The Assigning of the Call by Oswald Chambers

The Assigning of the Call I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…  COLOSSIANS 1:24 We take our own spiritual consecration and try to make it into a call of God, but when we get right with Him He brushes all this aside. Then He gives us a tremendous, riveting pain to fasten our attention on something that we never even dreamed could be His call for us. And for one radiant, flashing moment we see His purpose, and we say, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. Yet God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He chooses to use to crush us. We say, “If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way, then I wouldn’t object!” But when He uses someone we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, to crush us, then we object. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed. I wonder what finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you? Have you been as hard as a marble and escaped? If you are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you anyway, the wine produced would have been remarkably bitter. To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in His service. We have to be placed into God and brought into agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children. From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS We begin our Christian life by believing what we are told to believe, then we have to go on to so assimilate our beliefs that they work out in a way that redounds to the glory of God. The danger is in multiplying the acceptation of beliefs we do not make our own. from Conformed to His Image, 381 L

Trust and Obey by Charles Stanley

Joshua 6:1-14

One of my favorite hymns is “Trust and Obey” because it sums up God’s purpose for our lives. When we practice these two commands, a beautiful cycle begins. Trusting the Lord makes obedience easier, and obedience produces ever-increasing trust. Can you recall facing a challenge that was difficult or perplexing? If so, you know how important these two commands are.

When the Lord calls you to a task that seems unreasonable, you have two options. You can obey Him even though you don’t understand what will happen, or you can become fearful and attempt to find a way out. Joshua chose the first option. Because he trusted the Lord, he disregarded all his military experience and adopted God’s bizarre battle plan. Over the years, he had learned that the Lord is perfectly trustworthy.

The way we respond to God’s challenging assignments reveals what we believe about Him. We may feel as if we’re right in step with the Lord—until He proposes a change of direction. That’s when our resistance kicks in, along with the realization that we aren’t as close to Him as we thought. At that point, our decision determines whether the Lord will be able to use us as He desires. Joshua decided time and time again that the Lord’s way was better than his own, and he continued to serve the Lord for the remainder of his life. 

At times, obedience is a struggle, as the mind considers all the reasons God’s path is illogical. When fear takes over, our reasoning says we should run the other way, and we don’t want to comply. But obedience is always the best choice, because our loving omniscient Father can be trusted.

Principles for Spiritual Victory by John MacArthur

Principles for Spiritual Victory

"Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might" (Eph. 6:10). You can be victorious! This month we've learned many things about spiritual warfare that I pray will better equip you for victory in your Christian life. In concluding our brief study of Ephesians 6:10-18, here are some key principles I want you to remember: Remember that Satan is a defeated foe. Jesus came to destroy his works (1 John 3:8) and will someday cast him into eternal hell (Rev. 20:10). Remember the power of Christ in your life. John said, "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). The same power that defeated Satan indwells you. Consequently, you are never alone or without divine resources. Remember to resist Satan. You have the power to resist him, so don't acquiesce to him by being ignorant of his schemes or deliberately exposing yourself to temptation. Keep your spiritual armor on at all times. It's foolish to enter combat without proper protection. Let Christ control your attitudes and actions. The spiritual battle we're in calls for spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-4), so take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (v. 5). Feed on the Word and obey its principles. Pray, pray, pray! Prayer unleashes the Spirit's power. Be a person of fervent and faithful prayer (cf. James 5:16). God never intended for you to live in spiritual defeat. I pray you'll take advantage of the resources He has supplied that your life might honor Him. Enjoy sweet victory every day! Suggestions for Prayer Thank God for His promise of ultimate victory in Christ. For Further Study Read Ephesians 6:10-18. Review each piece of armor. Is any piece missing from your personal defense system? If so, determine what you will do to correct the deficiency.

Draw Near / METAMORPHOSIS

METAMORPHOSIS

Youngest of all the disciples, John probably changed more than any of the others. On our side of the cross, we see him as a tender and loving person who admonishes believers to always love one another. However, before Calvary, he was a loud and unruly youth. Nicknamed "Son of Thunder," John wanted to call fire down from heaven on those who opposed Jesus. He also sought to forbid strangers from using Christ's name to cast out demons, and he wanted the first place for himself. Thus John changed from a selfish youth to a mature believer because of the impact of the living Christ.

