Thursday, April 30, 2020

Spontaneous Love by Oswald Chambers

Spontaneous Love

Love suffers long and is kind… 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4

Love is not premeditated– it is spontaneous; that is, it bursts forth in extraordinary ways. There is nothing of precise certainty in Paul’s description of love. We cannot predetermine our thoughts and actions by saying, “Now I will never think any evil thoughts, and I will believe everything that Jesus would have me to believe.” No, the characteristic of love is spontaneity. We don’t deliberately set the statements of Jesus before us as our standard, but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without even realizing it. And when we look back, we are amazed at how unconcerned we have been over our emotions, which is the very evidence that real spontaneous love was there. The nature of everything involved in the life of God in us is only discerned when we have been through it and it is in our past.

The fountains from which love flows are in God, not in us. It is absurd to think that the love of God is naturally in our hearts, as a result of our own nature. His love is there only because it “has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 5:5).

If we try to prove to God how much we love Him, it is a sure sign that we really don’t love Him. The evidence of our love for Him is the absolute spontaneity of our love, which flows naturally from His nature within us. And when we look back, we will not be able to determine why we did certain things, but we can know that we did them according to the spontaneous nature of His love in us. The life of God exhibits itself in this spontaneous way because the fountains of His love are in the Holy Spirit. From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

We never enter into the Kingdom of God by having our head questions answered, but only by commitment.

from The Highest Good—Thy Great Redemption

Expanding the Horizons by Charles Stanley

Acts 1:1-8

The horizon is the farthest point of land or water that a person can see, where earth and sky meet. Yet the universe extends far beyond what the eye can behold. Similarly, the church’s vision can be limited. God said to bring the gospel to every nation, but we often confine our outreach to what we think is manageable.

Sometimes what holds us back from fulfilling God’s command is our limited experiences and understanding. We may act according to logic, but God calls us to obey in faith. For example, rational thought might lead people to avoid missions in a foreign country because it isn’t safe. Or perhaps there’s a language barrier. But Jesus said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). He is fully aware of our human limitations, so He provides guidance, wisdom, and strength to accomplish His will.

The church is to share the gospel, and God will call individuals to fulfill this commission in different ways. We’re all to participate through prayer and giving, and some are also called to action. Pray for direction and wisdom in communicating the good news of salvation to the world. The Holy Spirit will lead and empower you.

What Will Your Reward Be? by Adrian Rogers

What Will Your Reward Be?

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15

I believe salvation is attained by grace through faith. That’s not Baptist rhetoric; that’s Biblical doctrine. But do you know what some people do with that?

They say, “Hot dog! I don’t have to do a thing to be saved. I can just get in the top berth of a Pullman car and glide along until we pull into the New Jerusalem.” You know, just catch the next sleeper car to glory.

These people don’t like the idea that as Christians we’re all going to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. And we’re all going to give an account for how we used our time, our resources, and our faith.

No, we’re not saved by works, but we are rewarded by works. Notice what Paul says here: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Read Romans 14:10-12.

“But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, ‘As I live,’ saith the Lord, ‘every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Now that you know this truth, how can you live it out today?

Free Indeed by Arthur Jackson

Free Indeed

Arthur Jackson

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

John 8:31–36

The film Amistad tells the story of West African slaves in 1839 taking over the boat that was transporting them and killing the captain and some of the crew. Eventually they were recaptured, imprisoned, and taken to trial. An unforgettable courtroom scene features Cinqué, leader of the slaves, passionately pleading for freedom. Three simple words—repeated with increasing force by a shackled man with broken English—eventually silenced the courtroom, “Give us free!” Justice was served and the men were freed.

Most people today aren’t in danger of being physically bound, yet true liberation from the spiritual bondage of sin remains elusive. The words of Jesus in John 8:36 offer sweet relief: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus pointed to Himself as the source of true emancipation because He offers forgiveness to anyone who believes in Him. Though some in Christ’s audience claimed freedom (v. 33), their words, attitudes, and actions regarding Jesus betrayed their claim.

Jesus longs to hear those who would echo Cinqué’s plea and say, “Give me freedom!” With compassion He awaits the cries of those who are shackled by unbelief or fear or failure. Freedom is a matter of the heart. Such liberty is reserved for those who believe that Jesus is God’s Son who was sent into the world to break the power of sin’s hold on us through His death and resurrection.

