PrayerLife: Recent Episodes
Tracy Weaver
Our focus this week is our relationship with the Holy Spirit. There is a wonderful mystery at work in the lives of those who have placed their faith in Christ ... they have been born of the Spirit. Join me in prayer this week as we explore this mystery together in God's presence.
As those who have placed our faith in Jesus for our salvation, we are not only beneficiaries of the gospel, we are ambassadors for the gospel.
Salvation cannot be earned. There is nothing a man or woman can do in their own efforts to fix their sin and separation from God problem. How, then, does a person become righteous in the eyes of a holy God? The answer is amazing!
What is the relationship between CHrist's resurrection and our salvation? The answer may surprise you.
We tend to evaluate things on a relative scale. Am I good enough to go to heaven? Am I better than I used to be ... or better than someone else? To understand the beauty of the gospel we need to be clear about God's requirement. God's requirement for you and I is nothing less than absolute moral perfection. As the saying goes ... "Houston, we have a problem!"
In order to fully appreciate our need for forgiveness, we need to understand the holiness of God.
Jesus is the master of encountering broken people and making them whole. Today is your turn to encounter Jesus.
Nicodemus was religious but he didn't understand the gospel until he had an encounter with Jesus. Who in your life needs to have a fresh envcounter with Jesus so that they might believe in Christ?
Jesus encountered a man who was possessed by a legion of demons. The man was living among the tombs and constantly harming himself. Jesus' encounter with this man gives us hope that any life can be radically changed.
There is perhaps no greater example of radical life change than the Apostle Paul. As a result of his encounter with Jesus he went from breathing threats of murder against believers in Christ to declaring the gospel message and inviting people to believe. How might Jesus want to radically change you today?
A man born blind had an eye-opening encounter with Jesus. Jesus can turn blindness into 20/20 vision both physically and spiritually.
Because of his encounter with Jesus, Thomas went from being a skeptic to a worshipper. How will todays encounter with Jesus impact you?
In the New Testament we can observe the life changing power of an encounter with Jesus. Let's pray for transformation in our ife as we see it in the lives of others.
2 Corinthians 11 reminds us that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and his servants disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. We must pray for wisdom and guidance to discern the truth from error.
1 Timothy 4 reveals that demonic activity and spiritual warfare will increase in the last days ... the days we are living in now.
Jesus reminds us of the vital importance of prayer in our engagemnent with spiritual warfare.
We need to grow in our understanding of spiritual realities. Daniel 10 reminds us of the constant unseen spiritual conflict that is taking place in the heavenlies.
The New Testament book of James tells us to "resist the Devil and he will flee from you, draw near near to God, he will draw near to you." The key to victory in spiritual warfare is to resist the enemy and draw near to our Lord and Savior.
We have human eyes that fail to see spiritual realities. We tend to rely on what we can see, hear, and touch. The bible reminds us that the vast majority of ultimate realities are unseen to us today. Join with me in prayer as we invite God to strengthen our faith and open our eyes.
As we begin a new year it is important to realize taht we live in an environment of constant spiritual warfare. Prayer is one of our primary weapons in standing against Satan's schemes. Join with me as we seek God's power and presence in our spiritual battle.
God's counsel to Joshua at the beginning of a new season of his life is perfect counsel for us as we begin the New Year.
What areas of your life do you know God wants to change? Let's pray for a New Years re-formation.
God invites us to pray for the blessing of our city. As our city prospers, freedom for the gospel to advance is increased. Let's pray for the blessing of our city.
Nothing is more satisfying than walking in the purpose for which we were created. Let's invite God to guide us in fulfilling our purpose in the New Year.
Everyone is talking about and considering New Years resolutions ... everything from losing weight to learning a language. Let's invite God to move in our lives with a fresh Spirit of personal renewal.
As we approach the New Year this prayer from Psalm 90 is a timely reminder to live our lives with a biblical perspective.
jThere is no greater gift we can give to the members of our family than to intercede in their behalf before the throne of Alimighty God.
Merry Christmas! Take a moment with me today to be refreshed by this Christmas blessing.
We are told that Mary treasured all the events of the Christmas story and pondered them in her heart. She valued teh unfolding of the story of redemption and she thought deeply about their meaning. This Christmas, let's follow Mary's example as we treasure and ponder the story of Christmas.
The wise men (Magi) found the infant Jesus and we are told that they worshipped him and presented him with gifts. This Christmas, let us not only express our adoration through worship, but also by giving our lives in service to the King of Kings.
Mary, Elizabeth, the Wise Men, shepherds and angels all had the same response to the miracle of Christmas ... Worship! This Christmas, let's allow the beauty, mystery and wonder of the Christmas story move us to worship Jesus.
In Luke 2 we find the angelic announcement of God's plan to Mary. The beauty, simplicity, and wonder of this encounter is heart stirring. Join with me in prayer and then take some time to read Luke chapter 2.
One of the most powerful themes of the Christmas story is God's honoring of the lowly. It wasn't politicians, celebrities, and dignitaries that God favored. It was the least, the lost, and the lowest to who God revealed teh coming of the Savior!
Recently we took our grandchildren on a drive through a neighborhood that was beautifully decorated with Christmas lights. At Christmas, we want our homes to be lighthouses for the gospel. Join me as we pray that when people enter our homes they will encounter the presence of Jesus.
Having served as a Pastor for nearly four decades, I can personally attest that the holidays can sometimes be a season of stress and weariness. Join with me as we intercede on behalf of the men and women who seek to enhance our experience of Christmas in our Church family.
Christmas Carols and Hymns lift our spirit and contain wonderful truths for us to celebrate. Join with me today as I share a favorite song that was traditionally sung at the Church where I grew up. The song is "Ring The Bells."
Mary and Elizabeth. Through these two women came John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah, and Jesus ... God in the flesh, the Savior. Two miraculous pregnancies, two earth changing offspring. The details of the Christmas story should move our hearts to worship and wonder.
The word for "Angel" in the New Testament is "angelos" and it means "messenger." The Christmas story is full of these messengers. When Joseph considered severing his relationship with Mary, heart-broken over her pregnancy, an angel gave him a message that would change his life, and ours, forever.
The Angel Gabriel is an extraordinary spirit-being. When Zacharias questions Gabriel's announcement that Elizabeth would give birth to John the Baptizer, Gabriel responds by declaring, "I am Gabriel, I stand in the presence of God." Can you imagine a more holy and privileged place of service? You and I, as children of God, are more blessed and privileged than the Angel Gabriel.
Every day we hear of senseless acts of violence, the hostilities of war, growing political tensions and social unrest. What we witness in the physical realm is an expression of warfare in the spiritual realm. We share a common reality with the society that existed in the days of Christ's birth ... an increasing opposition to the coming King.
The wise men in the Christmas story had hearts and spirits that were sensitive to the prompting of God. They remind us that, even today, we are to look for Him diligently and worship Him.
The holiday season is the perfect time to express the love of Jesus in your workplace. Whether through acts of kindness, a message written in a card, or taking advantage of those special moments to pray for a co-worker, let's seek to bless our workplace this Christmas.
We frequently forget that we are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare. The Christmas story reminds us that Satan will not hesitate to do the most ruthless thing in pursuit of his goals. Herod ordered that all the infant males 2 and younger were to be slaughtered to prevent the arrival of the coming king. Satan's plans failed then, and they will fail now.
Joseph knew the divine nature of Mary's pregnancy and the prophecies concerning the child that would be born. Certainly during the months leading up to Jesus' birth and in the years he watched Jesus grow ... Joseph prayed for his family. He prayed for health, protection, and blessing. He would have prayed for the very things you and I pray for our family.
"For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Eph. 5:8). To be in darkness, in the Bible, is to be unsaved or lost. Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah (Matt. 4:16) at the beginning of his ministry and identifies himself as the light of the world. Let's thank God for our "Great light."
Jesus is truly the Prince of Peace because he has reconciled the most infinitely broken relationship imaginable ... our relationship with God. Because Jesus is the Prince of Peace we have hope for every other relationship in our life.
The prophet Isaiah boldly reveals the promised deliverer would be so much more that a mere man. "His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father." The wonder and mystery of the oneness, yet distinct personhood of the Triune God are woven together in these verses in a way that inspire our faith and our worship.
According to Isaiah, the baby born in the manger was in fact the Mighty God. The word carries the idea of a Valiant Warrior God. Our cares and concerns shrink in comparison to the reality that our Savior is the Mighty God of heaven. It is He whom we worship, serve, and celebrate at Christmas.
There are so many amazing realities we can celebrate at Christmas. Today, however, you may be walking through a season where you are especially grateful that our Lord is a Wonderful Counselor. Join me in prayer today as we celebrate Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor.
In Matthew 28 Jesus tells his disciples that "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him" (vs. 18). The baby born in the manger is indeed the King of Kings!
It's the Christmas season! What better way to celebrate the holiday than by developing a personal rhythm of prayer. Join with me today as we remember that God is not distant. He is God with us.
We live in a materialistic culture that constantly reinforces the lie that fulfillment and happiness are just one more purchase away. As we enter the Christmas season, we must intentionally choose to focus on God's priceless gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. All true, meaningful, ansd lasting contentment and joy come through Him.
This is Resurrection Day! Sin has been paid for! Death has been conquered! Eternal life has been made available through faith in the risen Christ! He is Risen!
Read this stirring account from the gospel of Luke:
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen." - Luke 24:1-6
On this day of Passion Week Jesus' lifeless body was in the tomb. For the disciples it was a day of sadness, discouragement, fear, and shattered dreams. We know, from our historical perspective, that something is about to happen that will radically change everything. Jesus will rise victoriously from the dead! The next time you experience a season of sadness, discouragement, fear, and shattered dreams - allow the resurrection of Jesus to remind you that God is able to do something that will radically change
On this day of Passion Week ... Jesus was crucified. 800 years prior to Jesus birth the prophet Isaiah wrote, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6). Jesus took the punishment for our sin that we deserve so that we might receive the eternal life that God graciously offers.
Just hours before His trial and crucifixion Jesus washed His disciple's feet in the upper room. Afterwards Jesus said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you" (John 13:12-15). We see in Jesus the ultimate model of servanthood and He calls us to follow His example.
Have you ever said one thing but done another? We all have. On this day of Passion Week Judas, one of the twelve, began making plans on how he would betray Jesus. Luke writes, "Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money" (Luke 22:3-5). In our walk with God we want to be those who walk in genuine loyalty to our Lord.
On this day of Passion week Jesus was teaching his disciples on the Mount of Olives. Their questions centered around Christ's return. He told them, "stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:42-44). Let's live each day ... ready for his return.
On this day of Passion week Jesus cursed a fig tree and cleansed the temple. Why? He was addressing two issues: the lack of bearing genuine fruit and the absence of real worship. As we come into God's presence let's humbly allow him to examine the motives and hidden places of our heart. Express your desire to him to be a fruitful follower and a worshipper who worships in spirit and in truth.
Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. What you may not know is that 600 years before Jesus' entry, the prophet Daniel prophesied the date that Messiah would enter into Jerusalem. Bible scholars have identified the date of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as the exact date prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 9:25). Palm Sunday, therefore, is a remarkable fulfillment of Bible prophecy and another affirmation of the inspiration of Scripture and the deity of Christ.
To those who desire to draw near to God, Peter exhorts, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19-20). You may need to embrace Jesus for the first time or you desire to refresh your relationship with Him. "Times of refreshing" come when we repent, turn away from our sin, and place our trust in the Living God.
There is no greater guarantee of the reliability of the Bible than the promise, the oath, of almighty God himself. We can stand confidently on the principles and truths of God's word because He personally guarantees it and He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Our hope is secure because God's trust-worthiness is beyond question.
We learn wisdom from our parents. The Old Testament book of Proverbs says, "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching; for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck (Proverbs 1:8-9).
All our lives we will be responding to authority. Whether it is a teacher, a coach, a supervisor, or a police officer, we all need to respond to authority appropriately. Responding to the authority of our parents is where we learn this valuable skill and its benefits will last us a lifetime.
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col. 3:14). When God calls us to love one another, He doesn't call us to feel a feeling but rather engage a commitment. We are to take the love of Christ and apply it to our marriage relationship.
Your marriage can be raised from the dead because as believers in Jesus, we have been spiritually raised from the dead. The Apostle Paul writes, "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth ... Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:1-2, 12). We are to "put on" the virtues of our risen Savior and His virtues can revive your marriage.
Jesus said that the primary reason for divorce is the hardness of our hearts (Matt. 19:8). Our hearts become hardened toward one another when we allow sins to go unconfessed. James writes, "confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16). Join with me as we pray about confessing sin.
The greatest relational separation imaginable has already been reconciled. The Apostle Paul writes, "remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:12-13). Since our relationship with God has been reconciled there is hope for your marriage.
The moment we placed our faith in Jesus Christ, we were given eternal life through the Holy Spirit. Jesus says the Spirit "gives life" (John 6:63). The Apostle Paul says "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25). Since we received eternal life through the Spirit, let's live each day by the empowering presence of the Spirit of God.
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you intoall the truth" (John 16:13). One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to take God's living word and reveal it to us in a way that produces living fruit in our lives.
To appreciate the good news of God's Gospel we need to understand man's need. The apostle Paul writes, "You were (spiritually) dead in your trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). He goes on to say, "remember that you were at that time separated from Christ ... having no hope and without God in the world" (v 12). Those are powerful words: dead ... separated ... no hope ... without God. There was nothing we could do to remedy our situation. Man's need is total, not partial.
Nicodemus was a very religious man but he didn't know God personally. It took an encounter with Jesus to open his eyes to the truth of the gospel. He discovered that knowing God didn't depend on his track record, but on Jesus' track record being credited to his life.
Jesus was constantly looking for opportunities to care for the deep needs of others. He wasn't looking for perfect people. He came to meet the needs of the broken, the lost, the immoral, and the desperate. As a result of Jesus' single encounter with a spiritually thirsty woman at a well, many came to know him as the source of life and personal transformation.
"Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1). Engaging in Spiritual Warfare means standing against the lies and deception of the enemy.
The importance of prayer is seen on an occasion when Jesus' disciples were unable to cast out a demon. Jesus told them “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer" (Mark 9:29). There are some things that can only be accomplished through prayer.
Spiritual Warfare requires that we trust God regarding the truth of realities we cannot see. Perceiving the unseen demands that we believe what God has revealed in His word. Faith is the response of a heart that has heard God's truth, believes God's message, and then acts on what God has revealed.
The key idea of Jesus being the Good Shepherd is that Jesus is not simply a "hired hand" who doesn't have a personal investment in his sheep and abandons them at the first sign of danger. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep and lays down his life for them. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:11-15).
Jesus communicates that He is the exclusive means of access to a personal relationship with God. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:7-9).
Jesus identified himself as being the source of light and life. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Join with me as we pray for Jesus' light and life giving ministry to impact our families, our churches, and our communities.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35). The "bread of life" is a person and his name is Jesus. He is the source of eternal life. Jesus uses the metaphor of eating his flesh and drinking his blood for a faith that is relying on him alone for LIFE !
Happy New Year! Here is God's counsel to Joshua to help insure a year of blessing. "Be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success" (Joshua 1:7-8). Make 2017 a year of living God's Word.
In the Old Testament, memorial stones were a way of commemorating an momentous event so its lessons would never be forgotten. As you reflect on the key events and valuable lessons of 2016, what are some "memorial stones" that you want to carry with you into the new year?
As we anticipate serving God in 2017, what is the single most important thing we can do? Jesus answers that question for us. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30).
As we anticipate living our lives for God in 2017, Proverbs 4:23 has a strategically important message for us - "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." The things we allow our hearts (our inner being) to dwell on, are the same things that will determine our attitudes and actions in the days ahead. We need to fill our hears with God's truth and the things that are pleasing to Him.
God has a purpose for your life! He wants to use you to be a blessing to others and bring Him glory. Ask God for a vision of how He uniquely wants to use your life in 2017.
As we begin to make plans for the new year, James reminds us to humbly yield to God's authority over our life. He writes, "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that" (James 4:13-15).
In these final days of 2016, it is appropriate to review the past year and begin to set goals and objectives for the new year. Psalm 90:12 says "So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom." Let's invite God's wisdom as we anticipate the New Year.
Merry Christmas! Over 2000 years ago, infinite God expressed His love to finite man by taking on human flesh and being born as a baby in a manger. Christmas is the celebration of God's greatest miracle. On this Christmas day, "The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).
Merry Christmas Eve! We don't want the holiday season to slip by without it having an impact on our lives. From Angelic announcements to shepherds, to Magi bearing gifts, we are told that "Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Let's ask God for a Spirit of wisdom to recognize and appreciate all that He is doing in our lives this Christmas. Let's take time to ponder the wonders of Christmas.
