Monday, April 15, 2013
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US…
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US…
Ephesians 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
In a seminary mission class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push.
After pondering his problem, he devised a plan.
He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off.
As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.
Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station.
When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood.
Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable."
He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life.
For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.
J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l:19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God." When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us.
The exceeding greatness of God's power towards those who believe, Eph 1:19. The practical belief of the all-sufficiency of God, and of the omnipotence of divine grace, is absolutely necessary to a close and steady walking with him.
It is a desirable thing to know experimentally the mighty power of that grace beginning and carrying on the work of faith in our souls. It is a difficult thing to bring a soul to believe in Christ, and to venture its all upon his righteousness, and upon the hope of eternal life.
It is nothing less than an almighty power that will work this in us. The apostle speaks here with a mighty fluency and copiousness of expression, and yet, at the same time, as if he wanted words to express the exceeding greatness of God's almighty power, that power which God exerts towards his people, and by which he raised Christ from the dead, Eph 1:20.
That indeed was the great proof of the truth of the gospel to the world: but the transcript of that in ourselves (our sanctification, and rising from the death of sin, in conformity to Christ's resurrection) is the great proof to us. Though this cannot prove the truth of the gospel to another who knows nothing of the matter (there the resurrection of Christ is the proof), yet to be able to speak experimentally, as the Samaritans.
TRUST IN THE LORD...
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Green Bay Packers' [now Seattle Seahawks] head coach Mike Holmgren looks back at a heartbreaking moment, when he was cut from the New York Jets as backup quarterback to Joe Namath, that directed him to a bigger plan.
"I had committed my life to Jesus Christ when I was 11, but in my pursuit to make a name for myself in football, I left God next to my dust-covered Bible.
But after getting cut from the Jets, I pulled out my Bible and found comfort in a verse I had memorized in Sunday school:
'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths' (Proverbs 3:5-6).
"I asked Jesus Christ to take control again. My priorities in life are faith, family, and football--in that order."
It's impossible to truly love God in your heart and live God's Word unless you have it committed to your heart and memory.
Green Bay Packers' [now Seattle Seahawks] head coach Mike Holmgren looks back at a heartbreaking moment, when he was cut from the New York Jets as backup quarterback to Joe Namath, that directed him to a bigger plan.
"I had committed my life to Jesus Christ when I was 11, but in my pursuit to make a name for myself in football, I left God next to my dust-covered Bible.
But after getting cut from the Jets, I pulled out my Bible and found comfort in a verse I had memorized in Sunday school:
'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths' (Proverbs 3:5-6).
"I asked Jesus Christ to take control again. My priorities in life are faith, family, and football--in that order."
It's impossible to truly love God in your heart and live God's Word unless you have it committed to your heart and memory.
"how can we have revival?"
Once a man asked an evangelist "how can we have revival?"
The evangelist answered by asking "Do you have a place where you can pray?"
Yes the man replied.
Tell you what to do, go to that place and take a piece of chalk along.
Kneel down there, and with the chalk draw a complete circle around you and pray for God to send revival on everything inside that circle.
Stay there until He answers, and you will have your revival.
You see, God is ready for revival...always!
But the question is are you ready for revival?
Are you sincerely and consistently seeking His face? Do you discipline yourself to read, memorize, and meditate God's Word?
Revival in your finances, health, relationships, and spiritual life won't happen until you completely immerse your heart and mind to scriptures.
Spiritual habit is the secret to spiritual success.
Make it a habit of reading, memorizing, and meditating God's Word and you're in sure path to a deeper relationship with God.
The evangelist answered by asking "Do you have a place where you can pray?"
Yes the man replied.
Tell you what to do, go to that place and take a piece of chalk along.
Kneel down there, and with the chalk draw a complete circle around you and pray for God to send revival on everything inside that circle.
Stay there until He answers, and you will have your revival.
You see, God is ready for revival...always!
But the question is are you ready for revival?
