Live Your Message - by Greg Laurie -
You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.-Matthew 5:13
I believe in delivering sermons, but some things are preached and some things are lived. After you share your message, there comes a point when you need to start living it.
How? Good works. Do good things. Be the person who is known for kindness, cheerfulness, and concern for others. Be the person others can depend on. Be the person who will go the extra mile. Be the person who is known for hard work.
Someone might even say, "I don't believe all the stuff they believe, but they're trustworthy and honest and good." Start there. Be the good person, the godly person.
Then wait for those moments that will come your way as a result. I maintain communication with people who are almost coming to Christ as well as those who are far from Christ. I try to encourage them, but I also try not to go too fast or too hard. And when I see them making a move toward Christ, I make a move to help them get there.
We need to pray for wisdom. We also need to be godly, loving, and fun people to be with-not judgmental, not hypercritical. Yes, there's a time to draw the line when we don't agree with things. But there's also a time to just be that salty person.
Jesus said in Matthew 5, "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? . . . In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father" (verses 13, 16 NLT).
As you're being salty by not always preaching your message but living it, it will begin to stimulate thirst in other people.
Renewing of the Holy Spirit
“. . . the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5)
The Holy Spirit’s eternal impacts on our lives (regeneration and renewal) are brought together in this text in a rather unique way. To begin with, the Greek words are unusual—“regeneration” being used only twice in the New Testament and “renewal” only five times in various forms. They come together only in this passage.
“Regeneration” (paliggenesia) means to “birth again.” The connection to our salvation is well established and does not need much explanation here. “Renewal” (anakainosis) in its variations is a bit more difficult to describe—especially since there is the possible linguistic connection to the “washing” (bath) of regeneration. That is, the section could be translated “the Holy Spirit’s bath of regeneration and renewing”—thus equating the two terms. Most translations, however, treat the terms as separate actions or conditions for which the Holy Spirit is responsible. This fits best with the rest of the biblical data.
Perhaps the most well-known passage focusing on renewal is Romans 12:1-2. In this precious reference, we are commanded to present (yield) our bodies as holy and acceptable living sacrifices, and to refuse to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed (metamorphoo = “permanent change”) by the renewing of our mind. The instrument by which the transformation comes about is the new mind (intellect)—a grace-gift imputed at salvation by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 10:16). This renewal takes place in the “inward man” (2 Corinthians 4:16), which “is renewed in knowledge” (Colossians 3:10) according to the image of the Creator. Thus, the renewal comes about intellectually, through the ministrations of the Holy Spirit, as we seek, study, store, and obey the magnificent Word of God. HMM III
“. . . the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5)
The Holy Spirit’s eternal impacts on our lives (regeneration and renewal) are brought together in this text in a rather unique way. To begin with, the Greek words are unusual—“regeneration” being used only twice in the New Testament and “renewal” only five times in various forms. They come together only in this passage.
“Regeneration” (paliggenesia) means to “birth again.” The connection to our salvation is well established and does not need much explanation here. “Renewal” (anakainosis) in its variations is a bit more difficult to describe—especially since there is the possible linguistic connection to the “washing” (bath) of regeneration. That is, the section could be translated “the Holy Spirit’s bath of regeneration and renewing”—thus equating the two terms. Most translations, however, treat the terms as separate actions or conditions for which the Holy Spirit is responsible. This fits best with the rest of the biblical data.
Perhaps the most well-known passage focusing on renewal is Romans 12:1-2. In this precious reference, we are commanded to present (yield) our bodies as holy and acceptable living sacrifices, and to refuse to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed (metamorphoo = “permanent change”) by the renewing of our mind. The instrument by which the transformation comes about is the new mind (intellect)—a grace-gift imputed at salvation by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 10:16). This renewal takes place in the “inward man” (2 Corinthians 4:16), which “is renewed in knowledge” (Colossians 3:10) according to the image of the Creator. Thus, the renewal comes about intellectually, through the ministrations of the Holy Spirit, as we seek, study, store, and obey the magnificent Word of God. HMM III
The Active Power of Faith
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
When God grants the gift of faith that enables us at the point of salvation (Ephesians 2:8), it should not be seen as a static power that merely resides in our minds but rather an empowerment that is expected to grow into a dynamic and demonstrable “divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4-9).
Faith preserves and protects us. Jesus insisted, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). These words are precise. Once faith is exercised, an eternal transaction takes place wherein a person is “passed” from spiritual death to eternal life. This is an absolute change and eliminates the possibility of hell (John 10:28-29).
Faith is power for effective prayer. The “mustard seed” promise in Matthew 17:20 does not refer to size or amount but to quality. The Greek comparative hoce, translated “as” in that passage, refers to the same kind of faith as the mustard seed. Just so, the promise of Matthew 7:7 (that if you ask and seek, you will find) depends on our confidence (faith) in the heavenly Father.
Faith is our “shield” against the Enemy. The seven pieces of God’s armor identified in Ephesians 6:10-18 include “the shield of faith” that provides an ability “to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (v. 16). That shield is defensive in the sense that it only provides protection when we use it to block the “darts.” The active use comes when we “resist the devil” (James 4:7) “in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9).
Do you use faith as God intended? HMM III
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
When God grants the gift of faith that enables us at the point of salvation (Ephesians 2:8), it should not be seen as a static power that merely resides in our minds but rather an empowerment that is expected to grow into a dynamic and demonstrable “divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4-9).
