MINISTERS OF RECONCILIATION GIVES COMFORT

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the word of reconciliation.”—2 Corinthians 5:18

Thousands of acres of forest, a great many homes have been burned due to a rash of wildfires in the western part of the United States. Fires currently burn in many western states including Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado and Oklahoma. At least three firefighters have been killed battling the blazes along with some home owners.   More than 1.4 million acres have been burned.  Firemen have risked and sacrificed their own lives in the rescue efforts while their own homes were being burnt to the ground.  Across the country, people are helping victims and their family members in any way possible. 

True compassion not only tries to understand the pain of others, but also provides practical help. 

In light of these recent calamities not only in America but that have occurred world-wide, let us consider how we can express care and concern for those affected.

 

First, remember that you and I have a wonderful privilege; the ability to touch anybody anywhere in the world through prayer.  No matter how far away the victims are, they can be comforted by God as He responds to your heartfelt cries.  So as soon as word of a tragedy reaches you, start praying for the victims, rescue workers, and officials managing the crisis.  Let the Holy Spirit guide you in petitioning God for protection, provision, comfort, awareness of His presence, and whatever else He deems fitting.  “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). 

 

Second, donations (money, food, clothing, and household goods) and assistance of many kinds are usually high priority.  It is wise to team up with dependable relief organizations and to consult trusted sources about what is needed.  Travel limitations may narrow your options, but in local situations, you can express compassion with words of comfort, a warm embrace, or something as simple as a listening ear.  Through this kind of love, the world will recognize its true Light—Jesus Christ, who was anointed to bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, and comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2). 

Today, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal ways to pray for those that are still suffering, and how you can minister comfort to those that are in need.  Your prayers and actions can have a profound impact.

Prayer—Father I thank You that I am a minister of reconciliation.  Holy Spirit will you please show me ways that I can minister and pray for those in need, in Jesus Name. Amen.

  

THE BLESSING OF GIVING

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves, a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life”—1 Timothy 6:17-19

The more skilled you are at a task, the more you’ll enjoy it. For instance, when an orchestra adeptly plays a masterpiece, an accomplished musician will derive greater pleasure from listening than would a person with an untrained ear. You might be surprised to learn that the same is true of giving.

God has many reasons for asking us to give. First, by returning a portion of our wealth to the Lord, we are acknowledging that everything actually belongs to Him, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills…For the world is Mine and all its fullness” (Psalm 50:10, 12b).   Second, giving is a way to obey, “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering, from everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering” (Exodus 25:2).  Third, when we contribute to a ministry or reach out to help the needy, we participate in kingdom work, which brings deep joy. Fourth, our offerings are an opportunity for God to reveal His character; as we demonstrate generosity, He faithfully provides for our needs and blesses us abundantly, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).   Over and over again, the saying, “You can’t out-give God” proves true.

Giving involves more than money. God has blessed us with talents, time, and resources— along with plenty of opportunities to share them with others. It is important to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance so we will know what, to whom, and how much we should give.

Remember, the Lord is continuously giving to us: salvation, comfort, encouragement, breath, life, and countless other blessings. We are indebted to Him and should give back, not just out of obligation, but with gratitude and joy, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).  Ask God to reveal any selfishness or other hindrance to sharing—and to help you become more skilled at giving.

Prayer—Father I thank You for the blessing of giving.  I ask You to reveal any selfishness or hindrance in my life that holds me back from giving and sharing what You have given to Me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

GIVE OUT OF YOUR NEED

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”—2 Corinthians 9:6

 

In school, we learned how to subtract and to add.  Take away and you will have less than what you began with; add, and you will have more than what you started with.  The view point of the world thinks that when you give something away then you will have less than what you started with; however, God tells us that when we give, we will receive even more in return.  “Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38 NASB).

 

God’s design for giving requires that we depend on His revelation rather than our own human reasoning.  Logical thinking would look to see how much money you had before deciding how much is available to give.  The Bible, however, states that all wealth belongs to the Lord and we are to give back to Him the first fruits of our labor (Deuteronomy 18:4-5).  “Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it” (Deuteronomy 10:14).  When we obey, we trust Him to take care of us—which sometimes means choosing to ignore what makes logical sense and.  There are times that God satisfies our needs and blesses us in a way He knows will truly be the best for us. 

When facing hard financial circumstances, we can be tempted to justify hoarding our resources.  But God, who perfectly understands the situation, requires that we give not simply out of our surplus, but out of our need.  The Macedonian church, for example, gave generously even while experiencing affliction.  “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).  This pleased the Lord because they were giving in faith.