John wrote a "spiritual" Gospel. Matthew, Mark, and Luke deal with events in the Lord's life in narrative form, but John talks to the believers about the eternal position of Christ. Emphasizing our personal relationship with God, John uses the word "Father" 140 times and the name "Jesus" 242 times (99 times more often than does Matthew and 158 times more than Luke). The object of John's writing is the Person of Jesus. This Gospel is more doctrinal than the other three and forms the spiritual foundation for the growing church. He gives more of Christ's discourse on the Holy Spirit than any other writer. Also, he uses much symbolism to illustrate truth. The keyword of John's books is "witness."

The change that comes into the lives of believers is a major theme of John's Gospel. He tells how Christ looked deeply into Peter's eyes and, in essence, said it did not so much matter what he was at the moment but what he could become through Christ. This is the hope of every believer. As we live in close contact with the Master, we continue to grow into His image. We, like John, can move from selfishness to Christ-likeness.

“And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:42‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Using Spiritual Gifts by John MacArthur

STRENGTH FOR TODAY

Using Spiritual Gifts  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). To be effective, spiritual gifts must be used in the power of the Holy Spirit, not in the power of the flesh. One of the constant battles all believers face is to avoid ministering their spiritual gifts in the power of the flesh. Even those of us who are called to be preachers (prophets) need to subject our spirits to other mature believers (1 Cor. 14:32). As a pastor, I am not spiritual just because I stand behind a pulpit and preach. Paul instructs us, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let others pass judgment” (1 Cor. 14:29). Those who teach God’s Word are not infallible; therefore, they must allow other qualified believers to verify the truth of what they proclaim. Whenever Christians rely on their own strength, wisdom, and desire to minister, whatever they accomplish is a mockery and a waste. But whenever they minister by the Spirit’s power, the result is pleasing to God and has lasting value (“gold, silver, precious stones. . . . If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward,” 1 Cor. 3:12, 14). Essentially, all a believer needs to pray is, “Spirit of God, use me,” and divine energy will activate and flow through his or her ministry to fellow believers and unbelievers. You can use your spiritual gift effectively by faithfully following three basic steps: Pray—continually confess and turn from your sins (1 John 1:9) and ask God to use you in the Holy Spirit’s power. Yield yourself—always determine to live according to God’s will, not the world’s (Rom. 6:16; 12:12). Be filled with the Spirit—let the Spirit control all of your thoughts, decisions, words, and actions. Commit everything to Him, and He will minister through you. Suggestions for Prayer Confess any and all times lately that you have counted on your human ability rather than on the Spirit’s power to minister to others. Pray that this week God would give you a clear opportunity to exercise your spiritual gift for His glory. For Further Study Read 1 Samuel 15:1-23. In what way did King Saul use his own insight rather than follow God’s command? What can be the consequence of such disobedience (vv. 22-23; see also 1 Sam. 13:8-14)?

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

We all occasionally wonder why God allows certain things to happen the way they do.  Why do bad things happen to us and our friends? Why does he take some people away so early in their lives?

In the bible also God works in ways that seem strange to us.  Why did he choose simple people like Peter to be his disciples?  Why did he choose Paul who was a persecutor of Christians, to become one of the most significant Christians?

From our limited viewpoint and simple frame of reference on earth, we can only speculate about God's reasons.

Isaiah writes in chapter 55:8,9, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

It is good for us to think about and discuss why God may do things the way he does, and possibly he will provide us some enlightenment.  Whether he does or not however we can know that all things are working according to his plans.

Dear Lord, We thank you for the knowledge that you have control over all that affects us.  Help us play our part with faith in your will.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

What’s on both sides of your valley? by Adrian Rogers

What’s on both sides of your valley? September 30 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 Psalm 23 is perched between Psalm 22, which tells about the crucifixion of Jesus, and Psalm 24, a prophecy of the coronation of Jesus. It is a beautiful trilogy about the Savior’s cross, the Shepherd’s crook, and the Sovereign’s crown. Psalm 23 is the valley between the blood-drenched slopes of Mount Calvary and the sunlit peaks of Mount Zion. Thank God for every valley, because there must be a mountain. If you are in the valley today, remember that you wouldn’t be there had there not been mountains to cross. There is vision in the valley and hope in the hills.

