in the attack. After the bombing, VOM provided the church with a generator, which was destroyed during the violence last week.
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Kenya: Pastor Killed in Attack
On Sunday morning, Nov. 4, suspected Muslim extremists hurled a grenade onto the roof of the Utawala Interdenominational Church, killing a police chaplain and injuring at least 11 others. The church, which is located inside a police compound in Garissa, serves police officers stationed at the compound as well as their families.
Witnesses said the grenade was thrown from outside the compound at about 10 a.m. and landed on the church’s sheet-iron roof. Administration Police Chaplain Julius Mukonzi, who was killed in the attack, was delivering a sermon from the pulpit when the grenade detonated over his head. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire shortly after the attack.
At least 11 of the estimated 40 worshipers inside the church were injured in the attack. The wounded were treated at the Garissa Provincial General Hospital, and three were later airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment. Most of the wounded were police officers.
Other churches ended their services early as news of the attack spread throughout the area. Local church leaders have called for an inquiry into the recent increase in anti-Christian violence.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, authorities believe it was carried out by the Muslim extremist group al-Shabab. Police initiated a massive security operation as a result of the incident.
Al-Shabab has staged several similar attacks in the past year, including a grenade attack on a Nairobi church in September that killed a 9-year-old boy and an attack in Garissa on July 1 that killed 18 people.
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Witnesses said the grenade was thrown from outside the compound at about 10 a.m. and landed on the church’s sheet-iron roof. Administration Police Chaplain Julius Mukonzi, who was killed in the attack, was delivering a sermon from the pulpit when the grenade detonated over his head. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire shortly after the attack.
At least 11 of the estimated 40 worshipers inside the church were injured in the attack. The wounded were treated at the Garissa Provincial General Hospital, and three were later airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment. Most of the wounded were police officers.
Other churches ended their services early as news of the attack spread throughout the area. Local church leaders have called for an inquiry into the recent increase in anti-Christian violence.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, authorities believe it was carried out by the Muslim extremist group al-Shabab. Police initiated a massive security operation as a result of the incident.
Al-Shabab has staged several similar attacks in the past year, including a grenade attack on a Nairobi church in September that killed a 9-year-old boy and an attack in Garissa on July 1 that killed 18 people.
Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook, and become a 'Follower' here, or sign up for email notifications on the bottom right of this page. As always, thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you! -Walking In The Way
India: Arrested for Baptisms
“I enquired about the possession of the Christian spirit, and the reply came … that it was the Holy Spirit. Well, at any cost I didn’t want to be robbed of this new life and hence started learning Christianity.”
Thus began the journey of Reverend Chander Mani Khanna from high-caste Hindu devotee to dedicated Christian pastor arrested for baptizing former Muslims.
Pastor Khanna converted to Christianity in 1969 at the age of 22. He later became a minister in the Church of North India, an Anglican denomination, and was called to serve at All Saints Church in India’s Kashmir region. While India is Hindu majority, most people in Kashmir are Muslim. India has the world’s third-largest Muslim community, and the Kashmir region is unofficially governed by Islamic courts.
The few hundred Christians in Kashmir are increasingly harassed by Muslims. Churches are often surrounded by Muslims during worship services, and young believers are constantly watched and threatened. Islamists also circulate hate literature with a racial undertone against Christians. The media participates in this bias, portraying Christians as people who use women, alcohol and swine blood (deeply offensive to Muslims) in their religious practices.
As the leader of a mainline church, Khanna was well known in the community. He was involved in community-wide reconciliation events between Muslims and Christians. In 2011, several young Muslim men began attending the church and asked Khanna to baptize them. He emphasized that there would be no financial incentive or other benefit for conversion, but they insisted. Khanna baptized the seven men in a public event that someone recorded and later posted on YouTube. Word began to spread that the pastor was converting Muslims through allurement.
Khanna was summoned to appear before the Grand Mufti, an Islamic religious leader with great influence in the region. Khanna was arrested on Nov. 19, and police searched his home for further evidence of conversion by allurement. The men who were baptized continued to assert that they were not enticed to convert, but local newspaper reports cited anonymous police sources who claimed the men were financially rewarded. “You would hang your head in shame at what was written about [the pastor’s] family,” said a VOM partner.
Khanna spent 40 days in prison. “I had the strange experience of boldness and believed the Lord had given me a job, and I did it with grace,” Khanna said. He was released on bail on Dec. 1 and expelled from Kashmir. The case against Khanna was dropped on Feb. 16 because of a lack of evidence against him.
Though he was not convicted, the ordeal took a toll on Khanna’s church position and his family. His wife became ill and was deeply disillusioned at the lack of support from the church. Denominational leadership subtly communicated that Khanna should not have baptized the converts from Islam.
When he retired on Jan. 16, Khanna was let go without a pension. VOM’s partner in India, who had been assisting Khanna with legal representation because lawyers in Kashmir refused to represent him, offered Khanna a job at their office in Bangalore. These days, Khanna spends his time speaking on behalf of persecuted Christians in churches around India. The new job is a great encouragement to him. He has regained confidence, and his wife’s health is improving. “I am not bothered by what happened to me, but I glorify the Lord,”he said.
Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook, and become a 'Follower' here, or sign up for email notifications on the bottom right of this page. As always, thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you! -Walking In The Way
Thus began the journey of Reverend Chander Mani Khanna from high-caste Hindu devotee to dedicated Christian pastor arrested for baptizing former Muslims.
Pastor Khanna converted to Christianity in 1969 at the age of 22. He later became a minister in the Church of North India, an Anglican denomination, and was called to serve at All Saints Church in India’s Kashmir region. While India is Hindu majority, most people in Kashmir are Muslim. India has the world’s third-largest Muslim community, and the Kashmir region is unofficially governed by Islamic courts.
The few hundred Christians in Kashmir are increasingly harassed by Muslims. Churches are often surrounded by Muslims during worship services, and young believers are constantly watched and threatened. Islamists also circulate hate literature with a racial undertone against Christians. The media participates in this bias, portraying Christians as people who use women, alcohol and swine blood (deeply offensive to Muslims) in their religious practices.
As the leader of a mainline church, Khanna was well known in the community. He was involved in community-wide reconciliation events between Muslims and Christians. In 2011, several young Muslim men began attending the church and asked Khanna to baptize them. He emphasized that there would be no financial incentive or other benefit for conversion, but they insisted. Khanna baptized the seven men in a public event that someone recorded and later posted on YouTube. Word began to spread that the pastor was converting Muslims through allurement.
Khanna was summoned to appear before the Grand Mufti, an Islamic religious leader with great influence in the region. Khanna was arrested on Nov. 19, and police searched his home for further evidence of conversion by allurement. The men who were baptized continued to assert that they were not enticed to convert, but local newspaper reports cited anonymous police sources who claimed the men were financially rewarded. “You would hang your head in shame at what was written about [the pastor’s] family,” said a VOM partner.
Khanna spent 40 days in prison. “I had the strange experience of boldness and believed the Lord had given me a job, and I did it with grace,” Khanna said. He was released on bail on Dec. 1 and expelled from Kashmir. The case against Khanna was dropped on Feb. 16 because of a lack of evidence against him.
Though he was not convicted, the ordeal took a toll on Khanna’s church position and his family. His wife became ill and was deeply disillusioned at the lack of support from the church. Denominational leadership subtly communicated that Khanna should not have baptized the converts from Islam.
