It's Time to Suit Up - By Greg Laurie -
"The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living." -Romans 13:12
Like it or not, as a follower of Jesus you will have people who show hostility toward you. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you" (John 15:18-19).
It's true. If you dare to speak up about Jesus Christ, watch what will happen. It's an entirely different paradigm. The world will treat you as Jesus was treated. This is the battle between God's seed and Satan's seed, which we can trace all the way back to the book of Genesis.
We have a choice as Christians. It isn't a choice of fighting or not fighting in the spiritual battle; it's a choice of victory or defeat, advancing or retreating. In the Christian life, either you are overcoming, or you will be overcome.
We're living in a very critical time. The devil knows his days are numbered. He knows his judgment is sure. Thus, he's doing everything he can to wreak as much havoc as possible until the day he faces his judgment. That is why we need to get busy. Every battle counts. Every day is important.
The Bible says, "The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living" (Romans 13:12).
It's time to suit up. But first, cast off those works of darkness. Be done with the compromising life. Be done with trying to live in both worlds. Let's suit up. Let's get busy. Let's engage. And let's watch what the Lord will do.
The Serpent in the Wilderness
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” (Numbers 21:8)
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” (Numbers 21:8)
This might seem an incredible story, but it was confirmed by none other than the Lord Jesus Himself: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).
A plague of poisonous snakes had infested the camp of Israel, sent as a divine judgment because of their complaints and ingratitude, and many people had died. When they confessed their sin and Moses prayed for their deliverance, God in His grace prescribed this unique remedy.
There is, of course, no naturalistic process that can heal a deadly snakebite merely by a look. Neither, of course, is there a naturalistic explanation for the salvation of a sin-poisoned soul merely by looking with faith upon the crucified Son of man. Both are mighty miracles, with the first being beautifully designed by God to be a prophetic foreshadowing of the other.
The symbolism is striking. The brass serpent impaled on the pole represented the poisonous serpents slain, but it also spoke of “that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan,” eventually cast forever into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:2, 10). Thus, it also symbolized the judgment on sin itself and its final banishment from God’s creation.
All of this, however, was only the symbol. The real deliverance required Christ to be made “sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Son of man must be lifted up on the cross, and then all who see Him, and believe, receive life instead of death. HMM
When Faith Wavers James 1:5-8
If we believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He has promised, why do so many of us habitually waver in our prayers? Instead of exercising bold faith, we come to the Lord “hoping” He will hear us and answer our requests, but we’re just not sure He will. With this kind of thinking, we cannot expect to receive anything from Him.
One reason we are so prone to doubt is that we fail to see God at work in our circumstances. We asked, and nothing happened. But the Lord is not some cosmic bellhop who jumps in response to our requests. He sees past, present, and future and knows the right time for every answer. His invisible hand is already at work on our behalf--arranging situations to accomplish His will, opening hearts,
and preparing us to receive what He wants to give.
Another cause for uncertainty is ignorance. If we don’t know God’s ways, we will be disappointed in His response. All too often our prayers are accompanied by expectations of how He will work. When He fails to intervene according to our timetable or anticipated method, we start to doubt. But placing our faith in the Lord and trusting in His good and perfect ways gives us stability as we wait for His answer.
To overcome doubts, spend time in the Word to learn God’s principles and ways. Then you’ll begin to grasp what He wants to achieve in your life and how He goes about it. Examine your past from a biblical perspective--faith will grow as you see the unexpected ways He answered your prayers.
The Remedy for Paralyzed Sinners & Fallen SaintsJohn Piper
God did his most deadly work to destroy hopelessness and futility and provincial cowardice. He gave up his Son to torture and death. A perfect life, a perfect death, and the decisive work was done.
But there are millions who are numb to hope because of the God-belittling things they have done and how ugly they have become. They don't lift lofty arguments against God's Truth; they shrug and feel irretrievably outside. They don't defy God consciously; they default to cake and television. Except for the periodic rush of sex and sport and cinema, life yawns. There is no passion for significance. For many, no passion at all.
There is a Christian version of this paralysis. The decision has been made to trust Christ. The shoot of hope and joy has sprung up. The long battle against sin has begun. But the defeats are many, and the plant begins to wither. One sees only clouds and gathering darkness. The problem is not perplexing doctrine or evolutionary assaults or threats of persecution. The problem is falling down too many times. Gradually the fatal feeling creeps in: the fight is futile; it isn't worth it.
