Experiencing the Presence of God's Spirit by Francis Chan

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Bargaining like Pharaoh

Exodus 8:28

This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor enslaved Israelites must leave Egypt, then he bargains with them that it shall not be very far away--not too far for them to escape the terror of his arms and the observation of his spies. After the same fashion, the world hates the nonconformity of nonconformity or the dissidence of dissent; it would rather we were more charitable and not deal with things too severely. Death to the world and burial with Christ are experiences that worldly minds treat with ridicule, and as a result baptism, which pictures them, is almost universally neglected and even condemned.

Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise and talks of "moderation." According to this carnal policy, purity is admitted to be very desirable, but we are warned against being too precise; truth is of course to be followed, but error is not to be severely denounced. "Yes," says the world, "be spiritually minded by all means, but do not deny yourself a little friendship with the world, the odd journey to Vanity Fair. What's the good of denouncing this empty lifestyle when it is so fashionable and everybody does it?" Multitudes of professors succumb to this cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin.

If we are going to really follow the Lord, we must be prepared to walk the narrow path and join Moses who refused to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. We must leave behind the world's maxims--its pleasure, and its religion too--and go far away to the place where the Lord calls His sanctified ones.

When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When disease is rampant, it is hard to escape it. The further from a poisonous snake the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet-call be sounded: "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them."¹

¹2 Corinthians 6:17

Q and A

Q: Why are so many bad things committed in the name of Christ?

A: Jesus often asked questions of His questioners, to help them think it through logically and see whether their question is even valid. So follow His example. People who pose this question seem to be saying that whenever atrocities are committed by adherents of a certain belief system, then that belief system cannot be true. Let's see how that applies to the belief of atheism. Atheistic governments have slaughtered millions of their people; for example, Mao Zedong was responsible for the deaths of approximately 75 million in China, while Stalin used famine and murder to kill another 10 to 60 million in the Soviet Union. So could we use that same reasoning to conclude that atheism cannot be true? How would your questioner answer that?

When it comes to religion, it is popular these days to defend the Islamic religion regardless of the actions of its most committed followers. Despite the countless atrocities that have been committed, and continue to be committed, in the name of Allah and based on commands in the Koran, many people make a distinction between the "radical" Muslims who commit these acts and the "peaceful" religion of Islam itself. Ask your questioner if he is ready to condemn Islam and all Muslims based on the actions of a minority. Most likely, he isn’t—he is interested in condemning only Christianity.

But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” (Luke 20:3,4)

When God ignores our Worship

²“Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. ³‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. ⁴Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.” —Isaiah 58:2-4

Why does God sometimes ignore our worship? That’s what the people in Isaiah’s day wanted to know. They asked,“Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?”Here’s how God essentially answers: He ignores our worship at times because we’re self-centered. Notice the text says,“Behold, in the day of your fast...” The word behold means just listen up. Why does God not show up? He gives us two clues that reveal our self-centeredness at the end of verse 3.

The first clue is the phrase, “you seek your own pleasure.” It means that even spiritual actions can be practiced with purely selfish motives. We may think, I’ll try fasting or looking humble, because it will make me feel or look good. But in that approach, God is an optional add-on—or worse, treated as if He can be fooled by appearances. We’re just like the Israelites who asked, Why don’t You see us fasting? Aren’t You impressed by our humility?

God refuses that treatment. He sees right past the pretense. That’s why authentic fasting is prescribed in Scripture. It elevates our hunger and passion for God. We cannot pursue everything our heart desires and God! If we don’t “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), whatever else we’re seeking first will be idolatry.

This explains why there is so much spiritual apathy in the western world. We tend to think our material possessions are a sign of God’s blessing upon us—but His provision may be more of a judgment than a blessing. Instead of bringing about our humble attention, having so many needs met often results in a greater indifference toward God, and interest solely in our own pleasure. When our worship is focused on selfishly expecting something to inspire us or turn our crank spiritually, God doesn’t participate.