 

The world-over, people are facing difficult financial situations.  And yet, the Heavenly Father has provided a way of escape for His people by giving.  When God divided the Red Sea for His people to escape, the waters were pushed back to form a three mile wide corridor for three million people to walk across on dry land.  You may be facing a huge financial situation, but remember, you have a big god who has provided a way of escape for you.  Prayerfully give and stand in faith on God’s promise to you—He directs your seed to be multiplied back to you.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for Your means of financial escape for me.  No problem is too big for You, and today I ask You to direct the placement and the amount of my giving, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

ARE YOU WALKING IN REVELATION OR BEING INFLUENCED BY OTHERS?

“And I [Paul] went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles…”—Galatians 2:2

What the Apostle Paul was saying in Galatians 2:2, is that he went to Jerusalem about seventeen years after his conversion because it was divinely revealed to him that he should go and tell the church what he had been preaching among the Gentiles.  Read Galatians chapter 1 and you will discover that Paul was a highly educated and zealous man who worked fervently persecuting the Church before his conversion.  After his conversion, Paul writes, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus” (vs. 15-17).  Paul points out that he was not influenced by others in what he should do after his conversion, but he walked in the revelation that he had.

John chapter 7 gives an account of when Jesus’ brothers did not believe that He was the Messiah, and how they tried to influence Him so that they would have positions of honor. 

“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him ‘Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For even His brothers did not believe in Him. The Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come’” (vs. 1-9).

The Feast of Tabernacles was held the 15-22 of September and this Feast was about seven months before His crucifixion.  This was a very solemn time for all the Jewish males and called for their personal attendance.  Jesus’ brothers (some of His kindred) tried to influence Jesus to go to Jerusalem so that more people could see His miracles.  This sounds like reasonable advice at first glance—more people get exposed to His ministry; however, reading a little further you discover that his brothers did not believe that He was the Messiah.  A Prophet—Yes but not the Messiah.  Perhaps they were thinking that they would be able to share in the “lime-light” if He was exposed to more people.  But, what we do know is that Jesus told them to go along with the other people; he was not going to Jerusalem at that time.  Closely examine the Scriptures and you will see that Jesus knew by revelation not to follow along with the rest of the people who were going.  Perhaps His going with them would have stirred up the people with animosity before it was prophetically time for His crucifixion, we do not know for sure.  But we do know that Jesus always walked in revelation of His timing and did not follow along with the crowd, and you can to. 

Jesus was not moved by ideas of grandeur and influenced by the needs of others.  He humbly stayed submitted to the Father and never did anything but what He heard the Father say and do.  We can walk in that same revelation by staying humble, walking in love and being submitted to the Father.

Prayer—Father I thank You for Your revelation.  I purpose not to walk ahead of my appointed times by being influenced by family and others in Jesus Name. Amen. 

WHEN THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS YES

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen; to the glory of God through us.”—2 Corinthians 1:20

Many grandparents have remarked to me that their homes are “YES” homes when their grandchildren come to visit.  Whatever the grandchild or great-grandchild asks for, the answer is always “yes!”  A conversation with a grandchild or great-grandchild usually goes something like this…

“Can I have some cookies?”

 “Yes.”

“Can we play a game?”

“Yes.”

“Can I have some ice cream?”

“Yes?”

“Can I have some ice cream before dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Can I have ice cream with dinner?”

“Yes.”

 Whatever the grandchild/great-grandchild wants always results in a “Yes” response. 

 

When I was very young, our family was visiting my grandparents, and my mother laid me down for a nap.  My grandmother was in the bedroom next to the one that I was to be napping in; however, I very much wanted to see my grandmother instead of taking a nap, so I quietly got down from the bed, and made my way into my grandmother’s room.  Her welcoming love filled arms were outstretched to me as I struggled to climb into the big bed with her.  Although my grandmother was a double amputee and her hands were very crippled with arthritis, she helped me get up into the bed.  In essence, she was telling me “yes,” and I will help you come to me.  I do not remember the conversation we had, but I still remember the feeling of contentment as I lay with my grandmother that warm spring afternoon.    

 

I have often reflected on the memory with my grandmother and it reminds me that all of God’s promises are yes and amen!  Today remember that your life is full of promises that are yet to be fulfilled.  Do not give up!  Lift up your outstretched arms to your heavenly Father who desires to fulfill all of His good promises to you.  He cares for you and there are people who are ready and willing to help you reach your promises.  Phoebe was a woman who helped many people including the Apostle Paul. “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord, in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper, of many and of myself also” (Romans 16:2).