Along with this hopelessness and futility, especially since 9/11, provincial cowardice captures many Christian minds. They fear that it may sound conceited to call every people group in the world to trust Christ or perish. It seems too global. Too sweeping. Too universal. To say it takes their breath away. And, worse, it brings down the wrath of the tolerant. What could be more arrogant than to think that the infinite variety of need in all the cultural groups of the world could be met by a single Savior!
It is astonishing that the biblical gospel of justification by faith alone answers these three human failures: the hopelessness of unbelievers, the feeling of futility from falling down, and the fear of making global claims for Christ.
To the numb and listless sinner, feeling beyond all hope of godliness, the Bible says, "To the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness" (Romans 4:5). God justifies the "ungodly." This truth is meant to break the back of hopelessness.
The connection between the sinner and the Savior is trust, not improvement of behavior. That comes later. It's this order that gives hope. "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28). The basis of this wild and wonderful hope (the ungodly justified) is "Christ for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4, literal translation). Through faith alone God counts the ungodly as righteous because of Christ. "For our sake [God] made [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let all who are paralyzed by the weight of sin and the powerlessness to change turn in here.
To the fallen saint, who knows the darkness is self-inflicted and feels the futility of looking for hope from a frowning Judge, the Bible gives a shocking example of gutsy guilt. It pictures God's failed prophet beneath a righteous frown, bearing his chastisement with broken-hearted boldness. "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light" (Micah 7:8-9). This is courageous contrition. Gutsy guilt. The saint has fallen. The darkness of God's indignation is on him. He does not blow it off, but waits. And he throws in the face of his accuser the confidence that his indignant Judge will plead his cause and execute justice for (not against) him. This is the application of justification to the fallen saint. Broken-hearted, gutsy guilt.
For the squeamish fellow afraid of making global claims for Christ, the biblical teaching on justification explodes his little world. It says: the deepest problem to be solved is the same for every human being, because every human is a descendant of Adam. And the problem to be solved is that "by one man's disobedience many were made sinners." "One trespass led to condemnation for all men." The only solution to this universal condemnation is a "second Adam" who provides "the free gift of righteousness" to all who hear the gospel and believe (Romans 5:17-19). Therefore Christ, the second Adam, the giver of righteousness, is the only global Savior.
Embrace as your treasure the gift of justification. There is no part of your life where it is not immeasurably precious.
With Christ
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)
One of the greatest doctrines of the Christian faith is the identification of Christ with His people in all the key events of His great work of salvation. For example, we are considered by God as dying with Him since He died for us. As Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).
Furthermore, when Christ was buried, we were in effect buried also. “We are buried with him by baptism into death” (Romans 6:4). Then we are also resurrected with Christ. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
But that is only the beginning of our great salvation. Christ then ascended to heaven, sat down on the right hand of the Father, and we are there with Him! “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. . . . And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).
Not even is this the end, for we are joint-heirs with Christ, as our text assures us. He has been “appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2), and we share His inheritance. “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:11-12).
Identified with Christ in His suffering, His death, His burial, His resurrection, His ascension, and then in His eternal reign! This is our position by faith. When He returns, it will become actuality, “and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). HMM
An Unlikely Leader - By Greg Laurie -
If we believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He has promised, why do so many of us habitually waver in our prayers? Instead of exercising bold faith, we come to the Lord “hoping” He will hear us and answer our requests, but we’re just not sure He will. With this kind of thinking, we cannot expect to receive anything from Him.
One reason we are so prone to doubt is that we fail to see God at work in our circumstances. We asked, and nothing happened. But the Lord is not some cosmic bellhop who jumps in response to our requests. He sees past, present, and future and knows the right time for every answer. His invisible hand is already at work on our behalf--arranging situations to accomplish His will, opening hearts,
and preparing us to receive what He wants to give.
Another cause for uncertainty is ignorance. If we don’t know God’s ways, we will be disappointed in His response. All too often our prayers are accompanied by expectations of how He will work. When He fails to intervene according to our timetable or anticipated method, we start to doubt. But placing our faith in the Lord and trusting in His good and perfect ways gives us stability as we wait for His answer.