How has Jesus set you free? What can you share with others about God’s liberating power?

Jesus, help me to believe that You can set me free.

From Spiritual Death to Life by Greg Laurie

From Spiritual Death to Life

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 nkjv).

A pastor was baptizing a man who had lived a rather wicked life. The man told him, “Pastor, hold me down a long time. I have a lot to bury.”

Baptism is a symbol of the end of the old you and the beginning of the new you. It’s an outward showing of an inward doing, because regeneration takes place when we believe in Jesus.

The Bible tells us, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 nkjv).

By the way, there is God’s part and our part. God sanctifies us. The apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church, “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 nkjv).

But then we need to cooperate with God. Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12–13 nkjv).

Notice that Paul didn’t say, “Work for your salvation.” That’s impossible, because salvation is a gift of God. Rather, live it out. Experience it. Our salvation should affect us in our day-to-day choices.

Salvation is coming to Christ; sanctification is growing in Christ. Salvation happens in a moment, bringing a sinner from spiritual death to life; sanctification is an ongoing process.

Salvation is being forgiven of the past; sanctification is breaking free from the power of sin. This is something God does in our lives, and it never stops until we get to Heaven.

Always Be Vigilant by Billy Graham

Always Be Vigilant

When I was in the hospital in Hawaii, I read again of the shocking events which led up to the destruction of the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor. On that fateful day of December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked. We know now that that attack was invited by our failure to be always vigilant. The result was the destruction of our fleet—the cause was tragic indifference. When comfort and ease and pleasure are put ahead of duty and conviction, progress is always set back.

What makes us Christians shrug our shoulders when we ought to be flexing our muscles? What makes us apathetic in a day when there are loads to lift, a world to be won, and captives to be set free? Why are so many bored, when the times demand action? Christ told us that in the last days there would be an insipid attitude toward life.

Daily Prayer

Take away the apathy, Father, that so often blinds my vision.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NASB‬‬

PARROTS / Draw Near Bible App

PARROTS

A man purchased a parrot. Unfortunately, he soon found out his bird had a lurid vocabulary. The man had a friend who also owned a parrot. This bird had been taught to only sing hymns. So the man decided to put the two birds together. He hoped that the hymn-singing parrot could teach the swearing bird better language. After leaving the birds together for some time, the man found--to his dismay--that the hymn-singer forgot his songs and took up the questionable language of his new companion.

Ezra saw the same kind of deterioration among the Israelites. They married foreigners and, rather than raising them to meet God's standards, the Israelites were dragged down by evil influence. Ezra went to God in desperate prayer seeking a solution (Ezra 9:5-15). He was ashamed that God's people had so soon forgotten the bitter lesson of captivity. God heard Ezra's prayer and through him brought the people back to Himself.

There are two important lessons in Ezra's prayer. First is the vital importance of choosing the right friends. We do become like those closest to us in many subtle ways. Second, we must notice that Ezra first talked to God about the problem; he did not complain to others. We often criticize first and then pray. May we learn to pray for those entrapped by evil. And may we choose our friends as if our life depends on it. It does.

“and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭NASB‬‬

April 30 / Streams in the Desert

And the ill favored and lean-fleshed kine did Eat up the seven well favored and fat kin…and the thin, ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears (Gen. 41:4,7).

There is a warning for us in that dream, just as it stands: It is possible for the best years of our life, the best experiences, the best victories won, the best service rendered, to be swallowed up by times of failure, defeat, dishonor, uselessness in the kingdom. Some men's lives of rare promise and rare achievement have ended so. It is awful to think of, but it is true. Yet it is never necessary.

S. D. Gordon has said that the only assurance of safety against this tragedy is "fresh touch with God," daily, hourly. The blessed, fruitful, victorious experiences of yesterday are not only of no value to me today, but they will actually be eaten up or reversed by today's failures, unless they serve as incentives to still better, richer experiences today.

"Fresh touch with God," by abiding in Christ, alone will keep the lean kine and the ill favored grain out of my life.
--Messages for the Morning Watch

God's Thoughts by Alistair Begg

God's Thoughts

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
Psalm 139:17

Divine omniscience provides no comfort to the ungodly mind, but to the child of God it overflows with consolation. God is always thinking about us, never turns His mind from us, always has us before His eyes; and this is precisely how we would want it, because it would be dreadful to exist for a moment outside the observation of our heavenly Father. His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring countless benefits to us: It is consequently a supreme delight to remember them. The Lord always thought about His people: hence their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured. He will always think upon them: hence their final perseverance by which they shall be brought safely to their final rest.

