Do You Need God’s Remedy for Bitterness? / Adrian Rogers

Do You Need God’s Remedy for Bitterness?
Genesis 39:20-23
Sermon: 2248 When Nothing Seems to Make Sense, Part 1

Pray Over This

“Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.”
Genesis 39:20-23

Ponder This

We need to be careful about bitterness. Bitter people are not nice to be around. Sometimes pastors get bitter. I know a pastor who served a church for many years. For some reason, the people in that church turned on him, they began to criticize him and, finally, they dismissed him. This pastor asked repeatedly, “How could they do that to me after all I did for them? How could they do that?” And he was very bitter. I thought the shame was he didn’t say, “After all I did for God.” Not for them, but for God.

If you look to people to supply your needs and to recognize your worth, you’re going to be disappointed in life. And you’re going to get bitter. One of the greatest tests of life is not how you react when you’re punished for doing wrong, but how you react when you’re persecuted for doing right. Joseph had done right. He was persecuted and tested but there was not a shred of bitterness in the life of Joseph. How? Because God was with him.

• When was the last time you were bitter? How did that cause you to act toward others? Toward God?
• Have you ever asked God to be with you when you were tempted with bitterness? How might this change things?

Practice This

Talk to a friend about how bitterness manifests itself in your life. Ask him or her to keep you accountable when you move toward bitterness. 

The Passion to Obey / Charles Stanley

 The Passion to Obey

John 14:15

For a sermon I gave several years ago, I jotted down a list and titled it "The Evolution of a Passion to Obey God." That passion doesn't just spring up, full-blown at salvation. We do enter our new life in Christ with a desire to please Him, and that does include obeying Him. But an intensely determined pursuit of His will develops more slowly.

In fact, the first stage--fear of the consequences of disobedience--barely qualifies as reverence for God. But as we progress in our faith and form a commitment to obey the Lord, we eventually reach the final stage, which is love and devotion to Christ. Wouldn't you rather follow Him out of love than out of fear?

Getting from the first stage to the last begins with what you might expect--an increasing knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we dig into God's Word to see how He provided for the saints, we develop a desire for His best. Men like Moses, David, and Paul weren't satisfied with what the world had to offer, and we won't be either when we witness His work in the lives of His followers. So we test out obedience and discover that God's promised blessings are real. As we acquire a record of consistent rewards for doing His will, we recognize the wisdom of obedience.

Can you find yourself on the spectrum between fear and devotion? It is my hope that you have committed to obeying God and that you are reading His Word daily to learn how to keep your promise. God wants your best--your passionate pursuit of His will--because He is giving His best to you.

Reflecting the Light of the Son / ODB

 

Reflecting the Light of the Son You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14 READ Matthew 5:14–16 After I had a conflict with my mother, she finally agreed to meet with me more than an hour away from my home. But upon arriving, I discovered she’d left before I got there. In my anger, I wrote her a note. But I revised it after I felt God nudging me to respond in love. After my mother read my revised message, she called me. “You’ve changed,” she said. God used my note to lead my mom to ask about Jesus and, eventually, receive Him as her personal Savior. In Matthew 5, Jesus affirms that His disciples are the light of the world (v. 14). He said, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (v. 16). As soon as we receive Christ as our Savior, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. He transforms us so we can be radiant testimonies of God’s truth and love wherever we go. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be joyful lights of hope and peace who look more and more like Jesus every day. Every good thing we do then becomes an act of grateful worship, which looks attractive to others and can be perceived as vibrant faith. Surrendered to the Holy Spirit, we can give honor to the Father by reflecting the Light of the Son—Jesus. By Xochitl Dixon When have you noticed the light of Jesus shining through another person? How has someone else’s good deeds prompted you to praise God? Dear Jesus, please shine Your vibrant light of love in and through my life so I can give honor to the Father and encourage others to put their trust in You.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT Jesus’ words in the well-known Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) can seem intimidating—even overwhelming—in how they challenge the normal patterns of human behavior. He focuses on selfless kindness and compassion—even to the point of personal sacrifice (5:38–42). But the intent isn’t to cause believers in Christ to feel inadequate. Instead, this sermon paints a picture of God’s original design for humanity. In Genesis 1, God created us to bear His image—to reflect Him to the inhabitants of the earth. As people in the process of becoming like Jesus (Ephesians 4:12–13), we’ve been called to reflect who God is. Christ’s sermon invites us to return to our ancient role of reflecting our Creator to a darkened world. For further study, enjoy this ODBU lecture Sermon on the Mount. Jed Ostoich

Angelic Power / David Jeremiah

Angelic Power And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.  2 Kings 19:35   In the age of fantasy and fiction brought to life on movie screens, we have become used to seeing the powers of malevolent beings—think of Darth Vader in Star Wars or Sauron in The Lord of the Rings. They are powerful enough to dispatch individuals or armies.