To overcome doubts, spend time in the Word to learn God’s principles and ways. Then you’ll begin to grasp what He wants to achieve in your life and how He goes about it. Examine your past from a biblical perspective--faith will grow as you see the unexpected ways He answered your prayers.
The Remedy for Paralyzed Sinners & Fallen SaintsJohn Piper
God did his most deadly work to destroy hopelessness and futility and provincial cowardice. He gave up his Son to torture and death. A perfect life, a perfect death, and the decisive work was done.
But there are millions who are numb to hope because of the God-belittling things they have done and how ugly they have become. They don't lift lofty arguments against God's Truth; they shrug and feel irretrievably outside. They don't defy God consciously; they default to cake and television. Except for the periodic rush of sex and sport and cinema, life yawns. There is no passion for significance. For many, no passion at all.
There is a Christian version of this paralysis. The decision has been made to trust Christ. The shoot of hope and joy has sprung up. The long battle against sin has begun. But the defeats are many, and the plant begins to wither. One sees only clouds and gathering darkness. The problem is not perplexing doctrine or evolutionary assaults or threats of persecution. The problem is falling down too many times. Gradually the fatal feeling creeps in: the fight is futile; it isn't worth it.
Along with this hopelessness and futility, especially since 9/11, provincial cowardice captures many Christian minds. They fear that it may sound conceited to call every people group in the world to trust Christ or perish. It seems too global. Too sweeping. Too universal. To say it takes their breath away. And, worse, it brings down the wrath of the tolerant. What could be more arrogant than to think that the infinite variety of need in all the cultural groups of the world could be met by a single Savior!
It is astonishing that the biblical gospel of justification by faith alone answers these three human failures: the hopelessness of unbelievers, the feeling of futility from falling down, and the fear of making global claims for Christ.
To the numb and listless sinner, feeling beyond all hope of godliness, the Bible says, "To the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness" (Romans 4:5). God justifies the "ungodly." This truth is meant to break the back of hopelessness.
The connection between the sinner and the Savior is trust, not improvement of behavior. That comes later. It's this order that gives hope. "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28). The basis of this wild and wonderful hope (the ungodly justified) is "Christ for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4, literal translation). Through faith alone God counts the ungodly as righteous because of Christ. "For our sake [God] made [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let all who are paralyzed by the weight of sin and the powerlessness to change turn in here.
To the fallen saint, who knows the darkness is self-inflicted and feels the futility of looking for hope from a frowning Judge, the Bible gives a shocking example of gutsy guilt. It pictures God's failed prophet beneath a righteous frown, bearing his chastisement with broken-hearted boldness. "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light" (Micah 7:8-9). This is courageous contrition. Gutsy guilt. The saint has fallen. The darkness of God's indignation is on him. He does not blow it off, but waits. And he throws in the face of his accuser the confidence that his indignant Judge will plead his cause and execute justice for (not against) him. This is the application of justification to the fallen saint. Broken-hearted, gutsy guilt.
For the squeamish fellow afraid of making global claims for Christ, the biblical teaching on justification explodes his little world. It says: the deepest problem to be solved is the same for every human being, because every human is a descendant of Adam. And the problem to be solved is that "by one man's disobedience many were made sinners." "One trespass led to condemnation for all men." The only solution to this universal condemnation is a "second Adam" who provides "the free gift of righteousness" to all who hear the gospel and believe (Romans 5:17-19). Therefore Christ, the second Adam, the giver of righteousness, is the only global Savior.
Embrace as your treasure the gift of justification. There is no part of your life where it is not immeasurably precious.
| ||
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)
An Unlikely Leader - By Greg Laurie -
And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'" -Judges 7:2
The Israelites lived in fear of their enemies the Midianites. The Midianites had numbers so large, they were described in the Bible as being "as numerous as locusts" (Judges 6:5). They were everywhere, and the children of Israel were greatly outnumbered.
They needed to defeat the Midianites, but they needed someone to lead them. So God found a man named Gideon. When we're first introduced to Gideon in Judges 6, he was hiding from his enemies, threshing wheat. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (verse 12).
I can imagine Gideon looking around and saying, "Who? Are you talking to me?" If there was anything Gideon was not at that moment, it was a mighty man of valor. But through a series of events in Gideon's life, he was transformed and became a man of great courage. He summoned the people to go into battle against the Midianites.