The second clue about our self-centeredness is the phrase, “oppress all your workers.” Today this applies in subtle ways. While you may appear to stop for worship, your little investment machine keeps going. You may not be an employer who insists on a 24/7 schedule for your workers, but your cell phone, tablet or laptop is always on, and your system of generating income never stops working. Would you ever think of shutting that down to give your full and focused attention to God alone? Self-employment can easily become worker oppression, too—God won’t accept you oppressing your workers, even if the only worker is you.

Worship is not for you. Worship is for God. As long as you come to receive and don’t come to serve and worship Him, you will walk out empty and disappointed—even when those around you are meeting with God in powerful, life-changing ways.

Ask yourself honestly, Am I selfish? Have I been consumed with myself? Am I here to worship God, or am I expecting Him to be here for me? Your answer matters. Because in one scenario God shows up powerfully—in another, He doesn’t hear you at all.

Witnessing in London

 

Hello Everyone,

 

Glad to be back home in America. I been back for shortly over two weeks now. I've been organizing pictures and stories to share here on the ministry site. This is the first one I wanted to share. This person was in the main square in London, England where we had a day layover before our next flight. He is an artist that does portraits. There were several other street performers around too, but I being a graphic designer wanted to talk to a fellow artist. I got to share with him for a few minutes before the group had to leave. It would be a great encouraging step to kick off the remainder of the stay in London. I will post more about London later. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. God was working in many areas of this trip and I feel so blessed to have gotten to be a part of it. God bless you all!

 

-EMS

 

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

Tears of Repentance

Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of
refreshment from the presence of the Lord.
–Acts 3:19 (TLB)

There is a certain amount of sorrow involved in repentance that we don’t see much of today. That word means moaning and even groaning. I don’t mean that we have to have a great emotional experience, but I do believe that we need some tears of repentance. We need to be sorry for our sins, and to say, “Oh, God, I have sinned against You, and I’m sorry.” I am not an emotional person. I don’t know why, but I don’t cry easily. But of the few times I have cried in my life, some of them have been over sin that I committed many years ago. 

The night I came to Christ, I didn’t have any tears. But later I went home and I looked out my window at the North Carolina sky and I cried over my sins. I said, “Oh, God, forgive me.” And the most wonderful peace swept over my soul. From that moment on, I’ve known that my sins were forgiven.

-Billy Graham

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

There is sorrow in my soul when I remember how I fail You, loving Lord. Forgive my frailties.

A Picture of Beauty

Psalms 45:2

The entire person of Christ is like one diamond, and His life in every dimension leaves one lasting impression. He is altogether complete, not only in His various parts, but as a gracious all-glorious whole. His character is not a mass of bright colors mixed confusedly, nor a heap of precious stones laid carelessly on top of each other; He is a picture of beauty and a breastplate of glory. In Him, all the things of good repute are in their proper places and assist in adorning each other. Not one feature in His glorious person attracts attention at the expense of others; but He is perfectly and altogether lovely.

Oh, Jesus, Your power, Your grace, Your justice, Your tenderness, Your truth, Your majesty, and Your immutability combine to make a man, or rather a God-man, whom neither heaven nor earth has ever seen elsewhere. Your infancy, Your eternity, Your sufferings, Your triumphs, Your death, and Your immortality are all woven into one gorgeous tapestry, without seams or tears. You are music without discord; You are all things, and yet not diverse. As all the colors blend into one resplendent rainbow, so all the glories of heaven and earth meet in You and unite so perfectly that there is no one like You in all things; indeed, if all the virtues of the most excellent were bound in one bundle, they could not rival You, mirror of all perfection. You have been anointed with the holy oil, which Your God has reserved for You alone; and as for Your fragrance, it is the holy perfume that cannot be matched even with the chemist's skill; each spice is fragrant, but the compound is divine.

Oh, sacred symmetry! oh, rare connection

Of many perfects, to make one perfection!

Oh, heavenly music, where all parts do meet

In one sweet strain, to make one perfect sweet! 