Recommended Reading: Matthew 28:1-4

Such powerful beings are not the stuff of modern fiction alone. When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, brought his massive army against Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah, an angel of the Lord delivered the city by destroying 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night (2 Kings 19:35-37). How? We are not told; we are only told that the power of one angel was sufficient to destroy an entire army. If angels have that kind of power, they certainly are able to intervene on your behalf when you are in a spiritual battle. When powers of darkness are arrayed against you, trust that God is able to deliver you. An angel of the Lord may be the means He uses.   God sends his angels to protect us and his Word as a star to guide us. Max Lucado

 

In Search of God’s Will / Greg Laurie

 In Search of God’s Will

The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. (Psalm 25:14 NLT)

Does God still speak to people today? Is He interested in what happens to us as individuals? And does He indeed have a master plan for our lives?

As Christians, we are not victims of chance, hoping that our luck holds up. God has a plan for our lives. He has a will that He wants to reveal to us. He wants to speak to us, and He does speak to us. The reason we don’t hear Him is that we haven’t yet learned to tune in.

God does not play hide-and-seek. In fact, He is more interested in revealing His will to us than we might be in knowing it. Far too often we make hearing God’s voice and knowing His will overly mystical.

Following the will of God is not an itinerary as much as it is an attitude. It is saying, “Lord, guide my steps. I’m available to walk in the way that You want me to walk.”

And the Bible gives us this promise: “The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14 NLT).

Friends like to talk. When something good happens to you, you want to tell your friends. Or when something bad happens, you call them as well.

Jesus said to His disciples, “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me” (John 15:15 NLT).

When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you begin a special friendship with God. God has given us a user’s manual in life called the Bible, which helps us to understand the will of God.

So, before we get into the specifics of trying to discover His plan and purpose for our lives as individuals, we need to ask ourselves this question: Am I already doing what God has clearly told me to do?

For example, it is the will of God that you believe in Jesus Christ. The Bible says that God “does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). There must come a moment in your life when you’ve acknowledged that you’re a sinner and are separated from God. There must come a moment when you turn from that sin and put your faith in Jesus.

The Bible says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (Romans 12:1 NLT).

God is essentially saying, “Give Me your life, and I will show you My will.” The condition of an enlightened mind is a surrendered heart. God has a plan and a purpose for your life. But to know the will of God, you must willingly present yourself to Him without reservation.

Which Master Will You Serve? By Billy Graham

 

Which Master Will You Serve? By Billy Graham It’s a choice between two masters. Who are the two masters? Self is one. Will your master be yourself or Christ? Who sits in the driver’s seat of your life? When Christ comes in, you’ve got to move away from the controls and turn them over to Him. And if you’ll do it, there’ll be a vast change. Make that commitment today.  Read More

TODAY’S PRAYER Heavenly Father, help me to deny myself daily, take up my cross and follow Christ as my Savior and Lord. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

A Divine Appointment / Ann Graham Lotz

 A Divine Appointment

Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.

Psalm 62:1, nkjv

Have you ever considered that you have a divine appointment when you get up early for your quiet time of prayer and meditation on His Word? . . . That Jesus is patiently, personally waiting to meet with you there?

Have you ever thought of going to church as a divine appointment? . . . That Jesus is patiently, personally waiting to meet with you there?

Have you ever thought of the Bible study you belong to as a divine appointment? . . . That Jesus is patiently, personally waiting to meet with you there?

What a difference it would make in our attitude of expectancy and our habit of consistency if we truly wrapped our hearts around the knowledge that each is a divine appointment, that Jesus Himself is waiting to meet with us.

Just for You / Max Lucado

 

Just for You

Click below to listen to today's devotional

JUST FOR YOU 

Behold the sun! Every square yard of it is constantly emitting 130,000 horse power, the equivalent of 450 eight-cylinder car engines.

Consider the earth! Our globe’s weight is estimated at six sextillion tons—that’s a six with 21 zeros! Yet it’s precisely tilted at twenty-three degrees or our seasons would be lost in a melted polar flood.

If God is able to place the stars in their sockets and suspend the sky like a curtain, do you think it remotely possible God is able to guide your life? Next time a sunrise steals your breath, say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like it? I did it just for you.”

Verse of the Day /November 2

Quiet Time...

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: 

He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." 