Faith preserves and protects us. Jesus insisted, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). These words are precise. Once faith is exercised, an eternal transaction takes place wherein a person is “passed” from spiritual death to eternal life. This is an absolute change and eliminates the possibility of hell (John 10:28-29).
Faith is power for effective prayer. The “mustard seed” promise in Matthew 17:20 does not refer to size or amount but to quality. The Greek comparative hoce, translated “as” in that passage, refers to the same kind of faith as the mustard seed. Just so, the promise of Matthew 7:7 (that if you ask and seek, you will find) depends on our confidence (faith) in the heavenly Father.
Faith is our “shield” against the Enemy. The seven pieces of God’s armor identified in Ephesians 6:10-18 include “the shield of faith” that provides an ability “to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (v. 16). That shield is defensive in the sense that it only provides protection when we use it to block the “darts.” The active use comes when we “resist the devil” (James 4:7) “in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9).
Do you use faith as God intended? HMM III
Godly Derision and Wrath
“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” (Psalm 2:4-5)
What does an individual gain by opposing God and His plan? Can human opposition succeed against the Almighty One who created the universe? Obviously, no rebellion has a chance to succeed. God’s sovereign control will certainly overpower man’s feeble attempts to wrest command from Him. He will simply laugh in derision.
However difficult it is for us to imagine God laughing in this manner, we can surely understand His derision at the futility of created beings confronting their Creator and His right to rule over their lives. The name used for God is Lord, meaning Master. As Creator He has the authority to set the rules for His creation and the power to exact the penalty for breaking the rules.
Note that His response exceeds mere derision. It extends to “wrath.” At the appointed time, the sovereign Judge will address all those who have rebelled against and opposed Him.
Man has no right to question God’s authority or goodness in exercising it. Indeed, “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He even sacrificed His only begotten Son to pay the just penalty for sin. What more could He do?
With our sin penalty fully paid, our sin is forgiven, and we gratefully acknowledge His kingship over our lives. Once submitted to Him, we face everlasting fellowship with Him. With sin banished, believers need never fear His derision or wrath. JDM
“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” (Psalm 2:4-5)
What does an individual gain by opposing God and His plan? Can human opposition succeed against the Almighty One who created the universe? Obviously, no rebellion has a chance to succeed. God’s sovereign control will certainly overpower man’s feeble attempts to wrest command from Him. He will simply laugh in derision.
However difficult it is for us to imagine God laughing in this manner, we can surely understand His derision at the futility of created beings confronting their Creator and His right to rule over their lives. The name used for God is Lord, meaning Master. As Creator He has the authority to set the rules for His creation and the power to exact the penalty for breaking the rules.
Note that His response exceeds mere derision. It extends to “wrath.” At the appointed time, the sovereign Judge will address all those who have rebelled against and opposed Him.
Man has no right to question God’s authority or goodness in exercising it. Indeed, “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He even sacrificed His only begotten Son to pay the just penalty for sin. What more could He do?
With our sin penalty fully paid, our sin is forgiven, and we gratefully acknowledge His kingship over our lives. Once submitted to Him, we face everlasting fellowship with Him. With sin banished, believers need never fear His derision or wrath. JDM
Pray First, Pray Mostby Max Lucado One of our Brazilian church leaders taught me something about earnest prayer. He met Christ during a yearlong stay in a drug-rehab center. His therapy included three one-hour sessions of prayer a day. Patients weren't required to pray, but they were required to attend the prayer meeting. Dozens of recovering drug addicts spent sixty uninterrupted minutes on their knees.
I expressed amazement and confessed that my prayers were short and formal. He invited (dared?) me to meet him for prayer. I did the next day. We knelt on the concrete floor of our small church auditorium and began to talk to God. Change that. I talked; he cried, wailed, begged, cajoled, and pleaded. He pounded his fists on the floor, shook a fist toward heaven, confessed, and reconfessed every sin. He recited every promise in the Bible as if God needed a reminder. He prayed like Moses.
When God determined to destroy the Israelites for their golden calf stunt, "Moses begged the Lord his God and said, ‘Lord, don't let your anger destroy your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with your great power and strength. Don't let the people of Egypt say, "The Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt for an evil purpose." ...Remember the men who served you—Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You promised with an oath to them'" (Ex. 32:11-13 NCV).
Moses on Mount Sinai is not calm and quiet, with folded hands and a serene expression. He's on his face one minute, in God's the next. He's on his knees, pointing his finger, lifting his hands. Shedding tears. Shredding his cloak. Wrestling like Jacob at Jabbok for the lives of his people. And God heard him! "So the Lord changed his mind and did not destroy the people as he had said he might" (v.14 NCV).
Our passionate prayers move the heart of God. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). Prayer does not change God's nature; who he is will never be altered. Prayer does, however, impact the flow of history. God has wired his world for power, but he calls on us to flip the switch.
Most of us struggle with prayer. We forget to pray, and when we remember, we hurry through prayers with hollow words. Our minds drift; our thoughts scatter like a covey of quail. Why is this? Prayer requires minimal effort. No location is prescribed. No particular clothing is required. No title or office is stipulated. Yet you'd think we were wrestling a greased pig.
Speaking of pigs, Satan seeks to interrupt our prayers. Our battle with prayer is not entirely our fault. The devil knows the stories; he witnessed the angel in Peter's cell and the revival in Jerusalem. He knows what happens when we pray. "Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy's strong places" (2 Cor. 10:4 NCV).
