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Saturday, July 18, 2015

DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 7.17.15

The Signs of Drifting Hebrews 2:1-3
Regularly gathering in the house of the Lord with brothers and sisters in Christ provides an "anchor" of support and accountability. But skipping church in order to pursue other interests is an obvious sign that a believer has begun to drift away from God. Less apparent are the men and women who mentally skip the worship service. The act of attending means nothing unless we make a deliberate decision to receive God's Word and apply it to our life. As the writer of Hebrews warned, if we do not pay attention to what we have heard, we will drift away from it (2:1).
However, Sunday morning is not the only time for receiving a steady diet of nourishing principles and encouragement from the Bible. We should be in its pages every day, reading and meditating for ourselves. When our interest in what God has to say decreases, we're already slipping out into troublesome waters. The only way to keep our way pure is by following His Word (Ps. 119:9).
If Bible reading is neglected, a prayer life has usually faded as well. Prayer is the way believers communicate with the Navigator. If we stop talking with Him, the God who once seemed so close soon feels far away. That chasm in our spirit is one more sign that we're far from shore and safety.

I've watched many a captain guide his cruise ship through a narrow channel. The crew members are intensely focused on their tasks because drifting means disaster. Life is full of narrow channels to navigate. We cannot afford to drift away from God and His Word. Only He can bring us safely through.
 