Then the Lord came to Gideon one day and delivered a message that I'm sure he wasn't pleased to hear: his army was too big. Maybe Gideon said, "You're joking! I love it when You joke, Lord! Too big! We're already outnumbered, and we're too big!"
But God wasn't kidding. He didn't want anyone to say they defeated the Midianites in their own strength. So He gave Gideon a test for the men that would thin out the ranks. In the end, Gideon was left with 300 men. And with 300 men God defeated the Midianites.
You see, our numbers don't have to be large. God can do a lot with a little. And God can use little people to do big things. You are never too small for God to use, but you can be too big.
Descriptive Attributes of God
�And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.� (Acts 7:2)
�And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.� (Acts 7:2)
There are seven beautiful descriptive attributes of God mentioned in the New Testament. The first was used by Stephen, who called Him �the God of glory� as he gave his defense to the Jewish council just before he was martyred and indeed �saw the glory of God� (Acts 7:2, 55) himself as he finished his testimony.
The apostle Paul later called Him �the God of patience and consolation,� while urging his fellow Christians to be �likeminded one toward another� (Romans 15:5). In the same chapter, he also called Him �the God of hope� in a benedictory prayer: �Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing� (Romans 15:13).
To the Christians at Corinth, Paul wrote about �the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation� (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Then later he wrote that �the God of love� would be with them (2 Corinthians 13:11).
To both the Philippians and the Thessalonians, he wrote about �the God of peace� (Philippians 4:9). �And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly� (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
The seventh of these beautiful descriptions was written by the apostle Peter. �But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you� (1 Peter 5:10).
Recapitulating, in this logical Bible order, these seven beautiful attributes of God (we could almost call them �titles� of God) are as follows: He is the God of glory, the God of patience and consolation, the God of hope, the God of all comfort, the God of love, the God of peace, and the God of all grace! No wonder we can honor and adore Him! HMM
The High Cost of Wavering Faith Deuteronomy 1:19-40
God has given believers personalities, abilities, and spiritual gifts which will equip them to accomplish His specific plans for their lives. But each one must choose to step out in faith and obedience. At times the Lord challenges us to do something that seems beyond our ability, but if we back off, we�ll miss His awesome blessings.
Let�s learn from the Israelites who made several choices that led to unbelief, resulting in a lifetime of aimless wandering. They . . .
* Listened to the wrong voices. To walk obediently with the Lord, we need to guard ourselves from being swayed by those who don�t understand the greatness of our God. Not only that, but we must also learn to recognize the lies of Satan. He wants us to become ineffective, accomplishing little for the kingdom of God.
* Relied on human perspective.At times trusting God conflicts with human reasoning. But those who choose to trust Him--even when the external evidence points to an impossibility--will find that He is bigger than any obstacle.
* Let feelings overcome faith. Perhaps the biggest hindrances to obedience are fearand inadequacy. An internal focus is a trust killer. The way to overcome our feelings is to rely on the Lord and His promises. He will equip us for whatever He calls us to do.
Every challenging call to obedience is a fork in the road of our lives. To go the way of unbelief will lead to a lifetime of regret and aimless wandering, but to courageously trust God and do what He says will result in the greatest blessing of your life. The choice is yours.
His Son's Name
�Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his Son�s name, if thou canst tell?� (Proverbs 30:4)
The obvious answer to these rhetorical questions must center in God, the Creator of all things. But the fascinating revelation in this Old Testament passage is that God has a Son and that both have names.
When Moses asked God His name, �God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am . . . . This is my name for ever� (Exodus 3:14-15). Later, Moses, in his song of deliverance, said: �The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name� (Exodus 15:3). The name Lord (Hebrew Jehovah or Yahweh) means, essentially, �I am, the self-existent one.�
As far as His Son�s name is concerned, it is revealed in Scripture in many ways. In the Old Testament prophecy, �His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace� (Isaiah 9:6). How remarkable that a �Son is given� who is also named the mighty God and everlasting Father!
In His incarnation, the angel commanded Joseph, �Thou shalt call his name Jesus� (�Jehovah saves�), but he also said, �They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us� (Matthew 1:21, 23).