In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is constantly fixed upon us—we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye. In our sorrows He observes us incessantly, and not a painful emotion escapes Him; in our toils He notices all our weariness, and He writes all the struggles of His faithful ones in His book. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel of our bodily frame is uncared for; all the details of our little world are thought upon by the great God.

Dear reader, is this precious to you? Then hold to it. Do not be led astray by those philosophical fools who preach an impersonal God and talk of self-existent, self-governing matter. The Lord lives and thinks upon us; this is a far too precious truth for us to be easily robbed of it. To be noticed by a nobleman is valued so highly that he who has it counts his fortune made; but how much greater is it to be thought of by the King of kings! If the Lord thinks upon us, all is well, and we may rejoice evermore.

How God uses your weakness for His glory / Senior Living

How God uses your weakness for His glory

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - >2 Corinthians 12:9-10

A man lay seasick in his bunk one stormy night during a long voyage across the Atlantic. He could hardly move from the severe discomfort. All of a sudden, he heard a cry of “Man overboard!” from the deck above. His first thought was, God help that poor fellow – there’s nothing I can do.

Then the thought struck him, There is something I can do. So he took his lantern and held it up to the porthole next to his bunk. The drowning man was rescued, and the next day he recounted, “I was going down in the darkness when someone put a light in a porthole. It shone on my hand and a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed my hand and pulled me in.”

“I’m too sick …” “I’m too weak …” “I’m not able enough …” Very often, people who fail to attempt anything for the Kingdom of God will use excuses like these. They see their weaknesses as debilitating and never take the initiative to do what they can.

But weakness is no excuse for not putting forth all of the strength we have for God’s purposes. And the truth is it’s in our weakness that God’s power is often shown the strongest. So whatever situation you may be in today, put forth the effort to share Christ and watch how God will use your weakness for His glory!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would open your eyes to the ministry opportunities He’s placed around you – even when you face tough challenges.

Questions for Thought

In your life today, how are you tempted to let your challenges become excuses for not doing the ministry God has called you to do?

How might God use your challenges to make His name great in the world around you?

Timely Scriptures by David Jeremiah

Timely Scriptures

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalm 107:31

The Pilgrims had a rough voyage aboard the Mayflower, but they read their Bible every day. Just when things seemed hopeless, they came upon Psalm 107:23-30: “Those who go down to the sea in ships…. Are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm…. Then they are glad…. So He guides them to their desired haven.”

April 30 / Wisdom from the Psalms

Psalms 52:2
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.

Ed ran the blade along the cardboard cartons with speed and skill. He broke down the boxes and stuffed them in a crate. He had done the job a thousand times before, and it had become second nature to him. Often he let his mind wander. On this occasion, it was a poor idea. With lightening speed, the blade ran across the back of Ed's hand, cutting deep and wounding him severely.

Just as a blade cuts deep into flesh, unkind words cut into the heart. A sacred trust has been entrusted to Christians. That trust is the dignity and feelings of the rest of God's children. We become our neighbor's keeper. It is our duty to love and defend them. The tongue has enormous power to build up or to tear down. How will we choose to use it?

Prayer: May every word out of my mouth be one that encourages, builds up, or praises. Remove from my heart the desire to hurt others by my words. Fill my mouth with Your thoughts and words, Lord. Amen.

Keep Looking Up By Anne Graham Lotz

Keep Looking Up

By Anne Graham Lotz

Have you ever wondered what happened to the disciples of Jesus?

All of our Lord’s beloved disciples, with the possible exception of John, died a gruesome death. Why? Not for saying Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified—the world knew and confirmed His death. The disciples were tortured, vilified, exiled and executed for saying He had risen from the dead! They were put to death for their conviction that Jesus Christ is alive! And He is Lord!

Have you ever wondered if you could maintain your commitment to Christ under intense pressure and persecution? How can you and I be faithful … to the end?

The Apostle Peter penned a letter to the early church that exuded passionate love for Christ and exuberant joy in knowing Him, even though his relationship with Christ would cost him his life within the year! How could he maintain a joyous, faithful commitment to the end? Because Peter kept looking up.

