Through the Fire - by Greg Laurie -
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. - Isaiah 43:2
Years ago my wife was cooking a steak, and as she often does, she threw it on and then went and did something else. But on this particular occasion, she forgot about the steak. Then she said, "Something is burning. What's that smell?"
Let's just say it was well done.
I'm glad that when we go through fiery trials as believers, God doesn't get distracted, forget about us, and leave us there.
David wrote in Psalm 23, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me" (verse 4).
We must remember to cast our problems on the Lord, turning them over to Him in times of need.
When the people were griping and complaining about Moses, the Bible tells us that Moses cried out to the Lord. When Hezekiah received an intimidating letter from a king who was threatening to destroy him, he spread the letter out before the Lord. When Mary and Martha saw that their beloved brother Lazarus was sick, they sent word to the Lord.
When trouble comes your way, cast it on Him. Spread it out before Him. Call on Him. As the Scriptures say, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
Most of us would like to avoid the valleys of life, so to speak, but there are some lessons we learn there that we cannot learn anywhere else.
God doesn't promise to keep us out of all trouble. But He does promise to be with us in the midst of it. It's a great thing to know that when the Lord lets His children go through a fiery trial, He always keeps an eye on them and an eye on the thermostat.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
King of Tyre
�Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.� (Ezekiel 28:12)
This prophecy against the King of Tyre is very similar to the prophecy given over a century earlier against the King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:3-28). Both are ostensibly addressed to earthly kings, yet both are impossible to apply to any mere human monarch. In both instances, it becomes obvious that an evil spirit�in fact, none other than Satan himself�had possessed the bodies of these kings. Thus, God, through Ezekiel, is here speaking primarily to Satan.
Satan had been �full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty,� but he became proud instead of thankful. �Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground� (Ezekiel 28:17). He had been �the anointed cherub� on �the holy mountain of God� (v. 14), the highest of all the mighty cherubim, covering the very throne of God. But �thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire� (v. 16).
Satan, the covering cherub, had been �created� (v. 13), but he was not content to serve his Creator. When he sinned�probably refusing to believe that God was his Creator, desiring God�s throne for himself (Isaiah 14:13)�God cast him out, saying, �Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee� (Ezekiel 28:15).
Yet, he still refuses to acknowledge God and has since persuaded multitudes of men and women to assume that they, too, can be �as gods� (Genesis 3:5). This belief can only�if they persist�result in their eternal ruin. HMM
�Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.� (Ezekiel 28:12)
This prophecy against the King of Tyre is very similar to the prophecy given over a century earlier against the King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:3-28). Both are ostensibly addressed to earthly kings, yet both are impossible to apply to any mere human monarch. In both instances, it becomes obvious that an evil spirit�in fact, none other than Satan himself�had possessed the bodies of these kings. Thus, God, through Ezekiel, is here speaking primarily to Satan.
Satan had been �full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty,� but he became proud instead of thankful. �Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground� (Ezekiel 28:17). He had been �the anointed cherub� on �the holy mountain of God� (v. 14), the highest of all the mighty cherubim, covering the very throne of God. But �thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire� (v. 16).
Satan, the covering cherub, had been �created� (v. 13), but he was not content to serve his Creator. When he sinned�probably refusing to believe that God was his Creator, desiring God�s throne for himself (Isaiah 14:13)�God cast him out, saying, �Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee� (Ezekiel 28:15).
Yet, he still refuses to acknowledge God and has since persuaded multitudes of men and women to assume that they, too, can be �as gods� (Genesis 3:5). This belief can only�if they persist�result in their eternal ruin. HMM
The True Charisma
�Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.� (Colossians 3:16)
One of the words that has come into wide use (actually misuse) is the word �charisma,� along with its derivative �charismatic.� We speak of a politician as having charisma, or a charismatic personality, for example. Another common use of �charismatic� refers to those who practice speaking in tongues. But these are not the true meanings of these words, at least not in terms of their original usage.