Never Say Amen
TRACIE MILES
"Never stop praying." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
"Are you still talking with her?" I asked my daughter Kaitlyn. She'd been texting with a friend for what seemed like hours.
She nodded and continued texting.
"I just don't see how you can have that much to talk about. Does the conversation ever end?" I asked.
"Nope," she proudly exclaimed. "We never really end the conversation or say goodbye. We just take breaks and then pick back up later where we left off."
I rolled my eyes and suggested she force herself to take a break, or I might just help her take a really long break from her phone altogether. We chuckled as she slid the phone into her pocket.
As I thought back to her answer, it made me wonder about my conversations . particularly with God. How might my relationship with God grow if I simply never said, "Amen"? If I just kept the conversation going all day, picking back up where we left off or talking about new things?
In today's key verse, Paul urges us to pray continually. Not because God requires it, but because our hearts long to feel close to Him.
Talking with God throughout the day invites Him into even the smallest details of our lives. Of course He doesn't need us to fill Him in on our problems, prayer requests and praises. Instead, we receive the blessing because we will feel His presence throughout each and every day.
Just as my heart leaped at the idea of continual conversation with God, my mind chimed in with logistics: How can I possibly pray all the time when I obviously have other thoughts going through my mind? How can I stay focused on prayer in the midst of the chaos of work, to-do lists, daily obligations, frustrations, parenting and busyness?
Praying continually doesn't mean we have to stay on our knees all day and never stop to do anything else. It simply means maintaining an attitude of prayer. A mindset that God is always there, like a trusted friend walking beside us or merely one text away. A friend with whom we can jump back into the conversation - with confidence that He will be there.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (NLT). Having a heart attitude of prayer simply means developing a focus on joy and gratitude.
When we focus on the good, instead of the bad, we develop a mental attitude of thankfulness. When our hearts are full of thankfulness for God, we will find ourselves longing to talk with Him more and more and learning to recognize His holy whispers.
We must be aware that Satan will do everything in his power to distract us and try to keep us from having an attitude of prayer and thankfulness. He knows the more time we spend talking with God, the more we will depend on Him and trust Him with our whole hearts.
I can keep my daughter from having a never-ending texting conversation, but no one can keep us from having an ongoing conversation with the Most High. Nothing can stand in the way of us conversing with God unless we let it, and prayer is a conversation worth continuing and never saying "Amen."
Lord, fill me with a desire to talk with You all day long and to feel Your Spirit leading me through our conversations. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
How We Answer Our Own Prayers
KAREN EHMAN
"Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.'" Luke 11:1 (ESV)
A group of teenagers and I sat cross-legged on the church lawn, soaking in the warm summer sunshine. We'd just taken a break from a group game to sip something cold and visit. One of the girls had just returned from a mission trip in a developing nation and I couldn't wait to hear about her experience.
"So, Renee, tell us about your trip." I inquired. "What is the one thing you think you will remember the most?"
I imagined her answer would have something to do with a child who captured her heart with a sweet smile. Or a church service she attended that was so very different from ours. Neither of these guesses were right.
"Oh, that's easy. I will always remember it was on this trip when I learned how easy it is in our culture to answer our own prayers."
Her statement stunned me for a moment. I wondered, What in the world did she mean by that? Answer our own prayers? Only God answers prayer, right? But before I could pipe up and ask her to explain further, she continued.
"You see, here in America, we bow our heads and say grace and ask God to 'give us this day our daily bread.' And then? We hop in our cars, run down to the grocery store and buy a loaf or two. We ask Him to keep us safe and warm. Then parents buy their kids the best car seats available, and we crank up the furnace whenever we feel chilly. It is so easy in our culture to provide the answer to our own prayers. But the people I met on the trip? They pray God will give them their daily bread, not knowing if they will have enough food to feed their families that night. Their prayers are bold. They ask God for things they can't always provide for themselves."
I had never thought of this concept before and it caused me to think about two things.
First, I want to use my abundance to help answer someone else's prayers. To share the privilege I have been given with others.
Second, I need to learn to pray bold prayers, asking God for the things that only He can bring about. That is if they are in accordance with His will. To pray for requests in my life beyond the, "Lord, keep us safe and warm and well-fed. Amen." routine we can often fall into.
Today's key verse from Luke 11 gives me hope that I'm not alone in thinking my prayer life could use a makeover. Luke 11:1 reminds us that even the disciples wanted help learning how to pray. They saw Jesus praying and desired to follow His example.
Ephesians 3:20-21 tells us God can do things we can't even dream of. Even provide answers to questions that we often hesitate to even ask. This suggests we can be daring when we pray, asking God for great things done only in His great strength.
My little chat with this spiritually sensitive teen changed me. I began to work into my prayers not only requests that God would help me be attentive to those who need my help, but also that He would help me make bold requests I can't possibly answer myself. And then, that I would stand back and - in faith - watch Him work.
How about you? Is your prayer list full of items you can cross off yourself? Perhaps it's time you, too, began to ask, "Lord, teach me to pray."
Father, teach me to pray more boldly. May I be both generous in giving and faith-filled in my prayers. Help me pray more confident prayers that can't be answered on my own and can only happen through Your power. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
How to Cry Out to God
Matthew 14:29-30
The phone rings, and you answer. A sullen voice informs you of a tragedy. Your heart is so heavy that you feel as though you could die. What do you do?
Bad news, danger, and pain all cause us to look for help. As believers, we dwell with the almighty God, who is able to aid us. At those moments when we are sideswiped by life's circumstances, we should cry out to Him.
In the Bible, crying out refers to speaking audibly with great emotion concerning an urgent need. God invites us to use this form of prayer to communicate that we desperately need His mercy.
It takes both faith and humility to share our heart's concern aloud. Crying out, then, is a way for God's children to express trust in the Lord's ability and willingness to help. By calling upon Him with such urgency, wealso lay down our pride and any attitude of self-sufficiency.
The Word of God assures us that our Father hears our cries and responds. In Psalm 3:4, for example, David wrote, "I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and He answered from His holy mountain." When we call aloud for help in Jesus' name, we invite His power into the situation. Remember that there is strength in just speaking His name.
When we cry out to God, He may remove the problem immediately, yet we often have to wait for His perfect timing. Harsh circumstances might even be allowed to remain for His good purposes. But we can always count on His comfort and presence, which enable us to live with joy and hope.
Developing Faith through Adversity
2 Corinthians 11:23-30
It doesn't seem fair, does it? Paul spent his life serving Christ, and yet he experienced continual suffering. Why would God let one of His most faithful servants go through so much pain? This isn't just a question about Paul; it's an issue we face today. In our minds, the Lord should protect His loyal followers from hardships, but He doesn't necessarily do so.
Maybe our reasoning is backwards. We think faithful Christians don't deserve to suffer, but from God's perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, we'd never really know God, because we'd never need Him. Like it or not, adversity teaches us more about the Lord than simply reading the Bible ever will.
I'm not saying we don't need to know Scripture; that's our foundation for faith. But if what we believe is never tested by adversity, it remains head knowledge. How will we ever know the Lord can be trusted in the midst of trouble if we've never been challenged by hardship? God gives us opportunities to apply scriptural truths to the difficulties facing us, and in the process, we find Him faithful. For example, how would Paul ever have known the strength of Christ if he had never been weakened by pain, persecution, and adversity?