As we live in a world that is shaken at almost every level and in every area, we too can face tomorrow and maintain our joy because Christ lives! Let’s stay focused on our risen Lord every day—and keep looking up as Peter did!

TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, these are such crazy times we’re living in. Every day brings new challenges. But we know that in the midst of any circumstance we only have to look to You to have our joy renewed. Thank You for staying so close to us during this time. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Gracious Uncertainty by Oswald Chambers

Gracious Uncertainty

…it has not yet been revealed what we shall be… 1 JOHN 3:2

Our natural inclination is to be so precise– trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next– that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life– gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God– it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “…believe also in Me” (John 14:1), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in– but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him. From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

A fanatic is one who entrenches himself in invincible ignorance.

from Baffled to Fight Better, 59 R

Where the Battle Is Won by Charles Stanley

Matthew 26:36-56

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus wrestled with the knowledge that He would die on the cross, bearing the weight of our sin and being spiritually separated from the Father.

Jesus got alone before the Father and cried out. And when He left that garden, He walked out with calm resolve. Jesus would still drink the cup of suffering and separation, but He knew that in the end, He would triumph (Heb. 12:2). That’s why He could face the cross, the beatings, and the humiliation. When Jesus went to confront the arresting party, He was ready—so much so that the Pharisees and soldiers “drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:6). He allowed them to arrest Him, determined to do His Father’s will.

We, too, can come to know God’s heart and mind when we’re in the habit of regularly spending time alone with Him. Then as difficult decisions come, we’ll be better prepared to discern His will.

When we fully surrender to the Father’s plan, we put our decision-making into the hands of an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God, who holds the past, present, and future. Even in staggering trials, you can move forward with courage and power that will glorify Him.

Who Are You When No One Else Is Around? by Adrian Rogers

Who Are You When No One Else Is Around?

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

“While I’m gone, I want you to be on your best behavior.” Has someone ever said that to you? This is what Paul means when he gives us the directive to “work out our salvation” even when he is not around.

A pastor is successful when he trains his flock to love the Lord, share their faith, and minister to others when no one else is looking. It’s the true test of a person’s walk with God.

So, how are you doing? How much do you leave for a tip when there is no one around to impress? How fast do you drive when the speed limit says 35 and you’re running late? What happens when you’re alone on a business trip, and there are free movies in your hotel room?

When was the last time you did something nice for someone who could never pay you back, from whom you had nothing to gain, and no one would ever know about it? Do you just talk the talk? Or do you walk the walk?

Right Beside You by Sheridan Voysey

Right Beside You

Sheridan Voysey

The Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him. Deuteronomy 4:7

Deuteronomy 4:5–8

Each day at a post office in Jerusalem, workers sort through piles of undeliverable letters in an attempt to guide each to its recipient. Many end up in a specially marked box labeled “Letters to God.”

About a thousand such letters reach Jerusalem each year, addressed simply to God or Jesus. Puzzled by what to do with them, one worker began taking the letters to Jerusalem’s Western Wall to have them placed between its stone blocks with other written prayers. Most of the letters ask for a job, a spouse, or good health. Some request forgiveness, others just offer thanks. One man asked God if his deceased wife could appear in his dreams because he longed to see her again. Each sender believed God would listen, if only He could be reached.

The Israelites learned much as they journeyed through the wilderness. One lesson was that their God wasn’t like the other gods known at the time—distant, deaf, geographically bound, reached only by lengthy pilgrimage or international mail. No, “the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him” (Deuteronomy 4:7). What other people could claim that? This was revolutionary news!

God doesn’t live in Jerusalem. He’s close by us, wherever we are. Some still need to discover this radical truth. If only each of those letters could be sent the reply: God is right beside you. Just talk to Him.

God’s accessibility to us is a profound gift. How can you avoid taking it for granted? Who in your life needs to know of God’s readiness to hear their prayer?

God, You are bigger than the universe yet closer than a breath. Thank You for being so interested in us, attending to every prayer.

Questioning by Billy Graham

Questioning

It is not unusual for persons in their early twenties to defect from their early teaching. The reasons are many. Perhaps their exposure to unbelief “took” better than their exposure to belief. This is often the case, for the Bible says, “The heart of man is deceitful above all things.”The human heart is as prepared by sin to accept unbelief as faith. Some person they regard highly has undoubtedly influenced their thinking; and for the time being they look on their early training as “bunk.” As someone has said, “A little learning may take a man away from God, but full understanding will bring him back.”