This latter usage, in particular, comes from the inclusion of tongues as one of the �gifts� of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1, 28). The Greek word is charisma. It does not mean �tongues,� and neither does it mean an outgoing and articulate manner. It simply means �gift,� or better, �free gift,� a classic example being Romans 6:23: �The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.�
Charisma, in turn, comes from charis, which means �grace,� and is usually so translated. For example, in the words of our text, if the �word of Christ dwell[s] in us richly,� we shall be �singing with grace in [our] hearts.� Furthermore, just a few verses further on, we are admonished to �let your speech be always with grace� (Colossians 4:6). Then Paul concludes the Colossian epistle with: �Grace be with you. Amen� (v. 18).
Thus, true grace in our hearts will produce grace in our speech, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will always be with us! This is the true charisma! A truly charismatic person is a gracious person�one to whom �God is able to make all grace abound� so that he or she, �always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work� (2 Corinthians 9:8). HMM
�Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.� (Colossians 3:16)
One of the words that has come into wide use (actually misuse) is the word �charisma,� along with its derivative �charismatic.� We speak of a politician as having charisma, or a charismatic personality, for example. Another common use of �charismatic� refers to those who practice speaking in tongues. But these are not the true meanings of these words, at least not in terms of their original usage.
This latter usage, in particular, comes from the inclusion of tongues as one of the �gifts� of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1, 28). The Greek word is charisma. It does not mean �tongues,� and neither does it mean an outgoing and articulate manner. It simply means �gift,� or better, �free gift,� a classic example being Romans 6:23: �The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.�
Charisma, in turn, comes from charis, which means �grace,� and is usually so translated. For example, in the words of our text, if the �word of Christ dwell[s] in us richly,� we shall be �singing with grace in [our] hearts.� Furthermore, just a few verses further on, we are admonished to �let your speech be always with grace� (Colossians 4:6). Then Paul concludes the Colossian epistle with: �Grace be with you. Amen� (v. 18).
Thus, true grace in our hearts will produce grace in our speech, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will always be with us! This is the true charisma! A truly charismatic person is a gracious person�one to whom �God is able to make all grace abound� so that he or she, �always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work� (2 Corinthians 9:8). HMM
Judgment
�For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.� (Amos 4:13)
This awesome ascription of judgmental power to God is in the midst of a dire prophecy by Amos to the 10-tribe northern kingdom of Israel. He had reminded them of earlier judgments, including even that of Sodom and Gomorrah, concluding with the fearsome warning: �Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel� (Amos 4:12).
Then, in our text verse, he seems to carry them still further back in time to remind them of an even greater destruction. The great winds of the earth, like its rains, first blew over its surfaces at the time of the mighty Deluge (Genesis 8:1), and the present mountains of the earth likewise rose out of the churning waters of the Flood (Psalm 104:6-9). It was at the time of the Flood that dark clouds first obscured the sunlight that before had perpetually shown through the pre-Flood �waters which were above the firmament� (Genesis 1:7), which had then condensed and fallen to the earth in great torrents from �the windows of heaven� (Genesis 7:11).
This awful judgment had come because the antediluvians, like the Israelites, had rejected their Creator and gone after other gods (Genesis 6:5). As if to confirm that he was, indeed, referring to the great Deluge, Amos, a few verses later, exhorted the Israelites to �seek him . . . that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth� (Amos 5:8).
It is dangerous and foolish for any nation or any person to question the true God of creation. He made all things, He knows all things, and He judges all things. �The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.� HMM
�For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.� (Amos 4:13)
This awesome ascription of judgmental power to God is in the midst of a dire prophecy by Amos to the 10-tribe northern kingdom of Israel. He had reminded them of earlier judgments, including even that of Sodom and Gomorrah, concluding with the fearsome warning: �Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel� (Amos 4:12).
Then, in our text verse, he seems to carry them still further back in time to remind them of an even greater destruction. The great winds of the earth, like its rains, first blew over its surfaces at the time of the mighty Deluge (Genesis 8:1), and the present mountains of the earth likewise rose out of the churning waters of the Flood (Psalm 104:6-9). It was at the time of the Flood that dark clouds first obscured the sunlight that before had perpetually shown through the pre-Flood �waters which were above the firmament� (Genesis 1:7), which had then condensed and fallen to the earth in great torrents from �the windows of heaven� (Genesis 7:11).