Satan is not troubled when Max writes books or prepares sermons, but his knobby knees tremble when Max prays. Satan does not stutter or stumble when you walk through church doors or attend committee meetings. Demons aren't flustered when you read this book. But the walls of hell shake when one person with an honest heart and faithful confession says, "Oh, God, how great thou art."
Satan keeps you and me from prayer. He tries to position himself between us and God. But he scampers like a spooked dog when we move forward. So let's do.
Let's pray, first. Traveling to help the hungry? Be sure to bathe your mission in prayer. Working to disentangle the knots of injustice? Pray. Weary with a world of racism and division? So is God. And he would love to talk to you about it.
Let's pray, most. Did God call us to preach without ceasing? Or teach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? Or sing without ceasing? No, but he did call us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).
The Wisdom of Right Relationships
Hebrews 10:23-24
The subject of positive relationships is near to my heart because God has provided me with such good friends. These are the people who challenge me to do more for the Lord. My friends love me, but they certainly aren’t content to let me stay as I am! If they spot a sin in my life or see something I could do better, they say so.
Paul gave relationships a high priority too. The apostle surrounded himself with people who could help him achieve two things: fulfillment of his God-given mission and conformity to Christlikeness. While Paul was pouring himself into the lives of others, he was being built up and strengthened by his fellow believers. That, in brief, is the Lord’s plan for every one of His children.
What about you? Do you have certain relationships that motivate you to pursue God more fervently? It does matter whom we allow to influence our lives. The Father equips your brothers and sisters to invest in you—to encourage you, to pray for you, and to prod you toward a more complete faith—so that you are prepared to devote yourself to serving others. Good relationships with people who build each other up can help believers fulfill God’s plan for their lives.
The finest relationships are between people who want to see each other succeed in faith and therefore “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24, niv). In other words, our best friends are those who love us as we are but never cease to challenge us to be better for the Lord
Your Life Is Your Time
I expressed amazement and confessed that my prayers were short and formal. He invited (dared?) me to meet him for prayer. I did the next day. We knelt on the concrete floor of our small church auditorium and began to talk to God. Change that. I talked; he cried, wailed, begged, cajoled, and pleaded. He pounded his fists on the floor, shook a fist toward heaven, confessed, and reconfessed every sin. He recited every promise in the Bible as if God needed a reminder. He prayed like Moses.
When God determined to destroy the Israelites for their golden calf stunt, "Moses begged the Lord his God and said, ‘Lord, don't let your anger destroy your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with your great power and strength. Don't let the people of Egypt say, "The Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt for an evil purpose." ...Remember the men who served you—Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You promised with an oath to them'" (Ex. 32:11-13 NCV).
Moses on Mount Sinai is not calm and quiet, with folded hands and a serene expression. He's on his face one minute, in God's the next. He's on his knees, pointing his finger, lifting his hands. Shedding tears. Shredding his cloak. Wrestling like Jacob at Jabbok for the lives of his people. And God heard him! "So the Lord changed his mind and did not destroy the people as he had said he might" (v.14 NCV).
Our passionate prayers move the heart of God. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). Prayer does not change God's nature; who he is will never be altered. Prayer does, however, impact the flow of history. God has wired his world for power, but he calls on us to flip the switch.
Most of us struggle with prayer. We forget to pray, and when we remember, we hurry through prayers with hollow words. Our minds drift; our thoughts scatter like a covey of quail. Why is this? Prayer requires minimal effort. No location is prescribed. No particular clothing is required. No title or office is stipulated. Yet you'd think we were wrestling a greased pig.
Speaking of pigs, Satan seeks to interrupt our prayers. Our battle with prayer is not entirely our fault. The devil knows the stories; he witnessed the angel in Peter's cell and the revival in Jerusalem. He knows what happens when we pray. "Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy's strong places" (2 Cor. 10:4 NCV).
Satan is not troubled when Max writes books or prepares sermons, but his knobby knees tremble when Max prays. Satan does not stutter or stumble when you walk through church doors or attend committee meetings. Demons aren't flustered when you read this book. But the walls of hell shake when one person with an honest heart and faithful confession says, "Oh, God, how great thou art."
Satan keeps you and me from prayer. He tries to position himself between us and God. But he scampers like a spooked dog when we move forward. So let's do.
Let's pray, first. Traveling to help the hungry? Be sure to bathe your mission in prayer. Working to disentangle the knots of injustice? Pray. Weary with a world of racism and division? So is God. And he would love to talk to you about it.
Let's pray, most. Did God call us to preach without ceasing? Or teach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? Or sing without ceasing? No, but he did call us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).
The Wisdom of Right Relationships
Hebrews 10:23-24
The subject of positive relationships is near to my heart because God has provided me with such good friends. These are the people who challenge me to do more for the Lord. My friends love me, but they certainly aren’t content to let me stay as I am! If they spot a sin in my life or see something I could do better, they say so.
What about you? Do you have certain relationships that motivate you to pursue God more fervently? It does matter whom we allow to influence our lives. The Father equips your brothers and sisters to invest in you—to encourage you, to pray for you, and to prod you toward a more complete faith—so that you are prepared to devote yourself to serving others. Good relationships with people who build each other up can help believers fulfill God’s plan for their lives.