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:10-11). Just as the wise men worshipped Jesus and gave their treasures to Him we need to give Him our treasures and capacities as a gift of worship.
One of my favorite Christmas joys is listening to my granddaughter recite the Christmas Story. We recorded this together two years ago and it has become a special part of our family Christmas tradition. Sometimes when you hear a familiar story in a new way, its meaning can impact you afresh. Enjoy this telling of the Christmas Story through a Child's voice.
Worship is a central part of our Christmas celebration. We are told that after the shepherds came into Bethlehem and saw the infant Jesus, they returned to their flocks "glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them" (Luke 2:20). From marveling at the many prophecies fulfilled at Jesus' birth to being in awe at the incarnation (God taking on human flesh), we have more reasons than ever to glorify and praise God.
We serve a praying God. Both the Holy Spirit and Jesus, the Son, intercede on behalf of believers. God, himself, views prayer as supremely important. Join with me, this Christmas, and give the valuable gift of prayer, interceding on behalf of our family and friends.
The Christmas story is filled with messages of honor and hope. For example, the birth of Jesus was first announced by angelic messengers to shepherds. These working class laborers would not have been on anyones list for such a remarkable announcement. From an insignificant town for Jesus' birth to a humble adolescent girl to be his mother, God constantly encourages us with unexpected honor and blessing.
One of the most beautiful passages of scripture in all the Bible is Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). It is a spontaneous expression of praise from Mary's heart in response to the wondrous things that God is doing in and through her. Mary reminds us that Christmas is all about worship.
Let's take a few moments during this holiday season to invite God's grace and peace on the those who serve the Body of Christ in roles of leadership.
The interaction between Mary and her close relative, Elizabeth, is amazing! Elizabeth says, "Behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy" (Luke 1:44). So close was the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist, that even in separate wombs they influenced each other.
Joseph initially struggled to believe that Mary had been faithful to him. An angel spoke to him, assuring him of God's miraculous hand in the unfolding events. Like Joseph, we can struggle to see what God is accomplishing in our lives through difficult circumstances. Let's invite God to enlarge our capacity to trust what He is doing in our lives today.
In Luke 2 we find the Angelic announcement to Mary of God's plan for her future. She would be the human vessel through which God would put on human flesh in order to provide salvation for mankind. Read Luke 2 with a sense of awe and wonder.
We sometimes forget that there is a very dark side to the Christmas Story. King Herod, attempting to prevent the rise of a prophesied King, ordered the mass destruction of infant life.
Matthew records, "Then Herod ... became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more” (Matthew 2:16-18).
Satan's strategy has always been to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and that strategy continues today. We need "spiritual eyes" to see Satan's strategies and to resist him this holiday season.
It is important for us to realize that what takes place in the spiritual realm has an effect on what is taking place in the physical realm. As the return of Jesus draws nearer there will be an increasing opposition from our spiritual enemy. As we celebrate the first coming of Jesus this Christmas, we need to be mindful that we are engaged in a spiritual battle.
Matthew 2 tells us the story of the wise men who sought the newborn King by following a star. The old testament tells us about a different group of wisdom seekers, the Sons of Issachar. They, too, were attentive to God's leading and knew the appropriate things to do in their generation. Let us seek to be wisdom seekers who are attentive to God's leading and responsive to His voice in our generation.
Many spend more productive time with associates in the workplace than they do with members of their own family. The marketplace is a strategic area for Kingdom ministry. We want to invite God to use our lives and the Christmas season to impact the lives of those we interact with each working day.
I have always taken pleasure in decorating our home with beautiful Christmas lights. This holiday season we want our homes to be light houses for the gospel. May people come in contact with the presence of the Savior as they enter our homes this Christmas season.
Joseph tenderly cared for Mary during her pregnancy. We are never specifically told in scripture, but it is likely that he prayed for her frequently on their difficult journey, as the birth of Jesus drew near. This Christmas, let's give the members of our family the gift of prayer, lifting them up before the Father.
"The people who walked in darkness, have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2). Christmas is the celebration of the life-giving Light of God breaking into the world. Jesus declared, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). This Christmas, allow God's light to shine into the dark areas of our life - bringing healing and deliverance.
One of the most powerful titles of Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). God has brought reconciliation and peace to the most fractured relationship imaginable - between sinful man and holy God. Because of Jesus, there is hope for the healing of the brokenness of our communities, our families and our friendships. The Church is to be a model and a minister of God's Peace.
From eternity past to eternity future, Jesus is the timeless, everlasting one. Each of the names the prophet Isaiah uses to identify the Coming Child identify a divine characteristic. Our Lord is not limited by time. He sees, and is present in our past, present and future. He is not only divinely timeless, but his posture toward us is that of a loving Father.
800 years before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah told of a virgin who would bear a child. That child would be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God" (Isa. 9:6). Jesus is not simply a wise teacher or an insightful philosopher. He is, himself, Mighty God!
"His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus, the one we celebrate at Christmas, is a wonder of a counselor. He holds the keys to peace and healing in the areas of our lives that confound us.
The Savior we worship as a babe in Bethlehem is indeed the King of Kings! Eight centuries before Jesus' birth, the prophet Isaiah declared, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6). The Risen Jesus told his disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18). Let's celebrate the King who has all authority!
From eternity past it has been God's divine plan to provide His divine son to be our divine Savior.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, (which means, God with us) - Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23.
The spirit of materialism can so easily invade our celebration of Christmas. Join with me as we invite God to use this Christmas in an extraordinary way in our life and the lives of those we love. May we be filled with the Holy Spirit of Christmas this holiday season.
As we approach the Christmas season it is important that we don't get swept up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, crowds, gift lists, and special events. Let's pause to sanctify the holidays. Let's set apart the days ahead as a special season for worshipping Jesus and loving others.
As believers in Christ, we are called to live every aspect of our lives as thankful representatives of Jesus. The Apostle Paul writes, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17).
As we seek to cultivate a Thankful heart we need to remember that gratitude is strongly connected to our spiritual lives. Thankfulness is an expression of a virtue of Jesus. In the end times, as resistance to God and His kingdom increases, ungratefulness will be an increasing characteristic of those who oppose God.
Today as we gather to worship and fellowship, let's pause to thank God for the dear men and women who serve in roles of pastoral leadership. They care for our souls, provide counsel, minister to our children and seek to embody christian maturity. They enrich our lives in many ways.
Have you stopped to realize that The United States of America exists because of cross-cultural missionaries? The pilgrims risked all to be used as "stepping stones" (from William Bradford's journal) for bringing the gospel to the new world. Some reading these words may have come to faith because of the ministry of a missionary in your life. Let's pause and thank God for the life giving service of missionaries.
God created beauty. The fine arts, at their best, are a reflection of the creativity of God. They capture stirring moments visually or musically and stir our hearts deeply. Let's express our gratitude to God for the fine arts.
Simple pleasures cost us nothing but bring us great joy. Let's pause and thank God today for the simple pleasures of life.
Bitterness is like a weed that creeps in and chokes out life. The writer of Hebrews warns, "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:15). The Apostle Paul exhorts, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:30-32). A heart of thankfulness repels bitterness. A Grateful heart forgives wrongs, trusts God in the moment, and fuels kindness. Put away bitterness and embrace Thankfulness to God.
Satan attacks us through shame and condemnation. The Apostle Paul attacks this issue head-on in his letter to the Romans.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:31-37).
The opposite of being set free by God's truth is being held in bondage by Satan's lies. Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). Satan is the "Father of lies" and every falsehood he spreads and every temptation he presents has as its ultimate goal our destruction. Let us be grateful men and women who fill our lives with God's truth and thereby find freedom from Satan's destructive lies.
As followers of God, grateful for all that he has accomplished on our behalf, one of the defining qualities that is to characterize us is our love for God. Simply put, we are to love God with everything we've got. From our possessions, to our vocations, to our relationships - all that we are and do is to be an expression our grateful love to God. Jesus said it this way, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment" (Matthew 22:37-38).
In the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we discover how God has provided the answer to our greatest need by doing something for us that we could never have done for ourselves. On our own we are helpless to remedy our sin problem. Jesus, took on human flesh, satisfied the Father's requirement for holiness on our behalf, took the punishment that we deserve (death), and rose victorious over sin and death - offering eternal life if we will simply rely on him for our salvation. Today we are thankful for the Gospel.
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). God's will for our lives doesn't get any clearer. He desires His sons and daughters to be people who rejoice in their relationship with Him and give thanks to Him daily.
Psalm 136 is a beautiful Old Testament song of Thanksgiving. It lists a variety of reasons why our hearts should be filled with gratitude. It begins by declaring,
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1-3)
I invite you to read Psalm 136 and allow it to be an expression of your personal worship and gratitude.
Jesus healed nine men who were afflicted with leprosy. Only one of the men returned to Jesus to say "thank you." In our busy lives, we can frequently fail to express gratitude and appreciation to God and to the people he uses in our lives to bless us.
Today is Election Day in the United States of America. As American citizens, we have the opportunity to have a voice in the selection of our political leaders. Please exercise your privilege to vote and continue to pray for God's protection and blessing on our nation.
As the return of Jesus draws near, one of the defining characteristics of our age will be ungratefulness. Look at how the Apostle Paul describes society in the end times, "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:1-4). It is striking that listed among some of the most vile behaviors is a lack of gratitude. All of us need to realize that thankfulness isn't simply a nice gesture ... it is a core moral quality of righteousness. It is a virtue of Jesus.
Every day we are blessed by the packages and letters that are delivered to our homes and places of business. We depend on the reliability of their service to accomplish a wide variety of tasks - from delivering expressions of love to filing our tax returns. Let's take a moment today to express our gratitude to these dear servants who make our life easier.
I live in Southern California. Recently the Santa Clarita fire threatened the home of my son-in-law's parents. They were forced to leave their home for several days not knowing if they would ever return. The brave service of the fire department along with the protection of the police department saved their home and many others. First responders like police and firemen place themselves at risk every day in order to serve and protect us. Let's express our gratitude in prayer.
God has created us to thrive in the context of community. By His design, the Body of Christ is to serve as that nurturing network of relationships that helps us grow in our faith, encourages us to fulfill our life responsibilities, and comforts us in times of crisis. Today, express to God and others your gratitude for your church family.
Each of us have had special people in our life that have molded and shaped us. It may have been a parent, a mentor, a pastor, or a dear friend. Take a few moments today to express your gratitude for them to God. If possible, contact one of these special people and express your gratitude to them.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). Christians, of all people on the face of the earth, have reason to rejoice and celebrate. We are to celebrate the goodness of God and rejoice over all that He has accomplished on our behalf through His Son, Jesus.
One of the defining characteristics of God's people is to be Thankfulness. Understanding the totality of our need and all that God has done to provide us with eternal and immeasurable blessings should move us to unceasing gratitude. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16).
Sin frequently hinders our personal spiritual transformation. The Apostle Peter invites those who are longing for personal transformation to "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19-20). Regardless of your past choices and behaviors, God is inviting you, today, to confess your sin and invite His refreshing and transforming presence into your life. He loves you and His arms are wide open.
A young man, Evan Roberts, was used as a powerful tool in God's hands as a catalyst to usher in the great Welsh Revival (1904-1905). The Awakening swept across Britain, Scandinavia, parts of Europe, North America, the mission fields of India and the Orient, Africa and Latin America. Evan Roberts, yearning for personal spiritual transformation prayed, "O Lord, bend me." He was inviting God to have His way with his life. Join with me today as we invite God's transforming movement in each of our lives.
Love is the ultimate expression of a transformed life. We LOVE because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). As God transforms our lives we will be better lovers of Him and those around us.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Colossians 3:14).
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Faith is the response of a heart that has heard God's voice, has believed God's message, and is acting on what God has revealed. Our faith is strengthened as we allow God's truth to influence us more and more while we obediently respond to the Holy Spirit's promptings - resulting in transformation.
A core value of Jesus' on behalf of His followers is that they walk in unity together. In John 17, Jesus passionately asks the Father that those who would believe in Him would be perfected in unity. Join with me as we pray for the unity of God's people.
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me." (John 17:20-23)
God has not left our Life Purpose a mystery. The Apostle Paul writes, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." God's glory is our ultimate goal and the details and activities of our life, every facet, are the tools to accomplish our purpose. Live today realizing that you can bring glory to God - fulfill your life purpose - through each thing you do today. That's Spiritual Transformation!
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. God desires that we be mastered by His presence and not by urges or desires. Spiritual Transformation will mean that we are submitting every area of our life to His control. Our appetites - eating habits, financial spending, thought life - will increasingly be mastered by God's Spirit and His values.
Spiritual transformation takes place as we live in alignment with God's Kingdom Values. We need to allow the Word of our King to redefine our understanding of what is right and true. We need to embrace and walk in Kingdom values.
Citizenship has its privileges. Citizens of a country can enjoy the services, rights, and protections that country provides. Every believer in Jesus Christ has experienced a revolutionary transformation in citizenship. We were in the domain of darkness but have now been transferred to the kingdom of God's beloved Son (see Colossians 1:13). We need to embrace the reality of our Kingdom citizenship and live it out in practical ways as live as citizens of earth.
Peter seeing him (John) said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:21-22).
Each of us has wrestled with comparing God's plan for our life with His plan for someone else. Why me? Why this? What about him? The Apostle Peter struggled with the same feelings and expressed them to Jesus. Jesus' response was caring, but direct. Our faith in a wise, loving, and all-knowing God calls for us to keep our focus on Him regardless of His dealings with others. Personal transformation thrives when we walk in this kind of trust and devotion.
We discovered yesterday that every believer in Jesus Christ has been spiritually raised from the dead! We are "resurrection people." That means that your testimony ... the story of how you came to know Jesus, is your Resurrection Story. What is your Resurrection Story and who can you share it with today? Join me as we pray about our Resurrection Story.
If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior then you have been spiritually raised from the dead! The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesian Church, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins ... But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him" (Eph. 2:1,4-6). If you are a believer in Jesus, you have experienced Resurrection Transformation!
One of the most difficult times for us to follow God is when we are facing adversity or heartache. Jesus provides the ultimate model of following God in the midst of traumatic circumstances. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus yields his will to the will of the Father and He entrusts himself to the Father's plan. Join with me as we ask God to increase our faith to trust Him in the midst of adversity.
One of the most vital ministries we can have is to pray for those we are closest to - our family. We experience spiritual transformation when we allow God to use us as instruments of blessing through prayer. Join with me today as we invite God's blessing on our household.
The Apostle Paul reveals the secret for contentment regardless of our circumstances. "I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:12-13). Spiritual transformation and life-contentment require walking in reliance upon Jesus in every situation.
We know we are experiencing spiritual transformation when we can freely forgive others for their offenses against us. Forgiving another person for a wrong suffered is one of the most difficult things we can humanly do. Especially when the offense is significant and there is no expression of remorse or responsibility by the offender. The key to having a heart of forgiveness is realizing how much we have personally been forgiven. Every sin we commit is ultimately an offense against God. Each of us could honestly admit that our offenses against Him are innumerable. Yet, in Christ, God has forgiven us all our offenses. The Apostle Paul writes, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32).
"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 For. 12:7). Every person who has trusted Jesus as their Savior has been "graced" with a unique way that the Spirit of God wants to express Himself through them. This is commonly referred to as a spiritual gift. Many spiritual gifts are identified in the Bible but the lists are not exhaustive. Part of walking in relationship with the living God is discovering how He uniquely wants to express Himself through you. Let's pray about that right now!
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). The power of love transforms lives. The Bible tells us that God is love, that He loves us unconditionally, and that He indwells those who have placed their faith in Christ. The ultimate expression of our love for God is that we obey Him. Obedience is an act of love, yielding my will to the one I love. Love is transformational. When we love God through decisions of obedience to Him ... our lives are transformed. Let's express, in prayer, our desire and our intent to love God with passionate obedience. Join me!
" Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Col. 3:15-16). The heart of spiritual transformation is becoming more like Jesus. We fan the flame of becoming more like Christ when we allow ourselves to be saturated by His presence. When we allow His peace to rule in our hearts and His word to dwell richly within us, we will increasingly reflect Jesus in our lives.
As you gather with other Christians on this day of worship, allow me to encourage you to have your "spiritual radar" on. Who can you pray for? Who needs encouragement? Who needs a listening ear? Ask God to use you in a special way to bless someone in prayer today.
The New Testament book of James has a powerful message for each of us who desire to experience God's transforming power.
"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:22-25). Author, Dallas Willard, keenly observes “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning" (The Great Omission). For us to experience the transformation that God's truth can bring to our lives we must be committed to intentional obedience.
"grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Spiritual Transformation requires that we grow in our capacity to rely on and receive Christ's gracious empowerment in our lives. It also necessitates that we grow in our knowledge of Jesus, allowing His truth and His presence to saturate our lives more and more each day. Join with me today as we ask God to help us grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.
