DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 5.1.21 -

ItIsn't the End of Your Story - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king�s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. �Hebrews 11:27 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/it-isnt-the-end-of-your-story/- Listen Have you ever said or done something you regret? Maybe you thought, �If only I could relive that moment.� What would Eve have given for another chance before that tree in the Garden of Eden? What would Moses have given for another chance to just speak to the rock instead ofstrike it? But what happened with Moses wasn�t his whole story. Hebrews 11 gives us the Heroes Hall of Faith, an account of great men and women who trusted God and put their faithinto action. For example, verse 27 says of Moses, �It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king�s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible� (NLT). No record is made of his mistakes, and the same is true for the others mentioned in Hebrews 11. The passage goes on to say, �It was by faith that Moses commanded the peopleof Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons� (verse 28 NLT). The action of putting the blood on the doorposts made the perfect image of a cross. So the judgment of God didn�t come upon their firstborn. Moses applied the blood of thePassover lamb, and he was under the blood. And ultimately, Moses finished his race well. In the same way, Jesus died for our sins, and once we�ve asked Him to forgive our sins, we need to accept the fact that we�re forgiven. We don�t have to keep going backand reliving our past again and again or try to offer some kind of penance for our sin. So if you�ve messed up, if you�ve said or done something you�re ashamed of, here�s the good news: God gives second chances. ---------------------------------------------------------------- TheOracles of God “Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some didnot believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” (Romans3:2-3) This striking synonym for the Scriptures (“the oracles of God”) occurs just three times in the Bible. In our text, Paul is emphasizing the great privilege and responsibility that was committed to the Jews when God gave His “oracles” to them, a word implying “divinely inspired utterances.” The author of Hebrews rebuked those Hebrew Christians who had still not learned the very “first principles of the oracles of God,” despite having been professing Christians for a long time (Hebrews5:12). Finally, the apostle Peter urged his readers: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1Peter 4:11). That is, anyone who presumes to speak for the Lord must “preach the word” (2Timothy 4:2). It is not our words but His words that are “quick, and powerful” (Hebrews4:12). In fact, Stephen called them “the lively [or ‘living’] oracles” (Acts7:38). In all these references, it is clear that these “oracles of God”—that is, the Holy Scriptures—constitute the very utterances of the living God. They were given to and through believing Jews and are preserved for us now in our Bibles. They obviously should bebelieved, studied, obeyed, and proclaimed by all who consider themselves to be Christians. The fact that many people reject the Bible, even claiming it is wrong in what it teaches, is irrelevant. Such claims merely display human arrogance. God’s Word has been “for ever...settled in heaven” and “is true from the beginning” (Psalm119:89, 160). It will endure even after this present world has passed away (Matthew24:35) and will finally be the criterion by which its detractors will be judged in the last day (Revelation20:12; 22:18-19). HMM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- GodIs Omniscient �Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.� (Acts15:18) Although the concept of absolute knowledge is general to almost all ideas of God, it is perhaps the most difficult for any human being to understand. Most of us work very hard to obtain knowledge and, in most cases, even harder to retain it. The practical issuewith this teaching is we forget that God does not forget! �The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works� (Psalm33:13-15). Deep in the heart of every man is the fear that God�s omniscience is very real, but we spend much of our waking hours attempting to override that concern. Yet, the Scriptures are absolutely clear. �And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:...and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works� (Revelation20:12). �But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment� (Matthew 12:36). Ah, but the wonderful and encouraging side of God�s omniscience is that He does know. �O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down,and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether� (Psalm 139:1-4). With that kind of knowledge, it is no wonder that �my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus� (Philippians 4:19).HMM III --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bursting the Bubble by Meghan Kleppinger “…We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”- 2 Peter 3:13 Washington D.C. is a politically powerful city and it’s easy for young professionals working there to get carried away by all of its bells and whistles. As a recent college graduate who experienced this firsthand, I found that it doesn’t take long to adaptto the culture. It’s an exciting place to be, but the problem with becoming a full-blown Washingtonian is that too often, people forget why they are there to begin with. Most people move to Washington to support a cause or to work for a politician representing