Courage In Troubled Times September 20, 2015

Romans 8:28-34     And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who sat the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

2 Samuel 16:12     It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today."

Acts 13:48     When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

Romans 1:7     To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:11     In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

Some time ago, two Chinese women shared their father’s story with me. He was arrested in a roundup of house church members and given a choice—to deny Christ or go to jail. The man spent 20 years imprisoned for his faith.

I was moved to tears by this brother’s godly testimony. He understood that God was in control of his life, and that realization gave him the courage to please his Father regardless of the repercussions.

Romans 8:28 teaches that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love [Him].” But relying on that guarantee gets tough when we’re in the midst of trials. The first few words of the verse—“And we know” (emphasis added)—provide a hint about how Christians are to trust that the Lord will keep His promise. We can face adversity courageously when we make a habit of finding God’s fingerprints on prior situations in our life.

While God causes good to come from our experiences, He doesn't necessarily initiate trials. Psalm 103:19 says, “His sovereignty rules over all” (emphasis added). Other forces are at work in the world, but the Father’s power reigns supreme. Satan may touch our life with pain, but only because the Lord allows him to do so. And God gives permission only when a situation fits His ultimate purpose.

Regardless of the tragedies we face, God’s commitment remains the same—He makes good out of bad, just as He has always done. Paul knew the promise was true, and so do I. Examine your life for evidence of the Lord at work, and you will be assured as well.

Principles Of Prosperity September 19, 2015

Psalm 24:1-2     The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.

Genesis 1:9     And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.

Genesis 14:22     But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,

Exodus 9:29     Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's.

Deuteronomy 10:14     To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

Isaiah 42:5     This is what God the LORD says-- the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:

Remember the truth that God owns it all? When we have a firm grasp of this concept and apply it to our thinking and handling of money, we will have mastered the first principle of prosperity. If we realize that everything we see in our world is His, then we will begin to realize that we literally own nothing; we are merely stewards handling the wealth of our Master. As money managers, we must understand that we do not have the right to dictate how it is to be spent or invested; only God does. He is still in control, and He wants to have the final word in the matter.

The second principle of prosperity is that God wants His resources used in a way that glorifies Him. Not only does He own it all and have the right to tell us how to manage it, but He also expects us to obey. Our obedience in money matters brings Him glory. The Lord wants us to keep this in mind as we put His resources into circulation to accomplish His work, to meet basic needs, and to provide enjoyment.

So for the New Year, ask God these three questions: How much do You want to be designated for Your work? What proportion should go to meet my basic needs and the needs of others? How much do You want me to utilize to enjoy life?

When we accept that God owns it all, that we are His money managers and our resources are to be used to glorify Him, then we will be satisfied with His choices for how to use the money we have. How satisfied are you?

Beyond Ourselves September 18, 2015

2 Corinthians 12:5-10     I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.  Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,  or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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.

Matthew 8:17     This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases."

Ephesians 3:16     I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Philippians 4:13     I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Colossians 1:11     being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

1 Timothy 1:12     I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.

The apostle Paul understood what it meant to be pushed to the limit. According to his letters, he knew a lot about hardships and suffering. But he was most knowledgeable about the ultimate importance of all of those painful experiences—namely, glorifying Jesus through his weakness.

We don’t like to feel that we’re helpless or lacking control of our own lives. But we can learn from Paul and from our personal life experiences that the prelude to great strength is great weakness. Take note of this important lesson about the Christian life: Our weakest moments—when we feel the most desperate—are the very times when God is free to do His greatest work by empowering and strengthening us. It is in those difficulties during which we whisper, “Father, I cannot go on” that we are granted the best equipping and the greatest enabling to endure adversity.

Human nature cries out for strength, courage, and adequacy to meet life’s challenges. Consequently, many people avoid fiery trials and valley experiences at all costs so they won’t have to face weakness. They tell themselves, I am able to handle life on my own terms; my strength is sufficient. But we can never understand the supernatural empowerment to go beyond our own limits unless we experience it for ourselves. The only way to have conviction about the Lord’s adequacy is to endure weakness and then witness the strength that springs from it. No matter what’s going on in our lives, there is power available to the children of God.

How To Listen To God September 17, 2015

Isaiah 50:4-5     The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back.

Psalm 5:3     In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 119:147     I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.

Psalm 143:8     Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Proverbs 12:25     Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Isaiah 54:13     All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace.

Isaiah 57:19     creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. "And I will heal them."

Jeremiah 31:25     I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."

Most of us are better at talking than listening, but communicating with the Lord involves both. God intends for His children to hear His voice. His goal is the same today as it has always been—to be certain that we comprehend the truth about Him, to conform us to His ways, and to equip us for communicating His truth to others.

One of the main instruments God uses to speak to modern-day believers is His Word. For this reason, studying the Bible is more important than getting breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. We can easily live on one daily meal, but we cannot survive in this wicked world unless we feast on Scripture. The result of regular consumption of God’s Word is a discerning spirit. When a Christian shares something the Lord has laid on his heart to tell us, our spirit verifies the truth of the message.