The finest relationships are between people who want to see each other succeed in faith and therefore “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24, niv). In other words, our best friends are those who love us as we are but never cease to challenge us to be better for the Lord
Your Life Is Your Time
Our lives are governed by time. That's why we're surrounded by clocks and calendars that dictate our activities. As the minutes tick by, we wonder where the day went. When responsibilities and pressures mount, we complain, "I just don't have time to get it all done!" But the reality is that God has given us enough time to do exactly what He's planned for our lives. Perhaps the bigger issue is whether we are using our time to do our will or the Lord's.
Time is a gift from God, and He has allotted each of us a measure in which to live and accomplish His purposes. We have only two options—to spend it temporally on our own interests or invest it eternally. Since time can never be retrieved or reversed, it's critical that we make the most of every opportunity the Lord provides.
The key to investing in eternity is following God's plan for your life, not just filling your days with activities. Jesus was allocated just thirty-three years of life on earth, but only the last three were spent in fulfilling His Messianic ministry. To us that seems like a waste of time. Yet Christ accomplished everything His Father gave Him to do. That's why on the cross He could say, "It is finished" (John 19:30).
Scripture compares earthly life to "a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14), but eternal life never ends. It's foolish to spend your life on a vapor when you can reap everlasting benefits by following God's will for your time here. Each day is an opportunity to choose.
Hardwired for Happiness - by Greg Laurie -
Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!-Psalm 144:15
We have the desire for happiness deeply ingrained within us. In other words, God has hardwired us to be happy. So where do we find this happiness?
We won't find it is in this world, because the world bases happiness on how well things are going. If things are going reasonably well, then we're happy. If things are not going so well, then we're unhappy.
When you obtain everything, when you have all your dreams fulfilled, when you reach all your goals and maybe surpass them, you find how empty it is. And then you realize that happiness isn't in those things at all.
I think in many cases, the people you follow on social media and those you admire or look up to may have a far more miserable life than you have.
One Gallup study on the subject of happiness found that spiritually committed people are twice as likely to report being very happy than the least spiritually committed people.
I'll take that a step further: Godly people will be the happiest people. As the Bible says, "Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!" (Psalm 144:15 NKJV).
C. S. Lewis put it this way: "God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way. . . . God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."
The more we chase after the Lord, the more godly we'll become-and the more we'll find the happiness that has eluded us for so long.
Obedience or Preference Matthew 26:36-42
Every believer must choose whether he will live by the principle of obedience or follow his preferences. When a person commits to doing the Lord�s will, then every situation and decision is sifted through the standard of "God said it, so I�m going to do it�and that�s the end of it." He may complain, weep, or try to argue. But in the end he will be obedient, no matter what.
I recall being invited years ago to interview with a church in Atlanta. During the entire road trip, I told the Lord that I didn�t want to move. I fussed and carried on a good while, but I knew Atlanta would be my new home. I didn�t like the idea, but the alternative was unimaginable: there are few things more unpleasant than living with the nagging anxiety that you missed out on something good.
The Lord certainly understands our need to question, cry out, and petition Him for the strength to do what He asks. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that we have a high priest who can sympathize with us. Jesus wasn�t excited or happy about the cross. He grieved over the coming separation from His Father. Nevertheless, He was committed to following God�s will (Matt. 26:39). No one took Christ�s life from Him; He laid it down (John 10:18).
Our lives are about fulfilling God�s purpose. Many people miss His awesome plan for them because they choose to follow their preferences. Obedience is sometimes hard, but the struggle and sacrifice are worth it. There is joy and peace for the believer who pleases the Lord and lives by His principles.
Every believer must choose whether he will live by the principle of obedience or follow his preferences. When a person commits to doing the Lord�s will, then every situation and decision is sifted through the standard of "God said it, so I�m going to do it�and that�s the end of it." He may complain, weep, or try to argue. But in the end he will be obedient, no matter what.
The Lord certainly understands our need to question, cry out, and petition Him for the strength to do what He asks. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that we have a high priest who can sympathize with us. Jesus wasn�t excited or happy about the cross. He grieved over the coming separation from His Father. Nevertheless, He was committed to following God�s will (Matt. 26:39). No one took Christ�s life from Him; He laid it down (John 10:18).
Our lives are about fulfilling God�s purpose. Many people miss His awesome plan for them because they choose to follow their preferences. Obedience is sometimes hard, but the struggle and sacrifice are worth it. There is joy and peace for the believer who pleases the Lord and lives by His principles.
The Power of Grace
�Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.� (Ephesians 3:7)
In the New Testament, the words for gift and grace are very closely related. The Greek term charis is most frequently translated �grace,� and charisma is most often rendered �gift.� We who are twice-born are to use our �gift� with one another as �good stewards of the manifold grace of God� (1 Peter 4:10).
When God gifts us with faith so that we are saved by His grace (Ephesians 2:8), we are then �created in righteousness and true holiness� (Ephesians 4:24). This �new man� is granted the potential to understand the �exceeding greatness of his power� (Ephesians 1:19) and to participate in the �divine nature� so that we are able to escape the corruption that pervades the lust of this godless world (2 Peter 1:4).
When we preach the gospel, we are using �the power of God� that will result in the salvation of those who respond (Romans 1:16). Right after the day of Pentecost, the apostles gave testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in a demonstration of that power so that �great grace was upon them all� (Acts 4:33). The message and the power and the grace of God are inseparable.
When our lives radically changed in response to the �new man� created in us by God, they did so by �the grace of our Lord� that is �exceeding abundant with faith and love� (1 Timothy 1:14). When we access the strength to rise above our infirmities or difficult circumstances, we are experiencing the Lord�s grace that is sufficient to deal with or overcome whatever may be hindering us (2 Corinthians 12:9).