Some of the staunchest Christians I know are people who had periods in their life when they questioned the Bible, Christ, and God. But as they continued to examine the matter, there was overwhelming evidence that only “the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”

Daily Prayer

I pray for all the questioning people today, Lord, remembering times in my own life when unbelief reigned.

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:12‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Christ's Comprehensive Love by Alistair Begg

Christ's Comprehensive Love

The Lord takes pleasure in his people.
Psalm 149:4

How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of His people's interests that He does not consider, and there is nothing that concerns their welfare that is not important to Him. He doesn't merely think of you, believer, as an immortal being, but as a mortal being too. Do not deny it or doubt it: "Even the hairs of your head are all numbered."1 "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way."2

It would be sad for us if this covering of love did not tackle all our concerns, for what mischief might be done to us in that part of our lives that did not come under our gracious Lord's protection! Believer, rest assured that the heart of Jesus cares about your smallest concerns. The breadth of His tender love is such that you may turn to Him in every case; for in all your afflictions He is afflicted, and just like a father cares for his children, so He cares for you. The smallest interests of all His saints are all borne upon the heart of the Son of God.

And what a heart He has, which does not merely understand the nature of His people but also comprehends their diverse and innumerable concerns. Do you think, Christian, that you can measure the love of Christ? Consider what His love has brought you—justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal life! The riches of His goodness are unsearchable; you will never be able to convey them or even conceive them.

Oh, the breadth of the love of Christ! Shall such a love as this have only half our hearts? Shall it have a cold love in return? Shall Jesus' marvelous loving-kindness and tender care be met with only faint response and delayed acknowledgment? My soul, tune your harp to a glad song of thanksgiving! Go to your rest rejoicing, for you are not a desolate wanderer but a beloved child, watched over, cared for, supplied, and defended by your Lord.

1) Matthew 10:30
2) Psalm 37:23

April 29 / Wisdom from the Psalms

Psalms 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Thomas was a proud man. He had never liked admitting that he might need help from someone else. His daddy had taught him that the only way a man was worth his salt was to stand on his own two feet. Thomas had always tried to live by that rule, but now he was at a loss. His wife was sick, and he didn't know where to turn. The doctors were doing all they could, but Thomas felt helpless. Though it felt strange to him, Thomas got down on his knees to pray. Self-consciously, Thomas asked the Lord's help, and in his hour of quiet desperation, he was answered.

God wants us to need Him. He made us to need help, not to try to do everything on our own. When times get tough, God wants us to open our hearts to Him, that He might be made real to us. Call upon God from your brokenness, and He will be faithful to answer.

Prayer: When all else fails, I turn to You, Lord . I should not wait until situations get bad, but I do. Be with me to help me in the hardest of times, and stay with me in all times, that I might know You better. Amen.

THE BRINGING / Draw Near Bible App

THE BRINGING

Several years ago, a group of Philadelphia businessmen began an experimental prayer group. The effects of their prayers have been dramatic, and the group has flourished. Today, it encompasses many people who give themselves daily to the purpose of prayer. They explain, "Matthew says, 'and they brought unto him all sick people with divers diseases and torments...and he healed them.' It is not the healing we try to do, but the bringing."

Hezekiah knew how important it was to present his people before the Lord. When they were not sanctified at Passover time, he took them to the Lord and prayed for them (2 Chronicles 30:13-20). God heard Hezekiah's prayer and "healed the people."

We do not do the healing but the bringing. In obedience we daily bring friends, family, and others to the Master for His touch. And, as we bring them, He heals them of physical ailments, mental anguishes, and "various diseases." Prayer is not just a responsibility, it is a privilege. It is the privilege of presenting those we love to the Lord. He alone can heal them. Today, may we present our loved ones to Christ so they might be exposed to His positive healing process. More things are wrought by prayer than we can possibly imagine.

“So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭30:20‬ ‭NASB‬‬

April 29 / Streams in the Desert

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are (James 5:17).

Thank God for that! He got under a juniper tree, as you and I have often done; he complained and murmured, as we have often done; was unbelieving, as we have often been. But that was not the case when he really got into touch with God. Though "a man subject to like passions as we are," "he prayed praying." It is sublime in the original--not "earnestly," but "he prayed in prayer." He kept on praying. What is the lesson here? You must keep praying.