a state. I, for example, worked for a non-profit that worked to preserve family values, and many of my peers worked for their state senators or representatives. To help pop the D.C. bubble we were living in, several of us developed the discipline of reading our hometown papers online each morning. By reading the Richmond Times-Dispatch every day, I was reminded of my roots, culture, where I was from, and for whom I was really working. This practice, along with repeating our mantra, “this isn’t the real world,” enabled many of us to start each day in Washingtonas Virginians, Pennsylvanians, Texans, etc., representing the states we called home. Sometimes life gets tough, circumstances cause confusion and doubt, purpose becomes unclear, and faith seems irrelevant and far removed from everyday struggles. It doesn’t take much for the line between the world we currently live in, and the promise of our eternal home, to become blurry – it’s those times when “home” with Christ sometimes seems so far away. For me, these bleak moments almost always coincide with periods of times that I’ve stepped away from praying and spending time in God’s Word each day. It’s not that prayer and study act like a magic formula changing my circumstances, though sometimes God does change them; usually, it is simply this set-aside time that causes me to regroup and change my perspective of thecircumstances. God is greater than man. He’s our creator, sustainer, and He’s in control of everything. He loves us, gives us purpose, and promises us a future with Him. This life is temporal and is nothing in comparison to spending eternity with Christ. How do I knowthese things? It’s all in God’s Word. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seeking Guidance: The First Step 1 John 1:8-10 By forsaking the broad worldly way, believers have chosen a narrow path (Matt. 7:13). However, we’re not wandering blindly on it. The Holy Spirit is our guide. He directs our steps toward new opportunities and offers discernment so we can make wise decisions that keep us on course for God’s will. It is the nature of this journey that we have to stop often and seek guidance. God is pleased to respond to earnest requests for direction, as He wants to keep His followers in the center of His will. But I’ve discovered that many Christians wonder how topursue divine guidance. Seeking God’s direction involves a pattern that begins with cleansing—in other words, the first place to look is at ourselves. Ask, “Father, do You see anything in my life that might interfere with my understanding what You are saying?” Sin shuts down theguidance process: it strangles the power flowing from the Holy Spirit and thereby clouds our judgment (1 Thess. 5:19).First John 1:9 tells us that God cleanses unrighteousness when we confess our sins. The Bible also contains a clear warning for those who refuse to relinquish a rebellious habit or attitude—the Lord does not hear their cries (Ps.66:18). As He brings to mind problem areas, lay them before the cross. Cleansing is actually woven into the entire process of gaining divine guidance. God brings sin to our attention as we’re equipped to deal with it. So on the way to receiving His clear direction, we may revisit this “first” step often and in that way canexperience a time of rich spiritual growth and renewal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christ the King “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord oflords.” (1 Timothy 6:15) Of the many descriptive titles of the Lord Jesus Christ, perhaps the most significant is that of King because this speaks of His universal dominion. The day is coming when “every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under theearth” (Philippians 2:10). First of all, since He created all things, He is the King of creation. “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and hishands formed the dry land” (Psalm 95:3-5). In a special sense, of course, He is the King of the Jews. “He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke1:33). He is also our King of redemption, having set us free from the kingdom of the wicked one. He “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgivenessof sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). There is a day coming in which all the kings of the earth shall unite against Him. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron....Andhe hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:15- 16). Until then, let us serve Him as King andsubmit to Him as Lord. HMM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Perverse Generation Sarah Phillips "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?" Luke 9:41 There is much written today about how the world has lost touch with God and morality. It's easy to view the past with rose-tinted glasses, to believe in "the good old days" or reminisce about a golden era. We do this in the Church all the time, often pointingto one practice that, if resurrected, would surely turn this generation around. "If only the women still wore head coverings in church… " "If only we sang ancient hymns… " "If only young men and women got married earlier… " Don't read me wrong here… these issues are important. But the stark reality is, every generation has fallen short of God's glory. Every generation has sinned. Does this sound familiar? "The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter theroom. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers." How often have I been tempted to mutter these words when encountering today's teenagers? But this quote is attributed to Socrates by Plato. Apparently, teens weren't doing so well in the ancient world either. The fallen nature of man has followed us throughthe ages, plaguing the youth and old alike. Our broken nature manifests itself in so many ways… from the darkest sins to our lack of basic manners and courtesy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Listening with Purpose 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Yesterday we learned about hearing the Word with eagerness and attentiveness. Now, let’s think about approaching the Bible purposefully, expectantly, and prayerfully. Christians study the Scriptures not just individually but also corporately to learn more about God and His ways. Underlying this simple concept is a big challenge. To gather biblical knowledge with purpose means determining in our heart to obey what we hear(Ps. 119:33). And to do so expectantly means we believe that the Lord is going to speak specifically to us (Ps.25:4). Sermons, Sunday school lessons, and quiet times on our own are all things to be anticipated. God uses these to build us up, strengthen us, or offer us comfort—He certainly makes listening to Him worthwhile. And obedience is the only proper responseto this kind of personal attention. Approaching the reading of Scripture prayerfully prepares our hearts to listen well and ushers in an attitude of purpose and expectancy. Today’s passage tells the story of young Samuel’s first encounter with God. The priest Eli gives the boy valuable advice—thatwhen the Lord calls, he should say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (v. 9). Pray those simple words with conviction before you open your Bible, and you will hear God more clearly. If you want to experience God working in your life, come to Scripture with a prayerful, expectant, purpose-filled attitude. The mourner will be comforted. The weary will gain strength. Those convicted of their sin will repent and know peace. All will sensejoy. Recognize what a gift God’s Word is. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TheWatchers “I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven.” (Daniel4:13) It is only in this chapter of Daniel (see also verses 17 and 23) that certain angelic beings called “watchers” are mentioned. Whether the term applies to all God’s holy angels or only to a certain order of angels has not been revealed in Scripture. However, we do know that at least some of the angels, if not all of them, are intensely occupied with observing events among humans here on Earth. For example, Paul said that he and the other apostles had been made “a spectacle unto the world, and to angels,and to men” (1Corinthians 4:9). The word “spectacle” in this verse is actually “theatre” and is so translated the only other time it is used in the New Testament (Acts19:29, 31). It is sobering, as well as surprising, to realize that Christians—especially Christian leaders—are on a stage, as it were, being carefully watched by an audience that even includes the angels. Paul also cautioned Christian women to maintain a covering on their heads “because of the angels” (1Corinthians 11:10). Perhaps the watching angels are also included in the great “cloud of witnesses” who observe us as we “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews12:1). But why should these mighty angels, these “holy ones,” these heavenly “watchers,” have such a “desire to look into” these things here on Earth (1Peter 1:12)? Perhaps they are anxious, like us, to “see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powersin heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians3:9-10). HMM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GodIs Omnipotent “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm,and there is nothing too hard for thee.” (Jeremiah32:17) The Genesis record of creation generates more hostility among men than any other message. Even secular atheists claim to respect the humanitarian teachings of Jesus, but they bristle irrationally when the Lord Jesus is identified as the Creator. Perhaps thisis because the evidence for God’s omnipotence is displayed so openly and vividly by the “greatness of his might” (Isaiah40:26). The God who can speak the billions of galaxies into existence with the “breath of his mouth” (Psalm33:6) is a God who can cast ungodly men into eternal hell for their defiance and rebellion against “the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude1:4). Conversely, the God who “stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing” (Job26:7) is able to “save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Hebrews7:25). No wonder the psalmist expresses the praise that all men should declare: “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of theglorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness” (Psalm145:3-6). When the Lord Jesus was formally invested at the great assembly around the throne, the entire throng burst into the song “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and werecreated” (Revelation4:11). Each of us would do well to carry that song in our hearts every day. HMM III --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Spirit of Power by Ryan Duncan “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 Sometimes, the world can be a scary place. Scratch that, sometimes it can be downright terrifying. War, sickness, corruption, injustice, death, every day brings something new to worry about. As Christians, we know God has a plan for our lives, but we alsoknow that doesn’t make us immune to pain and suffering. So how can we possibly go about our lives when faced with so much uncertainty? We might start by looking at the apostle Paul. Paul knew what it was like to live in uncertainty. Throughout his life he was blinded, beaten, shipwrecked, exiled, and imprisoned on multiple occasions. The temptation to give in, and let fear ruin him, musthave been enormous. Yet, look what he writes in his letter to Timothy, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, whohas saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior,Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” – 2 Timothy 1:7-10 Yes, there are many frightening things out in the world, but God did not give us a spirit of timidity. God gave us a spirit of power. His Holy Spirit lives in us, and it reminds us in that still, small voice to be brave even in the face of danger. Paul knew that his life would be hard, and that in following Christ he would likely lose it, but that knowledge didn’t take away his courage. Instead,he strove to live in a way that glorified God. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enough Already by John UpChurch “The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke8:38-39 I knew I’d feel inadequate, but once they slapped the Journeyman mic on me and the congregation sauntered in, the word inadequate became inadequate. Over my head, crazy, off my rocker—those shot through my mind a time or two. Yes, I had notes. Yes, I’d practiced. Yes, I’d taken public speaking courses. But none of those really prepares you to face a congregation on Sunday morning. Nothing gets you ready to reach into Scripture and yank out the good stuff. You’re dealing withpotent material here, the kind of thing you don’t want to get wrong. And out there are the faces of those who may never come back through the door of a church again. No pressure. And that’s how my first sermon started. Actually, I don’t remember much of it. It just kind of started and then ended. If there weren’t a recording, I don’t think I’d even know what I said. But, alas, said recording does exist (no chance of being linkedhere), and the final verdict is… let’s just say mixed. At least no one left, and given the size of the church, I would have noticed. In many ways, I felt like that formerly demon-possessed man whom Jesus told to go tell it on the mountain. Jesus didn’t give him much in the way of lessons or practice. He just sent the man home to talk about God healing him. And as far as we know, the manwent and did just that. Since it made it into the gospel accounts, I’m chalking that up as a success. All the man needed to know was that Jesus healed him, and—boom—he started sharing the good news. Too many times, I’ve been shut down by the notion that I need to know more before I can say more. I can’t tell this person about Christ because I haven’t finished my study on Galatians. I can’t share how God changed me because I only spent 15 minutes inprayer this morning. I can’t start a small group in my house because I’m not the perfect husband or dad. It’s hard for me to say, “Enough already.” I know enough already to preach a sermon, even if I’ll keep learning and growing for years. I know enough already to share that God wrenched me out of depression, even if I don’t know how to answer every questionabout the Bible. I know enough already to share my home, even if I’m still working on keeping my smartphone off during family time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Developing Patience James 1:1-4 When people confide to me that they are praying for patience, I often ask what else they're doing to acquire a calm and gentle heart. Patience isn't so much something believers receive as it is an attribute that they develop over time and through experience. Think of patience as a muscle that you have to use in order to see it build. To that end, believers should recognize difficulty as an opportunity to flex their patience. The human instinct is to cry out to God in bewilderment when tribulation comes knocking. We blame. We resist. We complain. What we don't do is say, "Thank You, Father--it's time to grow in patience!" People aren't trained to think that way, but according to the Bible, that is exactly how Christians are to respond. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Quick to Forgive - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. �Ephesians 4:32 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/be-quick-to-forgive/- Listen When I meet young couples who want to get married, I�ll ask them a few questions, including how long they�ve known each other. Then I�ll ask them whether they�ve ever hadan argument. Some of them say they�ve never disagreed about anything. When that happens, I tell them to get out of my office and go have a good fight. I�m not referring to anything physical, of course. But what I am saying is they need tolearn how to disagree, because you have to learn how to resolve conflict when you�re married. You�ll have points of view that are different from those of your spouse, so it�s very important to listen to what he or she is saying. Hear the other person out and thenrespond with your point of view. Have a good exchange. But when the voices start rising and the tempers start flaring, it will be completely unproductive. Cliff Barrows, who was a longtime associate of Billy Graham, said there are eight words you should be willing to say every day to your spouse: �I�m sorry,� �Please forgiveme,� and �I love you.� I would add these words as well: �It was my fault.� Sometimes even the way we apologize isn�t really an apology at all. For instance, we might say, �I�m sorry if you thought I was saying that, because that was not my intention.So if what I said hurt your feelings, it�s because you misunderstood me.� Here�s an actual apology: �I�m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.