 

Prayer—Father I thank you for Your promises to me.  Thank You for the people who are ready and willing to help me reach the promises You have made to me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

IT IS A MATTER OF THE HEART THAT COUNTS WITH GOD

“And He said, ‘what comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from without of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”—Mark 7:20-23

 

The outward appearance of a person is not important.  It is the condition of a person’s heart that matters to God.  However, mankind has not always understood this.  The covenant of circumcision was give to Abram in Genesis 17:9-14.  God said that any man who did not carry this sign of the covenant in his flesh was to be killed.  This placed a great importance on the act of circumcision.  The Apostle Paul tells us that Abraham had already been justified by faith before he was circumcised, in Romans 4:3-13.  Abram’s faith in God and His promise saved him at least thirteen years before He commanded Abram to be circumcised.

 

Down through the centuries, the Jews turned their focus to the outward act of circumcision instead of the inward act of faith as the reason for salvation.  This was a source of contention between Jesus and the religious leaders too.  They emphasized all the outward acts the Lord had commanded and were totally disregarding the condition of their hearts.  Jesus said that if an individual would cleanse their heart, their actions would inevitably change too. 

 

The condition of a person’s flesh is not the important thing.  God is interested in a person’s heart, not if their flesh has been circumcised or not.  Today, the religious questions center around the doctrine of water baptism, church membership, and other outward acts that some preach are necessary for salvation. 

Your faith in the love of God, as expressed through Jesus on the Cross and in His resurrection is the only thing God demands for your justification.  Religious rites mean nothing when it comes to salvation.  Your heart is what matters to God.  You can rejoice today that your heart safely trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that my heart is right with You and because it is out of the abundance of my heart my mouth will utter things that are pleasing to You, in Jesus Name. Amen.

THE PROMISE OF GOD IS CHANGELESS

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God.”—Ephesians 2:8

 

Pride causes many people to resist the truth of justification by faith in the grace of God.  Such was the case with the lawyer who asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life.  “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ So he [Jesus] answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-29 emphasis added).  The lawyer loved himself and the public recognition his holy acts brought him.  He was not willing to love God first and other people ahead of himself.  His question was an attempt to shun responsibility for his self-centeredness.  He was seeking to be justified in the sight of God through his actions.  He knew he had not loved everyone as he loved himself, so he tried to interpret the Scripture (Leviticus 19:18) in a way that would apply to his actions, not to his heart.  He wanted to define “neighbor” as close friends whom he had treated well.  Self-justification always produces excuses, while repentance and faith toward God produces surrender and obedience.

The basis of our salvation is grace—that is God’s underserved, unmerited favor toward us as expressed in providing redemption through Jesus Christ.  God loved us so much that He gave His Son so that we would have everlasting life.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  The way God saves us is through faith.  Through faith we accept His free gift of salvation, which was provided by His grace.  We are saved “by grace…through faith” (Ephesians 2:8) not by grace alone.  Faith grants us admission to God’s grace.  Without faith and grace, God’s promise of eternal life would not be possible.   His promise of eternal life is changeless.  God’s promise can never be invalidated and is the basis for victoriously living.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that Your promise to me will never change.  My faith in You and Your promise is the basis for victory in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.      

GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN NOT EARNED

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”—James 1:7

 

The world often distorts the Lord’s character.  To the unbelieving eyes, God can appear as a harsh ruler who is quick to condemn any disobedience.  Somehow that false view has infected our churches as well.  There are believers who approach the Lord as if He were a stingy old man doling out shreds of love, grace, and forgiveness, little by little.  But spiritual poverty is not the Father’s plan for His children!

At salvation, we received every good gift that God intends to give to us; forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, a place in His family, and much more.  There is a misguided notion among some believers that the Lord’s grace to us increases as our faith matures.  If that were accurate, we would be earning His blessing through works.  The truth is that spiritual growth broadens our capacity to recognize and enjoy His grace in our lives.

 

Sadly, plenty of people feel unworthy to enjoy the Lord’s blessings.  Thankfully, we do not have to merit His goodness, because none of us would be able to do so.  In fact, Ephesians 2:8-9, (“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”) underscores the fact that God operates on the basis of His grace rather than our works.  Think of how big, wide and deep His love is—He adores, blesses, and showers us with grace because He wants to and not because we have earned it.

 

Our heavenly Father is not stingy.  He opens His hand wide to pour out grace upon us.  Instead of sampling meager bites of His Word and His presence on Sunday, we ought to devour whole “meals” every day.  Follow the psalmist’s advice to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that I do not have to earn Your grace and that it is freely given to me.  I purpose in my heart to be more aware of Your grace at work in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.

MURMURING AND COMPLAINING POLLUTE THE ATMOSPHERE

“Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves].” —Philippians 2:14(Amplified)

Complaining, murmuring and fault finding have a big impact on your life.  Murmuring and complaining can cause you to loose out on the very thing that God has promised you. The children of Israel, who murmured and complained against Moses because they did not like what they had to eat, ended up eating bread for forty years (Exodus 16).   Complaining even caused some of them to die prematurely. “Nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (I Corinthians 10:9).