The most life giving, spiritually transforming thing that you and I could ever do is ... love God. When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40). Transformation is fueled by our love for the living God. Join with me today as we ask God to increase our capacity to love Him.
Sometimes the guilt we feel over our sin can keep us from drawing near to God. After committing adultery and conspiring to commit murder, King David confessed his sin and earnestly sought God for forgiveness. Through David's experience we are reminded that when we come to God in repentance, He washes us and make us "whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7). Transformation begins with the cleansing and forgiveness that only God can provide.
The immaterial part of who we are, our unseen self, is referred to in the Bible as our "Heart". Proverbs 4:23 exhorts us to "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." The Heart of man is the center of our thoughts, our actions, our emotions and our affections. Behavior flows from what the heart values. Transformation is rooted in heart change. God is "the heart knower" (Acts 15:8). He can reveal and heal the hidden beliefs, deceptions, and distortions of our heart that influence our behavior each day. Today, invite "the Heart Knower" to bring transformation to your heart.
Each of us knows in our heart that we have violated God's holy law ... we are sinners. Sin robs us of physical and spiritual vitality, in fact it always results in death. Sin's "death" results in separation from God, emotional distress, relational isolation, and ultimately loss of physical life. 1 John tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn 1:9). The foundation of Spiritual Transformation is aligning ourselves with God by confessing our sin.
In Psalm 139 we read, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way" (Ps 139:23-24). The Psalmist is inviting God to search his inner being and reveal the things that are causing him difficulty and pain. Since we are secure in God's love for us, we can invite Him to examine the hidden person of our heart and begin to reveal the issues we need to address. Spiritual Transformation begins by inviting God to search our hearts and being honest about the hurtful things that are hidden deep within us.
Welcome. Today we begin a 31 day spiritual journey. Throughout October, we are intentionally inviting God to move in our lives in a fresh and new way. I invite you to use PrayerLife as a tool to draw near to God in prayer, inviting His movement and blessing in your life.
Can we pray for the salvation of a lost person? Absolutely! The Apostle Paul models a passionate prayer life for the salvation of the lost. In Romans 10 Paul writes, "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them (Jewish kinsmen) is that they may be saved" (Romans 10:1). Take time today to intercede on behalf of the people in your life that you long to see place their faith in Christ.
What can you tell a God in prayer who already knows everything? The answer is ... anything! When we come to God in prayer, He already knows our weaknesses, our sins, and our failures. He knows our hidden secrets, our inconsistencies, our wants and our needs. He knows everything ... and He still loves us! The fact that God knows everything doesn't diminish the value of prayer, it heightens it. We can draw near to Him with absolute confidence that he accepts and loves us because He already knows everything!
31 Days of Spiritual Transformation - Join me each day of October for 90 seconds as we invite God's transforming work in our lives.
Do you need wisdom to discern a next step? As a parent do you need wisdom in your parenting? Is there a challenging situation in your workplace that requires sound wisdom to navigate the best course? James writes, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). Join with me today as we ask God for the wisdom we need to face today's challenges.
Are you feeling overwhelmed with life's concerns today? One of the most hope-filled passages of scripture in all the bible is Phillipians 4:6-7. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
When we meditate on something, we ponder it. To meditate on God's Word is to think deeply about it, to mull on it in our minds, and bring it to our awareness throughout the day. As all the events of the Christmas story unfolded we are told "Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Today, I encourage you to take the time to think deeply about God's truth. Allow God to meet you there and minister to your spirit.
God is omnipotent (all powerful). He can accomplish and fulfill all His Holy will. Imagine if a righteous, loving and just God could not accomplish all that He wanted to do. God can do everything He has revealed, everything He has declared, and everything He has promised. We can celebrate the omnipotence of God!
God intensely hates all sin. Because He is holy and just and loves all that is right and good, it should not surprise that He hates everything that is opposed to His moral purity. All of mankind has violated God's holiness. Only those who accept, by faith, His provision for forgiveness of sin through Jesus will escape God's holy wrath.
When we think of jealousy, we think of someone being selfishly jealous for their own benefit. God's jealousy is an expression of love because He knows that exclusive devotion and dependance upon Him is in our best interest. He alone deserves all honor and glory.
Our lives can be filled with confusion and disorder. We can experience unsettled turbulence in our marriage, our family and at work. Society is increasingly being torn apart by hostility and anger. What is needed in our hearts, homes and cities is peace. The source of the peace we need is God himself.
"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace" (1 For. 14:33). "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17). "And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:39). "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
God is righteous and just. God always acts in accordance with what is right. He is, himself, the final standard for all the is right and just and true. Moses writes, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he" (Deuteronomy 32:4).
God's holiness makes him completely distinct and unique. Holiness is not only moral purity, it is a word used to describe all of the perfections of God that make Him uniquely who He is - the Lord God of heaven and earth. Th prophet Isaiah had a vision in which he saw angelic being surrounding the throne of God. They were declaring to one another, "“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). The holiness of God should move us to humble adoration and worship.
God's goodness is expressed in His mercy, grace and patience. He relieves our distress (mercy), He provides what we don't deserve (grace), and He is lovingly endures with us in our weakness (patience). Psalm 103:8 declares, "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Join with me as we thank God for His goodness.
If you know the living God then you know that whatever you are facing today is not the end of the story. As you walk through difficult days I encourage you to allow God's truth to minister deeply to your soul. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13).
One of the primary purposes of Bible Prophecy is to provide comfort in the midst of pain. Prophecy provides the ultimate perspective that Jesus is coming back and the future for all those who have trusted Christ is eternal joy. "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4)
Today we want to pray for those parents who have suffered the catastrophic loss of a child. The full Christmas story includes the gut wrenching and heart breaking account of Herod ordering the slaughter of young male children in Bethlehem in the attempt to eradicate the threat of a "coming King." Matthew 2:18 declares, “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” Only a parent who has lost a child knows the depth of that pain. Interestingly, God the Father is counted among those parents.
Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Jesus invites us to come to him in the midst of our heartache and pain and He promises to provide rest for our weary souls.
In the Old Testament, Job lost everything that was of value to him in a matter of minutes. His family and possessions were gone! Only his embittered wife remained. Job grieved his loss but continued to direct his heart and his faith toward God. If you are in the midst of catastrophic loss, I urge you to remain tender toward the Lord and invite His healing presence into your painful situation.
If you are walking through dark days with a broken heart ... you are probably shedding many tears. We find comfort in realizing that the Son of God, Jesus, wept over the death of a dear friend (Jn. 11:34-35). The Psalmist writes, "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" (Ps. 56:8) Our tears matter to God and none of them escape His notice.
In the midst of our pain it is easy to feel as though God is distant or that He doesn't care. Nothing could be further from the truth. Psalm 34:18 declares, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 46:1 reminds us that our "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Whatever your need today, let's draw near to God in prayer.
The Apostle Paul was passionate for the unity of the Body of Christ. He wrote to the believers in Rome, "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15:5-6). The Church can be so easily divided, but it is God's design that the unity of the Body of Christ would be a powerful tool for drawing people to faith in Jesus.
Paul prayed for the inner strengthening of believers by the Holy Spirit of God. Let's allow Paul's prayer to be our own today. "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being" (Ephesians 3:14-15).
To grasp the principles and truths of Scripture, God must enable us to understand and perceive what He wants us to know. The Apostle Paul Prayed for the believers in Ephesus, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might" (Ephesians 1:17-19). Invite God to open your eyes to the truth of His word today!
We have seen that the Apostle Paul dearly loved the Church. His greatest delight was enhancing the spiritual vitality of believers and receiving their ministry investment into his own life. Paul wrote to the church in Rome, "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" (Romans 1:9-12). Invite God to use you to strengthen another believer today, and be open to another's investment into your life.
The Apostle Paul frequently prayed for the spiritual vitality of the Body of Christ. He prayed, "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:9-10). Like Paul, let's pray for the growth, health and vitality of the Church.
The Apostle Paul loved the Body of Christ and he constantly prayed for the health and well-being of the church. He wrote, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints" (Col. 1:3-4). Let's pray for the health and vitality of our church and the broader body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul passionately prayed for the salvation of the lost. "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved" (Romans 10:1). In fact, he was willing to give up his own salvation if he could see more come to Christ. "For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:3). Let's invite God to give us Paul's passion for the lost.
The more we know about our wonderful God, the more we are moved to draw near to Him in prayer. Jesus reminds us that when we pray, we can come with absolute freedom and confidence because He already knows the concerns of our heart. Jesus says, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matthew 6:7-8).
One of Jesus' most powerful prayers is for the unity of His followers - the body of Christ. He prayed "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me" (John 17:21-23). May Jesus' prayer for the unity of the Body be our prayer today.
In the Garden of Gethsemane we see Jesus praying in the midst of crisis. Mark writes, "And he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.' And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will'" (Mark 14:34-36). Jesus entrusted himself into the Father's hands in the midst of extreme anguish. The example of Jesus' prayer life in the midst of crisis can inform and empower our prayer life.
When making important decisions, Jesus prayed. "In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12). What important decision was Jesus preparing to make? Luke tells us, "And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles" (Luke 6:13). Choosing a college, moving to another city, selecting a mate ... these are all important decisions. Like Jesus, we need to invite God's wisdom and guidance for key choices.
Jesus not only models a devotion to prayer, he models a commitment to praying with others. Luke's gospel tells us that Jesus "took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray" (Luke 9:28). Jesus builds relationship and includes others in seeking the accomplishment of the Father's plan. Join with me as we invite God to deepen our prayer life with others.
Jesus had a daily routine. We read in the gospel of Mark, "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed" (Mark 1:35). Luke tells us that as more and more people gathered to listen to Jesus and be healed. He "would withdraw to desolate places and pray" (Luke 5:16). The lesson here is clear - if the son of God faithfully carved out time in prayer to fellowship with his Father, we need to do the same.
Jesus modeled a vibrant, personal, conversational relationship with the Father. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray ... like He did. This week on PrayerLife, we want to learn how to pray like Jesus.
With God ... nothing is impossible! Your marriage can be raised from the dead. But you must walk in relationship with the God of resurrection power. If, today, you feel like their is no hope for your marriage, I invite you to yield your heart to Jesus and ask Him to raise your marriage from the dead.
Your marriage can experience the healing touch of God. The Father of the prodigal son never thought he would be reunited in relationship with his boy. When the son humbly returned home with a repentant spirit, the father declared, "... let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:23). Join me as we invite God to raise dead marriages from the dead.
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col. 3:14). When God calls us to love one another, He doesn't call us to feel a feeling but rather engage a commitment. We are to take the love of Christ and apply it to our marriage relationship.
Your marriage can be raised from the dead because as believers in Jesus, we have been spiritually raised form the dead. The Apostle Paul writes, "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth ... Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:1-2, 12). We are to "put on" the virtues of our risen Savior and His virtues can revive your marriage.
An essential ingredient to a successful marriage is forgiveness. Each of us are broken people and we will inevitably sin against one another. We have been forgiven from all our sin by the holy God that was supremely offended and we are called, by Him, to forgive each other in the same way. "As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" (Col. 3:13).
Jesus identifies "hardness of heart" as the primary reason for divorce (Matt. 19:8). Our hearts become hardened when we allow our sin toward one another to go unconfessed and unforgiven. James writes, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16). Join with me as we pray for our marriages.
There is hope for your marriage because the greatest relational separation imaginable has already been reconciled. We were separated and estranged from God far more than we could be from any human relationship. Jesus has made forgiveness and reconciliation with God possible through faith in Him.
"Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:12-13)
We not only receive salvation from Jesus by faith, we are also constantly dependent upon Jesus to live out our daily relationship with Him. Apart from Him we can do nothing! Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser ... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:1,4-5).
Jesus makes the ultimate claim to being the only way to have eternal life. The world is filled with deceptive messages, promising fulfillment in this life and the afterlife. Jesus forces us to wrestle with His claim of exclusivity. To simply "shrug him off" with an "I don't think so" is a tragic mistake with eternal consequences.
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:24-26) "Resurrection Life" is not only a future event, it is also a present reality! This is true because Resurrection Life is a person and his name is Jesus. Resurrection Life is the present reality of every believer in Jesus Christ because He indwells them. Seek to live out the resurrection life of Jesus within you today.
The key idea of Jesus being the Good Shepherd is that Jesus is not simply a "hired hand" who doesn't have a personal investment in his sheep and abandons them at the first sign of danger. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep and lays down his life for them. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:11-15).
Jesus communicates that He is the exclusive means of access to a personal relationship with God. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:7-9).
Jesus identified himself as being the source of light and life. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Join with me as we pray for Jesus' light and life giving ministry to impact our families, our churches, and our communities.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35). The "bread of life" is a person and his name is Jesus. He is the source of eternal life. Jesus uses the metaphor of eating his flesh and drinking his blood for a faith that is relying on him alone for LIFE !
"Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ" (Colossians 4:3). The Apostle Paul invited Believers to pray for open doors of ministry. One of the most powerful weapons we have against Satan and his strategies of deception and destruction is prayer. Let's unite our hearts and voices in prayer as we intercede for our churches and church leaders, inviting God to open doors for His truth.
Paul exhorts Titus, a young leader in the church, to be a leader who knows the truth, lives the truth, and defends the truth. Regrading church leaders Paul writes, "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9). Pray for the leaders of your church today that they may be leaders who are devoted to sound doctrine.
The writer of Hebrews invite believers to pray for their leaders. He writes, "Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things" (Hebrews 13:18). Church leaders are a public testimony of the truth they represent. Join with me as we pray for the strengthening and encouragement of church leadership, that they may live honorably.
"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith" (Hebrews 13:7). Those serving as leaders in our churches should be walking with Christ and living out their faith in such a way that we can see their godly character and imitate their passion for Jesus.
Chances are you are painfully aware of a Pastoral Leader who has been disqualified from leadership in the church due to a moral failure. The Apostle Paul writes, "I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27). Join with me as we pray for the integrity and spiritual vitality of our church leaders.
Scripture emphasizes the important influence of the role of leaders in the Church by maintaining high standards for those in leadership. Paul describes the qualities desired for church leaders in 1 Timothy 3. "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer[a] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[b] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
The Apostle Paul invited the Church family pray for him, "that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19). Our church leaders need our prayerful support that they might faithfully and courageously declare God's truth with boldness in an increasingly hostile cultural setting.
We are saved by faith in Jesus through the empowerment of God's Spirit. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to live each day of our lives expressing that same faith and relying on the Holy Spirit's power. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25). Just as we are saved by the Spirit's power, so too we are to live each day in reliance on Him.
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:4-7). Our indwelling God desires to express himself and manifest himself through us in order to enhance the lives of others.
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come" (John 16:13). One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the truth of God to us and help us walk in it. Transformation happens as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit's ministry in our life.
"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). Apart from Christ, mankind is condemned because they are hopeless violators of God's holiness. If, however, you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, you now are under the Law of the Spirit of Life - meaning that your sin has been forgiving and Christ's righteousness has been credited to your life. Join me in thanking God for the freedom we have through Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul identifies two kinds of people on the face of the planet. There are those who are "in the flesh" and those who are "in the Spirit." "In the flesh" people are unsaved, spiritually dead, and without Christ. "In the Spirit" people are those who have believed the gospel and trusted Jesus for their salvation. They are now indwelt by the Spirit of God and are spiritually alive. Are you in the flesh or in the spirit?
To "hold fast" or "hold on" to something means that we tighten our grip with the intention of not letting go. To "hold" to Christ's teaching means that we grasp it, tighten our grip, and allow it to transform our lives. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).
Caleb provides a stirring model of an aging man with a robust faith. He and Joshua, alone, believed God and want to take the land God had promised. When portions were being assigned it was Caleb who said, "give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said” (Joshua 14:12-15). God identifies Caleb as different from the rest of his aging generation because "he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully" (Numbers 14:24). Let's invite God to bless our Senior generation and raise up among them men and women with a robust faith.
Many who serve in the role of caregivers for their aging loved ones find themselves emotionally and physically fatigued. Physical exhaustion and emotional depression are common complaints. Whether you are providing care for your aging spouse or helping meet the needs of your aging parent, the effects of the stress experiencedJoinJ can be debilitating. Join with me as we pray for those who are providing care for an aging generation.
Nearly three years ago, my dear mom, Shirley Weaver, died from complications brought on by Alzheimer's disease. The reality is that we lost the joy of her presence seven years prior to her death. I'll never forget the day she leaned over to my Dad and whispered, "Who is that nice young man?" I could clearly hear her ... and she was referring to me. Alzheimer's is a wicked disease. In the later stages you feel like you have lost your loved one even though they are physically present. Please join with me today as we pray for those who are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease.