Regardless of how loudly God speaks, we won’t hear unless listening is a priority. We must ask the Lord to teach us to hear and then work at having a quiet attitude. An internal “receiver” tuned to the Father develops only through committed prayer, meditation, and practice at listening. In addition, we need a spirit of submission to obey His commands.

God’s goal for us is a lifestyle of sensitivity so we can hear Him in noisy or calm situations. Listening is a critical skill for ensuring that our hearts are open to divine guidance in every circumstance. In addition to the nourishment provided by our feast of Scripture, there is also “dessert”—recognition of our Father’s voice.

Motivated For Commitment September 16, 2015

Daniel 1:1-20     In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,  but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.  The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:17-21 Daniel and his fellows kept to their religion; and God rewarded them with eminence in learning. Pious young persons should endeavor to do better than their fellows in useful things; not for the praise of man, but for the honor of the gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is well for a country, and for the honor of a prince, when he is able to judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them on that account. Let young men steadily attend to this chapter; and let all remember that God will honor those who honor him, but those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.

Although Daniel was living as a captive in Babylon, he resolved in his heart not to violate God’s laws. He never wavered from his commitment. What motivated this young man to live out such a pledge?

Devotion to God. Daniel’s deep love for the Lord made him determined not to defile himself with the king’s food and wine. Dedication to God means choosing to be set apart to love, worship, and obey only Him. It amounts to declaring, “Lord, every part of me is Yours. I want what You want.” When we keep Jesus Christ as the focus, our hearts will overflow with thanksgiving, and we will be motivated to stand firm.

Clear direction. If Daniel refused outright to eat the king’s food, he would likely have lost his life. So he and his friends turned to God for direction. The Lord gave them the wisdom they needed to develop an alternate plan—and then also provided them with the courage to ask permission to follow His way. Notice there were no loud demands, no arguments, and no rebellious spirit. Their behavior was marked by trust in God and dependence on Him. Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will give us guidance and understanding (John 16:13). When we listen closely to His direction, we will be motivated to act.

Through daily prayer and meditation upon God’s Word, we can keep our eyes centered on Christ, our ears attuned to His voice, and our hearts motivated to obey. We’ll be able to make the same wholehearted commitment Daniel did. So ask yourself, How eager am I to do God’s will?

Perseverance In Prayer September 15, 2015

Romans 12:10-13      Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

John 13:34     "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Philippians 2:3     Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

1 Thessalonians 4:9     Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

Hebrews 13:1     Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

1 Peter 1:22     Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 2:17     Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

As a pastor, I speak with many people about their spiritual journey. From these interactions, I know that most individuals are not satisfied with their prayer life. They lack anticipation and faith, and time with God often feels empty. This is, no doubt, why many Christians pray so little and so indifferently.

Yesterday, we began looking at obstacles to a healthy prayer life. Let’s explore one more hindrance to vibrant communication between God and us: impatience.

Most of us have at some point brought fervent supplication to Jesus but did not see the desired results. Unfortunately, humans are by nature faint-hearted. We get weary of asking when all we perceive is silence. Remember, though, that God does not act on our cue like some cosmic bellhop. If we could see the big picture as He can, we’d gladly wait for His way and timing.

The truth is, I believe we benefit by not receiving all that we request. To understand this concept is a sign of spiritual maturity. When we are thoroughly satisfied with the Lord’s presence, our relationship with Him will flourish, even when we don’t get everything we ask. When that’s the case, we grasp what prayer is—not a long list of wants, but regular communication in a relationship.

Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God and nothing changes. But by continuing to pray, we’ll both sense God’s presence beyond the “wall” and find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives exactly what was requested.

Hindrance To Prayer September 14, 2015

Ephesians 3:14-21      For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Philippians 2:10     that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Ephesians 1:16-19      Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers…

Ephesians 1:10     to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment--to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

When you pray, are you confident that God is listening and will answer? Or do you, like many other believers, feel doubtful that your words are even heard?

Let’s consider some obstacles to a healthy prayer life. First, poor concentration can inhibit our communication with the Lord. Human minds are prone to wander, and it is common for our thoughts to drift from prayer to other topics. One antidote for this is to realize with whom we are speaking. The more we grasp God’s power, love, omniscience, and holiness, the easier it will be for us stay focused.

Second, we may feel unworthy to talk with the God of all creation. Guilt over sin in our life can tempt us to avoid time alone with Him, but He wants us to bring our wrongs into His light. On our own, we will never be worthy to be in the presence of pure perfection. But Jesus’ death and resurrection brought us forgiveness and acceptance, so we can come to the Father without fear or embarrassment.

Third, fear can stand in our way. Some people worry, What if I don’t pray correctly? The truth is, none of us knows how to pray in a manner worthy of a holy God. That’s why the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. The Lord desires our hearts, not perfect words.

The Lord has made Himself available to us through prayer. Do you realize that the most powerful tool and greatest privilege is accessible to us? We can come before almighty God in prayer. Our heavenly Father is waiting to listen to our praise, confession, and requests.