When he retired on Jan. 16, Khanna was let go without a pension. VOM’s partner in India, who had been assisting Khanna with legal representation because lawyers in Kashmir refused to represent him, offered Khanna a job at their office in Bangalore. These days, Khanna spends his time speaking on behalf of persecuted Christians in churches around India. The new job is a great encouragement to him. He has regained confidence, and his wife’s health is improving. “I am not bothered by what happened to me, but I glorify the Lord,”he said.
Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook, and become a 'Follower' here, or sign up for email notifications on the bottom right of this page. As always, thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you! -Walking In The Way
Friday, November 16, 2012
Goodness and Love
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.Psalm 23:6
The devil never stops tormenting believers. On the inside, he afflicts them with fears. On the outside, he torments them with the tricks of false teachers and the power of tyrants. So at the conclusion of this psalm, David earnestly prayed that God, who had given him rich blessings, would continue to take care of him until the end. He was asking God to grant him favor so that "goodness and love will follow" him all the days of his life. Then David explained how God would show his goodness and love: "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." He was saying, "Lord, you are the one who started all this. You gave me your holy Word and made me one of your people who know, honor, and praise you. Continue to show me your favor so that I may stay close to your Word and never be separated from your holy kingdom."
David asked for the same in Psalm 27. He said, "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple" (v. 4).
By his example, David teaches all believers that they should not become overconfident, proud, or presumptuous. Instead, they should be afraid and pray that they don't lose God's rich blessings. David's example should wake us up so that we will pray diligently.
The devil never stops tormenting believers. On the inside, he afflicts them with fears. On the outside, he torments them with the tricks of false teachers and the power of tyrants. So at the conclusion of this psalm, David earnestly prayed that God, who had given him rich blessings, would continue to take care of him until the end. He was asking God to grant him favor so that "goodness and love will follow" him all the days of his life. Then David explained how God would show his goodness and love: "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." He was saying, "Lord, you are the one who started all this. You gave me your holy Word and made me one of your people who know, honor, and praise you. Continue to show me your favor so that I may stay close to your Word and never be separated from your holy kingdom."
David asked for the same in Psalm 27. He said, "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple" (v. 4).
By his example, David teaches all believers that they should not become overconfident, proud, or presumptuous. Instead, they should be afraid and pray that they don't lose God's rich blessings. David's example should wake us up so that we will pray diligently.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Brilliant Days, Broken Days
I will strengthen you, surely I will
help you, surely I will uphold you
with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Our problem isn't that we've failed. Our problem is that we haven't failed enough. We haven't been brought low enough to learn what God wants us to learn. . . .
Remember one of the songs from the Seventies we used to sing again and again? It mentioned how we learned to trust in Jesus and to trust in God by going "through it all." Not around it.
Through it.
Through it all.
That's the ticket. Through the victories and the failures. . . . Through the brilliant days of accomplishment and the broken days. . . . Through the heady days of laughter and success and those nameless intervals of setback and blank despair.
Through it all, He is with us, leading us, teaching us, humbling us, preparing us.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
How to Abide in Christ - Paul Washer
Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook, and become a 'Follower' here, or sign up for email notifications on the bottom right of this page. As always, thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you!-Walking In The Way
Good fish and bad fish
Notice the good fish and the bad fish, in Matthew 13:47-51, were in the net together. The world is not caught in the dragnet of the kingdom of heaven; they remain in the world.
The “fish” that are caught are those who respond to the gospel—the evangelistic “catch.” They remain together until the Day of Judgment.
Matthew 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,
48 “which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.
49 “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,
50 “and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
The “fish” that are caught are those who respond to the gospel—the evangelistic “catch.” They remain together until the Day of Judgment.
Matthew 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,
48 “which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.
49 “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,
50 “and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Nothing Created Everything
Many atheists refuse to admit they believe the entire universe came into being from nothing, because it is a scientific impossibility and they recognize how silly it sounds. If everything didn’t come from nothing, their alternative is to say that creation (nature) created itself. However, a thing cannot make itself. To do so would mean that it had to pre-exist before it existed, and therefore it didn’t create itself because it was already in existence. (For where the universe came from, see Isa. 34:4 and Isa. 45:18 comments.) Here is a list of some who have admitted to believing that nothing created everything:
1. "It is now becoming clear that everything can—and probably did—come from nothing." —Robert A. J. Matthews, physicist, Ashton University, England
2. "Space and time both started at the Big Bang and therefore there was nothing before it." —Cornell University’s "Ask an Astronomer"
3. "Some physicists believe our universe was created by colliding with another, but Kaku [a theoretical physicist at City University of New York] says it also may have sprung from nothing..." —Scienceline.org
4. "Even if we don't have a precise idea of exactly what took place at the beginning, we can at least see that the origin of the universe from nothing need not be unlawful or unnatural or unscientific." —Paul Davies, physicist, Arizona State University
5. "Assuming the universe came from nothing, it is empty to begin with...Only by the constant action of an agent outside the universe, such as God, could a state of nothingness be maintained. The fact that we have something is just what we would expect if there is no God." —Victor J. Stenger, Prof. Physics, University of Hawaii; author of God: The Failed Hypothesis
6. "Few people are aware of the fact that many modern physicists claim that things—perhaps even the entire universe—can indeed arise from nothing via natural processes.” —Mark I. Vuletic, Creation Ex Nihilo—Without God
7. "To understand these facts we have to turn to science. Where did they all come from, and how did they get so darned outrageous? Well, it all started with nothing." —"Fifty Outrageous Animal Facts,” Animal Planet
8. “To the average person it might seem obvious that nothing can happen in nothing. But to a quantum physicist, nothing is, in fact, something." —Discover Magazine “Physics & Math/Cosmology”
9. "It is rather fantastic to realize that the laws of physics can describe how everything was created in a random quantum fluctuation out of nothing, and how over the course of 15 billion years, matter could organize in such complex ways that we have human beings sitting here, talking, doing things intentionally." —Alan Harvey Guth, theoretical physicist and cosmologist, Discover Magazine
10. "The fact that life evolved out of nearly nothing, some 10 billion years after the universe evolved out of literally nothing is a fact so staggering that I would be mad to attempt words to do it justice." —Richard Dawkins, The Ancestor’s Tale
Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
1. "It is now becoming clear that everything can—and probably did—come from nothing." —Robert A. J. Matthews, physicist, Ashton University, England
2. "Space and time both started at the Big Bang and therefore there was nothing before it." —Cornell University’s "Ask an Astronomer"
3. "Some physicists believe our universe was created by colliding with another, but Kaku [a theoretical physicist at City University of New York] says it also may have sprung from nothing..." —Scienceline.org
4. "Even if we don't have a precise idea of exactly what took place at the beginning, we can at least see that the origin of the universe from nothing need not be unlawful or unnatural or unscientific." —Paul Davies, physicist, Arizona State University
5. "Assuming the universe came from nothing, it is empty to begin with...Only by the constant action of an agent outside the universe, such as God, could a state of nothingness be maintained. The fact that we have something is just what we would expect if there is no God." —Victor J. Stenger, Prof. Physics, University of Hawaii; author of God: The Failed Hypothesis
6. "Few people are aware of the fact that many modern physicists claim that things—perhaps even the entire universe—can indeed arise from nothing via natural processes.” —Mark I. Vuletic, Creation Ex Nihilo—Without God
7. "To understand these facts we have to turn to science. Where did they all come from, and how did they get so darned outrageous? Well, it all started with nothing." —"Fifty Outrageous Animal Facts,” Animal Planet
8. “To the average person it might seem obvious that nothing can happen in nothing. But to a quantum physicist, nothing is, in fact, something." —Discover Magazine “Physics & Math/Cosmology”
9. "It is rather fantastic to realize that the laws of physics can describe how everything was created in a random quantum fluctuation out of nothing, and how over the course of 15 billion years, matter could organize in such complex ways that we have human beings sitting here, talking, doing things intentionally." —Alan Harvey Guth, theoretical physicist and cosmologist, Discover Magazine
10. "The fact that life evolved out of nearly nothing, some 10 billion years after the universe evolved out of literally nothing is a fact so staggering that I would be mad to attempt words to do it justice." —Richard Dawkins, The Ancestor’s Tale
Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
Understanding Guilt
Release false guilt, since "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).
Read | John 8:1-11
Guilt over doing something that violates the conscience is a normal emotion. However, living under a cloud of remorse for no discernible reason is not. The Lord designed feelings of culpability and regret to serve as a reminder that a person has done wrong and needs to repent. But Satan twists those emotions to imprison men and women: those living in shame are uncertain of God's love and often lack self-confidence.
Good guilt--the Lord's effective tool for prompting repentance--is a gift that helps us find the right path. However, the Devil encourages false guilt, which involves taking responsibility for things outside our control and then suffering self-condemnation for not changing the outcome. This unhealthy type of guilt is also a widespread problem for those in legalistic churches or lifestyles--certain behaviors or thoughts are labeled as wrong, and then people feel ashamed for doing or thinking those things.
Self-condemnation stunts a relationship with Jesus. Instead of enjoying the peace of God, people who are trapped by shame fear His rejection and feel driven to prove their worth. Trust is nearly impossible because they are waiting for God's judgment to rain down. Their guilt even colors how they see themselves: rather than saying, "My action is wrong," they say, "I am bad."
Jesus did not come to accuse or condemn us. Christ restored our souls and made us righteous before God so that our guilt is removed. If our Savior forgave the woman caught in an adulterous relationship, just imagine how ready He is to take your shame away too (John 8:11).
Read | John 8:1-11
Guilt over doing something that violates the conscience is a normal emotion. However, living under a cloud of remorse for no discernible reason is not. The Lord designed feelings of culpability and regret to serve as a reminder that a person has done wrong and needs to repent. But Satan twists those emotions to imprison men and women: those living in shame are uncertain of God's love and often lack self-confidence.
Good guilt--the Lord's effective tool for prompting repentance--is a gift that helps us find the right path. However, the Devil encourages false guilt, which involves taking responsibility for things outside our control and then suffering self-condemnation for not changing the outcome. This unhealthy type of guilt is also a widespread problem for those in legalistic churches or lifestyles--certain behaviors or thoughts are labeled as wrong, and then people feel ashamed for doing or thinking those things.
Self-condemnation stunts a relationship with Jesus. Instead of enjoying the peace of God, people who are trapped by shame fear His rejection and feel driven to prove their worth. Trust is nearly impossible because they are waiting for God's judgment to rain down. Their guilt even colors how they see themselves: rather than saying, "My action is wrong," they say, "I am bad."
Jesus did not come to accuse or condemn us. Christ restored our souls and made us righteous before God so that our guilt is removed. If our Savior forgave the woman caught in an adulterous relationship, just imagine how ready He is to take your shame away too (John 8:11).
Monday, November 12, 2012
Good things are Costly
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
–John 16:33
You should not expect the easy way, for if you do you are certainly destined for disappointment. Any person who knows the Bible knows that the Christian life is likened to an athletic contest or to warfare, and neither one is easy. Jesus warned His followers to count carefully the cost, and that certainly does not speak of an easy way. But there is no good thing that comes without cost.
The Christian life is the most satisfying, but only when we actually go all out and all the way. It is the Christian who tries to compromise who finds life miserable, for he has all the problems, without the fellowship that comes through surrender. For every trial and test, Christ supplies an abundance of grace with which to bear it, and in our weakness we are made strong.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Let me never look for the easy way when You, Lord Jesus, gave everything for me.
–John 16:33
You should not expect the easy way, for if you do you are certainly destined for disappointment. Any person who knows the Bible knows that the Christian life is likened to an athletic contest or to warfare, and neither one is easy. Jesus warned His followers to count carefully the cost, and that certainly does not speak of an easy way. But there is no good thing that comes without cost.
The Christian life is the most satisfying, but only when we actually go all out and all the way. It is the Christian who tries to compromise who finds life miserable, for he has all the problems, without the fellowship that comes through surrender. For every trial and test, Christ supplies an abundance of grace with which to bear it, and in our weakness we are made strong.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Let me never look for the easy way when You, Lord Jesus, gave everything for me.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
The Effects of Unforgiveness
A believer can't fully love God with heart, mind, soul, and strength while harboring an unforgiving attitude.
Read | Matthew 18:21-22
One of the most dangerous things a person can do is to hold onto resentment. Clinging to unforgiveness has far-reaching and often unexpected consequences.
Although bitterness takes root in the mind, it doesn't stay contained. Acrimony can spread into every aspect of a person's life. For example, the hostility a man feels toward his father can color his relationship with his wife, his willingness to perform at work, and his involvement in church.
It's probably not surprising to hear that resentment impacts the mind and spirit, but you may not have realized what a physical toll it can also take on us. An attitude of bitterness ratchets up tension and anxiety, which can affect everything from muscles to chemical balance in the brain. Over time, that kind of mayhem weakens the body.
Because unforgiveness is a violation of God's law, it also causes spiritual turmoil that hinders a believer's growth. Prayer is stifled because of harbored sin that should be confessed. And worship is dry and hypocritical because it's difficult to effectively honor the Lord while trying to justify or hide a wrong attitude. What's more, a resentful person's witness is damaged, as others are prevented from seeing God's glory shining through him.
Forgiving someone means giving up resentment and the right to get even with him or her, even though you were wronged. God insisted this was the only way to go through life. One reason He commands us to forego hostility and vengeance is that these things cause so much damage to our own lives.
Read | Matthew 18:21-22
One of the most dangerous things a person can do is to hold onto resentment. Clinging to unforgiveness has far-reaching and often unexpected consequences.
Although bitterness takes root in the mind, it doesn't stay contained. Acrimony can spread into every aspect of a person's life. For example, the hostility a man feels toward his father can color his relationship with his wife, his willingness to perform at work, and his involvement in church.
It's probably not surprising to hear that resentment impacts the mind and spirit, but you may not have realized what a physical toll it can also take on us. An attitude of bitterness ratchets up tension and anxiety, which can affect everything from muscles to chemical balance in the brain. Over time, that kind of mayhem weakens the body.
Because unforgiveness is a violation of God's law, it also causes spiritual turmoil that hinders a believer's growth. Prayer is stifled because of harbored sin that should be confessed. And worship is dry and hypocritical because it's difficult to effectively honor the Lord while trying to justify or hide a wrong attitude. What's more, a resentful person's witness is damaged, as others are prevented from seeing God's glory shining through him.
Forgiving someone means giving up resentment and the right to get even with him or her, even though you were wronged. God insisted this was the only way to go through life. One reason He commands us to forego hostility and vengeance is that these things cause so much damage to our own lives.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Wretched: Who is to blame for Pres. Obama?
Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook, and become a 'Follower' here, or sign up for email notifications on the bottom right of this page. As always, thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you!-Walking In The Way
Friday, November 9, 2012
The order of genuine conversion
Here is the order of genuine conversion. A sinner should “mourn” for his sinful state. He should have the spirit of heaviness (be laboring and heavy laden over his sinful heart; see Matt. 11:28). It is these converts who become trees of righteousness because they are the planting of the Lord; they are born of God (see John 1:13).
“The religion of Christ is the religion of joy. Christ came to take away our sins, to roll off our curse, to unbind our chains, to open our prisonhouse, to cancel our debt; in a word, to give us the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Is not this joy? Where can we find a joy so real, so deep, so pure, so lasting? There is every element of joy—deep, ecstatic, satisfying, sanctifying joy—in the gospel of Christ. The believer in Jesus is essentially a happy man. The child of God is, from necessity, a joyful man. His sins are forgiven, his soul is justified, his person is adopted, his trials are blessings, his conflicts are victories, his death is immortality, his future is a heaven of inconceivable, unthought-of, untold, and endless blessedness. With such a God, such a Saviour, and such a hope, is he not, ought he not, to be a joyful man?” Octavius Winslow
Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
“The religion of Christ is the religion of joy. Christ came to take away our sins, to roll off our curse, to unbind our chains, to open our prisonhouse, to cancel our debt; in a word, to give us the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Is not this joy? Where can we find a joy so real, so deep, so pure, so lasting? There is every element of joy—deep, ecstatic, satisfying, sanctifying joy—in the gospel of Christ. The believer in Jesus is essentially a happy man. The child of God is, from necessity, a joyful man. His sins are forgiven, his soul is justified, his person is adopted, his trials are blessings, his conflicts are victories, his death is immortality, his future is a heaven of inconceivable, unthought-of, untold, and endless blessedness. With such a God, such a Saviour, and such a hope, is he not, ought he not, to be a joyful man?” Octavius Winslow
Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
What is Conscience
Having a good conscience . . .
–1 Peter 3:16
What is conscience? God has put within each one of us something that cries aloud against us, whenever we do that which we know to be wrong. Conscience is the detective that watches the direction of our steps and decries every conscious transgression. Conscience is a vigilant eye before which each imagination, thought, and act, is held up for either censure or approval.
I believe there is no greater argument for the existence of God in the world today than conscience. There is no greater proof of the existence of a moral law and Lawgiver in the universe than this little light of the soul. It is God’s voice to the inner man. Conscience is our wisest counselor and teacher, our most faithful and most patient friend.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Thank You, Father, for my conscience which checks me and guards my actions. Help me to be alert to its promptings, through Your Holy Spirit.
–1 Peter 3:16
What is conscience? God has put within each one of us something that cries aloud against us, whenever we do that which we know to be wrong. Conscience is the detective that watches the direction of our steps and decries every conscious transgression. Conscience is a vigilant eye before which each imagination, thought, and act, is held up for either censure or approval.
I believe there is no greater argument for the existence of God in the world today than conscience. There is no greater proof of the existence of a moral law and Lawgiver in the universe than this little light of the soul. It is God’s voice to the inner man. Conscience is our wisest counselor and teacher, our most faithful and most patient friend.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Thank You, Father, for my conscience which checks me and guards my actions. Help me to be alert to its promptings, through Your Holy Spirit.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Crazy Criminal
There was a criminal who was condemned to die in the electric chair. The courts had appointed a lawyer on behalf of the criminal, and he had worked hard to get him a reprieve. Finally, it came through, signed by the governor himself. The excited lawyer delivered it by hand to the criminal, but he refused to look at it, and instead arrogantly insisted that the governor appear to him personally, and that if he didn’t, he wouldn’t believe that he existed.
You have been justly condemned to death and hell by the Law of God. Yet, the same Judge who is holy and righteous is also rich in mercy, and will gladly give you a reprieve. He will dismiss your case because your fine was paid in full by the Savior. Instead of proudly clicking your fingers and insisting upon seeing God, or arguing about the age of the earth or Darwinian evolution, humble yourself and repent and trust the Savior. God will open the prison doors and set you free from sin and death.
You have been justly condemned to death and hell by the Law of God. Yet, the same Judge who is holy and righteous is also rich in mercy, and will gladly give you a reprieve. He will dismiss your case because your fine was paid in full by the Savior. Instead of proudly clicking your fingers and insisting upon seeing God, or arguing about the age of the earth or Darwinian evolution, humble yourself and repent and trust the Savior. God will open the prison doors and set you free from sin and death.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Desire - Do We Want Him by David Platt
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Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Roaring Waters
A man in a rowboat once found himself caught in fast-moving water, heading for a massive waterfall with jagged rocks 150 feet below. A passerby saw him rowing against the current, but his efforts were futile. Minute by minute he was drawn closer and closer to the roaring falls. The passerby ran to his car, grabbed a rope from the trunk, and threw it to the boat. When it fell across the bow, he screamed, “Grab the rope. I will pull you to the shore!” He couldn’t believe his eyes—the man took no notice. He just kept rowing frantically against the current, until he was sucked over the falls to his death.
The Bible tells us that you cannot “do” anything to save yourself. But God Himself did something wonderful to save you from death and hell. He became a person in Jesus Christ, and suffered and died in your place. He paid the fine in His life’s blood for the crimes that you committed: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Then He rose from the dead and defeated death.
Isaiah 17: 12 Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!
The Bible tells us that you cannot “do” anything to save yourself. But God Himself did something wonderful to save you from death and hell. He became a person in Jesus Christ, and suffered and died in your place. He paid the fine in His life’s blood for the crimes that you committed: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Then He rose from the dead and defeated death.
Isaiah 17: 12 Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!
God made You
It is an exhilarating experience to live the new life, with Christ inside me enabling me to live it. As a man was riding along in his Ford, suddenly something went wrong. He got out and looked at the engine, but he could find nothing wrong. As he stood there, another car came in sight, and he waved it down to ask for help. Out of a brand-new Lincoln stepped a tall, friendly man who asked, “Well, what’s the trouble?” “I cannot get this Ford to move,” was the reply. The stranger made a few adjustments under the hood and then said, “Now start the car.” When the motor started, its grateful owner introduced himself and then asked, “What is your name, sir?” “My name,” answered the stranger, “is Henry Ford.”
The one who made the Ford knew how to make it run. God made you and me, and He alone knows how to run your life and mine. We could make a complete wreck of our lives without Christ. When He is at the controls, all goes well. Without Him, we can do nothing.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, so often I forget to give You complete control and I fail. Teach me to rely completely on You for my strength and needs.
The one who made the Ford knew how to make it run. God made you and me, and He alone knows how to run your life and mine. We could make a complete wreck of our lives without Christ. When He is at the controls, all goes well. Without Him, we can do nothing.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, so often I forget to give You complete control and I fail. Teach me to rely completely on You for my strength and needs.
The Passion to Obey
Read | John 14:15
For a sermon I gave several years ago, I jotted down a list and titled it "The Evolution of a Passion to Obey God." That passion doesn't just spring up, full-blown at salvation. We do enter our new life in Christ with a desire to please Him, and that does include obeying Him. But an intensely determined pursuit of His will develops more slowly.
In fact, the first stage--fear of the consequences of disobedience--barely qualifies as reverence for God. But as we progress in our faith and form a commitment to obey the Lord, we eventually reach the final stage, which is love and devotion to Christ. Wouldn't you rather follow Him out of love than out of fear?
Getting from the first stage to the last begins with what you might expect--an increasing knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we dig into God's Word to see how He provided for the saints, we develop a desire for His best. Men like Moses, David, and Paul weren't satisfied with what the world had to offer, and we won't be either when we witness His work in the lives of His followers. So we test out obedience and discover that God's promised blessings are real. As we acquire a record of consistent rewards for doing His will, we recognize the wisdom of obedience.
Can you find yourself on the spectrum between fear and devotion? It is my hope that you have committed to obeying God and that you are reading His Word daily to learn how to keep your promise. God wants your best--your passionate pursuit of His will--because He is giving His best to you.
-Dr. Charles Stanley
For a sermon I gave several years ago, I jotted down a list and titled it "The Evolution of a Passion to Obey God." That passion doesn't just spring up, full-blown at salvation. We do enter our new life in Christ with a desire to please Him, and that does include obeying Him. But an intensely determined pursuit of His will develops more slowly.
In fact, the first stage--fear of the consequences of disobedience--barely qualifies as reverence for God. But as we progress in our faith and form a commitment to obey the Lord, we eventually reach the final stage, which is love and devotion to Christ. Wouldn't you rather follow Him out of love than out of fear?
Getting from the first stage to the last begins with what you might expect--an increasing knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we dig into God's Word to see how He provided for the saints, we develop a desire for His best. Men like Moses, David, and Paul weren't satisfied with what the world had to offer, and we won't be either when we witness His work in the lives of His followers. So we test out obedience and discover that God's promised blessings are real. As we acquire a record of consistent rewards for doing His will, we recognize the wisdom of obedience.
Can you find yourself on the spectrum between fear and devotion? It is my hope that you have committed to obeying God and that you are reading His Word daily to learn how to keep your promise. God wants your best--your passionate pursuit of His will--because He is giving His best to you.
-Dr. Charles Stanley
Voting Day
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (Romans 13:1 NKJV)
Monday, November 5, 2012
Wedding Evangelism #468
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Wretched: Safe, legal and torturous.
WATCH THIS BEFORE YOU VOTE TOMORROW!!!!!!!
Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook, and become a 'Follower' here, or sign up for email notifications on the bottom right of this page. As always, thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you!-Walking In The Way
Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook, and become a 'Follower' here, or sign up for email notifications on the bottom right of this page. As always, thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you!-Walking In The Way
The key word is Boldness when we Witness
Contrary to popular opinion, God has done more than give us good news He wants to get out. He has given us a manner that must accompany every method and a rationale for that manner.
The single term that best describes the way God wants his gospel given is boldness. And because it’s translated various ways, even faithful students of Scripture might overlook its frequency. Boldness (parrhesia) is used forty-two times in the New Testament. It is translated “openly,” “freely,” “plainly,” “with confidence” but most commonly some form of the word “bold.” A bold witness is not a pushy witness. A bold witness is not a loud witness, unless it needs to be. Boldness is not obnoxiousness. It’s not rude or demanding. Boldness is the furthest thing from some wild-eyed preacher screeching in the streets, “You’re going to hell!” Boldness is clear, direct communication in the face of potential opposition, nothing more or less. According to Proverbs 28:1, it is a characteristic of the God’s children: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Are you bold for Christ?
Objections to Boldness
Some suggest that boldness is a matter of personality or preference, not binding on all Christians for all time. Paul, however, clarified that boldness isn’t just a good way; it’s the right way, the God way, the biblical method for talking to people about Jesus. To the Ephesians, Paul disclosed his fear that he would fail in what God required, saying, “[Pray] for me … that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20). Others will say that they prefer the method of Christ Himself whose distinguishing characteristic was … say, gentleness or probing questions. In reality, the disciples learned their boldness from watching Jesus’s boldness.
Jesus taught that boldness means speaking plainly: “And [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly” (Mark 8:31-32). That word plainly is the same one translated in other places as boldness. Boldness is simply speaking the Gospel plainly. How many Christians fear to speak for Jesus because they think they need eloquence when plainness of speech is all God needs: “God loves you. Jesus Christ died for you. He can change your life. He did it for me. He will do it for you.” That’s the garden-variety, plain-old, blue-jean boldness God blesses.
Jesus taught that boldness means speaking openly: “Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, ‘Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly?” (John 7:25-26) Hide it under a bushel? No! Again the word boldness, but here it’s the idea of freely expressing truth as you see it. It’s not preachy, arrogant, or force-feeding anything. Boldness is the way you would talk to someone with an urgent message. If you were vacating a building because there was a fire on your floor and you met some people in the lobby from your office walking toward the elevator, you wouldn’t hesitate for a second to freely express the danger of going in the wrong direction. You would know they were unaware and would never consider withholding something so obviously needed and unknown to them.
Jesus also taught that boldness means speaking clearly: “The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly” (John 16:25). Again it’s the same word, boldness; Jesus was declaring a time when figures of speech would be set aside in favor of plain, open, clear communication. That time is now!
The single term that best describes the way God wants his gospel given is boldness. And because it’s translated various ways, even faithful students of Scripture might overlook its frequency. Boldness (parrhesia) is used forty-two times in the New Testament. It is translated “openly,” “freely,” “plainly,” “with confidence” but most commonly some form of the word “bold.” A bold witness is not a pushy witness. A bold witness is not a loud witness, unless it needs to be. Boldness is not obnoxiousness. It’s not rude or demanding. Boldness is the furthest thing from some wild-eyed preacher screeching in the streets, “You’re going to hell!” Boldness is clear, direct communication in the face of potential opposition, nothing more or less. According to Proverbs 28:1, it is a characteristic of the God’s children: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Are you bold for Christ?
Objections to Boldness
Some suggest that boldness is a matter of personality or preference, not binding on all Christians for all time. Paul, however, clarified that boldness isn’t just a good way; it’s the right way, the God way, the biblical method for talking to people about Jesus. To the Ephesians, Paul disclosed his fear that he would fail in what God required, saying, “[Pray] for me … that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20). Others will say that they prefer the method of Christ Himself whose distinguishing characteristic was … say, gentleness or probing questions. In reality, the disciples learned their boldness from watching Jesus’s boldness.
Jesus taught that boldness means speaking plainly: “And [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly” (Mark 8:31-32). That word plainly is the same one translated in other places as boldness. Boldness is simply speaking the Gospel plainly. How many Christians fear to speak for Jesus because they think they need eloquence when plainness of speech is all God needs: “God loves you. Jesus Christ died for you. He can change your life. He did it for me. He will do it for you.” That’s the garden-variety, plain-old, blue-jean boldness God blesses.
Jesus taught that boldness means speaking openly: “Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, ‘Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly?” (John 7:25-26) Hide it under a bushel? No! Again the word boldness, but here it’s the idea of freely expressing truth as you see it. It’s not preachy, arrogant, or force-feeding anything. Boldness is the way you would talk to someone with an urgent message. If you were vacating a building because there was a fire on your floor and you met some people in the lobby from your office walking toward the elevator, you wouldn’t hesitate for a second to freely express the danger of going in the wrong direction. You would know they were unaware and would never consider withholding something so obviously needed and unknown to them.
Jesus also taught that boldness means speaking clearly: “The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly” (John 16:25). Again it’s the same word, boldness; Jesus was declaring a time when figures of speech would be set aside in favor of plain, open, clear communication. That time is now!