Many are finding themselves in the challenging role of making difficult care decisions on behalf of aging loved ones. Concerns about safety, skilled nursing facilities, medical insurance, and finances all make an already emotionally charged issue that much more complex and painful. Some are in the heartbreaking position of separating an aging couple for the first time in their married lives because of the need for institutional care. It is easy to see why these dear brothers and sisters need our prayer.
As the Baby Boomers grow older, they are taking on the role of caring for their aging, frail parents. I am included in that group. My Mom died two years ago from the effects of Alzheimer's and now my father, age 93, is in need of increasing supervision and care. As we "honor" our parents in their aging years we need wisdom and compassion to tenderly care for their needs. Join with me as we pray for our aging parents.
"You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord" (Lev. 19:32). The Bible makes it clear that we are to show honor and respect to the older generation. Many people are blessed to have grandparents who have lived through and endured remarkable events in our nations history - the depression, a world war, a presidential assassination, the first man on the moon. We can benefit from their experiences and be blessed by their wisdom. Join me as we pray for this "Senior" generation.
Prior to placing our faith in Jesus Christ we were hopeless. Our eternal destiny was to be separated from God for all eternity. But now, by trusting in Jesus, He himself is our living hope. We are full of hope because of the reliability of God's word and God's Son.
In the Old Testament, worshippers marveled at the manifestation of God's presence in the temple. Now, through our faith in Christ, God himself indwells each believer. We are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and called to live a life that reflects his presence within us.
Are you dead or alive? Ephesians 2 tells us that apart from Jesus we are spiritually dead. When we place our faith in Him, the Father spiritually raises us from the dead in Christ! So the question is ... have you been raised from the dead?
Before trusting in Jesus, we were slaves of the domain of darkness but now we are citizens of Jesus’ Kingdom. There is no greater blessing.
The New Testament book of Ephesians tells us that we used to be "sons of disobedience" engaged in "deeds of darkness" but now we are "beloved children" who are called to imitate our heavenly Father. Join with me as we pray about understanding our true identity and living it out in our daily life.
Christians frequently suffer from mistaken identity. We tend to live like who we were rather than who we are ... in Christ. "At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).
If we fully understood the greatness and glory of God, our lives would be a constant expression of praise. Psalm 150 is a powerful call for every living being to praise God.
We are designed to be zealous over things that really matter. Unfortunately we can easily become passionate over trivial things - sports, entertainment, recreation, and possessions. We are to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). Genuine freedom comes when we align our values with God's priorities and passionately follow Him.
Bitterness can strangle our freedom in Christ. It not only effects us individually but poisons our other relationships as well. Paul writes, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior" (Eph. 4:31). Invite God's Holy Spirit to rise up within you and grant you freedom from bitterness.
Our spiritual vitality depends on our hearts and minds being saturated with the living word of God. "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Col. 3:1-2). Paul also exhorts us to "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). Join with me as we invite God to set us free through the renewing of our minds with His truth.
"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us" (Hebrews 12:1). When we tolerate things in our lives that are inappropriate, we can easily become entangled in sin and robbed of freedom. It could be an emotional attachment to a person other than our spouse; the use of alcohol to relax from daily stress, or viewing pornography. All of theses sinful behaviors (and many more) create an entanglement in our life and rob us from spiritual vitality, joy and life.
Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (Jn 8:32). The opposite of being set free by truth is being held in bondage by deception. Satan is the "Father of Lies" (Jn 8:44). Satan and his demons are actively at work to blind people to the truth of God's word, leading them astray into bondage and ultimately ... destruction. Jesus invites us to walk in the freedom of His truth.
One of Satan's most crippling attacks is shame and condemnation. The Apostle Paul declares that there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Because we have been given the righteousness of Christ as a gift through faith, we have been liberated from any accusation of the enemy. Celebrate your freedom!
If you are a Christian, you have an awesome privilege and an awesome responsibility. Paul writes, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). We are not only beneficiaries of the gospel, we are ambassadors for the gospel. God wants to invite others to believe in Him ... through you! You are His ambassador.
How does a sinful man or woman become righteous in the eyes of a holy God? By believing what He has revealed about His provision through His son, Jesus.
"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." (Romans 3:20-22). We are not saved by what we do, we are saved by believing in what Jesus did.
Jesus' resurrection from the dead is our assurance that Christ's death was accepted by the Father as payment in full for the sin of mankind. If the Father hadn't been satisfied by Jesus' sacrifice ... Jesus would have remained dead in the tomb. The declaration "He is risen" is our assurance that when we place our faith in Jesus ... we're forgiven!
What is God's answer for the sin problem of mankind. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (Johns 3:16). We are sinners in need of a savior. God sent us his beloved son, Jesus, as our rescuer. We can't save ourselves. We are saved by believing, and trusting in what Jesus has done for us.
In order to have a relationship with God, He requires absolute righteousness, complete moral perfection. Every man, woman and child on the face of the planet has violated God's standard. There is nothing we can do to fix our dilemma. God has to do something for us ... He has!
The ugliness of Man's sinfulness is compounded by the intensity of God's holiness. "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). In order for a sinful man to have a relationship with a holy God something extraordinary must bridge the gap between our sinfulness and God's holiness - his name is Jesus!
To appreciate the good news of God's Gospel we need to understand man's need. The apostle Paul writes, "You were (spiritually) dead in your trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). He goes on to say, "remember that you were at that time separated from Christ ... having no hope and without God in the world" (v 12). Those are powerful words: dead ... separated ... no hope ... without God. There was nothing we could do to remedy our situation. Man's need is total, not partial.
After unpacking the wonderful and mysterious truths of the Risen Life in Ephesians chapters 1-3, the Apostle Paul then writes, "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (Eph. 4:1). In other words, we are to live out the reality of all that God has accomplished on our behalf. We are to embrace by faith what God has revealed and make daily choices to conduct ourselves in a manner that is worthy of all that He has done on our behalf. We are to believe what God has revealed and behave in alignment with that reality.
Based on all that God has accomplished on our behalf (Risen Life Realities) we are called to walk in obedience to Him, walking in a Christlike way (Risen Life Responsibilities). All the exhortations and commands in the New Testament depend upon us having been spiritually raised from the dead with Christ. We are empowered to fulfill Risen Life Responsibilities by relying upon and walking in Risen Life Realities.
Paul identifies a number of spiritual realities that are true of every believer in Jesus Christ because we have been raised with Him. We are resurrection men and women who have been given the righteousness of God; we have been set free from the domination of sin and the condemnation of the law; we have been filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to contribute to the vitality of the Body of Christ. The list of Risen Realities goes on and on. However, we cannot walk in the realities of the Risen Life if we do not know what they are.
Every believer in Jesus Christ has been spiritually raised from the dead. We are to walk in obedience to God relying on the resurrection power that He has exercised toward us. The Apostle Paul calls Christians to Christlike living based on the reality of having been raised with Christ (Colossians 3). That's risen obedience.
The Apostle Paul fervently prayed that the believers in Ephesus would grasp what God had done on their behalf. He wanted them to understand that God had exercised the same resurrection power on them, at their salvation, as he had exercised on Jesus when he raised him from the dead! Every believer in Jesus has been raised with Christ (Eph. 2:4-6).
How has God uniquely gifted you to build into the health of your church family? God wants to express himself through you in a way that brings you joy and enhances the vitality of the Body. Join me as we pray for your role in your church.
"To the church of God that is in Corinth" (1 Cor. 1:2). "To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints" (Romans 1:7). "To the saints who are in Ephesus" (Ephesians 1:1). To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae" (Colossians 1:2). When Paul wrote many of his letters he was addressing the Church of the city. All the exhortations and commands to love one another, forgive one another, honor one another were directed to all the believers of the city and not to just small local expressions of the body of Christ. Today we are praying that we can recapture our identity as the Church of our city.
Your Church can impact your community in two strategic ways. First, you can model a Christlike lifestyle, allowing the light of Jesus to shine. Second, you can display genuine love toward one another. Jesus identified love as the key characteristic that would set apart His followers to a watching world.
God has entrusted His people, the Church, with the honor of being active participants in His Mission of Redemption. We have the privilege of sharing Christ's message of eternal life and being used as instruments of transformation and blessing. The last thing that Satan wants is for God's people to be motivated by love and mobilized to boldly share the Gospel and make disciples. Let's ask God to unleash the awesome potential of the church!
The Church, as the Body of Christ, is to be a unified manifestation of Jesus to the world. The Apostle Paul asks the question, "Is Christ divided?" (1 Cor. 1:13). Since Christ cannot be divided and the Church is Christ's Body - the unity of the Church is to be a powerful witness to the truth of the gospel. "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10). No wonder Satan invests so much diabolical energy in creating factions and divisions among God's people. Let's pray for the unity of the Church.
Many groups, denominations, and faith organizations are compromising fundamental biblical truth. Erosion doesn't happen all at once ... but rather a little at a time. Today we want to pray that our churches remain a bold and gracious witness to the sound doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The health and vitality of our local churches greatly depends on the the dear men and women who provide servant leadership to our church family. Because of the importance of their role they are frequently the targets of spiritual opposition. We can have a crucial role of supporting and encouraging our church leaders by praying for them and their families. Let's take a moment and do that right now!
Because of what Jesus has done on our behalf, we can approach the throne of God with boldness.
"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Nearly one thousand years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem the prophet Isaiah wrote, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:4-6). Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment for all our lust, all our greed, all our hostility ... all our iniquities.
The Bible doesn't pull any punches. In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul writes openly and honestly regarding the human struggle (and yes, the Christian struggle) to do what is right, yet consistently doing the very thing we know is wrong. "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate" (Romans 7:15). We've all been there ... are there! Paul answers this dilemma by revealing that "in Christ" there is no condemnation before a holy God. Those who have trusted Jesus have been given His righteousness. Christians live in the constant reality of being clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. Its not that Christians don't sin - we do! Its that Christ's righteousness completely fulfills God's holy demands on our behalf even when we falter and fail. That is amazing grace!
The Apostle John assures us that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). God the Father is acting justly and righteously when He forgives us all our sin because someone else has suffered the penalty and paid the price for our transgressions ... Jesus.
If you are like me, you are grateful for the gracious forgiveness of God. One of my favorite verses in all the Bible is Psalm 51:7, "... wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Having lived for 16 years in Minnesota, I have vivid pictures in my mind of crisp winter mornings with a fresh blanket of sparkling snow covering everything. God uses that image to communicate to us how complete our forgiveness is. Thank you Jesus!
It is easy to project our human emotions and characteristics back onto God. We view Him as angry with us, like we are angry. Holding a grudge, like we tend to - keeping a list of all our sins. But the bible reveals that God is graciously and wonderfully different.
How do you think God views you? After engaging in debauchery and squandering his inheritance the prodigal son returned home to plead for mercy from his father. In Luke 15 we read, "while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:20-24).
Forgiveness is life giving. As a believer in Jesus, your heavenly Father rejoices in you and celebrates your desire to return to him. Celebrate your acceptance before a holy God through Jesus.
Jesus wants to have a relationship with you. He isn't simply waiting for you to make the first move. He initiates relationship. He is knocking at your door and inviting you to open up your heart to him. Will you answer him?
Do you ever feel like you have strayed so far from God that you can never return? Jesus knew that Peter was going to betray Him but He prayerfully envisioned a future when Peter would once again serve Him. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Satan wants to destroy your life and "sift you like wheat". Regardless of your past, Jesus wants to be a part of your future.
There is something about the openness and freedom of a child's heart that profoundly illustrates the way we are to abandon ourselves to our heavenly Father.
In John 8 we find a woman, caught in the act of adultery, and pulled out into the street to be accused and condemned. Every day the Living God catches us "in the act." His response to us is the same as Jesus' was to the adulterous woman. (Read John 8:1-11)
Jesus extends a gracious invitation for us to come to him, regardless of our struggles, challenges, and heartaches, and He promises to give us His rest. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:18). Let's accept His invitation today.
Nicodemus was curious about Jesus. He sought our Jesus in order to clarify who He was and what His message meant. Jesus shared Nicodemus' need to be born again through faith in Him. Nicodemus' need 2000 years ago remains the need of mankind today - Knowing Christ in a personal way.
The Church, God's people, are the light of the world. It is God's design that the Body of Christ serve as a primary influence in society for His glory. Pray that believers in Jesus Christ would live out their faith in a bold and vibrant way.
Every day we are bombarded by messages from the secular media. The media not only reflects culture but it also powerfully shapes culture. We serve a multi-media God. He has revealed himself in music (Psalms), in story (the gospels), in writing (the epistles), and through visual demonstration (the incarnation of Jesus). He is the ultimate communicator. Let's ask our media savvy God to awaken the media industry to be a powerful tool for communicating His truth.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior" (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
We are commanded to pray for those who serve in public office. We can influence the personal lives of leaders and shape society through faithful intercession.
By God's design, the Family is intended to be a cultural influence for godliness by modeling God's love to a watching world. Satan is relentlessly eroding the family in an attempt to hinder God's redemptive plan. Join me as we pray for the family.
The realm of education serves a primary role in shaping culture. The curriculum and values that are taught in classrooms today become the public policy and social mores of tomorrow. Today students are being taught that there is no family, that marriage can be between any two consenting adults, science is the ultimate truth and that God is irrelevant. We need to pray for a spiritual awakening in our education system that will impact lives for generations.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). There is really no such thing as sacred and secular. We are to glorify God in everything we do ... including our work life in the marketplace. God's people are strategically dispersed every day into every realm of business enterprise. We need to awaken to our role as Christ's ambassadors and begin to influence the business world for Christ.
The melodies and lyrics of a song linger in our minds. Live theater and dramatic movies stir our emotions. The Arts and Entertainment industry powerfully impact our culture. Let's pray that God will use this realm to bring awakening to our society.
The last chapter of the Bible leaves us with no doubt that the fulfillment of Bible prophecy is near. In Revelation, chapter 22, we read, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place” (Rev. 22:6). “Behold, I am coming soon” (22:7). “The time is near” (22:10). “Behold, I am coming soon” (22:12). “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (22:20)
One of the primary purposes of Bible Prophecy is to motivate personal purity. How we live today is to be informed by our understanding of the events yet to come. The Apostle Peter writes, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (2 Peter 3:10-12).
Many Bible Prophecy experts agree that the next key event to occur in God's plan is the Rapture of the Church to meet Christ. Dr. Tim LaHaye writes, "Christians living today have more reason than those of any generation living before us to believe that Christ could come in our lifetime." (Are We Living In The End Times, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins). We are living in a strategic era of human history and that reality needs to inform our priorities and fuel our passion for the living God.
Bible prophecy is a love story! It is God's revelation of the events surrounding the return of the Bridegroom (Jesus) for his Bride (the Church). Living in the end times, it is highly possible that Jesus' return could be very soon.
The truth of Bible Prophecy protects us from the deception of false teachers. Jesus, Paul, and the Apostle Peter teach about the reality of those who would want to deceive us.
For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. (Matt. 24:24)
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. (1 Tim. 4:1)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (2 Peter 2:1)
Bible prophecy provides the believer in Jesus many blessings. An understanding of how God is working through end-time events produces poise in the midst of unstable times, ministers comfort in the face of sorrow, and motivates personal holiness and godly living. The book of Revelation declares "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near" (Rev. 1:3).
One third of the Bible is prophecy. In the New Testament, regarding Christ's return, the Apostle Paul wrote, "We do not want you to be uninformed" (1 Thess. 4:13). God wants us to understand events that are yet to come, because they will influence our behavior today.
Because we want to be men and women who bring honor and glory to God, we can invite Him to search us, know us, and lead us in His everlasting way.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! See if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24)
A friend of mine once said, "If you are opposed by God ... you are supremely opposed." Psalm 139 reminds us that we need to align ourselves with God and His friends, and not yield to or condone the behavior and values of His enemies.
From before our conception, through the heights and depths of every day of our life - God's intention is to overwhelm us with His pervasive knowledge of us. Our awareness of His knowledge of the details of our lives is meant to bring peace in the midst of heart ache and courage in times of testing.
God assures us of His caring presence even in the midst of our darkest days.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:11-14)
There is no place we can go or season of life we can experience where God is not present.
"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:7-10)
Reading and praying through God's word provides healing, courage and stability in the midst of life's unpredictable events.
Psalm 139 declares, "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it." (Psalm 139:4-6)
God's intimate knowledge of us and his active involvement in the details of our lives moves the Psalmist to praise and worship. Let that be our response today as well.
God knows everything about us. Psalm 139 declares, "You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways" (vss 2-3). That means that we are completely known, unconditionally loved, and totally accepted. Let's affirm that truth in prayer together.
"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" (Proverbs 31:30). Today we celebrate the precious women that God has placed in our lives. They are our Mothers ... wives ... daughters ... and friends. Be sure to express your love and appreciation to the special ladies in your life today.