September 30 / Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him" (Deut. 32:11-12). Our Almighty Parent delights to conduct the tender nestlings of His care to the very edge of the precipice, and even to thrust them off into the steeps of air, that they may learn their possession of unrealized power of flight, to be forever a luxury; and if, in the attempt, they be exposed to unwonted peril, He is prepared to swoop beneath them, and to bear them upward on His mighty pinions. When God brings any of His children into a position of unparalleled difficulty, they may always count upon Him to deliver them. --The Song of Victory "When God puts a burden upon you He puts His own arm underneath." There is a little plant, small and stunted, growing under the shade of a broad-spreading oak; and this little plant values the shade which covers it, and greatly does it esteem the quiet rest which its noble friend affords. But a blessing is designed for this little plant. Once upon a time there comes along the woodman, and with his sharp axe he fells the oak. The plant weeps and cries, "My shelter is departed; every rough wind will blow upon me, and every storm will seek to uproot me!" "No, no," saith the angel of that flower; "now will the sun get at thee; now will the shower fall on thee in more copious abundance than before; now thy stunted form shall spring up into loveliness, and thy flower, which could never have expanded itself to perfection shall now laugh in the sunshine, and men shall say, 'How greatly hath that plant increased! How glorious hath become its beauty, through the removal of that which was its shade and its delight!'" See you not, then, that God may take away your comforts and your privileges, to make you the better Christians? Why, the Lord always trains His soldiers, not by letting them lie on feather-beds, but by turning them out, and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long march with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. This is the way in which He makes them soldiers--not by dressing them up in fine uniforms, to swagger at the barrack gates, and to be fine gentlemen in the eyes of the loungers in the park. God knows that soldiers are only to be made in battle; they are not to be grown in peaceful times. We may grow the stuff of which soldiers are made; but warriors are really educated by the smell of powder, in the midst of whizzing bullets and roaring cannonades, not in soft and peaceful times. Well, Christian, may not this account for it all? Is not thy Lord bringing out thy graces and making them grow? Is He not developing in you the qualities of the soldier by throwing you into the heat of battle, and should you not use every appliance to come off conqueror? --Spurgeon

Least Within or Greatest Without by Alistair Begg

DAILY DEVOTIONAL SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 Least Within or Greatest Without A living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4 Life is a precious thing, and in even its humblest form it is superior to death. This is eminently true in spiritual matters. It is better to be the least in the kingdom of heaven than the greatest out of it. The lowest degree of grace is superior to the noblest development of unregenerate nature. Where the Holy Spirit implants divine life in the soul, there is a precious deposit that none of the refinements of education can equal. The thief on the cross excels Caesar on his throne; Lazarus among the dogs is better than Cicero among the senators; and the most unlettered Christian is in the sight of God superior to Plato. Life is the badge of nobility in the realm of spiritual things, and men without it are only coarser or finer specimens of the same lifeless material, needing to be made alive, for they are dead in trespasses and sins. A living, loving gospel sermon, however unlearned in matter and lacking in style, is better than the finest discourse devoid of unction and power. A living dog keeps better watch than a dead lion and is of more service to his master; and so the poorest spiritual preacher is infinitely to be preferred to the exquisite orator who has no wisdom but that of words, no energy but that of self. The same holds true of our prayers and other religious exercises: If we are quickened in them by the Holy Spirit, they are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, though we may think them to be worthless things, while our grand performances in which our hearts were absent, like dead lions, are mere carcasses in the sight of the living God. We need living groans, living sighs, living despondencies rather than lifeless songs and dead calms. Anything is better than death. The snarlings of the dog of hell will at least keep us awake, but dead faith and dead profession—what greater curses can a man have? Quicken us, quicken us, O Lord!

Unlocking a Mystery / Our Daily Bread

Unlocking a Mystery

Dave Branon

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel. Ephesians 3:6

Ephesians 3:1–12

When I came home from work one day and saw a pair of lady’s high-heel shoes next to the driveway, I was sure I knew whose they were. So I put them in the garage to give to my daughter Lisa when she returned to the house to pick up her children. But when I checked with Lisa, I found they didn’t belong to her. In fact, no one in our family claimed them, so I put them back where I’d found them. The next day, they were gone. Mysterious.

Did you know that the apostle Paul wrote of a mystery in his letters? But the mystery he described was so much more than some kind of “whodunit.” In Ephesians 3, for example, Paul spoke of a mystery that “was not made known to people in other generations” (v. 5). This mystery is that, while in the past God revealed Himself through Israel, now, through Jesus, Gentiles—those outside of Israel—could be “heirs together with Israel” (v. 6).