This awful judgment had come because the antediluvians, like the Israelites, had rejected their Creator and gone after other gods (Genesis 6:5). As if to confirm that he was, indeed, referring to the great Deluge, Amos, a few verses later, exhorted the Israelites to �seek him . . . that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth� (Amos 5:8).
It is dangerous and foolish for any nation or any person to question the true God of creation. He made all things, He knows all things, and He judges all things. �The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.� HMM
Wonderful Things to Come
�But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.� (1 Corinthians 2:9)
This fantastic promise refers back to another great promise given by God to His people: �For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him� (Isaiah 64:4).
The Old Testament promise applied primarily to the nation of Israel, but its New Testament extension incorporates it in a global promise to all who love the Lord of glory, �crucified� by �the princes of this world� (1 Corinthians 2:8), the One who was also the Savior of the world.
Comparison of the two prophetic promises yields three vital truths. These things that God has prepared for His loved ones have been in view �since the beginning of the world,� and have been revealed in part by the prophets, who have been speaking also �since the world began� (Luke 1:70).
Secondly, those who �wait for him� in the Old Testament are synonymous with those who �love him� in the New. The apostle Paul joins both themes together when he says: �Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness . . . and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing� (2 Timothy 4:8).
Finally, we cannot even begin to comprehend the glorious things God has prepared for those who love Him and wait for Him. In some measure, the Spirit later revealed them in part through John�s eyes and ears when he saw �the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven� and heard �a great voice out of heaven saying . . . God himself shall be with them, and be their God� (Revelation 21:2-3). Then our eyes shall fully see, and our ears hear, and our hearts understand the fullness of God�s love in Christ. HMM
�But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.� (1 Corinthians 2:9)
This fantastic promise refers back to another great promise given by God to His people: �For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him� (Isaiah 64:4).
The Old Testament promise applied primarily to the nation of Israel, but its New Testament extension incorporates it in a global promise to all who love the Lord of glory, �crucified� by �the princes of this world� (1 Corinthians 2:8), the One who was also the Savior of the world.
Comparison of the two prophetic promises yields three vital truths. These things that God has prepared for His loved ones have been in view �since the beginning of the world,� and have been revealed in part by the prophets, who have been speaking also �since the world began� (Luke 1:70).
Secondly, those who �wait for him� in the Old Testament are synonymous with those who �love him� in the New. The apostle Paul joins both themes together when he says: �Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness . . . and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing� (2 Timothy 4:8).
Finally, we cannot even begin to comprehend the glorious things God has prepared for those who love Him and wait for Him. In some measure, the Spirit later revealed them in part through John�s eyes and ears when he saw �the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven� and heard �a great voice out of heaven saying . . . God himself shall be with them, and be their God� (Revelation 21:2-3). Then our eyes shall fully see, and our ears hear, and our hearts understand the fullness of God�s love in Christ. HMM
Water for Your Soulby Max Lucado Where do you find water for the soul? Jesus gave an answer one October day in Jerusalem. People had packed the streets for the annual reenactment of the rock-giving-water miracle of Moses. Each morning a priest filled a golden pitcher with water from the Gihon spring and carried it down a people-lined path to the temple. He did this every day, once a day, for seven days. �On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, �If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water� � (John 7:37-38).
He �stood and shouted� (NLT). The traditional rabbinic teaching posture was sitting and speaking. But Jesus stood up and shouted out. Forget a kind clearing of the throat. God was pounding his gavel on heaven�s bench. Christ demanded attention.
He shouted because his time was short. The sand in the neck of his hourglass was down to measurable grains. In six months he'd be dragging a cross through these streets. And the people? The people thirsted. They needed water, not for their throats, but for their hearts. So Jesus invited: Are your insides starting to shrivel? Drink me.
Internalize him. Ingest him. Welcome him into the inner workings of your life. Let Christ be the water of your soul.
Toward this end, I give you this tool: a prayer for the thirsty heart. Carry it just as a cyclist carries a water bottle. The prayer outlines four essential fluids for soul hydration: God�s work, God�s energy, his lordship, and his love. You�ll find the prayer easy to remember. Just think of the word W-E-L-L.