Sifted by The Lord

Amos 9:9

Every sifting comes by divine command and permission. Satan must ask permission before he can lay a finger upon Job. In actual fact, in some sense our siftings aredirectly the work of heaven, for in the text God says that He will "shake the house of Israel." Satan, like a slave, may hold the sieve, hoping for the worst; but the overruling hand of the Master is accomplishing His purpose by the very process that the enemy hopes will be destructive. Precious children of God, even though you are shaken, be comforted by the blessed fact that the Lord directs the whole process for His own glory and for your eternal profit.

The Lord Jesus will graciously and yet firmly divide that which is precious from that which is of little account. All are not Israel that are of Israel; the grain on the barn floor is not clean and pure, and so the shaking process must be performed. In the sieve, husks and chaff fly before the wind, and only solid substance will remain.

Observe the complete safety of the Lord's wheat; even a pebble has a promise of preservation. God Himself sifts, and therefore it is stern and terrible work; He sifts them in all places, "among all the nations"; He sifts them in the most effective manner, "as one shakes with a sieve"; and yet in all this, not the smallest, lightest, or most shriveled grain is permitted to fall to the ground.

Every individual believer is precious in the sight of the Lord. A shepherd would not lose one sheep, nor a jeweler one diamond, nor a mother one child, nor a man one limb of his body; nor will the Lord lose one of His redeemed people. However little we may be, if we are the Lord's, we may rejoice that we are preserved in Christ Jesus.

Saved or Lost

“Every person in your personal world is on one of two lists: saved or lost. First John 5:12 says, ‘He that has the Son of God has life. He that does not have the Son of God, does not have life.’ There are two destinations for everybody we know. Think of the people you know and love as you hold their eternity in your hands. That's why you are where you are... Do whatever it takes and whatever it costs to take the people you know to heaven with you!” Ron Hutchcraft

Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, And from the multitude of mountains; Truly, in the Lord our God Is the salvation of Israel. (Jeremiah3:23)

Jesus our Redeemer

Isaiah 54:5

Jesus, the Redeemer, is altogether ours and ours forever. All the offices of Christ are held on our behalf. He is King for us, priest for us, and prophet for us. Whenever we read a new title of the Redeemer, let us appropriate Him as ours under that name as much as under any other. The shepherd's staff, the father's rod, the captain's sword, the priest's miter, the prince's scepter, the prophet's mantle--all are ours. Jesus has no dignity that He will not employ for our exaltation, and no prerogative that He will not exercise for our defense. His fullness ofGodhead is our unfailing, inexhaustible treasure-house.

His manhood also, which he took upon Him for us, is ours in all its perfection. To us our gracious Lord communicates the spotless virtue of a stainless character; to us He gives the meritorious efficacy of a devoted life; on us He bestows the reward procured by obedient submission and unceasing service. He makes the perfect garment of His life our covering beauty, the glittering virtues of His character our ornaments and jewels, and the superhuman meekness of His death our boast and glory.

He bequeaths us His manger, from which we learn how God came down to man, and His cross to teach us how man may go up to God. All His thoughts, emotions, actions, utterances, miracles, and intercessions were for us. He walked the path of sorrow on our behalf and has left to us as His heavenly legacy the full results of all the labors of His life. He is now as much ours as He will be; and He does not shrink to acknowledge Himself "our Lord Jesus Christ," though He is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ everywhere and in every way is our Christ, forever and ever most richly to enjoy.

O my soul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, call Him this morning "your Redeemer."

A Prayer

Psalms 12:1

This prayer is remarkable for its brevity, but it may be offered humbly, regularly, andprofitably. David was saddened that the numbers of the faithful were so small, and therefore he lifted up his heart in supplication: When the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at the same time he obviously intended to give himself for the cause of truth, for the cry "save" is inapplicable where we do not exert ourselves.

Note the directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this petition of few words, distinguishing it from the long, rambling outpourings of certain professors. The psalmist runs straight toward his God with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is seeking and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same direct manner.