In seasons of spiritual awakening, God awakens people to the incomparable beauty and transforming power of His word. Join me as we invite God to give us a passion for His truth.
The worship of God in heaven is loud, harmonious, united, declarative, focused, and passionate. The more clearly we perceive the glory of God, the more we will be awakened to worship God with heavenly zeal.
Today is the National Day of Prayer. Join with me and multitudes of Christians across our nation as we invite God's forgiveness, awakening, and blessing.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14
Jesus prayed that His followers would express a unity that can only be described in terms of the unity of the Godhead - Supernatural Oneness. Satan's primary agenda is to thwart God's redemptive plan in the lives of people who are desperate for risen life by dividing and fracturing the Church - God's gospel witness on earth. Let's pray Jesus' prayer for unity!
We need spiritual awakening because we suffer from a diminished capacity to grasp our own spiritual need. "For this people's heart has grown dull" (Acts 28:27). It is so easy become caught up in the culture around us and fail to see God for who He really is. Join me as we invite Him to open the eyes of our heart and awaken our church fellowships today.
We suffer from a diminished view of the awesome glory of God. We tend to think of Jesus as an itinerant teacher on the hillsides of Galilee instead of the resurrected and ascended King of Kings. In Revelation 1, The Apostle John experienced remarkable revelation of the risen Christ. He writes, "The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead" (Rev. 1:14-16). That is the Jesus we serve today! Invite God to give you an awakened view of God.
God has made us for a purpose. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). One of the primary areas in life where we fulfill our God given purpose is in the workplace. Let's pray about that right now!
God calls us to respond rightly to those who are in authority over us. "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you" (Hebrews 13:17). We are to trust our ultimate authority, Jesus, and respond to those over us in a way that is a blessing to them. #WorkplaceGrace
As representatives of Jesus in our workplace, we are to "put on" the character of Christ and express His care and compassion to those who are hurting all around us.
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Colossians 3:12-14).
Conflict and strained relationships can make our workplace a difficult place to be. Paul writes, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32). God has placed each one of us in our specific work location in order to be a representative of Christ. Just as God has forgiven us all our sin, we are called to express kindness and forgiveness to those who have offended us. That's workplace grace.
James 3 describes two "spiritual climates" by the behavior that is exhibited. "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere" (James 3:14-17). Behaviors have a spiritual root - they are either "earthly, unspiritual, demonic" or the opposite, "from above." What is the spiritual climate of your workplace? You can make a difference through prayer.
Each of us have been placed in our specific place of employment by the Living God. We are serving the King of Kings each day we go to work. The Apostle Paul writes, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Col. 3:23-24). Remember ... your "boss" is the Lord Christ.
God has strategically placed His followers in schools, factories, offices, manufacturing floors, hospitals, military bases, markets, and neighborhoods throughout your community and around the world. He has placed us there to be an incarnational expression of His presence and a channel of His blessing. Invite God's blessing on your workplace today!
If you have ever been camping you know what it is like to start a campfire with some dry grass and a few twigs. You shield the flickering flame from the wind and gently add more fuel as the fire grows. Paul writes, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Tim. 1:6-7). Don't allow the flame of your spiritual gift flicker and die. Fan it into a strong blaze!
Every believer in Jesus Christ has been given a spiritual gift. The Apostle Paul writes to his protege, Timothy, "Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you" (1 Tim. 4:14). We are to use our spiritual gifts to strengthen and build up the Body of Christ. Are you using your spiritual gift?
Every believer in Jesus Christ has received a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul also indicates that spiritual gifts can be imparted through prayer and the laying on of hands. Paul writes, "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" (Rom. 1:11). Paul exhorts his protege, Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6). Join me in prayer as we seek to further understand spiritual gifts.
There are two primary purposes for Spiritual Gifts. The Apostle Peter writes, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace ... in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:10-11). Our gifts are to be used to serve one another. The result of our service is to be that God is glorified.
The Apostle Paul had a high value for strengthening the health and vitality of the Body of Christ through spiritual gifts. One of the primary ways of strengthening the Church is through the declaration of God's word. Paul wrote, "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation" (1 Cor. 14:1-3). Pray with me for the strong and accurate communication of God's truth in your church.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul mentions a number of spiritual gifts - "To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues" (1 Cor. 8-10). Then Paul writes, "All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills" (vs. 11).
Spirital gifts have been given by God to strengthen and unify the Body of Christ. "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (vs. 7). It is tragic that Satan has used something that God designed for unity to cause division and fragmentation in the Church. Let's bring this to God in prayer today!
Each believer in Jesus Christ is given spiritually empowered capacities to build up and strengthen the Body of Christ. These capacities are called Spiritual Gifts. Each spiritual gift is actually an manifestation of the Holy Spirit of God through the believer to accomplish God's purposes for the Church. The Apostle Paul writes, "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills" (1 Cor. 12:7-11).
In order to honor God with the purity of our lives, we need to honor him with our eyes! The bible is ruthlessly practical. In the Old Testament we read from Job, “I have made a covenant with my; how then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? (Job 31:1-4). To strengthen our personal purity we need to daily avert our eyes from those things that would tempt us.
The great news of the gospel of Jesus is that sin can be forgiven, righteousness is available as a gift from God by faith, and we can be whiter than snow!
There is to be a healthy "family" dynamic that characterizes our relationships within the Body of Christ and they are all to be marked by purity. "Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity" (1 Timothy 5:1-2).
We are not to live like the fallen culture around us but as those who know the living God. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body[c] in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God" (1 Thess. 4:3-5).
Sexual impurity is damaging. The Old Testament book of Proverbs says, "He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself" (Proverbs 6:32). The Apostle Paul writes, "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body" (1 Cor. 6:18). Join me as we pray for wisdom and strength to deny temptation and walk in obedience to God.
God's Word provides remarkable counsel for walking in personal purity. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!" (Psalm 119:9-10). If we are filling our lives with God's truth, we will be guided and empowered to walk in the ways of purity.
At the heart of the Gospel is a remarkable truth, namely, that the righteousness that God requires, but that we cannot produce, He has made available through faith in His son, Jesus. The basis of our purity is Jesus Christ. The righteousness that qualifies us to stand blameless before a holy God is not our own - it is the righteousness of Jesus credited to our lives as a result of our trusting in Him for our salvation. The Apostle Paul writes, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21).
In the Apostle Paul's prayers we see a passion for the unity of the Body of Christ. In Romans 15 Paul prays, "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15:5-6). The unity of the Church is intended to make a profound statement to the watching world. No wonder seeks to cause divisions and factions. Pray for the unity of your church today.
Paul frequently prayed for the inner strengthening of the faith and vitality of believers. Today, we will use Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 to serve as our own expression of seeking God's strength and blessing.
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
The Apostle Paul earnestly prayed for believers. He understood that they were just as much in need of God's grace to grow in their spiritual life as they were when they first placed their faith in Him. One of the things he prayed was that God would enlighten the eyes of their hearts so that they could grasp all that God had done for them. He prayed, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe" (Eph. 1:16-19). Let's make this our prayer today!
The Apostle Paul valued "mutual ministry" in the Body of Christ. He wrote to the Church in Rome, "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" (Rom. 1:10-12). Pray for and build up someone in the Body of Christ today.
The Apostle Paul loved to pray for the spiritual vitality of the Body of Christ. He prayed, "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:9-10). Join me today in praying for the spiritual vitality of your church family and the broader Body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul loved the Body of Christ and he constantly prayed for the health and well-being of the Church. To the Colossian Christians Paul wrote, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven" (Col. 1:3-5). Let's allow the model of the Apostle Paul to stir us to pray for the Body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul had a passion for the lost and he prayed for their salvation. "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved" (Rom 10:1). Paul's desire for the salvation of unbelievers was so strong that, if possible, he was willing to lose his own salvation if it meant they could be saved. "For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Rom 9:3). Do we share Paul's passion for the lost? Pray for the salvation of those you long to see place their faith in Christ.
In the Bible, Moses chose to endure being mistreated with God's people rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. There is so much in the world that promises fulfillment and satisfaction but is contrary to God's character and holiness. Eternal perspective equips us to make God-honoring choices today, knowing the ultimate joy of walking in obedience to Him.
God says that we can't begin to imagine all the things He has in store for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). We can so easily satisfy ourselves with lesser things ... even damaging things. However, to make choices today in light of future realities requires eternal perspective.
Whatever you may be suffering today is not the end of the story. The Apostle Paul writes, "We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). That is eternal perspective!
What is the most valuable thing you possess? What did you have to pay to own it? The Bible tells us that our salvation was purchased "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). The price God paid for you and me moves us to worship and provides eternal perspective.
You can find people working out at fitness centers 24 hours per day. Our culture is obsessed with fitness and body image. The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to "train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:7-8). It's important to honor God with our bodies, but we also need to pursue spiritual fitness with the same discipline and commitment.
We don't want to be deceived by the allure of what the culture and the world system identifies as valuable. Rather, we want to embrace and store-up for ourselves treasure that God reveals to be eternally worthwhile.
We can easily be deceived into thinking that all we see and experience is the ultimate reality. But Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Mt 24:35). The Bible provides an eternal perspective on ultimate reality. God's promises can be trusted and his commands are to be obeyed.
This is Resurrection Day! Sin has been paid for! Death has been conquered! Eternal life has been made available through faith in the risen Christ! He is Risen!
Read this stirring account from the gospel of Luke:
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen." - Luke 24:1-6
On this day of Passion Week Jesus' lifeless body was in the tomb. For the disciples it was a day of sadness, discouragement, fear, and shattered dreams. We know, from our historical perspective, that something is about to happen that will radically change everything. Jesus will rise victoriously from the dead! The next time you experience a season of sadness, discouragement, fear, and shattered dreams - allow the resurrection of Jesus to remind you that God is able to something that will radically change everything!
On this day of Passion Week ... Jesus was crucified. 800 years prior to Jesus birth the prophet Isaiah wrote, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6). Jesus took the punishment for our sin that we deserve so that we might receive the eternal life that God graciously offers.
Just hours before His trial and crucifixion Jesus washed His disciple's feet in the upper room. Afterwards Jesus said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you" (John 13:12-15). We see in Jesus the ultimate model of servanthood and He calls us to follow His example.
Have you ever said one thing but done another? We all have. On this day of Passion Week Judas, one of the twelve, began making plans on how he would betray Jesus. Luke writes, "Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money" (Luke 22:3-5). In our walk with God we want to be those who walk in genuine loyalty to our Lord.
On this day of Passion week Jesus was teaching his disciples on the Mount of Olives. Their questions centered around Christ's return. He told them, "stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:42-44). Let's live each day ... ready for his return.
On this day of Passion week Jesus cursed a fig tree and cleansed the temple. Why? He was addressing two issues: the lack of bearing genuine fruit and the absence of real worship. As we come into God's presence let's humbly allow him to examine the motives and hidden places of our heart.
Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. What you may not know is that 600 years before Jesus' entry, the prophet Daniel prophesied the date that Messiah would enter into Jerusalem. Bible scholars have identified the date of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as the exact date prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 9:25). Palm Sunday, therefore, is a remarkable fulfillment of Bible prophecy and another affirmation of the inspiration of Scripture and the deity of Christ.
When we repent of our sin, God himself rejoices. Luke writes, “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Let’s be the kind of people who are responsive to God with a tender heart and make God celebrate!
Repentance involves a godly sorrow over our sin that leads to change. The Apostle Paul writes, "I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret" (2 Cor 7:9-10).
To those who desire to draw near to God, Peter exhorts, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19-20). You may need to embrace Jesus for the first time or you desire to refresh your relationship with Him. "Times of refreshing" come when we repent, turn away from our sin, and place our trust in the Living God.
Repentance involves a turning away from sinful practices and patterns. In Acts 19 we read, "Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily" (Acts 19:18-20). What behaviors do you need to abandon today?
Repentance is acknowledging with our mind that our behavior is dishonoring to God; it is feeling sorrow over our disobedience; and it demands a personal decision to stop the behavior and walk in obedience to Christ. To walk rightly with God requires the united engagement of our mind, emotion and will.
Repentance is a turning away from sin. It is a spiritual u-turn. You confess and stop a behavior or pattern that is dishonoring to God and choose to conduct yourself in a way in keeping with your identity as a righteous child of God. Peter describes repentance this way, "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good" (1 Peter 3:10-11). Join me in prayer as we invite God to give us an attitude of repentance.
Overtime we come before our heavenly Father in prayer ... He already knows! He already knows our heart condition, our sin, our weaknesses, our failures, and our needs. Therefore we have the absolute freedom to come before Him and tell Him everything ... anything! Because He loves us.
Jesus modeled an extraordinary passion for the unity of those who would follow him. He prayed, "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:20-21). Today there is a critical need for oneness and unity in the Church. Let's make Jesus' prayer for unity ... our own.
In the Garden of Gethsemane we see Jesus praying in the midst of personal crisis. "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death" ... And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him (Mark 14:34-35). Jesus expresses his emotion, his convictions, his desires, and his submission to the Father's will. Just hours away from the agony of the cross, Jesus' prayer life provides a model for ours.
When Jesus was preparing to make one of the most important decisions of his ministry he spent an entire night in prayer. Luke tells, "he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles" (Luke 6:12-13). Whether making a business decision or choosing a spouse, we need to spend time in God's presence in order to have the wisdom and guidance to make the best choice.
Jesus models a commitment to praying with others. He used prayer as an opportunity to strengthen the faith of his followers and build relationship with them. We can use prayer to powerfully build relationship with our spouse, our children, our friends, and our heavenly Father.
Jesus regularly spent time in solitude to pray. Evan as the crowds increased and ministry demands expanded Jesus maintained his commitment to focused time with his Father in prayer. If the Son of God modeled a life of personal private prayer, what does that say about your need and mine.
Jesus modeled a vibrant, personal, conversational relationship with the living God. His disciples were so intrigued by His intimacy with the Father that they asked him, "Teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). If we want to have a robust prayer life, we need to use Jesus as our model.
The role of a parent for instilling wisdom into the heart of a child is vital. Proverbs 22:15 says, "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." Foolishness is already present in young lives. The role of a parent is to remove foolishness through loving discipline and instill wisdom.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). Having a holy reverence for God and seeking to walk according to his truth is to be the guiding motivation of our heart. When we rightly honor God, we are on the road of wisdom.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). God is the source of all wisdom and He invites us to ask Him for it and He promises to generously give it to us. There very thing we all need, God promises to provide if we will simply ask Him for it.
Wisdom is the skill of living life well - in harmony with God's principles. The Bible compares the value of having wisdom to the value of silver and hidden treasure (Prov. 2:4). We are to search God's word for wisdom with the same passion and drive we would have if we were using an ancient map to find buried treasure.
God's Word, the Bible, is a vital way for you and I to acquire wisdom. As we expose our hearts to its life-giving truths, we learn wisdom. Since wisdom is so valuable for living life well, personal time reading God's word is essential for our happiness and fulfillment.
We learn wisdom from our parents. The Old Testament book of Proverbs says, "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching; for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck (Proverbs 1:8-9).
All our lives we will be responding to authority. Whether it is a teacher, a coach, a supervisor, or a police officer, we all need to respond to authority appropriately. Responding to the authority of our parents is where we learn this valuable skill and its benefits will last us a lifetime.
Wisdom is the skill of living life well. When God gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom. God was so pleased with Solomon's request, he granted him even more than he asked for, "both riches and honor" (1 Kings 3:13).
Jesus is the master of transforming broken lives. The liberating reality is that He knows you completely, loves you unconditionally, and inter you into relationship with himself. Regardless of your need, if you desire a personal encounter with Jesus I invite you to join with me in prayer today.
Nicodemus was a very religious man but he didn't know God personally. It took an encounter with Jesus to open his eyes to the truth of the gospel. He discovered that knowing God didn't depend on his track record, but on Jesus' track record being credited to his life, by being born again.
The unseen demonic realm is real. One man's encounter with Jesus delivered him from the self-destructive behaviors that Satan inspires. Join with me as we pray for the people in our life who are wrestling with destructive demons.
There is perhaps no greater example of radical transformation than the Apostle Paul. Before encountering Jesus he was a zealous persecutor of the Church. He was complicit in the murder of Stephen and he put many christians in chains and jail. After encountering Jesus - Paul became a passionate declarer of the gospel he once tried to eradicate. Paul's example gives us hope that God can radically change the heart of even the most resistant friend or family member.
Which is the greater disability: physical blindness or spiritual blindness? Jesus healed both. In John chapter 9, He restored a man's sight who had been blind from birth, opening his eyes to the reality of who Jesus was. Join with me today as we have a life changing encounter with Jesus.
Thomas was a skeptic. While others were affirming their belief in the risen Jesus, Thomas refused to believe. Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited him to touch the wounds in his hands and side. Thomas moved from being a skeptic to a worshipper.