Depending on your response, trials can be God's greatest means of building faith or an avenue to discouragement and self-pity. If you'll believe what Scripture says and apply its principles to your situation, your trust in God will grow, and your faith will be strengthened through adversity.
Peace, Joy, and Contentment 
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Discouragement can rob peace, joy, and contentment. But I have great news if you feel disheartened: You're not stuck!
I've known people who appeared to be in an impossible situation. A few years later, however, they were in a terrific place, either in terms of their circumstances or their emotions. The reason? They never gave up. Instead of sulking in self-pity, they chose to believe God, step out in faith, and climb out of the emotional pit.
Nehemiah is a good example. He had every reason to feel defeated, because his people were in trouble. After receiving news that the city wall had been destroyed, this man of God acknowledged profound disappointment and grieved. Though pain flooded his soul, he didn't allow himself to stay in that low place. Instead, Nehemiah cried out to God, seeking direction.
Sadness in the presence of royalty was punishable by death. But the Lord answered Nehemiah's prayer with amazing power, prompting the king to notice his servant's sad countenance and then toask what he could do to help. This miracle led to the rebuilding of the wall and the redemption of God's people.
The Lord can take an impossible situation-no matter what it is-and move in ways mightier than you can imagine.
Do you live in eager expectation of what the Lord will do? Or have you chosen to linger in the depths of despair? Like Nehemiah, turn your disappointment into a petition for God's help. He can restore your hope and prevent negative emotions from gaining a stranglehold on your life.
The Source of Our Adversity
Isaiah 45:5-10
When we experience hardships, we usually wonder why God allows these painful situations to come our way. It just doesn't seem to fit with His role as our loving heavenly Father. We struggle to reconcile our suffering with His love for us and His power to prevent or stop it. In order to understand what's going on, we need to consider the possible sources of adversity.
A Fallen World: When sin entered the world, suffering came with it. God could have protected us from these harmful effects by making us like puppets who could not choose sin, but that would mean we'd also be unable to choose to love Him, because love must be voluntary.
Our Own Doing: Sometimes we get ourselves into trouble with our foolish or sinful choices. If the Lord stepped in and rescued us from every negative consequence, we'd never grow into mature believers.
Satanic Attack: The Devil is our enemy. To hinder anything the Lord wants to do in and through believers, Satan will never cease to harass us. His goal is to destroy our lives and our testimonies, thereby making us weak and useless for God's purposes.
God's Sovereignty: Ultimately, the Lord is in charge of all adversity that comes our way. To deny His involvement contradicts His power and sovereignty over creation.

For us to accept that God allows--or even sends--afflictions, we must see adversity from His perspective. Is your focus on the pain of your experience or on the Lord and His faithfulness? As believers, we're assured that no adversity comes our way unless He can use it to achieve His good purposes.
Exceeding Greatness
"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power." (Ephesians 1:19)
 
There are a number of scriptural superlatives that convey something of the tremendous magnitude of our great salvation. These are marked by the adjective "exceeding," which in the Greek implies essentially boundless, surpassing dimensions of the attributes it describes.
 
First of all, as our text implies, His power available to us is one of exceeding greatness. Its magnitude is measured by the power required to bring Christ back again from death and Hades.
 
Consider also the measure of His grace, "that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7). His grace has saved us when we were dead in sins, but this is only a small token. In the ages to come, we will experience His grace as one of exceeding riches.
 
Then there is the wonderful peace of God. "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). In this verse, the word "passeth" is the same word. Paul is saying that God's peace is one exceeding understanding.
 
Finally, consider His glory. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). The future eternal glory is one of exceeding weight, or abundance.
 
Thus, the infinite blessings and resources of our salvation in Christ are described as providing the power of surpassing greatness, the grace of surpassing richness, the peace which surpasses all understanding, and the eternal glory of surpassing abundance! All of this is freely available "to us-ward who believe." HMM
The Shame of Entropy
"I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?" (1 Corinthians 6:5)
 
The word for "shame" in this verse is the Greek entrope, meaning "turning inward" or "inversion." It is used only one other time, in 1 Corinthians 15:34: "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." Evidently this special variety of shame is associated with taking controversies between Christian brethren to ungodly judges and also with failing to witness to the non-Christian community. Instead of bringing the true wisdom of God to the ungodly, such "entropic Christians" were turning to worldly wisdom to resolve their own spiritual problems. This inverted behavior was nothing less than spiritual confusion!
 