Are you sincerely and consistently seeking His face? Do you discipline yourself to read, memorize, and meditate God's Word?
Revival in your finances, health, relationships, and spiritual life won't happen until you completely immerse your heart and mind to scriptures.
Spiritual habit is the secret to spiritual success.
Make it a habit of reading, memorizing, and meditating God's Word and you're in sure path to a deeper relationship with God.
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. - Psalm 32:8
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. - Psalm 32:8
The devil watches you to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), and his demons observe you to exploit your flaws. But God watches you to counsel you. The Hebrew term means “to consult together.” When you seek the advice of another human, you must describe situations and circumstances.
But God’s counsel is like that of a father watching his child learn to drive. The dad doesn’t instruct from a distance with his cell phone. He’s there, in the front seat. “Steer to the left,” he says; “put on the brakes a little,” he instructs. So God is in the “front seat” with you, gently guiding you through every turn.
The devil watches you to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), and his demons observe you to exploit your flaws. But God watches you to counsel you. The Hebrew term means “to consult together.” When you seek the advice of another human, you must describe situations and circumstances.
But God’s counsel is like that of a father watching his child learn to drive. The dad doesn’t instruct from a distance with his cell phone. He’s there, in the front seat. “Steer to the left,” he says; “put on the brakes a little,” he instructs. So God is in the “front seat” with you, gently guiding you through every turn.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
THE WORD OF GOD IS A MIRROR
THE WORD OF GOD IS A MIRROR
James 1:23-24 If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
In a mirror you see what you really look like. A mirror shows who you are physically, and it gives you messages about yourself. James said that going to the Word of God is like looking in a mirror. But if you only go to the mirror with the intent of looking in and not doing anything about what you see, if you only go to the Word of God to hear and not do anything about what you hear, you are deceiving yourself.
We may think we don’t have the power to change, but we’re not alone. The Holy Spirit will change us!
James 1:23-24 If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
In a mirror you see what you really look like. A mirror shows who you are physically, and it gives you messages about yourself. James said that going to the Word of God is like looking in a mirror. But if you only go to the mirror with the intent of looking in and not doing anything about what you see, if you only go to the Word of God to hear and not do anything about what you hear, you are deceiving yourself.
We may think we don’t have the power to change, but we’re not alone. The Holy Spirit will change us!
ARE YOU HIDING BY THE BAGGAGE?
ARE YOU HIDING BY THE BAGGAGE?
Therefore they inquired further of the Lord, "Has the man come here yet?" So the Lord said, "Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage." 1 Samuel 10:22
One day, Saul went out to search for his lost donkeys. The next day, Saul was anointed to be the first king of Israel. Saul found something for which he wasn’t searching. Even though he was anointed by Samuel, Saul hid himself by the baggage when it came time to reveal his anointing as Israel’s first King. The Scriptures tell us that he was empowered by the Holy Spirit and changed internally. But on the outside, not much changed. He went back home and plowed the fields until one more day. At that point, Saul was ready to accept his calling and outwardly became what God had already changed in him inwardly.
The same thing happens to us. Many times God calls us to do something that we weren’t searching for either. We know that the prayers that we are praying seem impossible. We know that something is changing on the inside of our hearts, but to break free and become that person on the outside is beyond our doing. We then struggle between the God-given prayers on our hearts and the person we are in the flesh. How can the two become one?
And when? The answer is time or should I say, “in His time.” Regardless of what the Lord has put on your heart, you can’t receive all He has for you until you have the character to keep you there. In the passing of time, the Lord is molding you through different circumstances, conflicts and experiences as training for the real deal. Take every encounter you go through seriously. Praise Him through the difficulties and maintain self control when He pushes you to your limit. He will exalt you in due time. As the Scriptures say in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”
Our mission is to evangelize the lost and awaken the saved to live empowered lives by the Work of God and His Holy Spirit.