When we �work out� the salvation God has �graced� us with, we can be sure that God is working in us �both to will and to do of his good pleasure� (Philippians 2:12-13). HMM III
�Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.� (Ephesians 3:7)
In the New Testament, the words for gift and grace are very closely related. The Greek term charis is most frequently translated �grace,� and charisma is most often rendered �gift.� We who are twice-born are to use our �gift� with one another as �good stewards of the manifold grace of God� (1 Peter 4:10).
When God gifts us with faith so that we are saved by His grace (Ephesians 2:8), we are then �created in righteousness and true holiness� (Ephesians 4:24). This �new man� is granted the potential to understand the �exceeding greatness of his power� (Ephesians 1:19) and to participate in the �divine nature� so that we are able to escape the corruption that pervades the lust of this godless world (2 Peter 1:4).
When we preach the gospel, we are using �the power of God� that will result in the salvation of those who respond (Romans 1:16). Right after the day of Pentecost, the apostles gave testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in a demonstration of that power so that �great grace was upon them all� (Acts 4:33). The message and the power and the grace of God are inseparable.
When our lives radically changed in response to the �new man� created in us by God, they did so by �the grace of our Lord� that is �exceeding abundant with faith and love� (1 Timothy 1:14). When we access the strength to rise above our infirmities or difficult circumstances, we are experiencing the Lord�s grace that is sufficient to deal with or overcome whatever may be hindering us (2 Corinthians 12:9).
When we �work out� the salvation God has �graced� us with, we can be sure that God is working in us �both to will and to do of his good pleasure� (Philippians 2:12-13). HMM III
What It Means to Be Poor in Spirit - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.-Matthew 5:2
If we rewrote the Beatitudes for our culture today, they probably would look like this:
Blessed are the wealthy, for they will have it all.
Blessed are the beautiful, for they will be admired.
Blessed are the popular, for they will be loved.
Blessed are the famous, for they will have followers on social media.
However, that isn't what Jesus said. Instead, He started the Beatitudes with a bombshell: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:2 NKJV). Or, to say it another way, "Happy are the poor in spirit."
Notice that Jesus didn't say, "Blessed are the poor." Rather, He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (emphasis added). In itself there is no blessedness in being rich or poor. The Bible doesn't commend poverty, nor does it condemn wealth.
But the Bible does say this: "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV). I've met wealthy people who were happy and poor people who were miserable. I've also met poor people who were happy and wealthy people who were miserable.
So it isn't about your bank account. It's about your spiritual state before God. The word poor in this verse comes from a verb meaning "to shrink, cower, or cringe." Beggars often did this in Jesus' day.
If you want to be happy, if you want to receive God's blessing, then you must be poor in spirit. This means recognizing your spiritual poverty apart from God. It means recognizing the simple fact that, apart from the Lord, you're lost, helpless, and hopeless.
If you want to be happy, then admit your true spiritual state. Blessed are those who see themselves as they really are, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Avoiding Compromise
Although the temptation to compromise threatens every believer, we don't have to give in. If we're aware of the danger and understand the downward progression and ultimate consequences, we can determine to be vigilant in obedience to the Lord.
The first step in learning how to avoid compromise is understanding why it is so tempting. When others pressure us to take part in in what we know God has forbidden, it's easy to give in because we don't want to feel rejected. But anyone who's committed to living a godly life must be willing to stand alone and face ridicule or even persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). At other times, we consent to activities that violate our conscience just to avoid conflict, but peace at any price means we have to sacrifice obedience to God.
However, the temptation to compromise doesn't always originate with others. In fact, James 1:14 says we are tempted when we're carried away by our own lusts. How many Christians have fallen into sexual immorality or pornography by desiring a second look? Greed is another motivation that drives us to compromise. If you fudge on your income tax or take a few things home from the office, you've stepped over the line of obedience to God. Our choices should be based on scriptural truth, not on our feelings and desires.
In order to stand firm against compromise, we must make God's Word the standard for our conduct. If you begin each day with the Lord in His Word, He will guide your way. Then when the Spirit gives a warning, obey immediately, because giving consideration to the temptation opens a door for Satan.
Galilean Grace Part 2: When You Let God Down by Max Lucado This wasn't the first night that Peter had spent on the Sea of Galilee. After all, he was a fisherman. He, like the others, worked at night. He knew the fish would feed near the surface during the cool of the night and return to the deep during the day. No, this wasn't the first night Peter had spent on the Sea of Galilee. Nor was it the first night he had caught nothing.
There was that time years before �
Most mornings Peter and his partners would sell their fish, repair their nets, and head home to rest with a bag of money and a feeling of satisfaction. This particular morning there was no money. There was no satisfaction. They had worked all through the night but had nothing to show for it except weary backs and worn nets.
And, what's worse, everyone knew it. Every morning the shore would become a market as the villagers came to buy their fish, but that day there were no fish.
Jesus was there that morning, teaching. As the people pressed there was little room for him to stand, so he asked Peter if his boat could be a platform. Peter agreed, maybe thinking the boat might as well be put to some good use.
Peter listens as Jesus teaches. It's good to hear something other than the slapping of waves. When Jesus finishes with the crowd, he turns to Peter. He has another request. He wants to go fishing. "Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish" (Luke 5:4).