Jesus was constantly looking for opportunities to care for the deep needs of others. He wasn't looking for perfect people. He came to meet the needs of the broken, the lost, the immoral, and the desperate. As a result of Jesus' single encounter with a spiritually thirsty woman at a well, many came to know him as the source of life and personal transformation.
In the New Testament book of Revelation, Jesus declares, "I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown" (Rev. 3:11). Jesus is coming back! Now is not a time for weakness, giving up, or compromise. Now is the time to hold fast to his truth. Hold On!
We can confidently hold on to God's truths and promises in any circumstance because He is faithful.
There is no greater guarantee of the reliability of the Bible than the promise, the oath, of almighty God himself. We can stand confidently on the principles and truths of God's word because He personally guarantees it and He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Our hope is secure because God's trust-worthiness is beyond question.
To effectively represent Jesus to a lost world we need to be men and women of the Word. We need to hold firmly to the message of God to be empowered messengers of God.
Faith is not passive. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called" (1 Tim. 6:11-12).
We are to use God's truth as our filter to evaluate and assess the cultural messages that bombard us every day. Each day we must choose to discard what is contrary to God's word and hold fast to what is good.
To "hold fast" or "hold on" to something means that we tighten our grip with the intention of not letting go. To "hold" to Christ's teaching means that we grasp it, tighten our grip, and allow it to transform our lives. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).
Unless we are in relationship with the God of resurrection power, then we cannot expect our marriages to be raised from the dead. But if we are in relationship with Him, then nothing is impossible. Even a marriage that is lifeless can experience the resurrection power of Jesus. May you be refreshed with this prayerful Marriage Blessing.
In Luke 15 we find the story of the Prodigal Son. Its the story of one persons journey from a sinful lifestyle to his repentance and recovery. When the wayward son returns from his season of debauchery, the father responds with a joyful welcome. The Father explains, "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate." My prayer is that you would experience the healing of God in your marriage - that your relationship would go from being "dead" to being "Alive again" so you can begin to celebrate!
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col. 3:14). This is not a call to feel a feeling. As risen men and women, we are to intentionally take the love of Christ that indwells us and apply it to our marriage relationship. The result will be a marriage that is raised from the dead.
Marriages can be raised from the dead because We have been raised from the dead. The Apostle Paul reveals the amazing truth that at the moment we placed our faith in Jesus, we were spiritually raised from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20). Having been raised with Christ, Paul then urges us to "put on" the virtues of Jesus (Col. 3:1-14). By faith we are to embrace and embody the Christlike qualities of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience - forgiving each other. As these qualities increasingly find expression in our lives our marriage relationship will experience the new life Jesus brings.
An essential ingredient to a vibrant marriage is forgiveness. The Apostle Paul writes, "bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" (Col. 3:13). We have been forgiving everything by a God who has been supremely offended, and he calls us to forgive each other in the same way.
Jesus said that the primary reason for divorce is the hardness of our hearts (Matt. 19:8). Our hearts become hardened toward one another when we allow sins to go unconfessed. James writes, "confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16). Join with me as we pray about confessing
The greatest relational separation imaginable has already been reconciled. The Apostle Paul writes, "remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:12-13). Since our relationship with God has been reconciled there is hope for your marriage.
The moment we placed our faith in Jesus Christ, we were given eternal life through the Holy Spirit. Jesus says the Spirit "gives life" (John 6:63). The Apostle Paul says "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25). Since we received eternal life through the Spirit, let's live each day by the empowering presence of the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit dwells within each believer in Jesus Christ and he wants to manifest himself through your life. He wants to uniquely use you to bring glory to God, bless other believers, and draw people to faith in Jesus. Let's grow in our manifesting the Spirit!
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you intoall the truth" (John 16:13). One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to take God's living word and reveal it to us in a way that produces living fruit in our lives.
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death" (Rom. 8:2). Without Christ, mankind is under the law of sin and death and will be judged by God as violators of His holy law. But through faith in Christ we are under the law of the Spirit of life. Believers in Jesus have been set free from the law of sin and death and have been given His righteousness to walk in newness of life.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God - that is a constant reality. The exhortation to "be" filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18) is a command to allow His presence to be increasingly expressed through our lives, our values and our choices. May each of grow in the expression of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
The Apostle Paul identifies two kinds of people on the earth. There are those who are "in the flesh" and those who are "in the Spirit." He writes, "you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him" (Rom. 8:9). Every believer in Jesus is an "in the Spirit" person. Your sin has been forgiven and God dwells in you. Let's ask God to help us grow in our identity of being "in the Spirit."
Jesus said, "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Everyone who places their faith in Jesus as their Savior enters into a life-giving and life-guiding relationship with the Holy Spirit. Everyone "born of the Spirit" is walking in a mysterious relationship with the living God. We will grow in our spiritual vitality as we grow in our understanding of our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Prior to placing our faith in Jesus Christ we were hopeless. Our eternal destiny was to be separated from God for all eternity. But now by trusting in Jesus, He himself is our living hope. We are full of hope because of the reliability of God's word and God's Son.
Apart from faith in Jesus we were all separated from God and considered as strangers without hope. But as a result of placing our faith in Christ we can be brought near and made members of God's household. Join with me as we thank God for his amazing grace in our lives.
In the Old Testament, worshippers marveled at the manifestation of God's presence in the temple. Now, through our faith in Christ, God himself indwells each believer. We are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and called to live a life that reflects his presence within us.
Are you dead or alive? Ephesians 2 tells us that apart from Jesus we are all spiritually dead. When we place our faith in Him, trusting Him as our savior, the Father spiritually raises us from the dead in Christ! So the question is ... have you been raised from the dead?
Before trusting in Jesus, we were slaves of the domain of darkness but now we are liberated citizens of Jesus’ Kingdom. Our identity has radically changed. There is no greater transformation or greater blessing.
The New Testament book of Ephesians tells us that we used to be "sons of disobedience" engaged in "deeds of darkness" but now we are "beloved children" who are called to imitate our heavenly Father. Join with me as we pray about understanding our true identity and living it out in our daily life.
Christians frequently suffer from mistaken identity. We tend to think of ourselves and live our lives like who we were rather than who we are ... Children of Light.
If you are a Christian, you have an awesome privilege and an awesome responsibility. Paul writes, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). We are not only beneficiaries of the gospel, we are ambassadors for the gospel. God wants to invite others to believe in Him … through you! You are His ambassador.
How does a sinful man or woman become righteous in the eyes of a holy God? By believing what He has revealed about His provision through His son, Jesus.
"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." (Romans 3:20-22). We are not saved by what we do, we are saved by believing in what Jesus did.
Jesus' resurrection from the dead is our assurance that Christ's death was accepted by the Father as payment in full for the sin of mankind. If the Father hadn't been satisfied by Jesus' sacrifice ... Jesus would have remained dead in the tomb. The declaration "He is risen" is our assurance that when we place our faith in Jesus ... we're forgiven!
What is God's answer for the sin problem of mankind. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (Johns 3:16). We are sinners in need of a savior. God sent us his beloved son, Jesus, as our rescuer. We can't save ourselves. We are saved by believing, and trusting in what Jesus has done for us.
In order to have a relationship with God, He requires absolute righteousness, complete moral perfection. Every man, woman and child on the face of the planet has violated God's standard. There is nothing we can do to fix our dilemma. God has to do something for us ... He has!
The ugliness of Man's sinfulness is compounded by the intensity of God's holiness. "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). In order for a sinful man to have a relationship with a holy God something extraordinary must bridge the gap between our sinfulness and God's holiness - his name is Jesus!
To appreciate the good news of God’s Gospel we need to understand man’s need. The apostle Paul writes, “You were (spiritually) dead in your trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1). He goes on to say, “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ … having no hope and without God in the world” (v 12). Those are powerful words: dead … separated … no hope … without God. There was nothing we could do to remedy our situation. Man’s need is total, not partial.
God intensely hates all sin. He is opposed to everything that is contrary to his holy character. He has provided a way for our sin to be forgiven through faith in His son, Jesus. All who refuse His gift, however, will experience His wrath. Let's prayerfully consider the wrath of God.
God is righteous, which means he always acts in accordance with what is right. God is, himself, the final standard for all that is right and just and true. The bible declares that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Let's acknowledge God's righteousness in prayer together.
Peace is dePrayerLife Tracy Artsired throughout societies around the world. One of God's attributes is peace, and his kingdom is characterized by peace. Jesus, himself, is the Prince of Peace. The only source of true, satisfying peace is from God. Let's invite the peace of God into our lives today.
God will fulfill all His will. He has all knowledge, all power, and is present everywhere. He will accomplish everything He has declared, everything He has promised, and everything He has purposed to do. All things are possible with God because He is the Almighty One.
The bible says that God is a jealous God. We typically think of jealousy as a negative trait. When people are jealous its because they selfishly want the attention or love that someone else is receiving. God's jealousy, however, is righteous because He knows that loving him is in our best interest. He alone is worthy of our exclusive love, devotion, and allegiance.
God's holiness is one of his most majestic and glorious attributes. God is separate, he is all together different from any other being in existence. He is totally unique, there is no other like him. When the prophet Isaiah had a divinely revealed vision of God on his throne, he saw angelic beings surrounding God's throne declaring to one another "“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isa 6:3). God's holiness should move us to worship.
God's goodness is expressed through His mercy, grace, and patience. He mercifully cares for those in distress, he graciously provides what we do not deserve, and he patiently withholds judgment, allowing more to come to him in faith and repentance. Join with me as we thank God for his goodness in our lives.
2 Corinthians tells us "Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness" (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Satan is a master deceiver. It should not surprise us, therefore, that those who follow him are skillful deceivers as well. We need to invite God's gift of discernment in order to distinguish truth and error, and genuine servants of Jesus from followers of the enemy.
"Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1). Engaging in Spiritual Warfare means standing against the lies and deception of the enemy.
Daniel 10 reveals some amazing spiritual realities. Angelic combat, territorial assignments, delayed answers to prayer due to spiritual warfare. To be effective in spiritual warfare we need to grow in our understanding of spiritual realities.
The importance of prayer is seen on an occasion when Jesus' disciples were unable to cast out a demon. Jesus told them “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer" (Mark 9:29). There are some things that can only be accomplished through prayer.
James tells us, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:6-8). Let's resist Satan - in all his works and all his ways.
Spiritual Warfare requires that we trust God regarding the truth of realities we cannot see. Perceiving the unseen demands that we believe God's word.
Ephesians 6 reminds us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). Since our primary enemy is spiritual, not physical, then our most powerful weapon is prayer.
"Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). It is easy for us to "delight" ourselves in so many things. Let's make 2016 a year where knowing the living God more deeply is our heart's delight.
If we want to live wisely in 2016, what better place to turn than the book of Proverbs - God's book of wisdom. In Proverbs we find this priceless counsel, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6). May 2016 be a year of trusting the Lord with all our heart.
Happy New Year! Here is God's counsel to Joshua to help insure a year of blessing. "Be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success" (Joshua 1:7-8). Make 2016 a year of living God's Word.
In the Old Testament, memorial stones were a way of commemorating an momentous event so its lessons would never be forgotten. As you reflect on the key events and valuable lessons of 2015, what are some "memorial stones" that you want to carry with you into the new year?
As we anticipate serving God in 2016, what would be the single most important thing we could do? Jesus answers that question for us. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30).
As we anticipate living our lives for God in 2016, Proverbs 4:23 has a strategically important message for us - "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." The things we allow our hearts (our inner being) to dwell on, are the same things that will determine our attitudes and actions in the days ahead. We need to fill our hears with God's truth and the things that are pleasing to Him.
As we begin to make plans for the new year, James reminds us to humbly yield to God's authority over our life. He writes, "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that" (James 4:13-15).
In these final days of 2015, it is appropriate to review the past year and begin to set goals and objectives for the new year. Psalm 90:12 says "So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom." Let's invite God's wisdom as we anticipate the New Year.
Over 2000 years ago, infinite God expressed His love to finite man by taking on human flesh and being born as a baby in a manger. Christmas is the celebration of God's greatest miracle. On this Christmas day, "The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).
We don't want the holiday season to slip by without having an impact on our lives. From Angelic announcements to Magi bearing gifts, we are told that "Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Let's ask God for a Spirit of wisdom to recognize and appreciate all that He is doing in our lives this Christmas.
Nothing touches the heart like the sweet sound of a child's voice. I invite you to listen to the Christmas story, afresh, through the voice of 3 year old Zoe. Please feel free to share this recording with your spouse, your children or a friend. Another suggestion is to listen to it as a family on Christmas morning. Christmas Blessings to you as you listen to the Christmas Story through the voice of a child.
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:10-11). Just as the wise men worshipped Jesus and gave their treasures to Him we need to give Him our treasures and capacities as a gift of worship.
Worship is a central part of our Christmas celebration. We are told that after the shepherds came into Bethlehem and saw the infant Jesus, they returned to their flocks "glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them" (Luke 2:20). From marveling at the many prophecies fulfilled at Jesus' birth to being in awe at the incarnation (God taking on human flesh), we have more reasons than ever to glorify and praise God.
We serve a praying God. Both the Holy Spirit and Jesus, the Son, intercede on behalf of believers. God, himself, views prayer as supremely important. This Christmas, let's give the valuable gift of prayer, interceding on behalf of our family and friends.
After 30+ years of pastoral ministry, I can testify that the holiday season can be especially stressful for those in Church leadership. They are working hard to create special events for others to attend and they are always "on-call". Let's take a few moments to pray for our Church leaders and ask God to refresh and renew them this Christmas.
One of the most beautiful passages of scripture in all the Bible is Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). It is a spontaneous expression of praise from Mary's heart in response to the wondrous things that God is doing in and through her. Mary reminds us that Christmas is all about worship.
The Christmas story is filled with messages of honor and hope. For example, the birth of Jesus was first announced by angelic messengers to shepherds. These working class laborers would not have been on anyones list for such a remarkable announcement. From an insignificant town for Jesus' birth to a humble adolescent girl to be his mother, God constantly encourages us with unexpected honor and blessing.
The interaction between Mary and her close relative, Elizabeth, is amazing! Elizabeth says, "Behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy" (Luke 1:44). So close was the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist, that even in separate wombs they influenced each other.
Joseph initially struggled to believe that Mary had been faithful to him. An angel spoke to him, assuring him of God's miraculous hand in the unfolding events. Like Joseph, we can struggle to see what God is accomplishing in our lives through difficult circumstances. Let's invite God to enlarge our capacity to trust what He is doing in our lives today.
In Luke 2 we find the Angelic announcement to Mary of God's plan for her future. She would be the human vessel through which God would put on human flesh in order to provide salvation for mankind. Read Luke 2 with a sense of awe and wonder.
We frequently forget that there is a very dark side to the Christmas story. King Herod ordered the slaughter of every male child, two years old and younger throughout Bethlehem. Satan's appetite to steal, kill, and destroy continues today and his target are those we love. We need to recognize the spiritual warfare taking place around us and resist the enemy.
Over the past few weeks we have witnessed tragic acts of terror and violence in communities around the world. We need to realize that what we see in the physical realm is a reflection of what is taking place in the spiritual realm. As the return of Jesus draws nearer there is increasing opposition from our spiritual enemy. As we celebrate the first coming of Jesus this Christmas, we need to be mindful that we are engaged in a spiritual battle.
Matthew 2 tells us the story of the wise men who sought the newborn King by following a star. The old testament tells us about a different group of wisdom seekers, the Sons of Issachar. They, too, were attentive to God's leading and knew the appropriate things to do in their generation. Let us seek to be wisdom seekers who are attentive to God's leading and responsive to His voice in our generation.
Many spend more productive time with associates in the workplace than they do with members of their own family. The marketplace is a strategic area for Kingdom ministry. We want to invite God to use our lives and the Christmas season to impact the lives of those we interact with each working day.
I have always taken pleasure in decorating our home with beautiful Christmas lights. This holiday season we want our homes to be light houses for the gospel. May people come in contact with the presence of the Savior as they enter our homes this Christmas season.
Joseph tenderly cared for Mary during her pregnancy. We are never specifically told in scripture, but it is likely that he prayed for her frequently on their difficult journey, as the birth of Jesus drew near. This Christmas, let's give the members of our family the gift of prayer, lifting them up before the Father.
"The people who walked in darkness, have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2). Christmas is the celebration of the life-giving Light of God breaking into the world. Jesus declared, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). This Christmas, allow God's light to shine into the dark areas of our life - bringing healing and deliverance.
Jesus has brought peace to the most infinitely broken relationship imaginable. He has reconciled holy God with sinful man. Therefore we have hope for any of our broken relationships because Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
From eternity past to eternity future, Jesus is the timeless, everlasting one. Each of the names the prophet Isaiah uses to identify the Coming Child identify a divine characteristic. Our Lord is not limited by time. He sees, and is present in our past, present and future. He is not only divinely timeless, but his posture toward us is that of a loving Father.