The modern scientific term "entropy" is essentially this same Greek word. In science, entropy is a measure of disorder in any given system. The universal law of increasing entropy states that every system tends to disintegrate into disorder, or confusion, if left to itself. This tendency can only be reversed if ordering energy is applied to it effectively from a source outside the system.
 
This universal scientific law has a striking parallel in the spiritual realm. A person turning inward to draw on his own bank of power, or seeking power from an ineffective outside source, will inevitably deteriorate eventually into utter spiritual confusion and death. But when Christ enters the life, that person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through the Holy Spirit and through the Holy Scriptures, "his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). The law of spiritual entropy is transformed into the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2). HMM
 The Rain and the Word
"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11)
 
In these familiar verses, there is a beautiful anticipation and spiritual application of the so-called "hydrologic cycle" of the science of hydrogeology. The rain and snow fall from the heavens and eventually return there (via the marvelous process of river and ground water run-off to the oceans), then later evaporation by solar radiation and translation inland high in the sky by the world's great wind circuits, finally to fall again as rain and snow on the thirsty land, beginning the cycle once more.
 
But they do not return until they first have accomplished their work of watering the earth, providing and renewing the world's water and food supplies to maintain its life.
 
Analogously, God's Word goes forth from heaven via His revealed Scriptures and their distribution and proclamation by His disciples. It does not return void, for it accomplishes God's spiritual work on Earth. But it does return, for it is "for ever . . . settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89).
 
The fruitful spreading of God's Word is presented in many other Scriptures. For example: "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. . . . In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good" (Ecclesiastes 11:1, 6).
 
Thus, as we sow and water the seed-which is the Word of God-we have God's divine promise that it will accomplish that which He pleases. HMM
 
Resurrection in the Old Testament
"Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." (Isaiah 26:19)
 
Some have argued that the doctrine of a bodily resurrection was unknown to the Israelites of the Old Testament. In fact, this denial was a cardinal doctrine of the sect of the Sadducees at the time of Christ (Matthew 22:23).
 
Our text, however, makes it clear that this promise has always been known to the people of God. Long before Isaiah's time, Job had said: "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And . . . in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:25-26). After the time of Isaiah, the promise was still known. "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). Such promises were not referring to some vague "immortality of the soul," as taught in pagan religions, but to resurrection of the body!
 
First, however, the Creator must become man, die for the sins of the world, and defeat death by His own bodily resurrection. In our text, in fact, Christ is saying that Old Testament believers would be raised "together with my dead body." This was literally fulfilled when "the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many" (Matthew 27:52-53). Then, when Jesus first ascended to heaven (John 20:17), He led those who had been in "captivity" in the grave with Him into heaven (Ephesians 4:8). All who have trusted Christ in the Christian era will likewise be raised from the dead when He comes again. He has defeated death and has promised, "because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19). HMM
 
The Good Seed
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11)
 
The Word of God is pictured by many beautiful symbols in the Scriptures, and perhaps one of the most meaningful is that of the seed, sown in the field of the world by the great sower, the Lord Jesus Christ. The first reference to seed sowing in the Bible is in the story of Isaac, who "sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him" (Genesis 26:12).
 
Now Isaac himself was the "seed" of God's promise to Abraham, and he was a precursive fulfillment of the ultimate promised "seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16). Isaac's sowing of literal seed in the land of the Philistines is thus a type of Christ's sowing of spiritual seed throughout the world. As Isaac's sowing brought forth a hundredfold, so the beautiful parable of the sower indicates that at least some of the seed "fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold" (Luke 8:8).
 
Although not all seed will come to fruition, it must be sown throughout the world. Some of the seed will bear fruit, for God has said "that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be . . . it shall not return unto me void" (Isaiah 55:10-11). "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Peter 1:23).
 
The first of Christ's parables is this parable of the sower. The second, complementing the first, indicates that the seed is not only God's Word, but also God's children-those regenerated through the Word. "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:37-38). Thus we also become sowers of the Word, witnessing to the world and bearing good fruit in His name. HMM
 
Learning by Example
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." (2 Timothy 3:14)
 
When Paul wrote these words to Timothy, they were in the midst of his foreboding prophecy of coming apostasy and persecution. Furthermore, he knew that he himself would soon be executed, and that these might well be his final teachings to his young disciple and to others through him. It is remarkable that in such a setting the Spirit of God impelled him to use the example of his own life as the best and most fitting climax to his great ministry. "Just keep on believing and doing what I have been teaching you-that which you have seen put into practice in your own life." These teachings and practices had just been recounted in verses 10-11, and what a remarkable summary they provide of a genuine Christian life!
 