The occasions when prayer is needed are constant. In providential afflictions how necessary prayer is for tested believers who find all other helpers failing them. Students in doctrinal difficulties will find help by lifting up this cry of "Save, O LORD" to the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may send to the throne of grace for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their request. Those who are engaged in heavenly toil may in this way obtain grace in time of need. Seeking sinners, in doubts and alarms, may offer up the same simple supplication; in fact, in all these cases, times, and places this will serve the turn of needy souls. "Save, O LORD" will suit us in living and dying, suffering or working, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him our help is found; let us not be slow to cry to Him.

The answer to the prayer is certain, if it is sincerely offered through Jesus. The Lord's character assures us that He will not leave His people; His relationship as Father and Husband guarantee us His help. God's gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing; and His sure promise stands, "Fear not, I will help you."

The Law VS Pride

Pride deceives the human heart. It stops the search for God and blinds the eyes to reality. Pride makes a fool think that he is wise, as a grasshopper might think it’s a giant. Pride tells a man that he is good when his heart is desperately wicked, and that he is right when the entire world can see that he is wrong. It is the root of the tree of self-righteousness. Thank God for His Law! It strips a man of the deceit of pride and humbles him by showing him the truth.

"The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts" (Psalm 10:4).

Who's Going Thirsty?

Revelation 22:17

The invitation is to "take . . . without price." Jesus wants no payment or preparation. He seeks no recommendation from our virtuous emotions. If you have no good feelings, but if you are willing, you are invited; therefore come! If you have no belief and no repentance, come to Him, and He will give them to you. Come just as you are, and take without money and without price. He gives Himself to the needy.

In nineteenth-century Britain the drinking fountains at the corners of the streets were valuable institutions; it would have been a strange and foolish sight to see someone standing at the fountain declaring, "I cannot drink because I do not have any money." However poor an individual may be, there is the fountain, and just as he is, he may drink of it without cost. Thirsty passengers, as they go by, whether they are dressed poorly or expensively, do not look for any authorization to drink; the existence of the fountain is sufficient warrant for taking its water freely. The generosity of some good friends has put in place the refreshing supply, and we take it and ask no questions.

Perhaps the only people who go thirsty through the street where there is a drinking fountain are the fine ladies and gentlemen who are in their carriages. They are very thirsty but cannot think of being so vulgar as to get out to drink. It would demean them, they think, to drink at a common drinking fountain: so they ride by with parched lips.

How many there are who are rich in their own good works and cannot therefore come to Christ! "I will not be saved," they say, "in the same way as the prostitute or the blasphemer." What! Go to heaven in the same way as a chimney sweep? Is there no pathway to glory but the path that led the dying thief there? I will not be saved that way. Such proud boasters must remain without the living water; but "Let the one who desires take the water of life without price."

Avoiding Damnation

“Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing, or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail. They hear indeed that there are but few saved, and that the greater part of men that have died heretofore are gone to hell; but each one imagines that he lays out matters better for his own escape than others have done.” Jonathan Edwards

Why are we here?

Romans 14:8

If God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for immortality that we should linger here. It is possible for a man to be taken to heaven and to be found fit to partake in the inheritance of the saints in light, even though he has only just believed in Jesus. It is true that our sanctification is a long and continued process, and we shall not be perfected until we lay aside our bodies and enter within the veil; but nevertheless, if the Lord had wanted to, He could have changed us from imperfection to perfection and have taken us to heaven at once.

Why then are we here? Would God keep His children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? Why is the army of the living God still on the battlefield when one charge might give them the victory? Why are His children still wandering here and there through a maze when a single word from His lips would bring them into the center of their hopes in heaven?

The answer is--they are here that they may "live to the Lord" and may bring others to know His love. We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed, as plowmen to break up the fallow ground, as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as "the salt of the earth,"¹ to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for Him, and as workers together with Him. Let us see that our life fulfills this purpose. Let us live zealous, useful, holy lives, to "the praise of his glorious grace."²

Meanwhile we long to be with Him and daily sing-- My heart is with Him on His throne,

And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
"Rise up, and come away."