Therefore they inquired further of the Lord, "Has the man come here yet?" So the Lord said, "Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage." 1 Samuel 10:22
One day, Saul went out to search for his lost donkeys. The next day, Saul was anointed to be the first king of Israel. Saul found something for which he wasn’t searching. Even though he was anointed by Samuel, Saul hid himself by the baggage when it came time to reveal his anointing as Israel’s first King. The Scriptures tell us that he was empowered by the Holy Spirit and changed internally. But on the outside, not much changed. He went back home and plowed the fields until one more day. At that point, Saul was ready to accept his calling and outwardly became what God had already changed in him inwardly.
The same thing happens to us. Many times God calls us to do something that we weren’t searching for either. We know that the prayers that we are praying seem impossible. We know that something is changing on the inside of our hearts, but to break free and become that person on the outside is beyond our doing. We then struggle between the God-given prayers on our hearts and the person we are in the flesh. How can the two become one?
And when? The answer is time or should I say, “in His time.” Regardless of what the Lord has put on your heart, you can’t receive all He has for you until you have the character to keep you there. In the passing of time, the Lord is molding you through different circumstances, conflicts and experiences as training for the real deal. Take every encounter you go through seriously. Praise Him through the difficulties and maintain self control when He pushes you to your limit. He will exalt you in due time. As the Scriptures say in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”
Our mission is to evangelize the lost and awaken the saved to live empowered lives by the Work of God and His Holy Spirit.
I WORK IN HIS ENERGY
I WORK IN HIS ENERGY
“I can do everything through him (Christ) who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).
“… for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)
“I try to read my Bible each morning, but sometimes I fall asleep. I guess I’m not a good Christian,” said a very sincere nurse who works night shift.
How many Christians carry a burden of guilt. “I’m not witnessing enough,” “ I’m not spending enough time in prayer,” “I should be doing more in the church.”
Our focus has become on legalistic doing: I must keep these rules and then I’m a good Christian. When we are doing this we’re treating Christianity like a religion. But vital Christianity is not a religion. It’s not a set of do’s and don’ts. It’s a new life in Christ, a new way of doing life.
We receive Jesus into our hearts and surrender to Him on a daily basis. He then lives His life in us and through us—a life that is totally impossible for us to live in our own strength. We recognize our own weakness and pray, “Lord Jesus, I give myself to you. Live your life in me and through me now. Be my strength…be my courage…be my wisdom.”
This doesn’t mean we can be lazy Christians. Paul, who spoke to us of this wonderful life in Christ, also wrote these words, “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29) Notice whose energy it is—Jesus Christ’s energy. Being energized by Him we can live a life of love and good works which honors God.
Thank you, Jesus, that you are living in me, not just in theory, but in actual fact. Therefore, I have all the resources I need to live this day productively.
“I can do everything through him (Christ) who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).
“… for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)
“I try to read my Bible each morning, but sometimes I fall asleep. I guess I’m not a good Christian,” said a very sincere nurse who works night shift.
How many Christians carry a burden of guilt. “I’m not witnessing enough,” “ I’m not spending enough time in prayer,” “I should be doing more in the church.”
Our focus has become on legalistic doing: I must keep these rules and then I’m a good Christian. When we are doing this we’re treating Christianity like a religion. But vital Christianity is not a religion. It’s not a set of do’s and don’ts. It’s a new life in Christ, a new way of doing life.
We receive Jesus into our hearts and surrender to Him on a daily basis. He then lives His life in us and through us—a life that is totally impossible for us to live in our own strength. We recognize our own weakness and pray, “Lord Jesus, I give myself to you. Live your life in me and through me now. Be my strength…be my courage…be my wisdom.”
This doesn’t mean we can be lazy Christians. Paul, who spoke to us of this wonderful life in Christ, also wrote these words, “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29) Notice whose energy it is—Jesus Christ’s energy. Being energized by Him we can live a life of love and good works which honors God.
Thank you, Jesus, that you are living in me, not just in theory, but in actual fact. Therefore, I have all the resources I need to live this day productively.
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