Peter groans. The last thing he wants to do is fish. The boat is clean. The nets are ready to dry. The sun is up and he is tired. It's time to go home. Besides, everyone is watching. They've already seen him come back empty-handed once. And, what's more, what does Jesus know about fishing?
So Peter speaks, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish" (v. 5).
Mark the weariness in the words.
"We worked hard." Scraping the hull. Carrying the nets. Pulling the oars. Throwing the nets high into the moonlit sky. Listening as they slap on the surface of the water.
"All night." The sky had gone from burnt orange to midnight black to morning gold. The hours had passed as slowly as the fleets of clouds before the moon. The fishermen's conversation had stilled and their shoulders ached. While the village slept, the men worked. All � night � long.
"Trying to catch fish." The night's events had been rhythmic: net swung and tossed high till it spread itself against the sky. Then wait. Let it sink. Pull it in. Do it again. Throw. Pull. Throw. Pull. Throw. Pull. Every toss had been a prayer. But every drag of the empty net had come back unanswered. Even the net sighed as the men pulled it out and prepared to throw it again.
For twelve hours they'd fished. And now � now Jesus is wanting to fish some more? And not just off the shore, but in the deep?
Peter sees his friends shrug their shoulders. He looks at the people on the beach watching him. He doesn't know what to do. Jesus may know a lot about a lot, but Peter knows about fishing. Peter knows when to work and when to quit. He knows there is a time to go on and a time to get out.
Common sense said it was time to get out. Logic said cut your losses and go home. Experience said pack it up and get some rest. But Jesus said, "We can try again if you want."
Happy Are the Unhappy - by Greg Laurie -
There was that time years before �
Most mornings Peter and his partners would sell their fish, repair their nets, and head home to rest with a bag of money and a feeling of satisfaction. This particular morning there was no money. There was no satisfaction. They had worked all through the night but had nothing to show for it except weary backs and worn nets.
And, what's worse, everyone knew it. Every morning the shore would become a market as the villagers came to buy their fish, but that day there were no fish.
Jesus was there that morning, teaching. As the people pressed there was little room for him to stand, so he asked Peter if his boat could be a platform. Peter agreed, maybe thinking the boat might as well be put to some good use.
Peter listens as Jesus teaches. It's good to hear something other than the slapping of waves. When Jesus finishes with the crowd, he turns to Peter. He has another request. He wants to go fishing. "Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish" (Luke 5:4).
Peter groans. The last thing he wants to do is fish. The boat is clean. The nets are ready to dry. The sun is up and he is tired. It's time to go home. Besides, everyone is watching. They've already seen him come back empty-handed once. And, what's more, what does Jesus know about fishing?
So Peter speaks, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish" (v. 5).
Mark the weariness in the words.
"We worked hard." Scraping the hull. Carrying the nets. Pulling the oars. Throwing the nets high into the moonlit sky. Listening as they slap on the surface of the water.
"All night." The sky had gone from burnt orange to midnight black to morning gold. The hours had passed as slowly as the fleets of clouds before the moon. The fishermen's conversation had stilled and their shoulders ached. While the village slept, the men worked. All � night � long.
"Trying to catch fish." The night's events had been rhythmic: net swung and tossed high till it spread itself against the sky. Then wait. Let it sink. Pull it in. Do it again. Throw. Pull. Throw. Pull. Throw. Pull. Every toss had been a prayer. But every drag of the empty net had come back unanswered. Even the net sighed as the men pulled it out and prepared to throw it again.
For twelve hours they'd fished. And now � now Jesus is wanting to fish some more? And not just off the shore, but in the deep?
Peter sees his friends shrug their shoulders. He looks at the people on the beach watching him. He doesn't know what to do. Jesus may know a lot about a lot, but Peter knows about fishing. Peter knows when to work and when to quit. He knows there is a time to go on and a time to get out.
Common sense said it was time to get out. Logic said cut your losses and go home. Experience said pack it up and get some rest. But Jesus said, "We can try again if you want."
Happy Are the Unhappy - by Greg Laurie -
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.-2 Corinthians 7:10
Happy people are unhappy people, because Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." In the Beatitudes, the word "blessed" that Jesus used is interchangeable with "happy."
To put it another way, happy are the unhappy.
"Well, that makes no sense at all," you're saying. "Either you're happy or you're unhappy."
No, before you can truly be happy, you first have to be unhappy. You have to see your real state before God, which is a sinful state. And you have to mourn over that state.
Also, the word that Jesus used here for "mourn" is the most severe of nine Greek words for grief that we find in the Scriptures. It's reserved for mourning the dead. While this verse applies in principle to all who mourn, let's look at it in context.
Let's go back to the previous beatitude: "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3 NKJV). It's a little scary to see what sinners we really are. But when we cry out to God and mourn over our condition, then we will find comfort.
As commentator Warren Wiersbe has pointed out, "It is as wrong to mourn when God has forgiven us as it is to rejoice when sin has conquered us."
It's better to mourn now and laugh later than to laugh now and mourn later. When you really mourn for your condition and repent of it, you can experience the true happiness that God wants you to experience.
Have you ever shed a tear over a sin in your own life? Have you ever done something you were ashamed of and wept over it?
The Bible tells us that godly sorrow will produce repentance (see 2 Corinthians 7:10). This can be a good thing, because that mourning can produce tangible results.
Making Disciples
Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. And while sharing the gospel is awesome, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers. Many don't know where to begin reading in the Bible or how to spend time with their heavenly Father.