Lord, I come thirsty. I come to drink, to receive. I receive your work on the cross and in your resurrection. My sins are pardoned, and my death is defeated. I receive your energy. Empowered by your Holy Spirit, I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. I receive your lordship. I belong to you. Nothing comes to me that hasn�t passed through you. And I receive your love. Nothing can separate me from your love.
Don�t you need regular sips from God�s reservoir? I do. I�ve offered this prayer in countless situations: stressful meetings, dull days, long drives, demanding trips, character-testing decisions. Many times a day I step to the underground spring of God and receive anew his work for my sin and death, the energy of his Spirit, his lordship, and his love.
Always There - by Greg Laurie -
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).
He �stood and shouted� (NLT). The traditional rabbinic teaching posture was sitting and speaking. But Jesus stood up and shouted out. Forget a kind clearing of the throat. God was pounding his gavel on heaven�s bench. Christ demanded attention.
He shouted because his time was short. The sand in the neck of his hourglass was down to measurable grains. In six months he'd be dragging a cross through these streets. And the people? The people thirsted. They needed water, not for their throats, but for their hearts. So Jesus invited: Are your insides starting to shrivel? Drink me.
Internalize him. Ingest him. Welcome him into the inner workings of your life. Let Christ be the water of your soul.
Toward this end, I give you this tool: a prayer for the thirsty heart. Carry it just as a cyclist carries a water bottle. The prayer outlines four essential fluids for soul hydration: God�s work, God�s energy, his lordship, and his love. You�ll find the prayer easy to remember. Just think of the word W-E-L-L.
Lord, I come thirsty. I come to drink, to receive. I receive your work on the cross and in your resurrection. My sins are pardoned, and my death is defeated. I receive your energy. Empowered by your Holy Spirit, I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. I receive your lordship. I belong to you. Nothing comes to me that hasn�t passed through you. And I receive your love. Nothing can separate me from your love.
Don�t you need regular sips from God�s reservoir? I do. I�ve offered this prayer in countless situations: stressful meetings, dull days, long drives, demanding trips, character-testing decisions. Many times a day I step to the underground spring of God and receive anew his work for my sin and death, the energy of his Spirit, his lordship, and his love.
Always There - by Greg Laurie -
For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' - Hebrews 13:5
I remember one of the first times as a young believer when I didn't feel God's presence. I woke up one morning and just didn't have the great feeling I had before. And being new in the faith and not knowing the Bible very well, I thought, "I think God left me last night. What happened?"
When I talked to a Christian friend about it, he told me, "You're going through a trial."
"What? I'm on trial?"
"No, you're going through a trial."
"What's a trial?"
My friend explained there are times in our lives when we don't feel the presence of God, but He is still there. And in time I came to realize that God will allow us to go through trials.
For instance, you might walk outside tomorrow, and it's an overcast day. So you say, "The sun was here yesterday. But I don't see the sun today. I don't feel its warmth. I guess the sun must have gone away last night."
No, the sun hasn't gone away. It has been merely obscured by a cloud covering. And if you don't believe that, then try going to the beach without wearing any sunscreen. When you return home resembling a ripe tomato, you will realize the sun was out.
In the same way, some people falsely conclude that when they don't feel God, He is gone. He has disappeared. But He is there, even when you don't feel Him. The Bible tells us in Hebrews, "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' " (Hebrews 13:5).
It is during these times that we must walk by faith, not by feeling, because God has promised in His Word that He will be with us. That is how we know He is there.
Answers in Times of Great DisasterDeuteronomy 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:
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).
The Wells of Salvation
�Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.� (Isaiah 12:3)
This beautiful verse is in the midst of a psalm of praise for God�s deliverance of His people �in that day� (v. 4)�the coming day when the Lord shall return to the earth and reign �in the midst of thee� (v. 6). Until �that day� comes, however, we can appropriate its spiritual blessings right now.
The word translated �wells� is more often translated �fountains,� denoting flowing springs of water that never run dry. It is first used at the time of the great Flood when in one �day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up� (Genesis 7:11). On that day, the primeval fountains provided by God for the perpetual supply of living waters to the inhabitants of the �very good� world He had created were cleaved open, the living waters became lethal waters, and �all that was in the dry land, died� (v. 22).
But one day another fountain was cleaved open. As Jesus died on the cross, �a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water� (John 19:34). At the great Feast of Tabernacles, He had cried: �If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me . . . out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water� (John 7:37-38).
The blood and water flowed together from the deep fountain opened in the Savior�s side that day, and their cleansing powers became a fountain of life to all who will drink. The waters again became living waters from a fountain that will never run dry, �a pure river of water of life . . . proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb� (Revelation 22:1).
Then, wonder of wonders, there is not just one well, for all who believe likewise send forth �rivers of living water,� as with eternal joy, we each share with one another, forever drinking from the never-drying wells of salvation! HMM
�Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.� (Isaiah 12:3)
This beautiful verse is in the midst of a psalm of praise for God�s deliverance of His people �in that day� (v. 4)�the coming day when the Lord shall return to the earth and reign �in the midst of thee� (v. 6). Until �that day� comes, however, we can appropriate its spiritual blessings right now.
The word translated �wells� is more often translated �fountains,� denoting flowing springs of water that never run dry. It is first used at the time of the great Flood when in one �day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up� (Genesis 7:11). On that day, the primeval fountains provided by God for the perpetual supply of living waters to the inhabitants of the �very good� world He had created were cleaved open, the living waters became lethal waters, and �all that was in the dry land, died� (v. 22).
But one day another fountain was cleaved open. As Jesus died on the cross, �a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water� (John 19:34). At the great Feast of Tabernacles, He had cried: �If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me . . . out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water� (John 7:37-38).
The blood and water flowed together from the deep fountain opened in the Savior�s side that day, and their cleansing powers became a fountain of life to all who will drink. The waters again became living waters from a fountain that will never run dry, �a pure river of water of life . . . proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb� (Revelation 22:1).
Then, wonder of wonders, there is not just one well, for all who believe likewise send forth �rivers of living water,� as with eternal joy, we each share with one another, forever drinking from the never-drying wells of salvation! HMM
Thy Word Is Settled Forever
�For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.� (Psalm 119:89)
This is the central verse in the longest chapter in the longest book in the Bible, and it is surely one of the greatest verses in the Bible. It conveys the amazing news that the Word of God (which is the theme of the entire 119th Psalm) has existed from eternity past and will continue to exist forever in the future. It was eternally settled in the mind of God before the world was created, then gradually inscripturated �at sundry times and in divers manners [as God] spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets� (Hebrews 1:1).
Other verses in this psalm likewise stress the eternal validity of God�s words: �The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting. . . . Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. . . . Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever� (Psalm 119:144, 152, 160).
In the book of Isaiah appears a magnificent claim: �The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever� (Isaiah 40:8). This contrast is expanded by the apostle Peter: �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).
To guarantee this great truth beyond any further question, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself made the following tremendous claim: �Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away� (Matthew 24:35). �Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled� (Matthew 5:18).
The entire physical universe is (literally) �passing away,� heading inexorably downhill toward ultimate death�with one exception! The words of our Bible and its glorious promises are eternal and immutable. HMM
�For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.� (Psalm 119:89)
This is the central verse in the longest chapter in the longest book in the Bible, and it is surely one of the greatest verses in the Bible. It conveys the amazing news that the Word of God (which is the theme of the entire 119th Psalm) has existed from eternity past and will continue to exist forever in the future. It was eternally settled in the mind of God before the world was created, then gradually inscripturated �at sundry times and in divers manners [as God] spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets� (Hebrews 1:1).
Other verses in this psalm likewise stress the eternal validity of God�s words: �The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting. . . . Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. . . . Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever� (Psalm 119:144, 152, 160).
In the book of Isaiah appears a magnificent claim: �The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever� (Isaiah 40:8). This contrast is expanded by the apostle Peter: �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).
To guarantee this great truth beyond any further question, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself made the following tremendous claim: �Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away� (Matthew 24:35). �Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled� (Matthew 5:18).
The entire physical universe is (literally) �passing away,� heading inexorably downhill toward ultimate death�with one exception! The words of our Bible and its glorious promises are eternal and immutable. HMM
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.
In the Secret Place - by Greg Laurie -
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).
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.
In the Secret Place - by Greg Laurie -
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. - Psalm 91:1
When you were a kid, did you ever have a hiding place, a place you would run to when you were afraid or wanted to be alone? God wants to be your hiding place. The good news is that you can retreat to this hiding place wherever you are.
Psalm 91:1 tells us, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
It is worth noting that the blessings promised in this psalm are not for just anyone. They are specifically given to believers-and not just believers in general but believers who specifically meet the requirements in it. Psalm 91 is full of conditional promises. God promises to do certain things for us, hinging on our doing certain things that are required of us in this psalm.
We have a relationship with God because we have put our faith in Jesus Christ and have turned from our sin. But are we living in constant communion and fellowship with God? That is so important. Many people are not. They are not dwelling consistently with God. But the Lord wants you to dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
He wants you to be like Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet when He came to visit her home in Bethany. There is a time for busyness. There is a time for work. And there is also a time to worship. Unfortunately we sometimes substitute perspiration for inspiration and work for worship.
If you do that, it only will be a matter of time until you spiritually burn out. You can't give out more than you take in. You need to live in communion with Him. You need to dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
His Strength in Your Weakness - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9
I didn't have an easy childhood. I came from a home that was broken many, many times over. But I can look back on my past today and instead of moaning about it, I can say, "I went through that, and now I can comfort others." It has become a tool to help others.
I wouldn't want to go through that again, of course. Nor would I want anyone else to go through the same thing. But I'm thankful that God can take my past and use it for His glory today. I'm thankful that He can take that hardship and use it for His glory. He can do the same for you.
Maybe at this time in your life, you're going through some hard times, and you're wondering why. God will use it. It's hard to believe now. But just remember that it won't last forever.
As 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Trials don't last forever.
I'm reminded of a sign posted at the end of an airport runway that reads, "Keep moving. If you stop, you are in danger and a danger to those who are flying."
You can take that same statement and apply it to the Christian life. Keep moving. Don't give up. Don't abandon hope. You are going to get through that valley in your life. There will be an even greater mountaintop beyond it, with great lessons you have learned as God demonstrated His strength in your weakness.
Prepare to Meet Thy God
�Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.� (Amos 4:12)
There is only one thing that everyone can know for sure. Not even death and taxes are certain, for some will never die. But �every one of us shall give account of himself to God� (Romans 14:12).
Even those who don�t believe in God, those who ridicule His Word, those who disobey His laws, those who worship false gods�everyone must some day meet God. There is no better advice than: �Prepare to meet thy God!�
If anyone should ask what God, the answer is the true God, the Creator. Not the false gods of pagan pantheism, not the natural systems and processes of evolutionism, but the one and only God of creation. He is the one who knows the thoughts of man and �maketh the morning darkness� (Amos 4:13) for all who reject or ignore Him. The word here for �darkness� is used only one other time in Scripture and is synonymous with hell��a land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness� (Job 10:22).
In the coming judgment, �the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God� (Psalm 9:17). The message of Amos needs to be heard in every generation: �Prepare to meet thy God!� For �the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment� (Psalm 1:5), and the judgment is sure: �It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,� and for those who die unprepared, �it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God� (Hebrews 9:27; 10:31).
The only way to come into His presence prepared, of course, is through Jesus Christ, who is Himself the Lord of all the hosts of heaven. HMM
�Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.� (Amos 4:12)
There is only one thing that everyone can know for sure. Not even death and taxes are certain, for some will never die. But �every one of us shall give account of himself to God� (Romans 14:12).
Even those who don�t believe in God, those who ridicule His Word, those who disobey His laws, those who worship false gods�everyone must some day meet God. There is no better advice than: �Prepare to meet thy God!�
If anyone should ask what God, the answer is the true God, the Creator. Not the false gods of pagan pantheism, not the natural systems and processes of evolutionism, but the one and only God of creation. He is the one who knows the thoughts of man and �maketh the morning darkness� (Amos 4:13) for all who reject or ignore Him. The word here for �darkness� is used only one other time in Scripture and is synonymous with hell��a land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness� (Job 10:22).