Psalm 55:22 KJV

*****

 

Bible in One Year: November 2

 Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 27-29; Titus 3

Obedience or Independence? / Oswald Chambers

 

Obedience or Independence? If you love Me, keep My commandments. JOHN 14:15 Our Lord never insists on obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He never forces us to do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit with Him. That is why whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an “If,” meaning, “You do not need to do this unless you desire to do so.” “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” (Luke 9:23). In other words, “To be My disciple, let him give up his right to himself to Me.” Our Lord is not talking about our eternal position, but about our being of value to Him in this life here and now. That is why He sounds so stern (see Luke 14:26). Never try to make sense from these words by separating them from the One who spoke them. The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself. Jesus Christ will not force me to obey Him, but I must. And as soon as I obey Him, I fulfill my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God. Then, when I stand face to face with God, I will discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When God’s redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces. If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God. Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 27-29; Titus 3

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS The great point of Abraham’s faith in God was that he was prepared to do anything for God.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Work / Charles Stanley

 How to Get the Most Out of Your Work

Matthew 20:25-28 

According to Scripture, work is to be part of the believer's life. We all have daily tasks, and many Christians hold jobs outside the home. Some people view these as drudgery. Others wake up excited to face the day's challenges. What is your outlook?

There is an important biblical principle to follow if you are going to enjoy your work: View yourself as a servant. This might be hard if you feel unappreciated or your coworkers are difficult. But consider the example that the Lord set for us. He was rejected, tortured, and crucified. Yet Jesus was willing to serve even His tormentors with His attitude and, ultimately, with His life. Colossians 3:23-24states, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men . . . It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

When I was in college, this proved to be a valuable perspective. I worked in the bleachery, which was the hottest and most uncomfortable job at the local textile mill. At first, I focused on how much I disliked this position. But I decided to change my attitude and look for opportunities to serve Jesus through my work. For the first time, the heat did not bother me. In fact, I was eager to share my faith with those around me. People listened and responded because they noticed my demeanor.

No job is perfect; each position has negative aspects. But we can find joy and excitement even in the most menial task when we decide to work for God. Choose to serve Christ in all you do. After all, why face each day with dread when you could experience excitement and anticipation?

Be Transformed by God / Adrian Rogers

 Be Transformed by God

Romans 12:1-2
Sermon: 2247 Practicing the Presence of God, Part 2

Pray Over This

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:1-2

Ponder This

Have you presented yourself to God? Most people have never done that. Most people say, “If I did that, no telling where I’d end up. I’d be a missionary over in a place of poverty.” But it’s time to present yourself to Him. Sign the contract, hand it to Him, and tell Him to fill it in. Don’t be afraid. Because when you present yourself to Him, you’re transformed. “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed.” The word transform is the word from which we get our English word metamorphosis. You will have a divine metamorphosis.

What is a metamorphosis? Meta means “change,” morphose means “form.” It’s a change of form. For example, the caterpillar goes into the cocoon and comes out a butterfly. It has gone through metamorphosis. The inner nature of that caterpillar is a beautiful butterfly. What is the inner nature of a child of God? It’s God. It is glory. It is Jesus. Christ lives in you. When you present yourself to Him as a living sacrifice, there will be a metamorphosis and that which is on the inside will come to the surface.

• How difficult do you find it to present yourself fully to God?
• What has caused you to hold back from presenting yourself to God?

Practice This

Present yourself to God in prayer and bring to Him the things you have been holding back.

Everybody Worships / ODB

 

Everybody Worships People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. Acts 17:22 READ Acts 17:24–32 I recently visited Athens, Greece. Walking around its ancient Agora—the marketplace where philosophers taught and Athenians worshiped—I found altars to Apollo and Zeus, all in the shadow of the Acropolis, where a statue of the goddess Athena once stood. We may not bow to Apollo or Zeus today, but society is no less religious. “Everybody worships,” novelist David Foster Wallace said, adding this warning: “If you worship money and things . . . then you will never have enough. . . . Worship your body and beauty. . . and you will always feel ugly. . . . Worship your intellect . . . [and] you will end up feeling stupid.” Our secular age has its own gods, and they’re not benign. “People of Athens!” Paul said while visiting the Agora, “I see that in every way you are very religious” (Acts 17:22). The apostle then described the one true God as the Creator of all (vv. 24–26) who wants to be known (v. 27) and who has revealed Himself through the resurrection of Jesus (v. 31). Unlike Apollo and Zeus, this God isn’t made by human hands. Unlike money, looks, or intelligence, worshiping Him won’t ruin us. Our “god” is whatever we rely on to give us purpose and security. Thankfully, when every earthly god fails us, the one true God is ready to be found (v. 27). By Sheridan Voysey What other “gods” do you see society worshiping today? What do you rely on to give you purpose and security? Father, forgive me for placing wealth, beauty, politics, or other things first. I take them off the altar of my heart and place You there instead. Discover how Christianity differs from other world religions.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT We often use Paul’s interaction with the people in Athens as a model for evangelism: know your audience and tailor your message to them. The apostle observed the religious behavior of the Athenians and demonstrated his knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures and the life and work of Jesus. But we also see that Paul’s speech was a refutation of the Athenian approach to religion. In a place where they had many idols to which they offered sacrifices of food and drink, the apostle asserts that there’s only one God, and He doesn’t live in temples and doesn’t need to be served by humans. J.R. Hudberg