Doctrine-my teachings, sound and true to God's Word;
Manner of life-my Christ-like behavior and habits;
Purpose-my sole aim, to honor God and do His will;
Faith-my faithfulness to His Word and its demands;
Longsuffering-my patient forbearance;
Charity-my showing true Christian love;
Patience-my cheerful endurance in hard times;
Persecutions-the unjust opposition heaped upon me;
Afflictions-sufferings and tortures which I endured.
 
The apostle Paul had maintained this strong and consistent Christian testimony for over 30 years following his conversion and could, in all good conscience and true humility, cite his own example as a true teaching aid for others to study and follow.
 
May Paul's example be ours, and may our lives likewise become true examples of Christianity for any who are watching us today. HMM
The Lord and King Cyrus
"That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." (Isaiah 44:28)
 
This is a remarkable prophecy, one of the main stumbling blocks of liberals who use it as an excuse for their completely wrong notion of a "second Isaiah." Long before Jerusalem was invaded and its temple destroyed by the armies of Babylon, Isaiah was already prophesying its rebuilding!
 
Furthermore, the great Persian emperor Cyrus (whose nation would eventually conquer Babylon) was here named by God about 150 years before he was born and 175 years before he would fulfill Isaiah's prophecy by giving Ezra authority to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-2).
 
Since liberal scholars do not want to believe in miracles and fulfilled prophecy, they have decided that this prophecy could not have been written by the original Isaiah but by some later writer living after Cyrus. The truth is, however, that God controls the future and can reveal it if He chooses, using this very fact as proof that He will keep His other promises. "Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus . . . I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou has not known me" (Isaiah 45:1, 4).
 
God had also named King Josiah before he was born (1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 23:15-16), with the specific prophecy concerning him waiting to be fulfilled for over 300 years after it was first spoken.
 
It may take a long time, but God will surely do all He has said. "I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isaiah 46:9-10). HMM
 
 Answers in Times of Great Disaster Deuteronomy 29:29
Almighty God reserves the right to reveal some things and conceal others. Although we may not know why natural disasters occur, the biblical truths we do know with absolute certainty allow us to trust the Lord even in times of great suffering. These include:
1. God is in control (Ps. 103:19). Nothing in heaven or on earth is outside of His rule and authority. He does not react to events but sovereignly ordains or permits them to run their course. Although we cannot know for certain if He has sent a catastrophe or allowed it, we can trust in His goodness and wisdom.
2. The Lord loves people and wants them to be saved (John 3:16-17). Giving His Son for the salvation of the world proves without a doubt that He loves each person. This truth stands firm despite the fact that many reject the Savior. He cares for us, even when we can't feel it or won't accept it.
3. God ordains or permits events for His good purpose (Isa. 46:10). Though we cannot fully comprehend what He is doing in each incident, every disaster is a wake-up call for humanity. He is alerting us of the need to repent-so the lost can be saved and the saved can be revived to live totally for Him. Catastrophes open our ears to hear from the Lord.
The One who loves us perfectly is in full control, working everything out according to His good purpose. Knowing this should fill us with hope, even in the midst of crisis situations. The Lord even promises to turn disaster to good for those who "are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).
Committed to Thy Trust
"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith." (1 Timothy 6:20-21)
 
Paul exhorted his disciple, Timothy, and by implication exhorts us to "keep" (literally, to guard or preserve) that which was placed in his trust. The context implies that the entire teaching of Paul is in mind, as well as Timothy's position of ministry.
 
Not only was he to preserve truth, he actively was to "avoid" error. Systems of thought were available which masqueraded as "science" (literally "knowledge"). These systems were not merely neutral, but were in opposition to the truth.
 
There can be no doubt that godless humanism (particularly as it finds its false scientific justification in evolution and uniformitarianism) has been responsible for the loss of faith in many professing Christians. Much of what is called "science" in universities today could better be described as "profane and vain babblings."
 
But today's students are not alone in their error. Back in the 1800s, when uniformitarianism, and later evolution, were first being championed by only a small minority of scientists, theologians led the way to their broad acceptance. Rushing to embrace Charles Lyell's principle of uniformity and the concept of an old earth while still holding on to a charade of biblical authority, theologians proposed the tranquil flood and local flood concepts. Likewise, theologians proposed theistic evolution, the day-age, and gap theories to accommodate evolution, and their theological grandchildren enjoy the majority voice at most evangelical seminaries today.
 