Come up on the top of Carmel, and see that remarkable parable of Faith and Sight. It was not the descent of the fire that now was necessary, but the descent of the flood; and the man that can command the fire can command the flood by the same means and methods. We are told that he bowed himself to the ground with his face between his knees; that is, shutting out all sights and sounds. He was putting himself in a position where, beneath his mantle, he could neither see nor hear what was going forward.

He said to his servant, "Go and take an observation." He went and came back, and said--how sublimely brief! one word--"Nothing!"

What do we do under such circumstances?

We say, "It is just as I expected!" and we give up praying. Did Elijah? No, he said, "Go again." His servant again came back and said, "Nothing!" "Go again." "Nothing!"

By and by he came back, and said, "There is a little cloud like a man's hand." A man's hand had been raised in supplication, and presently down came the rain; and Ahab had not time to get back to the gate of Samaria with all his fast steeds. This is a parable of Faith and Sight--faith shutting itself up with God; sight taking observations and seeing nothing; faith going right on, and "praying in prayer," with utterly hopeless reports from sight.

Do you know how to pray that way, how to pray prevailingly? Let sight give as discouraging reports as it may, but pay no attention to these. The living God is still in the heavens and even to delay is part of His goodness.
--Arthur T. Pierson

Each of three boys gave a definition of faith which is an illustration of the tenacity of faith. The first boy said, "It is taking hold of Christ"; the second, "Keeping hold"; and the third, "Not letting go."

A Pattern of Perpetual Sin by Greg Laurie

A Pattern of Perpetual Sin

“But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8 nlt).

It’s an indisputable fact of the universe: we will sin. The Bible even says, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (1 John 1:8nlt).

Having said that, it doesn’t give us an excuse to go out and willfully sin against God.

Yet some Christians say, “I believe that once saved, always saved. And because I’m saved, because I’m justified, I can go out and pretty much do whatever I want to do.”

So, they live in a pattern of habitual and continual sin. Talk about missing the point. They have misunderstood and misused the wonderful biblical teaching known as justification.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 nkjv).

We see the word justification several times in the Book of Romans. Justification means that when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, God forgives all our sin. He also places the righteousness of Christ into our spiritual account.

One-way justification has been defined is “just as if it never had happened.” The problem is that some Christians stop at salvation. They don’t understand that the fruit of salvation should be evident in their lives.

Whoever continues in sin without remorse is not in danger of losing their salvation; rather, by their choices, they reveal they may never have had salvation to begin with.

The Bible tells us that “when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8 nlt).

God has justified us. And in light of that, we should want to live lives that honor Him.

Exposing the misconception of meekness / Senior Living

Exposing the misconception of meekness

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” - Matthew 5:5

So often today, the Christian value of meekness is overlooked, and often times completely disregarded. Much of this attitude has come about as a result of Christians who misunderstand what meekness really is.

On this subject, the great author A. W. Tozer wrote,

“The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.”

A meek person is not one with an inferiority complex. He is quite the opposite. Meekness is a characteristic within a person which creates boldness and strength, yet at the same time causes that person to humbly understand that everything good in him comes from God, not himself.

Jesus only gave the promise to inherit the earth to one group of people: the meek. So as you live your life, be both bold and strong in your faithwhile also humble and quiet in your boasting. Be meek… because the reward is great!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you boldness in your faith while at the same time giving you a humble heart. Pray for meekness, and you’ll inherit the earth!

The Future by David Jeremiah

The Future

Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:18

Peter Drucker said, “Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window.”

Recommended Reading:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But wait!

We know “that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1), and there will be “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6). Just as the world reaches a crisis point, Jesus will come to rapture His people (1 Thessalonians 4:16). A man of evil will arise who will exalt “himself above all that is called God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). He will establish a treaty with Israel, but after three and a half years he will break it (Daniel 9:27). He will then set up his image in the rebuilt Jewish temple, which will spark the Great Tribulation. Just when the Antichrist seems about to destroy Israel, Jesus will return (Zechariah 14:4). Christ will reign on earth a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). Then God will welcome His children into the new heaven and the new earth, and the eternal city (Revelation 21:1-2). “Thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Who says you can’t know the future?

Prophecy is important to God, and He desires for us to understand His plans.
David Jeremiah