Q and A
Q: Since individuals in the body of Christ have different functions, must all of us witness?
A: The main passage likening the Church to the human body is 1 Cor. 12:14–31, describing how each part fulfills its own function in a healthy body. But notice in v. 28 that this passage pertains to in-reach (within the local church), not outreach (evangelism). There is no mention of evangelists here because it is in the context of the Church coming together; when all those functions are working well, we have a healthy Church. Then, when the Church is healthy, it will (as one body) do what it has been commanded to do by the Head: to reach out to the lost.
We are like survivors in a lifeboat of the Titanic. All around us are drowning people. We need every hand onboard to help reach those who are dying and pull them into the boat. We think and move as one mind and one body. Nothing else matters. Love is our motivation. Every hand is needed—because there is a terrible lack of rescuers. Why? Because some think their role is to sit in the lifeboat, and, knowing that people are perishing, busy themselves polishing the brass.
If that’s the case, one has to question if they are really part of the body, because the Head has commanded us to reach out to those who are perishing (see Mark 16:15). A hand that doesn’t do what the Head commands it to isn’t healthy.
As we reach out to people, we must also be sure to do it the way the Bible instructs us to. Otherwise, we are just pulling corpses into the boat—and we see the fruit of this within the contemporary Church.
1 Corinthians 12:14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
A: The main passage likening the Church to the human body is 1 Cor. 12:14–31, describing how each part fulfills its own function in a healthy body. But notice in v. 28 that this passage pertains to in-reach (within the local church), not outreach (evangelism). There is no mention of evangelists here because it is in the context of the Church coming together; when all those functions are working well, we have a healthy Church. Then, when the Church is healthy, it will (as one body) do what it has been commanded to do by the Head: to reach out to the lost.
We are like survivors in a lifeboat of the Titanic. All around us are drowning people. We need every hand onboard to help reach those who are dying and pull them into the boat. We think and move as one mind and one body. Nothing else matters. Love is our motivation. Every hand is needed—because there is a terrible lack of rescuers. Why? Because some think their role is to sit in the lifeboat, and, knowing that people are perishing, busy themselves polishing the brass.
If that’s the case, one has to question if they are really part of the body, because the Head has commanded us to reach out to those who are perishing (see Mark 16:15). A hand that doesn’t do what the Head commands it to isn’t healthy.
As we reach out to people, we must also be sure to do it the way the Bible instructs us to. Otherwise, we are just pulling corpses into the boat—and we see the fruit of this within the contemporary Church.
1 Corinthians 12:14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
Worn Out by Worry
by John MacArthur
Worry is a common temptation for all of us. The source of the anxiety might vary from person to person, but no one is completely immune. For some, it’s even a favorite pastime, occupying large portions of their days by troubling over their doubts and fears about the future.
Obsessing over those doubts and fears shows blatant distrust for God’s power and His love. It essentially says, “God, I know You mean well by what You say, but I’m not sure You can pull it off.” It’s one thing to doubt a future decision or outcome—it’s another thing entirely to doubt the Lord. But in spite of its lack of subtlety, worry is a sin we fall into easily and often.
What’s more, it’s a sin that cruelly inflicts a severe toll on the sinner. The word worry comes from the Old English term wyrgan, which means “to choke” or “strangle.” Anyone who has dealt with serious anxiety knows that’s the exact impact it has in your life. It strangles your mind.
There are also physical repercussions. We’ve already talked about panic attacks, but even less-severe anxiety can have a negative impact on your health. Excessive worry causes some people to eat too much—others don’t eat well or enough when they’re locked in the grip of anxiety. In general, worry tends to interrupt most healthy patterns. Worriers get less exercise, less sunlight, and less interaction with other people as they withdraw into cocoons of anxiety.
Worst of all, worry does significant damage to your spiritual usefulness. As you read through the Scriptures, you see over and over that God wants His children preoccupied with Him, not with the mundane, passing things of this world. His command is clear: “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).
That includes even basic necessities. In our society, most people don’t need to worry about their ability to find water or food on a daily basis. But those were present realities and concerns in the world of the New Testament, and Jesus’ teaching was clear that even those essential needs were not an excuse for anxiety (Matthew 6:25).
Today, people’s concerns and fears regarding those basic necessities are manifest in different ways—mostly in stockpiling. Some people stockpile food and water; others, money. But regardless of the object, the act of stockpiling is basically an attempt to determine one’s own destiny apart from faith and trust in God.
Even Christians can make that mistake. It wasn’t much more than a decade ago that many believers and even entire congregations were selling off their property and possessions and moving to bunkers in rural parts of the country in preparation for the impending Y2K disaster. That kind of myopic, obsessive anxiety about the future cripples your spiritual growth and stifles your usefulness to the Lord.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t make any preparation for the future. Believers are commanded to be financially responsible and care for their families (1 Timothy 5:8). Scripture does not imply that having a savings account, investing extra money, or owning insurance shows a lack of trust in God. Such provisions from the Lord are reasonable safeguards for the average person in any complex, modern society.
However, preparing for the future ought to be balanced with Jesus’ command to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) and to “lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven” (v. 20). We are not to lavish on ourselves what God has given us for the accomplishment of His holy purposes.
I believe in wise planning, but if after doing all you are able to, you still are fearful of the future, the Lord says, “Don’t worry.” He promised to provide all your needs, and He will: “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). That is His concern, not yours.
Worry is a common temptation for all of us. The source of the anxiety might vary from person to person, but no one is completely immune. For some, it’s even a favorite pastime, occupying large portions of their days by troubling over their doubts and fears about the future.
Obsessing over those doubts and fears shows blatant distrust for God’s power and His love. It essentially says, “God, I know You mean well by what You say, but I’m not sure You can pull it off.” It’s one thing to doubt a future decision or outcome—it’s another thing entirely to doubt the Lord. But in spite of its lack of subtlety, worry is a sin we fall into easily and often.
What’s more, it’s a sin that cruelly inflicts a severe toll on the sinner. The word worry comes from the Old English term wyrgan, which means “to choke” or “strangle.” Anyone who has dealt with serious anxiety knows that’s the exact impact it has in your life. It strangles your mind.
There are also physical repercussions. We’ve already talked about panic attacks, but even less-severe anxiety can have a negative impact on your health. Excessive worry causes some people to eat too much—others don’t eat well or enough when they’re locked in the grip of anxiety. In general, worry tends to interrupt most healthy patterns. Worriers get less exercise, less sunlight, and less interaction with other people as they withdraw into cocoons of anxiety.
Worst of all, worry does significant damage to your spiritual usefulness. As you read through the Scriptures, you see over and over that God wants His children preoccupied with Him, not with the mundane, passing things of this world. His command is clear: “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).
That includes even basic necessities. In our society, most people don’t need to worry about their ability to find water or food on a daily basis. But those were present realities and concerns in the world of the New Testament, and Jesus’ teaching was clear that even those essential needs were not an excuse for anxiety (Matthew 6:25).
Today, people’s concerns and fears regarding those basic necessities are manifest in different ways—mostly in stockpiling. Some people stockpile food and water; others, money. But regardless of the object, the act of stockpiling is basically an attempt to determine one’s own destiny apart from faith and trust in God.