800 years before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah told of a virgin who would bear a child. That child would be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God" (Isa. 9:6). Jesus is not simply a wise teacher or an insightful philosopher. He is, himself, Mighty God!
"His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus, the one we celebrate at Christmas, is a wonder of a counselor. He holds the keys to peace and healing in the areas of our lives that confound us.
800 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah declared that the government would rest upon the shoulders of a child born of a virgin. After His resurrection, Jesus announced, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18). The infant King we celebrate at Christmas is truly the King of Kings.
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us)." - Isaiah 7:14. From eternity past, it was God's divine plan to provide His divine Son to be our Savior. This Christmas celebrate the reality that Christ is indeed with us.
Christmas is the celebration of some of the most remarkable and stirring spiritual realities imaginable. The holiday, however, can easily become a season of stress and materialism. Our prayer is that God will use this month to move in our lives in an extraordinary spiritual way.
To "sanctify" something means to set it apart for a special use. It is so easy for us to be caught up in the busyness and stress of the holiday season. This year, let's sanctify the holidays, setting them apart and inviting God to use this Christmas in a special way in our lives.
Each day through the month of December we will be celebrating the Savior and anticipating the New Year in prayer. I invite you to join me for 90 seconds each day as we worship Christ through the holiday season.
Use the PrayerLife Advent Prayer-cast series as a part of your personal devotional life or listen and pray with a friend or your spouse. Parents can use the daily Prayer-casts to gather their family together and keep Jesus the focus of their Christmas celebrations. Merry Christmas! - TW
"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). We've seen that, as God's sons and daughters, we are to be characterized by a thankful heart. Paul also reveals that every aspect of our lives are to be be lived for God's glory. In other words, we are to live our lives as thankful representatives of Jesus, for the glory of God.
God is holy and we are sinful. We are dead in our sins and deserve eternal punishment and there is nothing we can do to remedy our dilemma. But God loved us so much that He did what we couldn't do. He sent His righteous Son, Jesus, to live the life we could never live and take the punishment that we deserve. When we place our faith in His provision, relying on Jesus as our Savior, we are forgiven and given eternal life. Thank God for the Gospel!
"Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus, for you" (1 Thess. 5:18). The will of God for our lives doesn't get any clearer. Having a heart of thankfulness is God's calling for every one of His sons and daughters. How will you embody God's will today?
William Bradford, governor of the Plymouth Colony, left no doubt as to the Pilgrims' reasons for making their perilous voyage.
"…they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work."
One of the reasons our nation has experienced such remarkable blessing is because it's foundation was rooted in Mission. Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving.
Psalm 136 is a beautiful Psalm of Thanksgiving. A repeated phrase in the Psalm reminds us that 'His love endures forever'. We are reminded that He is good, He creates wonders, He delivers us, and he gives us food each day. God's love for us is expressed in may ways and endures forever - one more reason to cultivate a Thankful Heart.
After healing nine leprous men, Jesus took note that only one out of the nine returned to express thankfulness to Him. Every day we are recipients of the goodness and kindness of God. Let us resolve to cultivate a heart of gratitude toward God for all that he is doing in our life and the lives of our loved ones.
The Apostle Paul writes, "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy" (2 Tim. 3:1-2). As the end times draw nearer, one of the prevailing characteristics of our declining society will be ungratefulness. As the people of God, we are to be characterized by a thankful heart.
"So then, whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). We are to live our lives for God's glory. The Gospel is our story and our goal is to make His name renown among the nations.
One of the most marvelous truths in all the bible is revealed in Ephesians, chapters 1 and 2. The apostle Paul declares that when we placed our faith in Jesus, we were spiritually raised from the dead! "You were dead in the trespasses and sins ... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:1, 4-6). We are Risen men and women, and we are called to live resurrection lives!
God has designed us with a need to walk in meaningful relationship with others in the Body of Christ. For the Church to be a powerful movement for societal change, we must be vitally connected to other believers. The Church is God's divine tool for bringing about transformation worldwide.
esus has commissioned each Christian to play a unique role in His global Mission. Jesus came to His disciples and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matt 28:18-20). There is no greater calling than to serve the King of Kings in accomplishing His Kingdom plan.
We frequently pray "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." When we pray that we are saying that we long to see the manifest presence of God increasing transform our lives and impact those around us.
We frequently pray "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." When we pray that we are saying that we long to see the manifest presence of God increasingly transform our lives and impact those around us.
The defining moment of any romantic relationship is the first time one person declares their love to the other. Affirming our unending love and devotion for God is a defining moment. Jesus said we are to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). Let's come before the Lord and declare that we love Him with our entire being.
The apostles frequently identified themselves as devoted servants of Jesus. There are many things in our culture calling for our attention and affections. Today, take a moment to affirm to God that you are a devoted follower of Jesus. Express your desire to listen to His voice and respond with obedience. Invite Him to transform your life and impact others through you.
Consider this about the many people Jesus healed: If they enjoyed a long life the crippled eventually became lame again, the blind lost their sight and the deaf lost their hearing. Even Lazarus, who was physically raised from the dead, eventually died again. However, all these physical miracles pointed to an ultimate spiritual reality. The One who could heal and raise the dead, physically, could also forgive sin and raise the dead spiritually - giving eternal life! The ultimate healing is not a physical miracle. The ultimate healing is that God can open the spiritual eyes of the blind to the truth of the gospel and raise up with Christ those who are spiritually dead. Have you been spiritually raised from the dead?
Consider this about the many people Jesus healed: If they enjoyed a long life the crippled eventually became lame again, the blind lost their sight and the deaf lost their hearing. Even Lazarus, who was physically raised from the dead, eventually died again. However, all these physical miracles pointed to an ultimate spiritual reality. The One who could heal and raise the dead, physically, could also forgive sin and raise the dead spiritually - giving eternal life! The ultimate healing is not a physical miracle. The ultimate healing is that God can open the spiritual eyes of the blind to the truth of the gospel and raise up with Christ those who are spiritually dead. Have you been spiritually raised from the dead?
An encounter with Jesus in Mark 9 reveals a weakness in faith that we all share.
"And they brought the boy to him (Jesus). And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
An encounter with Jesus in Mark 9 reveals a weakness in faith that we all share.
"And they brought the boy to him (Jesus). And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Sometimes God acts to simply demonstrate what He can do, and not to say that He always will. When something is 'out of the ordinary' it is extraordinary. Acts 19 tells us that "God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them" (11-12). As we consider and pray for healing, we need to allow room for the extraordinary.
Sometimes God acts to simply demonstrate what He can do, and not to say that He always will. When something is 'out of the ordinary' it is extraordinary. Acts 19 tells us that "God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them" (11-12). As we consider and pray for healing, we need to allow room for the extraordinary.
John the Baptist sat in a dark dungeon cell waiting for his death sentence to be carried out. He didn't mind dying for a righteous cause, he just wanted to make sure that Jesus' identity and ministry were worth dying for. He sent two messengers to verify that Jesus really was "the One." Jesus responded by saying to them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them” (Luke 7:22). The primary message of Jesus was that the Kingdom had come and he was King. His rule had broken afresh and authoritatively into human history and a demonstration of His Kingdom rule was the physical restoring (healing) of illnesses and maladies that were the result of living in a fallen world.
John the Baptist sat in a dark dungeon cell waiting for his death sentence to be carried out. He didn't mind dying for a righteous cause, he just wanted to make sure that Jesus' identity and ministry were worth dying for. He sent two messengers to verify that Jesus really was "the One." Jesus responded by saying to them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them” (Luke 7:22). The primary message of Jesus was that the Kingdom had come and he was King. His rule had broken afresh and authoritatively into human history and a demonstration of His Kingdom rule was the physical restoring (healing) of illnesses and maladies that were the result of living in a fallen world.
Church leaders are to serve as representatives of Jesus to the broader Body of Christ. As stewards of Christ's mission, they are to fulfill the calling that Christ has extended, doing so in word and power. According to James 5:14, a clear ministry that leaders are to be actively involved in is the ministry of healing prayer. The healing is not their responsibility but the inviting God t heal is.
Church leaders are to serve as representatives of Jesus to the broader Body of Christ. As stewards of Christ's mission, they are to fulfill the calling that Christ has extended, doing so in word and power. According to James 5:14, a clear ministry that leaders are to be actively involved in is the ministry of healing prayer. The healing is not their responsibility but the inviting God t heal is.
1 Corinthians 12 makes it clear that God chooses not only to express healing power himself and through others, but He also specifically "gifts" some with unique gifts of healing in order to bless an strengthen the Church. As stewards of God's gracious gifts, we need to faithfully employ whatever abilities He entrusts to us.
1 Corinthians 12 makes it clear that God chooses not only to express healing power himself and through others, but He also specifically "gifts" some with unique gifts of healing in order to bless an strengthen the Church. As stewards of God's gracious gifts, we need to faithfully employ whatever abilities He entrusts to us.
The New Testament Church embraced healing as a normal ministry of Jesus in their midst. They prayed for it and anticipated it. Their firm conviction was that God was abundantly able to heal, that He extended to them the freedom to ask for Him to heal, but that they must yield to His sovereign answer. The Church today needs to normalize a new awareness and anticipation of the supernatural in daily life.
Because of what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf we have the freedom to approach the throne of God with bold confidence (see Heb. 4:16). That reality, alone, needs to inform the way view ourselves and live each day.
Centuries before Jesus was born in Bethlehem the prophet Isaiah declared "He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:5-6). Jesus took the punishment you and I deserve - in our place!
As a result of placing our faith in Jesus, our sin has been forgiven and the righteousness of God has been given to us as a gift. Therefore the apostle Paul can confidently declare, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). God has graciously given us something we could never have earned.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). God is righteous and just when He forgives us because someone else has suffered the total penalty for your sin and mine ... and his name is Jesus.
After engaging in adultery and conspiring to commit murder, King David humbly confesses his sin. He affirms, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Ps. 51:7). The picture of being made whiter than snow reveals the totality of God's cleansing and forgiveness. We can all be grateful for God's gracious forgiveness.
Does God hold a grudge? Does His blood pressure continue to rise as our list of offenses grows? Many have this misguided view of God. Psalm 103 tells us, "As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us" (vs. 12). Because of Jesus, our sins are infinitely removed from us. That's worth celebrating!
When the prodigal son returned home, after living in debauchery and squandering his inheritance, he didn't know how his father would respond. Disapproval? Disgust? Hostile rejection? Luke tells us, "while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:11-32). Unrestrained celebration and unconditional love. That is our Heavenly Father's response when we humbly return to Him.
One of the most noble and powerful uses of prayer is to intercede on behalf of others. Intercession is coming before God on behalf of another, seeking their blessing. In fact, we serve an interceding God. Jesus is continuously interceding for us, representing us before the Father.
Today's PrayerLife marks the end of our 31 Day PrayerLife Journey 2015. I would like to leave you with one of the most beautiful blessings in all the Bible. "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).
"Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). A dear friend once made this insightful observation - "If you are opposed by God, you are supremely opposed." God strongly supports those who embrace the life-giving character quality of humility.
Just as beloved children mimic their parents, we are to be imitators of our Heavenly Father (see Eph. 5:1). We are called, as beloved children of God, to conduct ourselves each day in a way that reflects our heavenly Father.
We are in constant, cosmic spiritual warfare. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). We are to use the truths of our identity in Jesus as our spiritual weapons against Satan.
There is no greater blessing imaginable than being a recipient of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. That is our reality by virtue of being "in Christ", having placed our faith in Him. The Apostle Paul declares, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ withevery spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Eph. 1:3).
Our fundamental identity as followers of Jesus is that we are "in the Spirit" people. The Apostle Paul writes, "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have theSpirit of Christ does not belong to him" (Rom. 8:9). We are not only filled with the presence of God, but we live and are essentially identified by the Spirit of God.
Do you feel the need to be refreshed and empowered deep inside? God can minister to us and strengthen us in the deepest parts of who we are. The Apostle Paul prays, "... that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being" (Eph. 3:16). Join me as we pray for God's rich strengthening in our inner being.
Each of us has false ideas, thoughts, values, and assumptions that inform our behavior daily. The Apostle Paul writes, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:2). God calls us to align ourselves to His thoughts and values by allowing His truth to transform and renew our minds.
One of the most empowering passages in the New Testament is the Great Commission. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Our assignment on earth is to reproduce the life of Christ in the lives of others.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). The primary way we can express our love for God and demonstrate our love to God is by obeying His Word. Its time to confess our disobedience and choose to love God by walking in yielded obedience.
We serve a communicating God. Just think, He sent His Son, Jesus, to reveal himself to us. He inspired writers to record his revelation in the bible. The Holy Spirit speaks to us in our inner being and God uses gifted friends and trusted leaders to speak into our lives. The bottom line is that God is speaking. We want to hear his voice and respond with obedience.
One of the most vital ways God transforms our lives is through His Word, the Bible. Nothing can touch the depth of our heart and bring about transformation more than the living word of God. Unknown truth, however, cannot bless our lives. We must choose to expose our hearts and souls to God's word today regularly!
Many have grown up with painful memories of their parents. They have ben wounded by the people that should have loved them the most. God has chosen to reveal His loving relationship with us in terms of being a Father to His children. For us to gain the maximum benefit of being fathered by God, we need to allow Him to heal and redefine what Father means.
One of the most significant roles we can play in the life of another human being is to help them know God better. Friends help friends know Jesus. To be used of God to deepen the faith of others means we need to be comfortable with the message of the gospel, familiar with God's truth in the Bible, and love others enough to step out of our comfort zone and take a risk.
One of the most frequent descriptions the Apostle Paul uses for himself is a servant. He writes, "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Cor. 4:1). The idea of being a servant can conjure images of degrading slavery or humiliation. Yet there is no more noble or honoring identity than to be a servant of the living God.
God wants to use us as His personal representatives in the circle of influence in which He has placed us. The Apostle Paul writes, "We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). How does He want to use you as an agent of His grace in the lives of those around you?
What would you do if you were asked, "Are you a Christian?" at the risk of your life? Today, people around the world will face a crisis moment of declaring their loyalty to Jesus at the risk of persecution or even death. To be effective disciples of Jesus we need to be willing to die for Him. Anything less means compromise is just a matter of time.
The Living God wants to uniquely manifest himself through you to bless others. What greater honor could there possibly be?
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:4-7).
As Stewards of God's grace our primary responsibility is to faithfully fulfill the Master's will. He has "graced" us with skills, talents, and abilities. Everything we have has been given to us. God owns it all. Our life calling is to use the unique gifts our Master has entrusted to us to accomplish His plan for His glory.
Love is essential for our own spiritual well-being, the health of our relationships with others, and the vitality of the Body of Christ. We have been filled with the love of God for the purpose of loving the people of God and to show compassion to the lost world for whom Christ died.
The Apostle Paul beautifully models for us a tender and passionate concern for the lost. Referring to his unbelieving Jewish kinsmen Paul Writes, "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved" (Rom. 10:1). One of the most powerful ways we can influence people toward faith in Christ is by praying for them. Who is on your list?
There is something about a resurrection story that sparks curiosity and interest. Every Christian has a resurrection story. It's the story of what God did to open our eyes to the truth of the gospel and spiritually raise us from the dead. What is your resurrection story? Share it with someone today.
An Ambassador is the personal representative of another significant and influential person. The Apostle Paul writes, "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us" (2 Cor. 5:20). As Christ's ambassadors, we need to embrace a missional lifestyle in order to represent him well.
Jesus was sent by the Father with the message of the gospel to be an agent of blessing. Jesus said to His disciples, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you" (John 20:21). Christ's mission is our mission!
The Apostle Paul loved praying for the Body of Christ. He frequently prayed for the spiritual health and vitality of God's people. One of the most strategic ministries you can have on behalf of your church is prayer. Pray for your pastoral staff and church leadership. Pray for the impact of your church family on your community. Invite God to use your church, in partnership with the broader Body of Christ in your community, to expand Christ's Kingdom and bring glory to God!
To be devoted to Christ means being devoted to Christ's people. We aren't free to worship and serve Jesus in isolation. The Apostle Paul repeatedly writes, "I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints" (Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4; Philemon 1:5). Being a disciple of Jesus means loving His Church.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Why does God want us to confess what He already knows? Confession is for our benefit. Confession of our sin helps protect us from being presumptuous regarding His grace and ungrateful regarding His rich blessings.
There are many realities that are true about us by virtue of having been raised with Christ. We have put on the "new self" and been given the righteousness of Christ. We have died to the domination of sin and been set free from the condemnation of the law. These risen life realities empower us to fulfill risen life responsibilities.