Think about what this means: all who trust Jesus as Savior can love and serve God together. We can all equally “approach [Him] with freedom and confidence” (v. 12). And through the church’s unity the world will see God’s wisdom and goodness (v. 10).

Praise God for our salvation. It unlocks for us the mystery of unity as people of any and all backgrounds become one in Jesus.

Thank You, Jesus, for the unity all believers can enjoy in You. Help us to serve together as equal members of Your body.

Unity in Christ breaks down barriers and builds the church.

The Awareness of the Call by Oswald Chambers

The Awareness of the Call …for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!  1 CORINTHIANS 9:16 We are inclined to forget the deeply spiritual and supernatural touch of God. If you are able to tell exactly where you were when you received the call of God and can explain all about it, I question whether you have truly been called. The call of God does not come like that; it is much more supernatural. The realization of the call in a person’s life may come like a clap of thunder or it may dawn gradually. But however quickly or slowly this awareness comes, it is always accompanied with an undercurrent of the supernatural— something that is inexpressible and produces a “glow.” At any moment the sudden awareness of this incalculable, supernatural, surprising call that has taken hold of your life may break through— “I chose you…” (John 15:16). The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. You are not called to preach the gospel because you are sanctified; the call to preach the gospel is infinitely different. Paul describes it as a compulsion that was placed upon him. If you have ignored, and thereby removed, the great supernatural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances. See where you have put your own ideas of service or your particular abilities ahead of the call of God. Paul said, “…woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” He had become aware of the call of God, and his compulsion to “preach the gospel” was so strong that nothing else was any longer even a competitor for his strength. If a man or woman is called of God, it doesn’t matter how difficult the circumstances may be. God orchestrates every force at work for His purpose in the end. If you will agree with God’s purpose, He will bring not only your conscious level but also all the deeper levels of your life, which you yourself cannot reach, into perfect harmony. From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS There is nothing, naturally speaking, that makes us lose heart quicker than decay—the decay of bodily beauty, of natural life, of friendship, of associations, all these things make a man lose heart; but Paul says when we are trusting in Jesus Christ these things do not find us discouraged, light comes through them. from The Place of Help

When We Act Deceptively by Charles Stanley

2 Samuel 11:1-27

From his youth, King David was a committed follower of God. Yet there was a time when this devoted believer gave in to temptation and committed adultery with Bathsheba. His walk of integrity was severely compromised.

Ethical and moral failings have beset Christians throughout the ages. When a believer does whatever it takes to obtain something he wants, selfishness or greed is often the root cause. At other times the desire for acceptance can tempt us to manipulate people and circumstances—including making up lies. And fear of conflict can result in compromised standards, as many people try to fit in to avoid arguments. When we resort to deception to meet our own needs, we are in danger of being hurt.

At first, even those close to us may not notice our deception. But God sees. He will use our conscience to produce guilty feelings so we might confess our sin and turn from it. Self-protection will take over if we continue in unrighteousness—we will try to quiet our conscience by justifying the behavior. Over time, we will draw away from certain people so they won’t discover our ungodly behavior. By keeping them at a distance, we hope to avoid their scrutiny. If habitual sin builds over time, it can lead to serious consequences, like a lost job, a damaged friendship, or a broken family.

When confronted by Nathan, David recognized his sin, acknowledged it, and received forgiveness (2 Samuel 12:13). How do you respond when the Holy Spirit convicts you of ungodliness? Do you see the reality of your behavior and repent? Or do you try to justify and persist in your conduct?

Spiritual Gifts by John MacArthur

Spiritual Gifts

“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). God wants every Christian to understand spiritual gifts and use his or hers wisely. A spiritual gift is a channel through which the Holy Spirit ministers to the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:11). The day we were born again into God’s family, His Spirit distributed to us a spiritual gift. Therefore, having a spiritual gift does not mean a believer is “spiritual.” What we really must ask is, “Is the channel clear?” Hypothetically, someone could have all the recorded spiritual gifts and not be using any of them. Or that believer could be greatly abusing some gifts. In either case, such a person would not be spiritual. It is also incorrect to equate a natural ability with a spiritual gift. Someone might say, “My gift is baking pies”; another might say, “I’m good at playing the piano.” Those are wonderful and useful abilities, but they are natural abilities, not spiritual gifts. Paul illustrates the difference between abilities and gifts. He could have used his knowledge of philosophy and literature to write and deliver great orations. However, this is what he said to the Corinthians: “I did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:1-2). The Holy Spirit uses the abilities of people like Paul and speaks through them, but He expresses Himself in a supernatural way, which is not necessarily related to the person’s natural skills. If we rely on our own ability to produce spiritual fruit, we hinder what the Spirit wants to do in us. Instead, ponder what Peter says about using your gift: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11). Suggestions for Prayer Thank the Lord for the special spiritual gift He has given you. Ask that He would help you use it faithfully, to its full potential. For Further Study Read Romans 12:4-8 and list the spiritual gifts mentioned there. What does 1 Corinthians 12, especially verses 12-31, emphasize regarding the use of the various gifts within the church?