When the people were complaining about their food, Moses told them that their complaints were not against him, but against the Lord. “Also Moses said, ‘This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord’” (Exodus 16:8).  

When the disciples did not understand something that Jesus had taught, He told them not to murmur.  “…Do not murmur among yourselves” (John 6:43).  What most people do not realize is that murmuring is an indistinct sound, and complaining is fault finding.  These by their very nature of being negative pollute and can even destroy the atmosphere of faith that we as Christians are to live in.  “Without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Hebrews 11:6).  Ask yourself the question, is murmuring and complaining against people, circumstances and things; or, against the Lord?   

 

When we speak negative words by murmuring and complaining, we are in reality saying, “God why have you not intervened in my behalf?”  Death and life are in the power of the tongue.  So what we say is important, positive or negative.  Determine today to live with a thankful heart and you will see what a difference it makes in your day.  Thank Him for what you do have—do not complain about what you lack.  A gentleman told me this recently, “I was complaining about the pain in my leg and how hard it was to get around, until I saw a man with no legs.” 

Prayer—Father I repent for murmuring and complaining about people, situations, and things.  I did not realize that I was complaining against You.  Lord I love You, please forgive me and restore me to a right relationship with You, and with Your help I will make a clear thankful sound praising You with a thankful heart, in Jesus Name. Amen.

LOVE: AN ANTIDOTE FOR DISCOURAGEMENT

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything [without weakening].”—1 Corinthians 13:7

David wrote Psalm 38 at a time that he was very discouraged.  He was a man whom God said was “after His own heart,” and yet here we see him downcast and discouraged, struggling and crying out in distress to God. “I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart, My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes it also has gone from me. But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; and I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. Thus I am like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no response” (Psalm 38:6, 8, 10, 13-14).

Reading this Psalm, we get a picture of a man who is plagued by discouragement.  His soul is “cast down” to the point that all he could do was cry.  This is a man who hungered for the Lord and daily poured out his heart to Him in prayer and worship.  But now, discouragement has settled in on him and he can see no way out of this situation.

Many Christians are discouraged, and like David are trying to figure out why they feel so empty and broken in spirit. In this state, the enemy brings every failure, sin and foolish deed before them.  He then brings the thought to their minds, “Am I so wounded that I am beyond hope?” 

Even at his lowest point, David would not allow himself to excessively indulge in unbelief. Because of David’s relationship with God, He continued to cry out to Him in faith. “For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God” (vs. 15).

Today, you can cry out in faith to God for His help.  God is a God of love and His love never fails, even when we do.  His love is unconditional.  He loves you because He is love and He does not withdraw it from you—ever.   I Corinthians 13: 4-8a list the remarkable characteristics of God’s love. 

“Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy; is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited—arrogant, and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly. Love [God’s love in us] does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it—pays no attention to a suffered wrong. It does not rejoice in injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything [without weakening].   Love never fails—never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end” [emphasis added].

As you mediate upon these Scriptures, strength and courage will come to your heart knowing that you can trust in God’s love for you; therefore, leaving no room for discouragement to grow.

Prayer—Father I thank You that Your love dwells in my heart by faith, and where there is love discouragement cannot have a place in me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

DISCOURAGEMENT IS SPOILED FRUIT

“‘Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’  And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”—2 Chronicles 32:7-8

Because we consider certain emotions and behaviors harmless, we do not pay much attention to them.  In fact, we regard some attitudes as so “normal” that we often assume everyone feels them from time-to-time.  Yet, if we look beneath the surface, we will discover hidden danger and realize the situation is different from the way it appears.  One good example is discouragement.

 

A lot of people think that discouragement and disappointment is the same thing, but this is a mistaken belief.  Disappointment is an emotional response to a failed expectation, whereas discouragement is the spoiled fruit that results from unresolved disappointment.  For example, some men and women have told me that they have experienced disappointing relationships; therefore, marriage is spoiled for them.  I have heard some women say that because childhood was so disappointing to them that they would never have children. 

Since we cannot experience perfect success every single time we try something, there is no way to avoid all disappointments in life.  However, we can avoid discouragement; it is a choice that we make when we decide whether or not we will allow our times of disappointment to destroy our confidence.

This is exactly what discouragement is—a complete lack of confidence, a feeling of dismay, and a loss of motivation regarding something that brings fulfillment and purpose.  Let’s look at the word “discourage.”  The prefix “dis” means “without.”  So, to be dis-couraged is to be without any courage at all.