Of course, God takes each person's spiritual journey seriously, and He won't leave a seeking heart unsatisfied. At the same time, we have a responsibility to invest in the lives of spiritual brothers and sisters by sharing our understanding and experience.
This type of teaching is called discipleship, and it is both an honor and a great responsibility. As you commence this type of relationship, consider the following points.
First, make sure to continually spend time with the Lord so that you are growing and in tune with His Spirit. Second, be prepared with a plan. Your friend needs to understand the basics, such as how to read the Bible, what prayer is, and where to find fellowship. New believers will have questions--answers are important, as is your ability to find resources when you are unsure of how to reply. Third, help the individual understand generally what to expect as he embarks on his Christian walk. Tomorrow, we will explore the stages of a believer's journey.
Most of us learned, struggled, and learned some more till we began to understand the basics of life in Christ. Godly mentors can be a tremendous help. And remember, no matter how long we've believed, we never stop needing advice and encouragement from those farther along in the journey.
The Power of Forgiveness
�To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins.� (Acts 26:18)
There is a historical point in our earthly lives at which the forgiveness of Christ was granted�even though He was �slain from the foundation of the world� (Revelation 13:8) and in the eternal sense we were �predestined� to be �conformed to the image of his Son� (Romans 8:29).
Christ has subdued, cleansed, and forgotten our sins. Our human minds will never comprehend what it cost the triune Godhead to �subdue our iniquities� and metaphorically throw our sins �into the depths of the sea� (Micah 7:19). How is it possible for an omniscient God to blot out and forget our sins? Yet the Scriptures clearly tell us that He does so (Isaiah 43:25; 44:22; Acts 3:19). God�s forgiveness is an eternal act of forgetfulness as well as judicial payment and propitiation.
Christ has replaced our sins with His holiness. Of course this must be! A holy God cannot fellowship with an unholy being. �Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.� We must be �made the righteousness of God in him� (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21) so that He �might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus� (Romans 3:26).
Christ has given us victory over sin. Since all of the above (and more) is true and active in the life of every believer, there should be an obvious exhilaration that enables us to confidently stand against whatever �fiery darts� the Enemy throws at us. �Sin shall not have dominion over you,� we are clearly told in Romans 6:14. Since the �offense� of sin was dealt with on the cross, we should �reign in life� by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
Do you rejoice in your forgiveness and therefore reign over sin in your life? God has made this possible. HMM III
�To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins.� (Acts 26:18)
There is a historical point in our earthly lives at which the forgiveness of Christ was granted�even though He was �slain from the foundation of the world� (Revelation 13:8) and in the eternal sense we were �predestined� to be �conformed to the image of his Son� (Romans 8:29).
Christ has subdued, cleansed, and forgotten our sins. Our human minds will never comprehend what it cost the triune Godhead to �subdue our iniquities� and metaphorically throw our sins �into the depths of the sea� (Micah 7:19). How is it possible for an omniscient God to blot out and forget our sins? Yet the Scriptures clearly tell us that He does so (Isaiah 43:25; 44:22; Acts 3:19). God�s forgiveness is an eternal act of forgetfulness as well as judicial payment and propitiation.
Christ has replaced our sins with His holiness. Of course this must be! A holy God cannot fellowship with an unholy being. �Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.� We must be �made the righteousness of God in him� (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21) so that He �might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus� (Romans 3:26).
Christ has given us victory over sin. Since all of the above (and more) is true and active in the life of every believer, there should be an obvious exhilaration that enables us to confidently stand against whatever �fiery darts� the Enemy throws at us. �Sin shall not have dominion over you,� we are clearly told in Romans 6:14. Since the �offense� of sin was dealt with on the cross, we should �reign in life� by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
Do you rejoice in your forgiveness and therefore reign over sin in your life? God has made this possible. HMM III
The Heavens Declare
�The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.� (Psalm 19:1)
This verse has been a favorite of many who recognize God�s creatorship. The vastness of space �declares� His power and sovereign control over all and calls us to worship Him as not only Creator but Savior as well. In what ways do the heavens speak?
The orderly progression of day and night reminds us of God�s purpose in creating the heavenly bodies, that they should be �signs� for us to aid in telling time and the passage of time (Genesis 1:14). The sun�s light energizes Earth�s processes. From photosynthesis to tidal and atmospheric movements, the Creator can be recognized as the great Provider.
The �line� mentioned in Psalm 19:4 is that of a surveyor�s line, true and accurate. It represents the absolute standard by which our conduct is measured. Just as surely as an Earth-encircling line demarcates light and darkness, so God�s holy nature measures and evaluates our behavior.
The sun�s light extends outward in all directions, not just toward Earth. Light generates heat, thus �there is nothing hid from the heat thereof� (v. 6). This life-sustaining light can be compared to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, anxious to receive his bride, and a strong man, an athlete ready to claim the championship (v. 5). In a similar manner, God delights in supplying every need of His children. He is near and ever-powerful. We can ask Him for anything at any time, He loves us that much.
From this poetic rehearsal of some of God�s immutable attributes, we can learn much of both His nature and our relationship to Him. While Psalm 19 does not teach in a didactic fashion, it can thrill our spirits and motivate us to draw nearer to Him. JDM
�The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.� (Psalm 19:1)
This verse has been a favorite of many who recognize God�s creatorship. The vastness of space �declares� His power and sovereign control over all and calls us to worship Him as not only Creator but Savior as well. In what ways do the heavens speak?