In the coming judgment, �the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God� (Psalm 9:17). The message of Amos needs to be heard in every generation: �Prepare to meet thy God!� For �the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment� (Psalm 1:5), and the judgment is sure: �It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,� and for those who die unprepared, �it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God� (Hebrews 9:27; 10:31).
The only way to come into His presence prepared, of course, is through Jesus Christ, who is Himself the Lord of all the hosts of heaven. HMM
The Consequences of Drifting Hebrews 3:12-13
Spiritual drifting--the gradual wandering away from God and His will--takes place when a believer ceases to steer toward the Lord. Like an empty boat set loose upon the waters, he or she makes a slow and lazy glide away from good practices like disciplined obedience, regular Bible study, prayer, and assembling with fellow Christians. And there are consequences for casting yourself on uncharted and dangerous waters.
A life adrift is outside of God's will and therefore in sin. The Holy Spirit pricks a believer's conscience to send a message when he is off course, but the drifter is prone to ignore such warnings. If a Christian continually excuses his wandering ways and denies sin, then his conscience gradually numbs. A person who becomes desensitized to wrongdoing has paved the way for more sinful behavior with less guilt. Can you imagine a more dangerous situation?
As the drifting believer's conscience becomes anesthetized, his spiritual ears are also deadened--truth cannot gain entrance because he has invited wrong attitudes and philosophies into his thinking process. What's more, his heart hardens to the things of God. Shrinking away from testimonies about divine power, grace, and mercy, he avoids situations that might reawaken the conscience and stir his spirit to repentance.
People drift from God in search of more--more freedom, choices, and pleasure. But since the consequences are a hard heart, a numb conscience, and dead ears, what they end up with is less. The drifting believer sacrifices the victorious life in Christ for an existence devoid of permanent satisfaction.
His Protecting Presence - by Greg Laurie -
Spiritual drifting--the gradual wandering away from God and His will--takes place when a believer ceases to steer toward the Lord. Like an empty boat set loose upon the waters, he or she makes a slow and lazy glide away from good practices like disciplined obedience, regular Bible study, prayer, and assembling with fellow Christians. And there are consequences for casting yourself on uncharted and dangerous waters.
As the drifting believer's conscience becomes anesthetized, his spiritual ears are also deadened--truth cannot gain entrance because he has invited wrong attitudes and philosophies into his thinking process. What's more, his heart hardens to the things of God. Shrinking away from testimonies about divine power, grace, and mercy, he avoids situations that might reawaken the conscience and stir his spirit to repentance.
People drift from God in search of more--more freedom, choices, and pleasure. But since the consequences are a hard heart, a numb conscience, and dead ears, what they end up with is less. The drifting believer sacrifices the victorious life in Christ for an existence devoid of permanent satisfaction.
His Protecting Presence - by Greg Laurie -
Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. - Psalm 91:7
There are so many things we can be afraid of in life. We can be afraid to get on a plane. We can be afraid to drive a car. We can be afraid to do this or that. We can be filled with fear over just about everything.
But in Psalm 91, we find this promise for believers: "Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you: (Psalm 91:7).
Isn't that great to know? It isn't over until it's over. Until that time, we can go out with boldness, knowing that God is in control of our lives.
I read the story of a courageous Christian who was standing before a king who wanted him to deny Christ. The king threatened, "If you don't do it, I will banish you."
The Christian replied, "You can't banish me from Christ. He says He will never leave me nor forsake me."
The king said, "I will confiscate your property and take it all from you."
The Christian said, "My treasures are laid up on high; you cannot get them."
"I will kill you," the king told him.
"I have been dead forty years," the Christian answered. "I have been dead with Christ; dead to the world. My life is hid with Christ in God, and you cannot touch it."
The king said, "What can you do with such a fanatic?"
May God give us more Christians who know something of God's protection like this believer did. However, there is a difference between trusting the Lord and testing the Lord. Don't take unnecessary chances with your life and expect Him to bail you out. Yes, He will keep us in all of our ways-but our ways should be His ways.
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