You can see how this is a big problem for a Christian.  The Bible calls us to be strong and courageous, trusting Jesus Christ for what we need.  At first, the Apostle Paul was not accepted by the other Apostles; but, stayed strong and went on to write most of the New Testament.  Henry Ford, an American businessman, is known today for his innovative assembly line and American made cars, was not an instant success.  In fact, his early businesses failed and left him without any money five times, before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.  It does not matter what country that you may live in, there are people who have been disappointed over and over again, but have not allowed their disappointment to rob them of courage and confidence. 

In fact Apostle Paul wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak” (2 Corinthians 4:8-13).  We are a people of faith and courage for the Lord is our Helper and therefore we speak!  Your faith expresses itself in your courageous actions as you take your stand against the spoiled fruit of discouragement.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that I am a person of courage; therefore, today I speak to every “discouraging word” and I tell it to go, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

HOW DOES THE SUMMARY OF YOUR LIFE READ?

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”—Philippians 1:6

One of the prophets used to foretell Jesus’ birth, the plan for His life and death was Isaiah. 

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)  In chapter 53 verses 2-6, is a detailed account of how people would think about Him at His death and what it would accomplish…“ He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed…” (vs. 5).

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but was born the same way as any other human infant—through his mother’s womb (Luke 1:31).  When the angel announced the Messiah’s coming birth to Mary, he declared that Jesus would reign as King forever (Luke 1:33). He grew up in a home without special position or privileges.  It is probable that he learned the carpentry trade from His earthly father, Joseph, and used it to support Himself during His younger years.

His public ministry began with the selection of ordinary men to be His disciples, including one, Matthew, the tax collector, who was despised.  Jesus traveled from town to town, interacting with people, many of whom doubted and disbelieved Him.  His teachings were regularly misunderstood and often opposed.  At times even His followers turned away when they heard something that they did not like.  After traveling from city-to-city saying and demonstrating what His heavenly Father was like, Jesus was labeled a criminal, crucified between two thieves, and buried in someone else’s tomb.

Looking at the natural, most people who would summarize Jesus’ life would say that He had a good start in life, but His ending was terrible.  Especially for someone who was to rule the world as Lord. 

It is Jesus’ “spiritual summary” that gives us the true picture.  His humility, self-sacrifice, total dependence upon God, and completes obedience—even unto death—are the marks of greatness in God’s sight.  Having fulfilled His Father’s plan, the Son was given the name to which all will one day, bow.  “Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).

Today consider how your life would be “spiritually summed” up.   Are you walking in humility?  Have you sacrificed “self” on the altar of His Mercy and Grace?  Are you totally dependent upon God?  Are you walking in obedience to His will for you?  Allow the Holy Spirit to make any needed adjustments so that you can finish your course well.

Prayer—Father I ask for the Holy Spirit to bring to my mind any needed adjustments in my life, and with Your help I know that I can finish my race and receive the victor’s crown, in Jesus Name. Amen.

           

       

                                       

                                  

                                    

GOD’S HELP IS REQUIRED TO TURN FROM DISCOURAGEMENT

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him. The help of my countenance and my God.”—Psalm 42:11

Discouragement can rob peace, joy, and contentment.  I have known people who appeared to be in an impossible situation.  Some time later, however, they were in a much better place, either in terms of their circumstances or their emotions.  The reason?  They never gave up.  Instead of sulking in self-pity, they chose to believe God, step out in faith, and climb out of the emotional pit.

Nehemiah is a good example.  He had every reason to feel defeated, because his people were in trouble.  After receiving news that the city wall had been destroyed, this man of God acknowledged profound disappointment and grieved.  Though pain flooded his soul, he did not allow himself to stay in that low place.  Instead, Nehemiah cried out to God seeking direction.

Sadness in the presence of royalty was a punishable death.  But the Lord answered Nehemiah’s prayer with amazing power, prompting the king to notice his servant’s sad countenance and then to ask what he could do to help.  This miracle led to the rebuilding of the wall and the redemption of God’s people.

 

“And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxexes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the kings said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.’ So I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, ‘May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?’ Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if you servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.’ Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him). ‘How long will your journey be? And when will you return?’ So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Furthermore I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.’ And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me” (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

The Lord can take impossible situation—no matter what it is—and move in ways mightier than you can imagine.

 

Do you live in eager expectation of what the Lord will do?  Or have you chosen to linger in the depths of despair?  Like Nehemiah, turn your disappointment into a petition for God’s help.  He can restore your hope and prevent negative emotions from gaining a stranglehold on your life.

 

Prayer—Father I repent for allowing negative emotions cutting me off from your best for me, and I ask You to restore hope in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.