Even Christians can make that mistake. It wasn’t much more than a decade ago that many believers and even entire congregations were selling off their property and possessions and moving to bunkers in rural parts of the country in preparation for the impending Y2K disaster. That kind of myopic, obsessive anxiety about the future cripples your spiritual growth and stifles your usefulness to the Lord.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t make any preparation for the future. Believers are commanded to be financially responsible and care for their families (1 Timothy 5:8). Scripture does not imply that having a savings account, investing extra money, or owning insurance shows a lack of trust in God. Such provisions from the Lord are reasonable safeguards for the average person in any complex, modern society.
However, preparing for the future ought to be balanced with Jesus’ command to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) and to “lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven” (v. 20). We are not to lavish on ourselves what God has given us for the accomplishment of His holy purposes.
I believe in wise planning, but if after doing all you are able to, you still are fearful of the future, the Lord says, “Don’t worry.” He promised to provide all your needs, and He will: “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). That is His concern, not yours.
Let God Handle it
Cease striving and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
Sit down. Thatʼs right, my friend, sit down!
You have run far enough. You have stood long enough. You have fought, pushed, and manipulated your way for too many years. God has finally grabbed your attention. He is saying, "Quit! Stop! Let Me handle it! Sit there on the hot sands of the desert where you have brought yourself. Look at what lies next to you. It is a well, full of fresh water.Ë®
Soon it will be Godʼs delight to bring that bucket up and refresh your soul. Sit still. Stay there. Be quiet.
Cease all the striving. Relax. Be contented by that well, and drink deeply.
You are thirstier than you realize.
Psalm 46:10
Sit down. Thatʼs right, my friend, sit down!
You have run far enough. You have stood long enough. You have fought, pushed, and manipulated your way for too many years. God has finally grabbed your attention. He is saying, "Quit! Stop! Let Me handle it! Sit there on the hot sands of the desert where you have brought yourself. Look at what lies next to you. It is a well, full of fresh water.Ë®
Soon it will be Godʼs delight to bring that bucket up and refresh your soul. Sit still. Stay there. Be quiet.
Cease all the striving. Relax. Be contented by that well, and drink deeply.
You are thirstier than you realize.
Assurance in Trials
Read | Romans 8:32-39
We all experience hardship, and trials can shake us unless we cling to truth. Let me share three assurances to remember when troublesome circumstances arise.
First, God will always meet our needs. This doesn't mean He provides everything we want. Instead, the Lord will bless us with all that is necessary to fulfill His purpose for our lives. His goal is to sanctify us, not simply to satisfy each immediate desire.
Second, we're never alone. God promised to be with us always (Heb. 13:5). Loneliness often accompanies hardship, so we may feel deserted or opposed by family and friends. But our Father has sent His Spirit to be with us and in us, until the day He brings us to heaven (John 14:16-17). He is all we need--our advocate, guide, helper, and comforter. Recognizing His intimate presence gives us confidence in the midst of trials.
Third, God's love is eternal. Regardless of our circumstances or poor decisions, His care is unconditional--even when He reprimands us. Loving parents allow disobedient children to experience the consequences of wrong choices; they recognize the benefit of learning from mistakes. Of course, there are also times when we are negatively affected by others' wrong actions. Even then, God is sovereign and allows only what will bring good in His followers' lives.
In difficult times, we can remember that God will meet all of our needs, is always with us, and loves us forever. Though Jesus said we would face troubles in this life, He offered encouragement: The ultimate victory is His. So keep in mind that trials are fleeting, whereas our Father's love is forever.
We all experience hardship, and trials can shake us unless we cling to truth. Let me share three assurances to remember when troublesome circumstances arise.
First, God will always meet our needs. This doesn't mean He provides everything we want. Instead, the Lord will bless us with all that is necessary to fulfill His purpose for our lives. His goal is to sanctify us, not simply to satisfy each immediate desire.
Second, we're never alone. God promised to be with us always (Heb. 13:5). Loneliness often accompanies hardship, so we may feel deserted or opposed by family and friends. But our Father has sent His Spirit to be with us and in us, until the day He brings us to heaven (John 14:16-17). He is all we need--our advocate, guide, helper, and comforter. Recognizing His intimate presence gives us confidence in the midst of trials.
Third, God's love is eternal. Regardless of our circumstances or poor decisions, His care is unconditional--even when He reprimands us. Loving parents allow disobedient children to experience the consequences of wrong choices; they recognize the benefit of learning from mistakes. Of course, there are also times when we are negatively affected by others' wrong actions. Even then, God is sovereign and allows only what will bring good in His followers' lives.
In difficult times, we can remember that God will meet all of our needs, is always with us, and loves us forever. Though Jesus said we would face troubles in this life, He offered encouragement: The ultimate victory is His. So keep in mind that trials are fleeting, whereas our Father's love is forever.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
The Gospel (Paul Washer)
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Saturday, November 3, 2012
The Problem with Unanswered Prayers
Many think God doesn’t exist because their prayers weren’t answered. Yet, we are warned in Scripture that if we have sin in our hearts, God will not hear our prayers (see Psa. 66:18; John 9:31; see also Prov. 28:9; Isa. 1:15). So rather than being disillusioned and thinking that God didn’t exist, they should have repented and trusted the Savior, and their prayers would have then been answered.
My prayers are always answered. Sometimes I know that God has said “Yes,” because He grants me my request. Sometimes I know that He has said “No” because He doesn’t grant them. However, when I don’t get an immediate response, I console myself with the thought that He may be saying, “Wait a moment.” The Bible tells us that we inherit the promises of God through faith and patience. That doesn’t come easy to the “give it to me now” generation that we have become. So “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait a minute” are all answers to prayer. They just may not be the answers we wanted.
But actually, the atheist has a problem with both unanswered and answered prayer. Here’s a scenario that no doubt happens daily somewhere in the world. A young boy becomes deathly ill. The entire family gathers for prayer. However, despite earnest and sincere prayer, the child tragically dies. Their explanation for the death is that God took him to Heaven because He wanted the child there. That’s seen by the atheist as “unanswered prayer.” Or the child miraculously makes a recovery, which the family hails as an evident miracle. God obviously answered the family’s prayers by saving the child from death. The atheist maintains that it wasn’t answered prayer but that the child recovered because his body healed itself.
Was the recovery a miracle? Perhaps. Then again, perhaps it wasn’t. Only God knows. The fact is that we have no idea what happened. However, one thing we do know is that answered or unanswered prayer has nothing to do with God’s existence. Let me explain. My wife has a Dodge Caravan. Let’s say it has a problem. What would be my intellectual capacity if I concluded that it had no manufacturer simply because I couldn’t contact them about the dilemma? The fact of their existence has nothing to do with whether or not they return my calls.
Neither does God’s existence have anything to do with the fact that there are those who have experienced miracles, seen visions, or supposedly heard His voice. The sun doesn’t exist because we see its light, or because we feel its warmth. Its existence has nothing to do with any human testimony. Nor does it cease to exist because a blind man is not aware of its reality, or because it becomes cloudy, or the night falls. The sun exists, period.
God’s existence isn’t dependent on the Bible or its authenticity, the existence of the Church, the prophets, or even creation. God existed before the Scriptures were penned, before creation came into being. Even if the Bible was proved to be fraudulent, God would still exist.
Adamant atheist April Pedersen writes, “The human trait of seeking comfort through prayer is a strong one.” This is true. However, April fails to see that human nature itself is very predictable. If men will not embrace the biblical revelation of God, their nature is to delve into idolatry. “Idolatry” is the act of creating a god in our image, whether it is shaped with the human hands (a physical “idol”), or shaped in the human mind through the imagination. Those who create their own god then use it as a “good-luck charm” to do their bidding. The idolater uses his god for his own ends. He calls on his god to win a football game, a boxing match, the lottery, or a war. Idolatry is as predictable as it is illogical.
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
My prayers are always answered. Sometimes I know that God has said “Yes,” because He grants me my request. Sometimes I know that He has said “No” because He doesn’t grant them. However, when I don’t get an immediate response, I console myself with the thought that He may be saying, “Wait a moment.” The Bible tells us that we inherit the promises of God through faith and patience. That doesn’t come easy to the “give it to me now” generation that we have become. So “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait a minute” are all answers to prayer. They just may not be the answers we wanted.
But actually, the atheist has a problem with both unanswered and answered prayer. Here’s a scenario that no doubt happens daily somewhere in the world. A young boy becomes deathly ill. The entire family gathers for prayer. However, despite earnest and sincere prayer, the child tragically dies. Their explanation for the death is that God took him to Heaven because He wanted the child there. That’s seen by the atheist as “unanswered prayer.” Or the child miraculously makes a recovery, which the family hails as an evident miracle. God obviously answered the family’s prayers by saving the child from death. The atheist maintains that it wasn’t answered prayer but that the child recovered because his body healed itself.
Was the recovery a miracle? Perhaps. Then again, perhaps it wasn’t. Only God knows. The fact is that we have no idea what happened. However, one thing we do know is that answered or unanswered prayer has nothing to do with God’s existence. Let me explain. My wife has a Dodge Caravan. Let’s say it has a problem. What would be my intellectual capacity if I concluded that it had no manufacturer simply because I couldn’t contact them about the dilemma? The fact of their existence has nothing to do with whether or not they return my calls.
Neither does God’s existence have anything to do with the fact that there are those who have experienced miracles, seen visions, or supposedly heard His voice. The sun doesn’t exist because we see its light, or because we feel its warmth. Its existence has nothing to do with any human testimony. Nor does it cease to exist because a blind man is not aware of its reality, or because it becomes cloudy, or the night falls. The sun exists, period.
God’s existence isn’t dependent on the Bible or its authenticity, the existence of the Church, the prophets, or even creation. God existed before the Scriptures were penned, before creation came into being. Even if the Bible was proved to be fraudulent, God would still exist.
Adamant atheist April Pedersen writes, “The human trait of seeking comfort through prayer is a strong one.” This is true. However, April fails to see that human nature itself is very predictable. If men will not embrace the biblical revelation of God, their nature is to delve into idolatry. “Idolatry” is the act of creating a god in our image, whether it is shaped with the human hands (a physical “idol”), or shaped in the human mind through the imagination. Those who create their own god then use it as a “good-luck charm” to do their bidding. The idolater uses his god for his own ends. He calls on his god to win a football game, a boxing match, the lottery, or a war. Idolatry is as predictable as it is illogical.
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Halloween
The celebration can be traced back to the Druid festival of the dead. The Roman Pantheon, built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 100 as a temple to the goddess Cybele and other Roman gods, became the principle place of worship. In 609, Emperor Phocas seized Rome and gave the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV. Boniface consecrated it to the Virgin Mary and kept using the temple to pray for the dead, only now it was “Christianized,” as men added the unscriptural teaching of purgatory. In 834, Gregory IV extended the feast for all the church and it became known as All Saint’s Day, still remembering the dead.
Samhain, a Druid god of the dead, was honored at Hallowe’en (“All Hallows Eve”) in Britain, Germany, France, and the Celtic countries. Samhain called together all wicked souls who died within the past year and who were destined to inhabit animals. The Druids believed that souls of the dead came back to their homes to be entertained by those still living. Suitable food and shelter were provided for these spirits or else they would cast spells, steal infants, destroy crops, kill farm animals, and create terror as they haunted the living. This is the action that “Trick-or-Treat” copies today. The Samhain celebration used nuts, apples, skeletons, witches, and black cats. Divination and auguries were practiced as well as magic to seek answers for the future. Even today witchcraft practitioners declare October 31 as the most favorable time to practice their arts.
Many Christians use Halloween as an opportunity to reach the lost by giving candy and gospel tracts to trick-or-treaters. What other day do scores of people come to your door for gospel tracts?
Samhain, a Druid god of the dead, was honored at Hallowe’en (“All Hallows Eve”) in Britain, Germany, France, and the Celtic countries. Samhain called together all wicked souls who died within the past year and who were destined to inhabit animals. The Druids believed that souls of the dead came back to their homes to be entertained by those still living. Suitable food and shelter were provided for these spirits or else they would cast spells, steal infants, destroy crops, kill farm animals, and create terror as they haunted the living. This is the action that “Trick-or-Treat” copies today. The Samhain celebration used nuts, apples, skeletons, witches, and black cats. Divination and auguries were practiced as well as magic to seek answers for the future. Even today witchcraft practitioners declare October 31 as the most favorable time to practice their arts.
Many Christians use Halloween as an opportunity to reach the lost by giving candy and gospel tracts to trick-or-treaters. What other day do scores of people come to your door for gospel tracts?
The Promises of God
Read | 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
The Christian life rests on a foundation of God's promises for today and for the future. We can trust everything that our heavenly Father has said because His Word shows Him to be...
Truthful. The Lord knows what is true and speaks honestly in all matters. We can be assured of this because He is holy; there is no sin in Him. He is also omniscient and understands everything (Heb. 4:12-13). His promises are based on His infinite knowledge and truthfulness.
Faithful. Scripture compares the Lord to a shepherd who "gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart" (Isa. 40:11 niv). What He has planned for us, He will bring to fruition (Rom. 8:28). Our heavenly Father does not waver in His intentions or will.
Loving. God's love for us was demonstrated at the cross. He sent His Son Jesus to die by crucifixion and thereby take the punishment for our sins. The Savior experienced God's wrath against iniquity so we might know only His love. This is the ultimate proof of His devotion to us.
All-powerful. Divine power created the world and raised the Savior back to life, so we know God has the ability to carry out all His plans. Our omnipotent Father can keep every one of His promises.
A promise is valuable only if the one making it has trustworthy character and the ability to carry through. Our heavenly Father is truthful, faithful, loving, and all-powerful. We can base our entire life on His promises, secure in the knowledge that He will do just as He has said.
The Christian life rests on a foundation of God's promises for today and for the future. We can trust everything that our heavenly Father has said because His Word shows Him to be...
Truthful. The Lord knows what is true and speaks honestly in all matters. We can be assured of this because He is holy; there is no sin in Him. He is also omniscient and understands everything (Heb. 4:12-13). His promises are based on His infinite knowledge and truthfulness.
Faithful. Scripture compares the Lord to a shepherd who "gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart" (Isa. 40:11 niv). What He has planned for us, He will bring to fruition (Rom. 8:28). Our heavenly Father does not waver in His intentions or will.
Loving. God's love for us was demonstrated at the cross. He sent His Son Jesus to die by crucifixion and thereby take the punishment for our sins. The Savior experienced God's wrath against iniquity so we might know only His love. This is the ultimate proof of His devotion to us.
All-powerful. Divine power created the world and raised the Savior back to life, so we know God has the ability to carry out all His plans. Our omnipotent Father can keep every one of His promises.
A promise is valuable only if the one making it has trustworthy character and the ability to carry through. Our heavenly Father is truthful, faithful, loving, and all-powerful. We can base our entire life on His promises, secure in the knowledge that He will do just as He has said.
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