There are many other titles by which the Son of God is identified, but perhaps the most significant are noted in connection with His final return in triumph. �His name is called The Word of God� (Revelation 19:13), identifying Him as both eternal Creator and incarnate Savior (John 1:1-3, 14). As our eternal King, �he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords� (Revelation 19:16). HMM
The Basis for Discernment
Hebrews 4:12-13
Since spiritual discernment is the ability to see life from God's perspective, it requires that we know how He thinks and acts. The Bible is His unchanging, infallible revelation of Himself. However, the Lord doesn't simply give us a list of facts about His character and ways. All throughout the pages of Scripture, He illustrates who He is and how He operates.
Although the Bible is ancient, it's not a dead book. It's alive and as fresh as if He were speaking directly to you. The stories may have taken place centuries ago, but the principles and applications are current and relevant. It's our instruction book about how to live. Guidance for decisions and discernment about situations are found from Genesis to Revelation.
God's Word is active and piercing. The words don't simply sit on the page. They penetrate our hearts and judge our thoughts and motives. This convicting quality is why some people don't like to read the Bible. But self-discernment is essential if we don't want to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Some Christians live on a surface level, never understanding why they react to situations the way they do. But if we'll approach the Word of God with an open spirit, it will bring to light our hidden motives and reveal unrecognized sins.
Spiritual discernment involves seeing not just our circumstances but also ourselves from God's perspective. Have you learned to embrace the piercing sword of Scripture, or have you avoided doing so because it makes you uncomfortable? Remember, God's Word cuts only so that it can heal.
God has given believers personalities, abilities, and spiritual gifts which will equip them to accomplish His specific plans for their lives. But each one must choose to step out in faith and obedience. At times the Lord challenges us to do something that seems beyond our ability, but if we back off, we�ll miss His awesome blessings.
Let�s learn from the Israelites who made several choices that led to unbelief, resulting in a lifetime of aimless wandering. They . . .
* Listened to the wrong voices. To walk obediently with the Lord, we need to guard ourselves from being swayed by those who don�t understand the greatness of our God. Not only that, but we must also learn to recognize the lies of Satan. He wants us to become ineffective, accomplishing little for the kingdom of God.
* Relied on human perspective.At times trusting God conflicts with human reasoning. But those who choose to trust Him--even when the external evidence points to an impossibility--will find that He is bigger than any obstacle.
* Let feelings overcome faith. Perhaps the biggest hindrances to obedience are fearand inadequacy. An internal focus is a trust killer. The way to overcome our feelings is to rely on the Lord and His promises. He will equip us for whatever He calls us to do.
Every challenging call to obedience is a fork in the road of our lives. To go the way of unbelief will lead to a lifetime of regret and aimless wandering, but to courageously trust God and do what He says will result in the greatest blessing of your life. The choice is yours.
His Son's Name
�Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his Son�s name, if thou canst tell?� (Proverbs 30:4)
The Basis for Discernment
Hebrews 4:12-13
Since spiritual discernment is the ability to see life from God's perspective, it requires that we know how He thinks and acts. The Bible is His unchanging, infallible revelation of Himself. However, the Lord doesn't simply give us a list of facts about His character and ways. All throughout the pages of Scripture, He illustrates who He is and how He operates.
Although the Bible is ancient, it's not a dead book. It's alive and as fresh as if He were speaking directly to you. The stories may have taken place centuries ago, but the principles and applications are current and relevant. It's our instruction book about how to live. Guidance for decisions and discernment about situations are found from Genesis to Revelation.
God's Word is active and piercing. The words don't simply sit on the page. They penetrate our hearts and judge our thoughts and motives. This convicting quality is why some people don't like to read the Bible. But self-discernment is essential if we don't want to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Some Christians live on a surface level, never understanding why they react to situations the way they do. But if we'll approach the Word of God with an open spirit, it will bring to light our hidden motives and reveal unrecognized sins.
Spiritual discernment involves seeing not just our circumstances but also ourselves from God's perspective. Have you learned to embrace the piercing sword of Scripture, or have you avoided doing so because it makes you uncomfortable? Remember, God's Word cuts only so that it can heal.
Don't Underestimate the Enemy - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." -John 10:10
A story is told of a boxer who was being badly beaten in a match. He leaned over to his trainer and yelled, "Throw in the towel! This guy is killing me!"