WHAT YOU PLAN DETERMINES YOUR SUCCESS OR FAILURE

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”—Ephesians 5:15-17

Time management and success are closely related.  Successful people understand the principal that their time equals money. Some one once said, “If you fail to plan, you plan for failure.”  In order to succeed in whatever you do, time management skills are a must.  Jesus was an expert in time management skills.  He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does in like manner” (John 5:19). One time despite other people’s urging, He waited a few days before He responded to an urgent situation; but, when He did it was at just the right time (John 11:1-15).

The Bible clearly teaches us to use our days wisely.  Time is a gift.  Every day and everyone has the same amount of time—twenty-four hours.  God the Father has given each person a span of days to live on the earth.  But our life is fleeting and uncertain—James compares it to a vapor that “appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”  “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). 

Time cannot be taken back—it is irreversible.  You cannot “rewind” and undo anything.  It is foolish to waste such a precious resource.  But so often, we do.  Be alert to avoid these hindrances to living each moment fully and purposefully.

• Misplaced priorities result in wasted opportunities.  Our values will determine the emphasis we place on each activity and the amount of time we allot to it.

• Procrastination and perfectionism soak up valuable time that could have been used to benefit the kingdom.

• Lack of concentration drains time of its potential.  For example, we have to train ourselves to focus on reading God’s Word and not to get diverted.  The same is true about praying. 

Some simple strategies can be use to make time management a routine and a habit in your life. Make a list.  Every night before falling asleep, I write down what I want to accomplish for the following the day.  Waiting until the next day to create the list, opens the door to procrastination and diversions.   Time management is about spending less time thinking about what you need to do and more time doing what needs to be accomplished.  Always eat the “frog” first. The “frog” is the thing that you least like to do and/or takes the most time.  Not long ago a friend called and asked me what I was doing; I responded, “I am eating frogs.” 

What values drive the way you utilize your time?  Is there something that keeps you from living each moment in a way that please the Lord?  You will never have a chance to live today again.  Therefore, ask God for guidance and direction so that you can live each day with intention.

Prayer—Father I thank You that this is the day that You have given me, and I will rejoice in it.  Today I will live up to my full potential and I ask for Your Wisdom, guidance and direction as I plan my way I thank You that You direct my steps, in Jesus Name. Amen

GUILT KEEPS THE DOOR LOCKED

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”—2 Corinthians 7:10

I once read a survey that asked 500 people what emotions that they felt when experiencing guilt.  The answers really touched my heart.  People reported feeling punished, depressed, worthless, rejected, and isolated.  A general sense of low self-esteem overwhelmed the people who responded to the survey.  There was no joy, no hope, and no vitality.  In a sense, it is as though the feelings of guilt had completely blotted out everything else in their lives. 

These are the same emotions that many who are imprisoned in the penal systems around the world feel.  Prisoners tell me that they feel especially guilty about their families and what they are going through.  I ministered to a prisoner, I will call Joe (not his real name), who was a member of a vibrant Bible teaching congregation before he was sentenced to twenty years for shooting a man while committing a robbery.  Joe was a broken man, both spiritually and physically when I met him.  The open door to the root cause of Joe’s many physically aliments: Guilt.  Through much personal ministry, Joe began to discover where his guilt was coming from.

 

Are you dealing with intense feelings of guilt right now?  If so, consider one simple question: Where does your guilt come from?  

Joe began to understand that God was not mad at him and was not holding anything against him.  Joe discovered where his guilt was coming from—the enemy and himself.  Although he attended a lively church, he never devoted any of his time to personal spiritual growth, and fell back into his old habits and old friends.  He was plagued by personal guilt, and an Assaulting Spirit of Guilt by Satan.  This spirit would come into his cell at night and physically assault him leaving scratches and bruises.  I bound this spirit from assaulting Joe, until he was strong enough spiritually to stand against it when he was alone.  When Joe was strong enough, I cast the spirit out and the many others associated with it.  When I first met Joe, he was not strong enough spiritually to stand on his own against this spirit that is why I did not immediately cast this spirit out.  Jesus said, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26).

In 2 Corinthians 7:10, we see two forms of guilt.  One is a sorrow that comes from God.  This call to repentance is a tool that the Lord uses to draw unbelievers to Himself through salvation in Christ.  It also motivates believers to confess any wrongs causing “hindrance’” in their fellowship with Him.

A second form of guilt is the dark emotion that plagues people, like Joe, with remorse and the reactions mentioned on the survey.  Such sorrow is not from God at all, but from the world.

If you have received Jesus’ free gift of salvation but still struggle under the assault of guilt, let Scripture assure you; these feelings did not come from God.  He is not attacking you.  Rather, He holds the key to unlock the door to your freedom.  Do not fall victim to the Enemy’s lies.  In Christ, you are forgiven and fee.  Walk free today!