It is time that Christian laity as well as those standing in our pulpits today regain "that which is committed to [their] trust," and avoid "science falsely so called." JDM
I'm Not Hungry, But I Want To Be
SUZIE ELLER
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus Christ throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
I just ate a sub sandwich, whole-wheat chips and a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie. If you tried to tempt me with something delicious at this moment, no matter how good it smelled, I'd probably turn you down because I'm full.
That's how it works in the physical realm, right? The more you eat, the fuller you become and the less you want.
Spiritual hunger is the exact opposite. The more you eat, the hungrier you become and the more you want.
A couple of years ago, I found myself in a spiritually dry season.
I sat with my Bible but the words didn't leap from the page like they once did. I prayed and a hundred other things rolled through my brain. Remember to pick up toilet paper at the grocery store. Did I pay the water bill?
That lack of hunger made me feel a little lost. The temptation was to skip it, or breeze through it and call it a day.
Except this one truth from Ephesians 3:20-21 kept coming to mind: We serve a God who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us.
God longs to work within us.
I can't tell you why I wasn't hungry for His Word or for prayer during that time, but I can tell you that it's not the only time. Whether it was busyness or an attack of the enemy or just a hard place in my faith, I've learned that when this happens, it's time to go "eat" some spiritual food.
Whether I feel hungry or not.
Stormie Omartian, whose books on prayer have reached millions, once battled anxious thoughts. A friend recommended she have a quiet time with God to soothe those thoughts. She read a chapter from the Bible in Psalms and Proverbs each morning, and then again at night. Within weeks she looked forward to her time of reflection and after several months she says, "Gradually it became God's voice in my ear."
The spiritual hunger principle had kicked in - the more you eat, the hungrier you become.
If you've longed to connect with God and your lack of hunger has made you feel guilty or perhaps disconnected, please know that you are not alone.
Don't wait until you feel hungry to pray or open the Bible. God has work He desires to do within you. Thank goodness, it's not a task. Nor is it a test that you fail.
It's an invitation from the God of the Universe, who adores you and desires to spend time with you.
Consider it time with a really close friend. Stop by every day. Don't worry about the clock. If it's a few minutes, it's a sacred few minutes. If those few minutes turn into something deeper, that's beautiful too.
Turn off distractions. If the grocery list pops into your brain, scrawl it down in your open journal and then keep feasting on your time with God.
That dry season I encountered? It wasn't forever.
My lack of hunger slowly abated until I looked forward to my time with God every day. If it happens again - and it will - then I'll take one bite, and then another. I'll fill myself up with words from the One who can do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine.
Heavenly Father, I'm not hungry, but I'm not going to allow my lack of hunger to keep me from Your presence. Thank You for meeting me where I am and for renewing my spirit and filling me up. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
 For Our Transgressions
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
 
The 53rd chapter of Isaiah (actually, the chapter should begin at Isaiah 52:13) contains the clearest and fullest exposition of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for our sins to be found in all the Bible. Our text verse is the central verse of this chapter, which, in turn, is the central chapter of Isaiah's second division, chapters 40-66.
 
Although the chapter and verse divisions of the Bible were not part of the original inspired text, it almost seems that some of them (notably here in Isaiah) were somehow providentially guided. Part 1 of Isaiah contains 39 chapters and part 2 has 27 chapters, just as the Old and New Testaments have 39 and 27 books, respectively. Likewise, the major themes of the two Testaments-law and judgment in the Old, grace and salvation in the New-respectively dominate the two divisions of Isaiah. Many other correlations can be discerned-for example, the second division begins with the prophecy of John the Baptist and ends with the prophecy of the new heavens and the new earth, just as the New Testament does.
 
Be that as it may, this central verse of the central chapter of Isaiah's salvation division surely displays the very heart of the gospel. Christ was "wounded" (literally "thrust through," as with great spikes) and "bruised" (literally "crushed to death") for our sins.
 
On the other hand, we receive "peace" with God because He was chastised (i.e., "disciplined") in our place, and we are forever "healed" of our lethal sin-sickness because He received the "stripes" (i.e., great welts caused by severe blows) that should have been ours. What wondrous love is this! HMM
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY ALL NEW PROPHECY AND CREATION DESIGN WEBSITES. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO..........
 

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