His trainer yelled back, "He is not! He's not even hitting you! He hasn't even laid a glove on you!"
The dazed boxer said, "Then I wish you would watch that referee, because someone sure is hitting me!"
In the same way, our culture is getting hit. Our kids are being hit. And they don't even know who is hitting them.
One of the most brilliant strategies Satan has managed to pull off is convincing people he doesn't exist while he manipulates their lives. He is active. And really, this is the only plausible explanation for the horrible, depraved wickedness that mankind is capable of.
If you believe the premise that people are basically good, then you have more faith than I do-or maybe you're a bigger fool. People are basically bad. And the devil works through the fallen nature of people, getting them to do evil.
God gives everyone a choice in life called free will, the ability to say yes or no. Romans 6:16 says, "Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living."
Jesus summed it up succinctly when He said, "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life" (John 10:10). There is your choice in life: God or the devil.
Don't underestimate the devil. He's a sly and skillful foe. And he has had many years of experience in honing his craft.
Our Understanding of Creation
�Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.� (Nehemiah 9:6)
�Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.� (Nehemiah 9:6)
The Bible clearly states that God created the �heaven, and earth, the sea and all that in them is� (Exodus 20:11) out of nothing. �Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear� (Hebrews 11:3). The first verse of the Bible, �In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,� could be paraphrased: God called into existence the space�mass�time (i.e., heavens�earth�beginning) universe. Evidently before creation, nothing now intrinsic to the universe existed at all.
While this teaching is clear, not hard to understand, it is hard to believe. Such ex nihilo (i.e., out of nothing) creation is so foreign to our experience that it can only be comprehended as God reveals it to us. We are taught that His creative work was finished at the end of the sixth day of the creation week (Genesis 2:1-4). With the exception of certain of the miracles of Christ on Earth, such creation has not occurred since, and we have difficulty believing it could happen, so foreign is it to our experience.
Our difficulty stems primarily from the fact that we are sinful creatures; our minds are hampered by sin. �The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned� (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Since the doctrine of creation is foundational to the rest of Scripture, we dare not neglect it just because it is difficult, and we dare not impose our feeble naturalistic reasonings onto the clear teaching of Genesis 1 and related passages, thereby reducing God�s power to mere human abilities. JDM
Devoted to God Psalms 62:1-2
Having been saved by faith in Christ, we express our love and gratitude through devotion to Him. Regular Bible study and prayer will be an integral part of our daily lives. In addition, our commitment to the Lord will be revealed through a passion to obey, a spirit of humility, and a servant's heart.
This man after God's own heart was devoted to his Lord. He sought to know Him and longed to carry out His will. David's actions reflected His humble attitude of servanthood and his longing to please his heavenly Father. Take steps each day to be sure your life expresses commitment to Jesus.
Make Every Day Count - By Greg Laurie -
1 Timothy 1:5-7
Let your conscience be your guide. This bit of folk wisdom seems to make sense since our conscience is designed to help us discern right from wrong. However, people cannot always trust their internal radar to steer them correctly; this is the case particularly with unbelievers, who don�t have the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and offer guidance for wise decisions. And while Christians do have God�s indwelling Spirit, they should be careful not to harbor sin in their lives, as that can interfere with the way their morality sensor functions.
A trustworthy conscience is programmed with scriptural teaching. Believers build a stable and sensitive spiritual radar system by applying God�s truth to their lives. They are committed to thinking and acting in ways that honor and please the Lord. Then, when sinful thoughts or choices come across that radar, it will deliver a sharp warning.
A person with a reliable conscience will have a strong desire to obey God. He won�t settle for what feels right or looks good, but instead prayerfully seeks the Lord�s will. In other words, he does not rely solely on his conscience but incorporates all of the Holy Spirit�s tools into his daily life: Scripture, prayer, etc. Moreover, when his spiritual radar sounds the alarm, he is quick to draw back and reject unwise choices.
A conscience isn�t designed to beour guide; it is a tool of theGuide. The Holy Spirit not only convicts us of sin, but He also brings to mind godly principles and leads us on a righteous path. He uses a variety of tools to conform us to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29).