 

Prayer—Father I thank you for setting me free from guilt and shame.  Today, I will not allow the enemy to steal my freedom from me with feelings of guilt and hopelessness.  Thank You that You love me and believe in me and that You are not holding anything against me and that the Enemy’s power has been broken over my life in Jesus Name. Amen.

ARE YOU WORKING FOR THE MASTER RATHER THAN WORKING A JOB?

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”—Colossians 3:23

 

In order to work, “as to the Lord rather than for men,” you must first begin with employment that honors Him.  Just because you have a chance to make money at a job does not mean you should necessarily take it.

God does not approve of all businesses.  He certainly would not bless anything that exploits or deceives people.

You may say, “Well, this is the only job I could get.”  But compromising your faith is never the way to support your family.  A clear conscience and vibrant Christian life is far more important than the money you could earn from unethical pursuits.  Furthermore, if God does not want you doing a certain job, He will give you a better place to work.

Once you find appropriate employment, be sure to treat other people the way God does with love and respect, whatever their position is.  Years ago, when I was attending Rhema Bible Training Center, I worked at local hospital in the Operating Room as a Surgical Technician assisting doctors as they operated.   In those days, it was very difficult because I and one other person were the only Christians.  She worked cleaning the rooms after each surgery.  The people who had this job were treated with little respect by the medical professionals.  However, we became good friends and soon began to talk about the Bible and pray for our co-workers.  Some months later, one of my supervisors who was notoriously rude to anyone who was not her “equal,” asked, “What I was doing associating with housekeeping?”  The question startled me as I was not aware that anyone was watching what we did on our lunch break.  I was able to share with her that in Christ there are no prejudices and that in Him we are all equal.  When I resigned my position, to go into full-time missionary work, there were two other Christians.  Today, in the Operating Room nearly every one is a Christian, including the doctors.  Our witness, actions, and prayers, go far beyond what we can imagine.   

 

The Bible tells us to work as unto the Lord.  We can not do that unless we are at a job that pleases Him and aligns with His ways.  Once we find ourselves serving Him in our job, we must never forget to treat others with love and respect, regardless of our position or theirs.

Prayer—Father I ask You to help me refocus my viewpoint on for whom I work.  I repent for forgetting that I work for You, and focusing my attention on my job to earn money to support myself and my family.  Lord, I ask You to help me keep my focus on You rather than self, in Jesus Name. Amen.

BEING HUNGRY AND THIRSTY IS A SIGN TO THE CHURCH

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”—Matthew 5:6

Much of the world’s nations are suffering from drought conditions, including Russia, Germany, United States, China, throughout Africa, and others.  In some countries, millions have died from starvation, and all over the world food prices are at an all time high.  The plight of world-wide hunger is a sign to the Church that man-made efforts, as great as they are, can never solve the problem without God’s intervention.   

Being spiritually hungry and thirsty is a spiritual sign to the Church that God is already at work in you.  Being hungry for the things of God is one of the best things that can happen to you.  It is actually a healthy sign.  Jesus promised that those who were hungry and thirsty would be filled. We can come to Him as often as we would like.  He is always ready and willing to fill us.  Everyone who diligently seeks Him receives a reward (Hebrews 11:6).   

Today, praise God for spiritual hunger, and then respond to that hunger you will be excited by what you experience with Him.  He will not make you hungry, and then let you starve.  He will make you hungry so that He can fill you with His wisdom and blessings and love.

Prayer—Father thank You for stirring up my hunger and thirst for You.  Father, fill me with you wisdom, understanding and blessings, in Jesus Name. Amen.

KEEP YOUR FOCUS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”—Isaiah 26:3

 

In the midst of difficult times and adversity, it is easy for our trust to flounder and for our eyes to drift from Jesus to the problem.  Once our focus shifts away from God, the problem becomes magnified.  Negative thinking can overwhelm faith and extinguish courage.  It is during this time that we may be tempted to quit.  This is what happened to Peter the night that Jesus was arrested.

 

Before Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He told His disciples that they would come upon difficult times, and that they would all “stumble.”  He assured them that He would meet them again in Galilee; however, at the time the disciples did not grasp that He was talking about His death and resurrection.  In fact, Peter boldly declared that he would not “stumble;” but Jesus told him that he would deny Him that night three times before the rooster crowed.  Not long after Jesus told His disciples this would happen, Judas betrayed Him and Jesus was arrested.  During all of the dangerous turmoil surrounding Jesus’ arrest and being brought before the high priest, Peter mingled with the crowd pretending to be one of them.  However, a servant girl thought that she recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ followers and accused him.  Peter denied the accusation by saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” A short time later another girl accused him and this time he said with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”   Then the third time he was accused by several other people of being with Jesus and he responded with cursing and swearing and denials of knowing Jesus.  “Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26).

Peter’s experience paints a clear picture for us today.  Although Jesus had forewarned the disciples what was about to happen, Peter still tried to work things out in his own strength which was a dismal failure.  Too often, we tend to see the adversity or difficulty in terms of our own strength and resources rather than God’s.  However, when our focus shifts to a godly perspective the doom and gloom of failure, turns to gladness and we experience joy.  The Lord has told us that we would experience adversity and difficulties in life, but that we are to have peace and to be happy because He has already won the victory for us (John 16:33).  We can be like the Apostle Paul, by keeping our focus on the Lord, and saying with him, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Prayer—Father I purpose in my heart to keep my eyes and heart focused upon You at all times.  With Your help, I will never falter nor fail, in Jesus Name. Amen.

GOD LOOKS UPON HIS CHILDREN WITH FAVOR

“For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.”—Psalm 5:12

Christians are always under the covering of God’s grace and love.  Nothing we can do will ever change His love for us.  However, do you really have a firm grasp and expectation for God’s favor to be at work in your life?

To favor—means to give special regard to; to treat with good will; to show exceptional kindness to someone.  Sometimes, it means to show extra kindness in comparison to the treatment of others; that is what we mean by preferential treatment.  We get the word, favorite, from the word favor.  We can say about favor…that the greatest favors are shown to the favorite.  Some examples of people who had favor working in their lives are, Joseph, Esther and Jesus. 

However, favor is not always used in a comparative way toward others. It sometimes simply means that the one favored is shown kindness and treated with a generosity and goodwill far beyond what would normally be expected. This is generally the favor that we receive from the Lord. We are treated much better than we could expect.  

I received a prayer request from a young woman who had purchased an expensive item (several thousands of dollars) from a store.  She knew at the time that she should not be buying it; however, she felt pressured by the salesperson, and over-rode the voice of the Holy Spirit and purchased the item on credit.  We prayed over the phone, repenting and asking the Lord for His forgiveness for not following His leading and asked for His favor with the company when she returned the item and asked that the credit contract be cancelled.  The woman called to tell me that the contract had been cancelled and she was able to return the item.  We can learn a valuable lesson for this young woman’s experience. 

Number one, even when we over-ride common sense, and the Holy Spirit, God does not forsake us.   Number two, God’s exceptional kindness is at work in our lives when we humbly ask Him for His help.  Number three, we must not be afraid to ask for favor, from God and from others.  And lastly, expect God’s favor in your life. 

Remember, what you expect is attracted to you.  If you expect special regard, good will, exceptional kindness, and preferential treatment it will happen for you.  Read Psalm 23 over yourself or someone who needs special favors, and see God at work your life, or the life of someone you have prayed for today.

Prayer—Father I thank You for Your favor in my life.  I expect Your preferential treatment to be seen in my life, or the life that I have prayed for today, in Jesus Name. Amen.

SEEKING GUIDANCE FROM GOD REQUIRES YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

“I [wisdom] love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.”—Proverbs 8:17

When you are facing a decision, whether big or small, it is important to wait upon God for His direction and timing.  And though it may sound illogical, there are three ways that will help you take an active role in the process while you wait.

 

First, you should examine your heart, asking the Holy Spirit to expose any wrongs.  If He brings something to light, it is important to take care of that sin immediately—by confessing, repenting, and doing whatever is needed to correct the situation.  At times we push this task aside because the impending decision seems like our main concern.  Yet, we cannot hear from God or receive His full blessing until we deal with transgression.

Second, when seeking direction, we should listen patiently and attentively for the Lord to give the go-ahead.  It can be difficult to wait, especially when emotions or logic lead us to favor one choice.

Third, the answer to our prayer at times requires our involvement.  For instance, when people tell me that they are out of work and trust God to provide, I always want to know if they are actively looking for a job.  Some are not; they are simply praying.  We have responsibility not only to present God with requests and seek His guidance; but also, to be active in the process.  Waiting on God is not an excuse to be lazy.

Prayer is a beautiful privilege that the heavenly Father gives to His children.  He desires to lead us into a life of abundance.  We should take an active part in seeking His will and listening for His voice.  “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths, lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5),  As we follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we will experience all that the Lord has for us.

 

Prayer—Father please forgive me for seeking my own way and putting my own self-interest ahead of Your wisdom when making decisions. Today I purpose to hear Your wisdom and direction in making a decision concerning__________________________.  I ask that Your Holy Spirit lead and guide me into paths of righteousness in Jesus Name. Amen.