¹Matthew 5:13
²Ephesians 1:6

Look at the Positives

Psalms 126:3

Some Christians are sadly prone to look on the dark side of everything, and to dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon what God has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian life, and they will describe their continual conflicts, their deep afflictions, their sad adversities, and the sinfulness of their hearts, but with scarcely any reference to the mercy and help that God has provided them.

But a Christian whose soul is in a healthystate will come forward joyously and say, "I will not speak about myself, but to the honor of my God. He has brought me up out of a horrible pit and out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings; and He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. The Lord has done great things for me--I am glad."

This summary of experience is the very best that any child of God can present. It is true that we endure trials, but it is just as true that we are delivered out of them. It is true that we have our corruptions, and sadly we acknowledge this, but it is just as true that we have an all-sufficient Savior who overcomes these corruptions and delivers us from their dominion. In looking back, it would be wrong to deny that we have been in the Slough of Despond and have crept along the Valley of Humiliation, but it would be equally wicked to forget that we have been through them safely and profitably; we have not remained in them, thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader, who has "brought us out to a place of abundance."¹

The deeper our troubles, the louder our thanks to God, who has led us through them all and preserved us until today. Our griefs cannot spoil the melody of our praise; we consider them to be the "bass line" of our life's song, "The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad."

¹Psalm 66:12

Our Brother has Return

Praise God that our brother in Christ, Evangelist Michael Surber, has made it home safe and sound. Looking forward to post his stories as he recovers from a great journey.

Personal Evangelism 101: Confront Sin

One of the main problems with weak evangelistic methods is the risk of leading people to false conversions. Many sinners are thrilled to learn that “God has a wonderful plan” for their lives and are eager to tap into all the blessings that entails. It stands to reason if you evangelize solely on the basis of God’s gifts, everybody will sign up.

But there is a significant difference between simply wanting the benefits of believing in Christ and actually turning to Him for salvation in biblical faith and repentance. False assurance of faith is a deadly spiritual danger—confidence in shallow belief actually hardens a person to the truth of God’s Word. We have a responsibility to lost men and women to preach the gospel thoroughly and accurately, and to steer them away from empty professions of faith and shallow biblical understanding.

Often the key to breaking through the fog of false faith is confronting sin. Until a person understands the depth and weight of his sin, he can’t fully appreciate his need for a Savior. In fact, it’s usually not until a person learns to see his sin the way God sees it that he is able to truly repent and believe.

That was the case for the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. In verse 15, she seems ready to receive the benefits of the living water Jesus mercifully offered her. But Christ knew the true state of her heart and the sin she harbored. He graciously yet directly exposed her sin with a simple, abrupt command:

He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” (John 4:16-18)

Samaritans practiced a distorted, corrupted version of Judaism (we’ll look closer at their religious system next time). But they did accept the Pentateuch, so this woman would have been aware of God’s commandment against adultery (Exodus 20:14) and that the penalty for adulterers was death. Moreover, she would have inherently known she was living a sinful lifestyle (Romans 2:14-15). And as we’ve previously discussed, her pattern of immorality had made her an outcast within her own community.

But it’s not until she sees her sin in relation to the merciful blessings of God that she begins to understand its full weight. And it’s here that the nature and content of their conversation radically shifts. There’s no more talk of mercy, satisfaction, and blessing. This initially indifferent, ignorant, careless sinner has had her wretched immorality laid bare, and she must be brought to conviction and repentance over her condition before she can enjoy the living water Christ has offered.

It’s wonderful to present to the sinner all the glories of the gospel—all the soul-satisfying blessings of an eternity in the intimate presence of God. But it’s not enough to stop there. If all you do is spill out the tremendous benefits of knowing God and then ask for a response, you’re likely to lead him to a false conversion, deceiving him about the true nature of his heart.