The Ministry of the Saints
�Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their�s and our�s.� (1 Corinthians 1:2)
This salutation to those �called saints� at Corinth (the words �to be� are not in the original) makes it clear that all who �in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord� are the saints of God. The word �saint� means �one who is sanctified� or �set apart,� having been called to serve the Lord.
That service is varied, and many striking figures of speech are used in the Bible to describe it. In the first place, the saints are �witnesses unto me� (Acts 1:8) and, therefore, �ambassadors for Christ� (2 Corinthians 5:20). The words and deeds of believers are to serve as an actual Bible to those who may not read God�s Word. �Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart� (2 Corinthians 3:3).
Christ applied the figure of candlesticks to the churches addressed in Revelation, with Himself in the midst (Revelation 1:12-13). Similarly, we are enjoined to �shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life� (Philippians 2:15-16). This light is not merely the light of a godly life, but the light of God�s revealed truth, for we constitute �the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth� (1 Timothy 3:15).
In relation to Christ, we constitute �the body of Christ, and members in particular� (1 Corinthians 12:27) and have been presented �as a chaste virgin to Christ� (2 Corinthians 11:2). One day we shall reign with Him as �kings and priests unto God� (Revelation 1:6). HMM
God Uses the Wicked
Genesis 37
When we don't understand what God is doing or why, His ways can seem perplexing. The times when ungodly people seem to triumph over the righteous make us scratch our heads and wonder why the Lord doesn't intervene. But the truth is, He often uses the wicked to accomplish His purpose.
Joseph faced one hard-hearted individual after another during his years in exile. His brothers shipped him off to Egypt. His boss's wife accused him of an unspeakable crime. And even those he helped, like Pharaoh's cupbearer, forgot about him (Gen. 40:23). The actions (or seeming inactions) of God make little sense at this point.
But once the story of Joseph's life was written in full, it was clear that everyone who harmed or neglected the young man contributed to God's plan. The Lord used numerous people across several years to bring a humbled young Hebrew unexpectedly to power at the right moment to spare his family--who were the Messiah's ancestors--from the effects of famine.
In our circumstances, we can see God's actions only from the limited vantage point of our humanness. We experience the events He has allowed or caused but can't discern what He is thinking. Often the Lord's goals and purposes are hidden from us until His plans come to fruition.
God is sovereign over all the earth. We may wonder at the strange or even terrifying turns our lives take, but we can be certain that He is in control and at work. The wicked may triumph for a season, but the final, eternal victory belongs to Christ and His righteous followers.
Don't Even Think about It - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Having been saved by faith in Christ, we express our love and gratitude through devotion to Him. Regular Bible study and prayer will be an integral part of our daily lives. In addition, our commitment to the Lord will be revealed through a passion to obey, a spirit of humility, and a servant's heart.
- Obedience. David sought to obey God all his life. As a shepherd boy, he faithfully tended the animals in his father's fields. While king, he set aside his desire to build the temple and let Solomon lead the effort, as God had commanded. Although David lived imperfectly, his desire was to do what the Lord asked. We see from Jesus' words in John 14:15 that obedience should be our high priority as well: He said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
- Humility. After David killed Goliath, the crowds shouted praise about the young man. However, he did not become prideful. Instead, he remained in King Saul's service and waited for God to make him the ruler of Israel. Even as king, he remained humble. He knew that what had been accomplished was because of the Lord's actions and not his own (2 Sam. 7:18).
- Service. Whether David was a lowly shepherd or a mighty king, his goal was to obey God and serve Him.
This man after God's own heart was devoted to his Lord. He sought to know Him and longed to carry out His will. David's actions reflected His humble attitude of servanthood and his longing to please his heavenly Father. Take steps each day to be sure your life expresses commitment to Jesus.
Make Every Day Count - By Greg Laurie -
Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" -Job 1:8
Whenever I read the book of Job, my first thought is, "Lord, if you ever happen to feel particularly proud of me, would you keep it to yourself? Don't brag if Lucifer is around" (not that He would).
Job 1 shows us that the devil has access to the throne of God, even after the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We also see that in spite of his power and wicked agenda, he must ask permission when it comes to the child of God because of a hedge of protection the Lord has placed around us.