The Apostle Paul declares, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us ... , made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:1,4,5-6). The bible reveals that we were spiritually dead. Through faith in Christ we have been spiritually raised from the dead. We are Risen men and women!
Our 31 Day PrayerLife Journey continues by celebrating the forgiveness we have in Christ. The Psalm writer declares, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7). By God's mercy, when we trust in Jesus' death and resurrection on our behalf, we are completely forgiven of our sin and made "whiter than snow." Praise God for His amazing grace and the joy of being forgiven!
Welcome to Day 1 of our 31 Day PrayerLife Journey. We begin by praying about the foundation of our relationship with God - the Gospel. Through faith in Christ we have not only been forgiven our sin, but we have been given the righteousness of God!
"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol (The realm of death), you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me" (Psalm 139:7-10).
There is no place we can go and there is no experience or any season of life that we can be walking in where God is not present. What ever we may be experiencing today ... God is intimately aware and personally present.
The writer of Psalm 139 declares that God's intimate knowledge of him was too wonderful for him to grasp. "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it" (Psalm 139:4-6). Read Psalm 139 and allow God's truth to minister to your soul.
Psalm 139 reveals God's intimate knowledge of us. "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways" (vv. 1-3).
We are completely known, totally accepted and unconditionally loved. When we grasp this profound truth, there is remarkable security and freedom in our walk with God.
God's Word, the Bible, is a vital way for you and I to acquire wisdom. As we expose our hearts to its life-giving truths, we learn wisdom. Since wisdom is so valuable for living life well, personal time reading God's word is an essential for our happiness and fulfillment.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). Having a holy reverence for God and seeking to walk according to his truth is to be the guiding motivation of our heart. When we rightly honor God, we are on the road of wisdom.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). God is the source of all wisdom and He invites us to ask Him for it and He promises to generously give it to us. There very thing we all need, God promises to provide if we will simply ask Him for it.
Wisdom is the skill of living life well - in harmony with God's principles. The Bible compares the value of having wisdom to the value of silver and hidden treasure (Prov. 2:4). We are to search God's word for wisdom with the same passion and drive we would have if we were using an ancient map to find buried treasure.
The role of a parent for instilling wisdom into the heart of a child is vital. Proverbs 22:15 says, "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." Foolishness is already present in young lives. The role of a parent is to remove foolishness through loving discipline and instill wisdom.
We learn wisdom from our parents. The Old Testament book of Proverbs says, "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching; for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck (Proverbs 1:8-9).
All our lives we will be responding to authority. Whether it is a teacher, a coach, a supervisor, or a police officer, we all need to respond to authority appropriately. Responding to the authority of our parents is where we learn this valuable skill and its benefits will last us a lifetime.
Our PrayerLife focus this week is Wisdom. Wisdom is the skill of living life well. When God gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom. God was so pleased with Solomon's request, he granted him even more than he asked for, "both riches and honor" (1 Kings 3:13).
If you are a Christian, you have an awesome privilege and an awesome responsibility. Paul writes, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). We are not only beneficiaries of the gospel, we are ambassadors for the gospel. God wants to invite others to believe in Him ... through you! You are His ambassador.
How does a sinful man or woman become righteous in the eyes of a holy God? By believing what He has revealed about His provision through His son, Jesus.
"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." (Romans 3:20-22). We are not saved by what we do, we are saved by believing in what Jesus did.
Jesus' resurrection from the dead is our assurance that Christ's death was accepted by the Father as payment in full for the sin of mankind. If the Father hadn't been satisfied by Jesus' sacrifice ... Jesus would have remained dead in the tomb. The declaration "He is risen" is our assurance that when we place our faith in Jesus ... we're forgiven!
What is God's answer for the sin problem of mankind. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (Johns 3:16). We are sinners in need of a savior. God sent us his beloved son, Jesus, as our rescuer. We can't save ourselves. We are saved by believing, and trusting in what Jesus has done for us.
Are you hungry for deeper intimacy with God? Are ready to be intentional about strengthening your prayer life and deepening your relationship with Jesus? I invite you to join me during the month of October for a 31 Day PrayerLife Journey. I encourage you to invite a friend to journey with you.
In order to have a relationship with God, He requires absolute righteousness, complete moral perfection. Every man, woman and child on the face of the planet has violated God's standard. There is nothing we can do to fix our dilemma. God has to do something for us ... He has!
The ugliness of Man's sinfulness is compounded by the intensity of God's holiness. "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). In order for a sinful man to have a relationship with a holy God something extraordinary must bridge the gap between our sinfulness and God's holiness - his name is Jesus!
To appreciate the good news of God's Gospel we need to understand man's need. The apostle Paul writes, "You were (spiritually) dead in your trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). He goes on to say, "remember that you were at that time separated from Christ ... having no hope and without God in the world" (v 12). Those are powerful words: dead ... separated ... no hope ... without God. There was nothing we could do to remedy our situation. Man's need is total, not partial.
There are some, today, who are living with a broken heart. I encourage you to allow God's truth to minister deeply to your soul. Remember that this day, and the circumstances you are currently facing ... are not the end of the story. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13).
The Apostle Paul used the reality of the future fulfillment of Bible prophecy to comfort those who were brokenhearted over the loss of a loved one. In 1 Thessalonians 4, he reminds believers that Jesus is coming back and that we will be forever reunited with those loved ones who had placed their faith in Christ. Paul writes, "Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thess. 4:18).
This PrayerLife episode is directed toward parents who have suffered the catastrophic loss of a young child. In the Christmas Story, King Herod desperately tried to remove the possibility of a rival to his throne by killing all the infant boys in Bethlehem. An entire community grieved the loss of their infant sons. Matthew 11:18 says, "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more." Join with me as we pray for those with broken hearts and empty arms.
Speaking to heavy and burdened hearts, Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Jesus invites those who are brokenhearted, walking each day with a burdened soul, to come to him for care and comfort.
In the Old Testament, Job is a man who, in a matter of a few hours, loses everything he held dear. Sons, daughters, wealth and possessions were all taken from him. Job and his wife were left ... alone. How did he respond? We are told, "Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fellon the ground and worshiped" (Job 1:20). Even in the face of catastrophic loss, Job continued to turn his heart to the living God.
When Jesus lost a dear friend, he travelled to the family home and grieved with the rest of the family. John 11:35 simply tells us, "Jesus wept." Like each one of us, when faced with death and loss, Jesus was gripped with emotion and shed tears of grief. No matter what crisis you may be facing today, our God is sensitive to your emotions and tenderly understands your tears.
Scripture provides the comforting assurance that "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). You may be walking through some terribly dark days - a failed marriage, financial crisis, or the death of a loved one. Whatever the issue, God promises to be near, caring for you in the midst of your pain.
Unless we are in relationship with the God of resurrection power, then we cannot expect our marriages to be raised from the dead. But if we are in relationship with Him, then nothing is impossible. Even a marriage that is lifeless can experience the resurrection power of Jesus. May you be refreshed with this prayerful Marriage Blessing.
In Luke 15 we find the story of the Prodigal Son. Its the story of one persons journey from a sinful lifestyle to his repentance and recovery. When the wayward son returns from his season of debauchery, the father responds with a joyful welcome. The Father explains, "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate." My prayer is that you would experience the healing of God in your marriage - that your relationship would go from being "dead" to being "Alive again" so you can begin to celebrate!
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col. 3:14). This is not a call to feel a feeling. As risen men and women, we are to intentionally take the love of Christ that indwells us and apply it to our marriage relationship. The result will be a marriage that is raised from the dead.
Marriages can be raised from the dead because WE have been raised from the dead. The Apostle Paul reveals the amazing truth that at the moment we placed our faith in Jesus, we were spiritually raised from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20). Having been raised with Christ, Paul then urges us to "put on" the virtues of Jesus (Col. 3:1-14). By faith we are to embrace and embody the Christlike qualities of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience - forgiving each other. As these qualities increasingly find expression in our lives our marriage relationship will experience the new life Jesus brings.
An essential ingredient to a vibrant marriage is forgiveness. The Apostle Paul writes, "bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" (Col. 3:13). We have been forgiving everything by a God who has been supremely offended, and he calls us to forgive each other in the same way.
The greatest relational separation imaginable exists between fallen man and our holy God. Jesus' death and resurrection have made our reconciliation with God possible. We were separated from God, but through his son, Jesus, he has made it possible for us to enter into an intimate relationship with him. If God can restore the greatest relational separation imaginable ... then there is hope for your marriage.
God will fulfill all His will. He has all knowledge, all power, and is present everywhere. He will accomplish everything He has declared, everything He has promised, and everything He has purposed to do. All things are possible with God because He is the Almighty One.
God intensely hates all sin. He is opposed to everything that is contrary to his holy character. He has provided a way for our sin to be forgiven through faith in His son, Jesus. All who refuse His gift, however, will experience His wrath. Let's prayerfully consider the wrath of God.
Jesus said that the primary reason for divorce is the hardness of our hearts (Matt. 19:8). Our hearts become hardened toward one another when we allow sins to go unconfessed. James writes, "confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16). Join with me as we pray about confessing sin.
The bible says that God is a jealous God. We typically think of jealousy as a negative trait. When people are jealous its because they selfishly want the attention or love that someone else is receiving. God's jealousy, however, is righteous because He knows that loving him is in our best interest. He alone is worthy of our exclusive love, devotion, and allegiance.
God is righteous, which means he always acts in accordance with what is right. God is, himself, the final standard for all that is right and just and true. The bible declares that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Let's acknowledge God's righteousness in prayer together.
Peace is desired throughout societies around the world. One of God's attributes is peace, and his kingdom is characterized by peace. Jesus, himself, is the Prince of Peace. The only source of true, satisfying peace is from God. Let's invite the peace of God into our lives today.
God's holiness is one of his most majestic and glorious attributes. God is separate, he is all together different from any other being in existence. He is totally unique, there is no other like him. When the prophet Isaiah had a divinely revealed vision of God on his throne, he saw angelic beings surrounding God's throne declaring to one another "“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isa 6:3). God's holiness should move us to worship.
God's goodness is expressed through His mercy, grace, and patience. He mercifully cares for those in distress, he graciously provides what we do not deserve, and he patiently withholds judgment, allowing more to come to him in faith and repentance. Join with me as we thank God for his goodness in our lives.
The last chapter of the Bible leaves us with no doubt that the fulfillment of Bible prophecy is near. In Revelation, chapter 22, we read, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place” (Rev. 22:6). “Behold, I am coming soon” (22:7). “The time is near” (22:10). “Behold, I am coming soon” (22:12). “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (22:20)
Prophecy is intended to motivate us toward godly living. Regarding End Time events the Apostle Peter writes, "Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?" (2 Peter 3:11)
Today fire is raging our of control in the Sierra National Forest of Northern California. Hume Lake Christian Conference Center is in the path of the fire and in danger of being destroyed. Please pray with me, along with many others, that God would miraculously spare Hume Lake and preserve its impact for future generations.
Bible prophecy scholar, Dr. Timothy LaHaye, writes, “Our generation has more reason to believe that Christ could return during our lifetime than any generation preceding us.” That statement should quicken our pulse and inform our lifestyle.
Bible prophecy is an extraordinary love story. The return of Jesus is the story of the Bridegroom returning for his bride, the Church, whom he has rescued from death. The exciting reality is that the return of the Bridegroom is very soon!
The Bible warns us that in the last days false teachers will increase and many will be led astray by their deception, believing instead the doctrines of demons. God has provided information regarding the end times in order to protect us from deception.
God promises a blessing for those who seek to understand and respond to what He is doing in human history. Prophecy produces poise in the face of uncertainty, comfort in the face of sorrow, and motivates godliness in the midst of an ungodly culture.
Nearly one third of the Bible is prophecy. Far from being trivial or insignificant, God wants his people to have an understanding and an anticipation of what the future holds. Prophecy is important to God therefore it needs to be important to us.
God has given each believer a unique blend of spiritual gifts (abilities, capacities). He has empowered you to contribute to the ministry of your church family. Are you exercising your gifts?
When the Apostle Paul wrote his letters, he was writing to all the believers in a city or region - not just to a single gathering. How can we more effectively impact our communities by uniting as the Church of our city?
How is your church being strategically used by God to take the gospel where it currently isn't? Join with me as we pray for World Missions.
When we live like Christ and love like Christ we will have a profound impact on our community.
The unity of the Church is intended by God to be a powerful witness to a watching world. No wonder Satan works overtime to stir disunity among those who know the truth of God's love, but fail to live it out in their daily life.
Many churches and denominations are slipping into compromise and ineffectiveness because they are denying the fundamental inspired truths of the bible.
The leadership of your local church need your prayers. Their personal spiritual vitality, their effectiveness in ministry, and their victory over spiritual warfare depend on the prayers of people like you who care.
Jesus is the master of transforming broken lives. Regardless of your need, if you desire a personal encounter with Jesus I invite you to join with me in prayer today.
Nicodemus was a very religious man but he didn't know God personally. It took an encounter with Jesus to open his eyes to the truth of the gospel. He discovered that knowing God didn't depend on his track record, but on Jesus' track record being credited to his life.
The unseen demonic realm is real. One man's encounter with Jesus delivered him from the self-destructive behaviors that Satan inspires. Join with me as we pray for the people in our life who are wrestling with destructive demons.
There is no greater example of radical life change than the Apostle Paul. As a result of encountering the risen Jesus, Paul was transformed from being a murderer to a missionary, declaring the truth he had violently opposed. Paul serves as a reminder that there is no life that cannot be transformed by encountering Jesus.
Which is the greater disability: physical blindness or spiritual blindness? Jesus healed both. In John chapter 9, He restored a man's sight who had been blind from birth, opening his eyes to the reality of who Jesus was. Join with me today as we have a life changing encounter with Jesus.
Thomas was a skeptic. While others were affirming their belief in the risen Jesus, Thomas refused to believe. Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited him to touch the wounds in his hands and side. Thomas moved from being a skeptic to a worshipper.
Jesus was constantly looking for opportunities to care for the deep needs of others. He wasn't looking for perfect people. He came to meet the needs of the broken, the lost, the immoral, and the desperate. As a result of Jesus' single encounter with a spiritually thirsty woman at a well, many came to know him as the source of life and personal transformation.
In the New Testament book of Revelation, Jesus declares, "I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown" (Rev. 3:11). Jesus is coming back! Now is not a time for weakness, giving up, or compromise. Now is the time to hold fast to his truth.
We can confidently hold on to God's truths and promises in any circumstance because He is faithful.
There is no greater guarantee of the reliability of the Bible than the promise, the oath, of almighty God himself. We can stand confidently on the principles and truths go God's word because He personally guarantees it. Our hope is secure because God's trust-worthiness is beyond question.
To effectively represent Jesus to a lost world we need to be men and women of the Word. We need to hold firmly to the message to be empowered messengers.
Faith is not passive. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called" (1 Tim. 6:11-12).
We are to use God's truth as our filter to evaluate and assess the cultural messages that bombard us every day. We are to discard what is contrary to God's word and hold fast to what is good.
To "hold fast" or "hold on" to something means that we tighten our grip with the intention of not letting go. To "hold" to Christ's teaching means that we grasp it, tighten our grip, and allow it to transform our lives. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).
In the Bible, Moses chose to endure being mistreated with God's people rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. There is so much in the world that promises fulfillment and satisfaction but is contrary to God's character and holiness. Eternal perspective equips us to make God honoring choices today, knowing the ultimate joy of tomorrow.
God says that we can't begin to imagine all the things He has in store for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). We can so easily satisfy ourselves with lesser things ... even damaging things. However, to make choices today in light of future realities requires eternal perspective.
Whatever you may be suffering today is not the end of the story. The Apostle Paul writes, "We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). That is eternal perspective!
What is the most valuable thing you possess? What did you have to pay to own it? The Bible tells us that our salvation was purchased "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). The price God paid for you and me moves us to worship and provides eternal perspective.
You can find people working out at fitness centers 24 hours per day. Our culture is obsessed with fitness and body image. The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to "train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:7-8). It's important to honor God with our bodies, but we also need to pursue spiritual fitness with the same discipline and commitment.
We don't want to be deceived by the allure of what the culture and the world system identifies as valuable. Rather, we want to embrace and store-up for ourselves what God reveals to be eternally worthwhile.
We can easily be deceived into thinking that all we see and experience is the ultimate reality. But Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Mt 24:35). The Bible provides an eternal perspective on ultimate reality. God's promises can be trusted and his commands are to be obeyed.
Prior to placing our faith in Jesus Christ we were hopeless. Our eternal destiny was to be separated from God for all eternity. But now by trusting in Jesus, He himself is our living hope. We are full of hope because of the reliability of God's word and God's Son.
Apart from faith in Jesus we were all separated from God and considered as strangers without hope. But as a result of placing our faith in Christ we can be brought near and made members of God's household. Join with me as we thank God for his amazing grace in our lives.