Draw Near / SON OF MAN

SON OF MAN

Luke was the only Gentile to write a book of the Bible. According to Eusebius and Jerome, Luke was a native of Antioch. He was a physician by profession. This third Gospel deals with the brighter side of the Gospel story. It includes five songs found nowhere else in Scripture: the Beatitude of Elizabeth, the Benedictus of Zacharias, the Magnificat of Mary, the Gloria in Excelsus of the angels, and the Nunc Dimittis of Simeon.

Called the most beautiful book ever written, Luke is also the longest in the New Testament. More than half of Luke's Gospel consists of material not found in the other accounts. The book is less chronological than the others. It classifies events and carries each to its end before taking up the next one. The style and introductory words of Luke indicate the book was written for the Greek mind and the Gentile world as a whole. It presents Christ as the "Son of Man," whereas Matthew portrays Him as the "Son of God."

The pitch of evangelistic fervor is graphically pictured in the dramatic stories of Luke. Through the way he handled stories like the prodigal son and the rich young ruler, Luke showed that he wished to introduce all the world to the Master. The theme of Luke is that Christ came to give light to those sitting in darkness. Luke was no stranger to evangelism. He traveled with the apostle Paul for years and kept a diary of their ministry. This diary became the book of Acts and continues the theme of world evangelism. Should we not burn with the same passion for leading souls to the Savior?

“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:79‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Praying for Others by John MacArthur

Praying for Others

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (Eph. 6:18). God wants you to look beyond your own problems and pray for the needs of others. The great preacher D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, "Before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, in Barcelona, Madrid and other places, there were psychological clinics with large numbers of neurotics undergoing drug treatments and others attending regularly for psychoanalysis and such like. They had their personal problems, their worries, their anxieties, their temptations, having to go back week after week, month after month, to the clinics in order to be kept going. "Then came the Civil War; and one of the first and most striking effects of that War was that it virtually emptied the psychological and psychiatric clinics. These neurotic people were suddenly cured by a greater anxiety, the anxiety about their whole position, whether their homes would still be there, whether their husbands would still be alive, whether their children would be killed. "Their greater anxieties got rid of the lesser ones. In having to give attention to the bigger problem they forgot their own personal and somewhat petty problems" (The Christian Soldier: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10 to 20 [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1978], p. 357). That's a negative illustration of a positive principle: your own problems pale as you pray in the Spirit on behalf of others. Praying "in the Spirit" (Eph. 6:18) is praying in concert with the Holy Spirit—in harmony with His Person and will. It's synonymous with praying according to God's will (1 John 5:14). As the Holy Spirit intercedes for you (Rom. 8:26-27), you are to intercede for others. That's not always easy in our contemporary religious environment where self- centeredness is praised rather than shunned, and more and more professing Christians are embracing the health, wealth, and prosperity heresy. But God's mandate is for us to love one another, pray for one another, and look out for one another's interests (Phil. 2:3-4). Let that mandate govern all your relationships. Suggestions for Prayer Make a list of people you want to intercede for. Spend time praying for each person, asking God to show you specific ways to minister to his or her needs. For Further Study Read Philippians 2:1-11. What should be your attitude toward other believers? How did Christ set an example of proper attitudes?

Sin Is Crouching At Your Door

Sin Is Crouching At Your Door

You probably know the story of Cain and Able, the first children of Adam and Eve.  Cain was a farmer and Able was a shepherd.  Able's offerings were looked on with favor by God, but Cain's were not.  Cain was angry and ended up killing Able.

An interesting part of the story written in the bible before Cain kills Able is in Genesis 4:6,7. "Then the Lord said to Cain, 'why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." NIV

The lesson for us is that we need to strive to do what is right.  When we do not, we are making ourselves more vulnerable to sin and temptation, which is "crouching at our door."  We are told to "rule over it" which we can do with God's help.