Having said that, when your number is up, your number is up. We all have to die one day. No one has a guarantee of living to the age of 90 or 100, or even 50, 60, or 80. We don't know when our time will come. Therefore, we want to always be ready to meet God and make every single day count. Don't say you will get right with God in your old age. You might not have the luxury of old age. Serve Him now, whatever your age may be.
In the New Testament we read of Jesus saying to Peter, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail" (Luke 22:31-32).
This is a reminder that when the devil comes knocking at your door, it's a good thing to say, "Lord, would You mind getting that?" We don't want to answer, because we are no match for the devil. Though he is a powerful foe, he certainly is not as powerful as God. We don't want to tangle with him. We want to stand behind God's protection.
Can You Trust Your Conscience?1 Timothy 1:5-7
Let your conscience be your guide. This bit of folk wisdom seems to make sense since our conscience is designed to help us discern right from wrong. However, people cannot always trust their internal radar to steer them correctly; this is the case particularly with unbelievers, who don�t have the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and offer guidance for wise decisions. And while Christians do have God�s indwelling Spirit, they should be careful not to harbor sin in their lives, as that can interfere with the way their morality sensor functions.
A trustworthy conscience is programmed with scriptural teaching. Believers build a stable and sensitive spiritual radar system by applying God�s truth to their lives. They are committed to thinking and acting in ways that honor and please the Lord. Then, when sinful thoughts or choices come across that radar, it will deliver a sharp warning.
A person with a reliable conscience will have a strong desire to obey God. He won�t settle for what feels right or looks good, but instead prayerfully seeks the Lord�s will. In other words, he does not rely solely on his conscience but incorporates all of the Holy Spirit�s tools into his daily life: Scripture, prayer, etc. Moreover, when his spiritual radar sounds the alarm, he is quick to draw back and reject unwise choices.
A conscience isn�t designed to beour guide; it is a tool of theGuide. The Holy Spirit not only convicts us of sin, but He also brings to mind godly principles and leads us on a righteous path. He uses a variety of tools to conform us to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29).
The Ministry of the Saints
�Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their�s and our�s.� (1 Corinthians 1:2)
God Uses the Wicked
Genesis 37
When we don't understand what God is doing or why, His ways can seem perplexing. The times when ungodly people seem to triumph over the righteous make us scratch our heads and wonder why the Lord doesn't intervene. But the truth is, He often uses the wicked to accomplish His purpose.
Joseph faced one hard-hearted individual after another during his years in exile. His brothers shipped him off to Egypt. His boss's wife accused him of an unspeakable crime. And even those he helped, like Pharaoh's cupbearer, forgot about him (Gen. 40:23). The actions (or seeming inactions) of God make little sense at this point.
But once the story of Joseph's life was written in full, it was clear that everyone who harmed or neglected the young man contributed to God's plan. The Lord used numerous people across several years to bring a humbled young Hebrew unexpectedly to power at the right moment to spare his family--who were the Messiah's ancestors--from the effects of famine.
In our circumstances, we can see God's actions only from the limited vantage point of our humanness. We experience the events He has allowed or caused but can't discern what He is thinking. Often the Lord's goals and purposes are hidden from us until His plans come to fruition.
God is sovereign over all the earth. We may wonder at the strange or even terrifying turns our lives take, but we can be certain that He is in control and at work. The wicked may triumph for a season, but the final, eternal victory belongs to Christ and His righteous followers.
Don't Even Think about It - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." -2 Corinthians 11:3
It is in the human mind that we can commit some horrible sins. We can reach into the past through our memories, and we can reach into the future through our imaginations. And often when the devil wants to tempt us, he will get us to simply think about something.
"You don't have to do it," he'll whisper. "Just think about it. That's all. It doesn't have to go any further than this." That's how Eve was hit: Eve, check it out. Have you ever seen a piece of fruit like this?
Satan attacked Eve's mind. The apostle Paul wrote, "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Why do we get tempted in our minds? Because it is command central. It is here that we reason. It is here that we contemplate. It is here that we even fantasize. It is here that we dream. The Bible says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
First you think about it. Then it transfers into your actions. After a while, thinking about it isn't enough. After a while, fantasizing about it isn't enough. You want to take it to the next level. So you start flirting. You start touching. You start tasting of it. You start playing with it. And the next thing you know, you are caught up in it.
The devil is subtle. He wants to get you to dabble. Stop listening to him. He is a liar.
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