The orderly progression of day and night reminds us of God�s purpose in creating the heavenly bodies, that they should be �signs� for us to aid in telling time and the passage of time (Genesis 1:14). The sun�s light energizes Earth�s processes. From photosynthesis to tidal and atmospheric movements, the Creator can be recognized as the great Provider.
The �line� mentioned in Psalm 19:4 is that of a surveyor�s line, true and accurate. It represents the absolute standard by which our conduct is measured. Just as surely as an Earth-encircling line demarcates light and darkness, so God�s holy nature measures and evaluates our behavior.
The sun�s light extends outward in all directions, not just toward Earth. Light generates heat, thus �there is nothing hid from the heat thereof� (v. 6). This life-sustaining light can be compared to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, anxious to receive his bride, and a strong man, an athlete ready to claim the championship (v. 5). In a similar manner, God delights in supplying every need of His children. He is near and ever-powerful. We can ask Him for anything at any time, He loves us that much.
From this poetic rehearsal of some of God�s immutable attributes, we can learn much of both His nature and our relationship to Him. While Psalm 19 does not teach in a didactic fashion, it can thrill our spirits and motivate us to draw nearer to Him. JDM
We Are His Image
�And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.� (Colossians 3:10)
Man�s body is made of the same �earth� material (Genesis 2:7) as the animals (v. 19) and as the earth itself (Genesis 1:10). Furthermore, he shares the created �soul� (Hebrew nephesh) and �spirit� (Hebrew ruach, same as �breath�) with the animals (compare 1:21; 7:15, where nephesh and ruach respectively are used of the animals). However, he shares the created �image of God� (1:27) only with God Himself.
Ever since Adam and Eve first sinned, all people have been born in innate rebellion against Him. The image of God in man has been grievously marred, and we are �dead in trespasses and sins� (Ephesians 2:1).
However, as our text reminds us, the image of God in man can be �renewed� through the great miracle of the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). And this includes more than just our soul/spirit nature, for we have His gracious promise that our own resurrection bodies will be �fashioned like unto his glorious body� (Philippians 3:21) when He comes again.
Evidently, God had all this in mind from the very beginning, when �in the likeness of God made he him� (Genesis 5:1). That is, He foreknew that He would one day become man, in the person of Jesus Christ, and so He created man in the image and likeness of that body/soul/spirit complex that He Himself would eventually assume.
In some mysterious way, Christ Himself is, in His eternal and glorified human body, the �image of the invisible God� (Colossians 1:15), and God amazingly has even predestinated us �to be conformed to the image of his Son� (Romans 8:29), and �we shall be like him� when we finally �see him as he is� (1 John 3:2). HMM
�And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.� (Colossians 3:10)
Man�s body is made of the same �earth� material (Genesis 2:7) as the animals (v. 19) and as the earth itself (Genesis 1:10). Furthermore, he shares the created �soul� (Hebrew nephesh) and �spirit� (Hebrew ruach, same as �breath�) with the animals (compare 1:21; 7:15, where nephesh and ruach respectively are used of the animals). However, he shares the created �image of God� (1:27) only with God Himself.
Ever since Adam and Eve first sinned, all people have been born in innate rebellion against Him. The image of God in man has been grievously marred, and we are �dead in trespasses and sins� (Ephesians 2:1).
However, as our text reminds us, the image of God in man can be �renewed� through the great miracle of the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). And this includes more than just our soul/spirit nature, for we have His gracious promise that our own resurrection bodies will be �fashioned like unto his glorious body� (Philippians 3:21) when He comes again.
Evidently, God had all this in mind from the very beginning, when �in the likeness of God made he him� (Genesis 5:1). That is, He foreknew that He would one day become man, in the person of Jesus Christ, and so He created man in the image and likeness of that body/soul/spirit complex that He Himself would eventually assume.
In some mysterious way, Christ Himself is, in His eternal and glorified human body, the �image of the invisible God� (Colossians 1:15), and God amazingly has even predestinated us �to be conformed to the image of his Son� (Romans 8:29), and �we shall be like him� when we finally �see him as he is� (1 John 3:2). HMM
Does Meek Mean Weak? - by Greg Laurie -
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.-Matthew 5:5
We don't hear a lot about meekness today. It isn't celebrated, but it is really important.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5 NKJV). To put it another way, you can be blessed if you're a meek person. It means that you are no longer inflated with pride. You have seen your real condition, and as a result, you're meek.
By the way, weakness and meekness are not the same. Let's say, for example, that you're a professional boxer. And let's say that someone is harassing you. But you don't hit them back, even though you could. You choose not to strike back, even though they're mistreating you. That is not weakness. That is meekness.
Now let's say that have no fighting skills at all and someone is harassing you. But you don't hit back. That's because you don't really have a lot of options.
On the other hand, the person who knows how to fight has an option. Even so, they choose not to exercise that option. That is meekness. It means power under constraint.
The word Jesus used here for meek is a Greek term that describes the breaking of a powerful stallion. Have you ever been on a horse that didn't want to do what you wanted it to? When a horse submits to the rider's will, that is meekness.
In the same way, when we surrender ourselves to God's will, we exhibit meekness. How different this is from our culture. In the Bible, the last are first. Giving is receiving. Dying is living. Losing is finding. The least are the greatest. Weakness is strength.
A happy person, therefore, will be a meek person. Seeing ourselves as we really are produces a vital spiritual quality: meekness.
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