Dear Lord,  Help us stay on the right path, and strive to do what is right, so we can "rule over" the temptations to sin.  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

Making the First Thing the First Thing by Adrian Rogers

Making the First Thing the First Thing September 29 “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” Psalm 19:12 I believe in church attendance, but if your relationship with the Lord and with others is suffering, then you need to stay at home and get on your face before God.  Sometimes a businessman will get very prosperous in his business—and at first it seems a good thing. He tells his wife, “Honey, you know how I couldn’t give you much when we got married? Well, now I can.” But soon the pursuit of a nice home and nice things consume him. A sadness descends upon his wife and children, and they lament, “Oh, Daddy….Oh, husband…what we would give to just have you spend time with us.”  What tragedy it would be if what you do for Jesus keeps you from Jesus. Stop the cycle today. If you know you’re a workaholic, stop it. If you know your walk is far from God, get it right.

September 29 / Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

I will give myself unto prayer (Ps. 109:4). We are often in a religious hurry in our devotions. How much time do we spend in them daily? Can it not be easily reckoned in minutes? Who ever knew an eminently holy man who did not spend much of his time in prayer? Did ever a man exhibit much of the spirit of prayer, who did not devote much time in his closet? Whitefield says, "Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on the ground, in silent or vocal prayer." "Fall upon your knees and grow there," is the language of another, who knew whereof he affirmed. It has been said that no great work in literature or science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often, and long, alone with God. --The Still Hour 'Come, come,' He saith, 'O soul oppressed and weary, Come to the shadows of my desert rest; Come walk with Me far from life's babbling discords, And peace shall breathe like music in thy breast.'

Worthy of Praise by Alistair Begg

DAILY DEVOTIONAL SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 Worthy of Praise I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go. Song of Songs 3:4 Does Christ receive us when we come to Him despite all our past sinfulness? Does He never chide us for having tried all other refuges first? And is there none on earth like Him? Is He the best of all the good, the fairest of all the fair? Then let us praise Him! Daughters of Jerusalem, extol Him with tambourine and harp! Down with your idols; up with the Lord Jesus. Let the standards of pomp and pride be trampled underfoot, but let the cross of Jesus, which the world frowns and scoffs at, be lifted on high. O for a throne of ivory for our King. Let Him be set on high forever, and let my soul sit at His footstool and kiss His feet and wash them with my tears. How precious is Christ! How can it be that I have thought so little of Him? How is it I can go anywhere else for joy or comfort when He is so full, so rich, so satisfying? Fellow believer, make a covenant with your heart that you will never depart from Him, and ask the Lord to ratify it. Bid Him set you as a ring on His finger and as a bracelet on His arm. Ask Him to bind you to Him as the bride adorns herself with ornaments and as the bridegroom puts on his jewels. I would live in Christ's heart; in the hollow of that rock my soul would eternally abide. The sparrow has made a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. And in the same way I would make my nest, my home, in You, and may this soul never leave again, but let me nestle close to You, Lord Jesus, my true and only rest. When my precious Lord I find, All my ardent passions glow; Him with cords of love I bind, Hold and will not let Him go.

Life Is What You Make It: Make Haste (Time Is Important) by David Jeremiah

Life Is What You Make It: Make Haste (Time Is Important)

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste.
Titus 3:13

 Recommended Reading: Titus 3:9-15

The Lord hasn’t allocated us much time on earth; we’re made for eternity in heaven. In the time we have left, let’s set about our Father’s business with haste.

The apostle Paul wrote to Titus, giving him a message for two men—Zenas and Apollos. Of Zenas, we know nothing; he is mentioned only here in the Bible. Apollos, however, was a well-known teacher. Paul’s message to them both was: There’s no time to waste. Hurry up. Make haste.

Charles Spurgeon once preached a sermon from Luke 14:23, the passage where the master says to the servant, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” Spurgeon was so overcome by the urgency of the task that he skipped the introduction of his sermon and started compelling people to come to Christ, immediately, urgently, now.

Let’s do the same! Make haste. Time is short.

I feel in such a haste to go out and obey this commandment this morning by compelling those to come in who are now tarrying in the highways and hedges that I cannot wait for an introduction, but must at once set about my business.
Charles Spurgeon, in opening his sermon, “Compel Them to Come In”