� When you and your spouse have a conflict, who will be the first to resolve it? Whatever tension the two of you are experiencing, if you would simply say, �I�m sorry. Pleaseforgive me. I love you,� you would be amazed at how much good that will do. ---------------------------------------------------------- A Higher Standard - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches usto do what is right. �2 Timothy 3:16 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-higher-standard/- Listen When I was a kid, I was really into reptiles. So one year for my birthday, I asked my mother to take me to a place called the California Alligator Farm, which was in BuenaPark next to Knott�s Berry Farm. I invited a bunch of my friends to come with me for my birthday, and they all came. We went from cage to cage looking at reptiles, which are not always the liveliest creatures.Meanwhile, we could see Knott�s Berry Farm right over the fence. All of us were thinking the same thing: Why we are here looking at reptiles when we could be on a ride right now? We were on the outside looking in. Moses, too, found himself on the outside looking in. He lost his temper and wasn�t doing what the Lord had called him to do. So God told him, �Because you did not trustme enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!� (Numbers 20:12 NLT). Why did God deal with Moses this way? It�s because God holds leaders to a higher standard. This is why the Bible says, �Not many of you should become teachers in the church,for we who teach will be judged more strictly� (James 3:1 NLT). We can�t selectively pick and choose the things in the Bible that we want to follow. We can�t say, �I like this part of the Bible, but then there�s this one passage of Scripture. . . I don�t know if I agree with that.� However, Jesus said, �You are my friends if you do what I command� (John 15:14 NLT). Notice that Jesus didn�t say, �Do whatever you find easy or whatever you personallyagree with.� We need to align our thoughts with what the Bible teaches. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sharing the Good News by Sarah Phillips I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation. Psalms 40:10 Rule number one of polite conversation: Never talk about religion or politics. I was on a train from New York to Richmond when a young man took the seat next to me. At first, we kept to ourselves, I immersed in St. Therese's Story of a Soul and he flipping through a magazine. At some point in the 7-hour journey, he glanced at the cover of my book, and observing the black-and-white picture of a nun on the cover, inquired about my faith. I affirmed, that yes, I was Christian. He looked at my youthful features and back at the old-fashioned book. "Interesting. I don't know much about your religion." "What's your background?" "I'm Muslim." I eyed his American clothing, short hair, and clean-shaven face. Now I was intrigued. "Really? How did 9-11 affect you?" The question slipped out before I had time to think. But what unfolded was one of the most fascinating conversations I've ever been a part of. I learned this young American was unsure of his beliefs, and that back at college he was dating a girl from a Christianbackground who also struggled. He had many questions about why a young person like me would, with such calm certainty, decide to commit my life to Christ - even when it meant living differently than my peers. Looking back on that conversation, I see it was the work of the Holy Spirit that allowed me, an introvert, to delve into those tough topics with such ease and clarity with a complete stranger. I also marvel at the fact that he seemed just as comfortable as I was. We parted ways upon the train's arrival to Richmond,wishing each other the best in life. As believers, we're called to share the Gospel with those who have not embraced Christ (Mt 28: 18-20). But in today's cultural climate, opening up about issues of faith can feel intimidating. I know at times I've struggled to speak up, but the conversationon that train proved to me that it doesn't require a Ph.D. in apologetics or an ordination from an impressive seminary to effectively discuss matters of faith. In fact, lay people like you and me can have a powerful impact on many. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jehovah �And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the worksof thine hands.� (Hebrews 1:10) The primary name for God in Scripture is the majestic name Jehovah, occurring nearly 7,000 times. The early Jews were reluctant to use that name for fear of using it lightly (Exodus20:7) and substituted the word Adonai (meaning Master or Lord) in its place. Our English versions have followed suit, using the term �Lord� for Jehovah (small or all caps to distinguish it from Adonai, or Lord). Thus, the name Jehovah appears only four times in the King James and causes us at times to miss the full impact of the passage. This is especially true in the New Testament quotations from Old Testament passages that used the name �Jehovah� for which �Lord� has been substituted. Now in the English versions the name �Lord� appears. If �Jehovah� (i.e., deity) were read instead, much richermeaning would be gathered, and it would prove beyond a doubt the full deity of Christ. Consider two examples. First, our text quotes from Psalm 102:25-27. The entire psalm consists of praise to Jehovah, and here in Hebrews it addresses the Son. If we read �thou, Jehovah, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth� and realize that Jesus is the subject of the passage, we recognizethat Jesus can be none other than the Creator God. Also, in Matthew 3:3, where John the Baptist fulfilled his prophesied role by teaching �Prepare ye the way of the Lord,� quoting from Isaiah 40:3, we see Jesus equated with the Jehovah of the Old Testament, for Isaiah uses the term LORD, or Jehovah. In these and many other examples, we see Christ as the Jehovah Jesus and that the Lord of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament. JDM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Stubborn Intolerance for Joyless Christianity by Alex Crain "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice inthe LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." - Habakkuk 3:17 Should one's relationship with the infinite and personal living God be joyless? Francis Schaeffer didn't think so. Yet there he was, a joyless man. Technically, he was theologically sound, but there was no denying that he had become a completely joylessChristian man. If that had continued, no one would be speaking of Schaeffer or his writings, or his legacy today. Thankfully, he was stubbornly intolerant of joyless Christianity. In True Spirituality, Schaeffer tells how the spiritual reality, which would become the hallmark of his life, came about only after a time of great personal crisis. It was 1952. Schaeffer had become a Christian from agnosticism years before. Afterthat, he had been a pastor for ten years in the U.S. and was now a missionary in Switzerland living with his wife and young children. Over a period lasting several months, Francis worked through the disturbing gap that he saw between the large amount of Bible data he claimed to believe and the lack of genuine spiritual joy in his life. One significant and challenging question that caused Francis to ponder long and hard is recounted by his wife, Edith, in her book, The Tapestry, p. 356 ff.)�/p> "I wonder what would happen to most of our churches and Christian work if we woke up tomorrow morning and everything concerning the reality and work of the Holy Spirit, and everything concerning prayer were removed from the Bible? I don't mean just ignored,but actually cut out�disappeared. I wonder how much difference it would make?" Apparently, during that period, it was making no difference in Schaeffer's life. His doubts had cut the nerve of faith. And over those months as he walked in the mountains, Francis re-thought the doctrines of the Bible, the reality of the Holy Spirit, and each of his reasons for being a Christian. At last, he declared... "Gradually the sun came out and the song came... I saw again that there were totally sufficient reasons to know that the infinite-personal God does exist and that Christianity is true. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Church What Is It All About Colossians 1:18-24 Church buildings are plentiful in our country. Locating one may be easy, but wisely deciding which to join involves more effort. God's Word gives us some specific instructions in this matter. First, let's explore the original biblical meaning of the word "church." The term ecclesia meant a group of people who are called out of the world's system by God's grace for the purpose of assembling to worship and serve Christ. Ephesians 5:29-30 further specifies that believers are the body and Jesus is the head of such a fellowship. Under His leadership, we can enjoy the unity and purpose that He intended. God's design for this sacred gathering involves worship, instruction, encouragement, evangelism, and ministry to those in need, both within the fellowship and outside its walls. A healthy, vibrant congregation is possible only when members rely fully onthe Holy Spirit's guidance. The work of the church is to be done in His power, in humble, prayerful submission to the Lord. To help you determine whether a church is following the design laid out in Scripture, here are some important questions to ask: Do they believe God's Word is infallible and inerrant? Is the church disciplining her people? Does the fellowship have some kind of missionary or evangelistic program? Joining a congregation is an important decision, as a fellowship of believers is one tool God uses to mature and encourage His children. Those three questions can be helpful in discerning God's will. Listen for His Spirit to warn or direct as you prayerfullyinvestigate your options. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Four Pictures of God - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; heis my God, and I trust him. �Psalm 91:1�2 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/four-pictures-of-god/- Listen Just as there are different words we use to describe people, such as father, friend, wife, or son, the Bible uses different words to describe God, giving us a glimpse intoHis nature and character. We find an example of this in Psalm 91, where the writer presents four different pictures of God. The psalm begins, �Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty� (verse 1 NLT). The name �the Most High� comes from the Hebrewword Elyon, which speaks of God as the One who possesses everything. It reminds us that God owns it all. The next name, �Almighty,� or Shaddai in Hebrew, speaks of provision. It�s wonderful to know that God owns everything, but it�s also wonderful to know that He wants to providefor us. He�s not only the living God but also the giving God. Then we come to verse 2, which says, �This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him� (NLT). �Lord� comes from aHebrew word that has been translated �Yahweh� or �Jehovah� in English. It�s the word God gave to His own people, the Jews, in speaking of the covenant He established with them. Also in verse 2 is the term �my God,� which originates from Elohim and means �more than one.