It’s critical to bring the sinner face to face with the guilt of his sin—to lead him to measure himself against the holy law of God and feel the weight of divine judgment on his corrupt life. How else will he ever come to true repentance and faith?

Sovereign and Loving?

³Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. ⁴In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. ⁶For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” —Hebrews 12:3-6

How can God be both sovereign and loving? There is no doubt suffering exists in the world. If He could not stop the suffering, God would not be sovereign. If He can stop it and doesn’t, how can God be loving? Here is what you need to comprehend. If God is not loving according to your definition of loving, God reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). Our perceptions need a reality check from God’s Word.

As I’ve noted before, God’s love is not a pampering love. His love is a perfecting love. He does not spend each day thinking about how to put a bigger smile on your face. God’s love designs a plan to deliver the highest usefulness out of your life. He is in the process of growing and changing you.

Hebrews 12:6 states, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” In fact, if you are without God’s discipline, the Bible says you are not really one of His children. When you’re experiencing His discipline, God’s love sees the big picture when you can only see a part of it. Sometimes, in His sovereignty, God decides (and who can explain it?), “I will allow this.”

Think of the number of times God protects us. Who would say, “Every terrible thing that could possibly happen to me has happened”?  If you think that, you’re wrong. God promises that He always allows circumstances for a purpose.

God has sovereignly chosen, rather than making the world perfect, to make the world free. He shows His strength and glory by giving His presence during trials to those who love Him. Believers go through the same things that people who don’t know Him go through. He brings glory to Himself through the contrast made by His presence.

A Constant Struggle

Galatians 5:17

In every believer's heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active and loses no opportunity of employing all the weapons in its deadly arsenal against newborn grace; while on the other hand, the new nature is always on the lookout to resist and destroy its enemy. Grace within us will employ prayer and faith and hope and love to cast out the evil; it takes to itself "the whole armor of God"¹ and wrestles vigorously. These two opposing natures will never stop struggling as long as we are in this world.

Bunyan's Christian fought Apollyon in a battle lasting three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the entry Gate to the River Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out while we are in this body: But although we are closely followed, and often in fierce conflict, we have an Almighty helper, Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is always with us and who assures us that we shall eventually be more than conquerors through Him. With such assistance the newborn nature is more than a match for its enemies.

Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh all against you? Do not be discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you. Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Do not fear, you will overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, "looking to Jesus";² and although the conflict is long and tough, the victory will be sweet, and the promised reward will be glorious.

From strength to strength go on;
Wrestle, and fight, and pray,
Tread all the powers of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day.

¹Ephesians 6:11
²Hebrews12:2

No Regret

If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
–Galatians 5:25 (TLB)

When Bill Borden, son of the wealthy Bordens, went out to China as a missionary, many of his friends thought he was foolish to “waste his life,” as they put it, trying to convert a few heathens to Christianity. But Bill loved Christ and he loved men! He hadn’t been out there very long before he contracted an oriental disease and died. At his bedside they found a note that he had written while he was dying. It read, “No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets.” Bill had found more happiness in his few years of sacrificial service than most people find in a lifetime.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Help me not to count the cost of serving You, Lord Jesus, but let me be completely yielded to Your leading.

Where is your Hope?

This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself . . . 
–Hebrews 6:19 (TLB)

What are you placing your hope in for the future? Your country’s government, educational system, some plan or organization? My hope is in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God. I have hope and know that I’m going to heaven. And, right here and now in this present life, I have God’s presence to help me.

Suppose we had no Bible. Suppose there were no cross, no salvation, no empty tomb. Suppose we had nothing to hang on except, “Do your best, try to patch it up, do what you can.” Oh, but we have a hope. There is a plan of redemption, a plan for the future. The New Testament is an exciting Book to read, it is so full of hope and expectancy. And God is interested in you!

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Reading Your Word, my heavenly Father, makes me realize that the world and all its heartaches are so transitory. Inspire me to reach others with Your message of hope.