� There are not three Gods, but there are three members of the Trinity: The Father,the Son and the Holy Spirit. To put it all together, we see that the all-knowing, all-powerful God who possesses Heaven and Earth is in a special covenant with us and wants to protect us and providefor our needs. So before we even get into the promises contained in this great passage, the psalmist gives us great confidence in God. ------------------------------------------------------------- Bruising the Devil �And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bewith you. Amen.� (Romans 16:20) This is an intriguing promise, suggesting that believers can somehow inflict bruises on the devil, who is perpetually seeking to �devour� them (1 Peter 5:8).This promise is a clear allusion to the primeval assurance of Genesis 3:15, when God promised that the unique �seed� of �the woman� would eventually �bruise� (actually �crush�) the head of the old serpent, the devil. This prophecy will finally be fulfilledin Christ�s ultimate victory, when Satan first will be bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit and then confined forever in the lake of fire (Revelation20:2, 10). In the meantime believers, who also in a sense are the woman�s spiritual �seed� (Revelation 12:17), can repeatedly achieve local and temporary victoriesover Satan and his wiles by resisting him �stedfast in the faith� (1 Peter 5:9). If we resist him as Jesus did with relevant Scripture, then God promisesthat he will �flee from you� (James 4:7). Such local victories can be obtained over these dangerous teachers whom Satan is using (note Romans 16:17-19, just preceding today�s text) �shortly� in this manner, but we need to be continually alert against his recurrent attacks. The ultimate victory over Satan, of course, will be won only by the Lord Jesus when He returns, and we must �be sober,be vigilant� (1 Peter 5:8) until that time. Whether we are aware of it or not, we must perpetually �wrestle...against the rulers of the darkness of this world� (Ephesians 6:12), who will be casting �fiery darts� (v. 16) against each believer. Finally, with the sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God (v. 17), we can even by God�s grace inflict spiritual wounds on Satan himself! HMM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deconstructing David by Ryan Duncan But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1Samuel 16:7 The first time I read the story of King David, it was from a small, animated Bible my parents had bought me as a boy. As I flipped through the pages of that little book, I can remember looking on David as something of a superhero. Think about it: he defeated Goliath with nothing but a sling and five stones. After that, he becameKing of Israel, replacing Saul, who had done a pretty terrible job to begin with. He was referred to as a man after God�s own heart, and nothing could touch him. After a while, I began to see the life of David as more of a fairytale. I still believed it to be true, but a part of me resented God for showing David so much favor. Why had his life been so perfect when the rest of us had to struggle? Why did God allowso many people to suffer pain, but always seem to step up for David? It wasn�t until I was a teenager that I stumbled onto this psalm written by David: �Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.� � Psalms69 Now that I�m older I realize David�s life wasn�t perfect; in a lot of ways it was actually pretty lousy. He was hounded by Saul for years, he lost loved ones to sickness and war, and he even committed some pretty serious sins. Being a man after God�s ownheart didn�t mean David would be shielded from harm, and being a Christian doesn�t guarantee us prosperity. The thing that made David a great man, and the thing that makes our lives as Christians meaningful, was that he never turned away from God. We willall experience trials and tribulations in our lives, but by trusting God we can overcome them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Church: God's Design Hebrews 10:23-25 When you hear the word "church," do you picture a little white building full of smiling people in fancy clothes? As lovely as that image may be, God's design for church is unrelated to it. He created the church to be a unified fellowship of believers whoencourage each other and carry out His ministry to the world. The Bible clearly defines the following as ministries of the church: worshiping the living God, instructing and edifying believers, making disciples of all nations, and serving the needy. Unless the leadership is careful, however, these purposes can all tooeasily get out of balance, with the unfortunate result that the body ends up malnourished. For example, a church with too heavy an emphasis on praise might become introverted. Congregations that overemphasize teaching could lose their joy, and those that evangelizeto the neglect of the other areas could miss out on great faith. Because of sin and human imperfection, we do not experience church as it was originally intended. Instead, there's a tendency to overstress certain ministry areas. What's more, divisive arguments--many of which concern minor issues, such as music preferences--toooften destroy unity. Greed, pride, selfishness, and gossip can also tear a congregation apart. Since they're composed of imperfect people, churches will be imperfect too. Though expecting anything else leads to disappointment, we should nonetheless strive for God's original design, continually measuring ourselves against Scripture and correcting courseto realign with His purpose. -------------------------------------------------------------------- VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM