Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Honour the King

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My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels, for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?
Proverbs 24:21-22, NLT

Recommended Reading: Romans 13:1-7

One of the Pharisees’ attempts to entrap Jesus concerned paying taxes to Caesar. If Jesus said it was wrong to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees would have reported Him to the Roman governor. If He said it was appropriate to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees would have accused Him of being disloyal to God. His answer negated their attempts at entrapment: pay to Caesar what is owed to Caesar and pay to God what is owed to God (Matthew 22:15-22).

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we are told to honor both God and the king (Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; 1 Peter 2:17). Paul gives the most detailed explanation in Romans 13:1-7 where he says that civil rulers have been established by God. Therefore, to rebel against civil authority is to rebel against God. He says that civil authorities are God’s ministers who commend right behavior and punish wrong behavior.

We may not always agree with civil authorities, but we are to honor them just as we are to fear the Lord (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

All the world’s thrones are occupied by rulers under God’s authority.
John Blanchard

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Family in God

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Don’t you know me, Philip . . . ? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9

Today’s Scripture

John 14:5-11

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Today’s Devotion

“What makes you smile when you think about your son?” That was my question for Clarence—a younger man I was mentoring. The proud father proceeded to share some of his bright four-year-old’s accomplishments. One particular detail left me amused. Not only does the child have his father’s first and last names, but he already looks so much like his father that he can unlock his father’s smartphone using facial recognition!

In John 14, Jesus made it clear how closely He resembled His Father. When an inquisitive Philip requested, “Lord, show us the Father” (v. 8), Jesus responded, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (v. 9). How was it that the Father was revealed through the Son? It was through Jesus’ “words” (v. 10) and “works” (v. 11) that God’s love, mercy, grace, and more were brilliantly displayed.

Empowered by God’s Spirit, believers in Jesus are privileged to share family likeness. The invisible God becomes visible through His children. Regarding Christlike love, John reminds us, “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:12 nlt).

Reflect & Pray

What is it about your words and deeds that remind others of Jesus? How might you pray about the Holy Spirit working in and through you to bring honor to God the Father and Christ the Son?

Dear Father, please strengthen me to love Jesus, and to live like Him and for Him.

Today’s Insights

The beginning of John’s gospel describes those who don’t see Jesus for who He is: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (1:10-11).

Yet Christ had expectations for those who were closest to Him—those who’d heard His words, who’d seen and experienced His works. He rebuked His disciple for not recognizing Him: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” (14:9). When we honestly and prayerfully evaluate the words and works of Christ as seen in the Gospels, the Spirit can open our eyes and hearts regarding His identity as God’s Son and the King of Kings, and we’ll be welcomed into the family of God (1:12-13). When we become children of God, He can help us make Jesus visible to others through our words and actions.

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – What does the Bible say about Democratic Socialism?

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If you’re like me, the word “socialism” carries connotations of the Soviet Union’s oppression of its people and Cold War nuclear threats. You’re aware that China’s Communist government operates a socialist market economy and that Cuba and North Korea are led by “socialist” dictators. During my frequent visits to Cuba over the years, I often saw billboards proclaiming “¡El socialism vive!” (Socialism Lives!).

Those who call themselves “Democratic Socialists” in America would decry all of that. They are adamant that they are not Communist or in favor of authoritarian dictatorships. The word “Democratic” is important to their self-understanding.

So, what is “Democratic Socialism”? What does it want to do? Why is it growing more popular in the US? And what does the Bible say about its beliefs and cultural relevance today?

What is Democratic Socialism?

As Time reports, “There isn’t one universal definition of democratic socialism.” The writer is correct: it would take many pages for me to describe in detail the various versions of this movement. We can, however, find a succinct description on the website of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA):

Continue reading Denison Forum – What does the Bible say about Democratic Socialism? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – God Will Meet You Where You Are

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 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. 

—Psalm 18:25–26

Scripture:

Some of the most exciting passages of Scripture involve theophanies, occurrences when God made Himself known in observable and tangible form. What’s especially fascinating about these encounters is how God appeared to different people in the Bible. To Abraham, He came as a traveler. According to Genesis 18, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one day when three messengers arrived. Two of the messengers were angels; the other was God Himself. Centuries later, Jesus commented on the encounter. “Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56 NLT). Why did the Lord come to Abraham as a traveler? Because that’s what Abraham was: a traveler.

According to Joshua 5:13–15, on the night before the Israelites began their siege of Jericho, God appeared to Joshua as the commander of the Lord’s army. Why? Because Joshua was the commander of Israel’s army.

According to Genesis 32:22–32, when God appeared to Jacob, He came as a wrestler. Verse 24 says that God “wrestled with him until the dawn began to break” (NLT). Why did God choose that guise? Because Jacob was always fighting, conniving, resisting, and wrestling to get what he wanted.

Maybe you can relate to Jacob. Maybe there’s something you want from God, perhaps even a good thing, such as the salvation of a loved one. Maybe you’re tired of being single and want to get married. Or maybe you want to serve God in a ministry. Don’t resort to conniving, because you may get what you want, but at a great cost. Jacob got what he wanted and paid dearly for it. I believe that if he had waited on God, he would have received what he needed and what God had promised. And perhaps God would have appeared to him in a different form.

These three biblical accounts reveal an amazing truth about our heavenly Father. He meets us where we are. That’s not to say you can expect a theophany in your life. You don’t need one. If you’re a believer, you have something better. God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. That’s what Jesus was talking about when He told His disciples, “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you” (John 16:7 NLT). God communicates to us from within, through His Spirit. And He does it in ways that resonate powerfully with us, just as He did with Abraham, Joshua, and Jacob.

The bottom line is this: God wants to do His will in your life in His way and in His time. If you need something from God, be patient and wait on Him. God will meet you wherever you are to lift you to where He wants you to be.

 

Reflection question: When has God met you where you were? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Practicing What We Preach

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by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)

Christ’s life matched His teachings, and so must ours. Consider, for example, Christ’s teaching that we should “pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This is matched by His prayer for His tormentors while on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Elsewhere, He taught that our circle of influence should be greater than those of like thinking (Matthew 5:47), a fact that caused His detractors great consternation (Luke 15:2). He taught that our prayers should not be done so that “they may be seen of men” (Matthew 6:5), and the gospels record several times where He went “into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35; see also Mark 6:46). Christ placed great value on children, as we see in Matthew 18:6, and later He welcomed them (Matthew 19:14). He taught Peter to forgive “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22) and later forgave Peter for his continued denials (Mark 16:7).

Christ advocated paying taxes (Mark 12:17) and later enabled Peter to pay tribute for both of them (Matthew 17:27). He taught that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15), and He Himself had “not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). Likewise, He placed great store in aiding the poor (Luke 14:13), both in teaching and in practice (Matthew 14:13–21). Perhaps His teaching “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) is best illustrated by His tender prayer for those who would soon take His life as He hung on the cross for the very ones responsible for His death (our text), all the while dying for them.

May God grant us the strength to follow not only our own teachings, but His teachings as well. JDM

 

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Protect Your Hope

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Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

1 Peter 5:9 (AMPC)

All of us will deal with disappointments from time to time—that’s part of life. However, if we let it, our disappointment can lead to discouragement, and discouragement can lead to despair and depression.

I’ve said this for years: If you don’t let the devil impress you with what he does, then he can’t oppress you, and if he can’t oppress you, then he can’t depress you. When depression attacks, we usually feel like giving up, but how we respond to it makes all the difference.

One of the most important things we can do is resist the devil at his onset (1 Peter 5:9 AMPC). It’s so important to resist the feeling of depression immediately, because the longer we allow it to remain, the harder it is to resist.

While we can’t control all of our circumstances and won’t be completely free of pain or disappointment, we don’t have to let today’s struggles ruin our hope for tomorrow.

Prayer of the Day: God, there are times when I feel like giving up, like I can’t do it anymore, like things will never be good again. The next time that happens, help me rebuke the devil at his onset. Remind me not to be impressed by him, because the battle is Yours and You’ve already won, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Strength to Ride the Storm 

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Do you feel it is you against the world? Not so, my friend. Outnumbered by foes and outdone by fear? Please reconsider. Surrounded by adversity? Perhaps. Yet, you are also encircled by divinity. With God’s help you can ride these raging rapids with unbreakable courage.

Immovable. Determined. Square-jawed and resolved. Like the prophet Elijah who “…went and did according to the word of the Lord…” (1 Kings 17:5 NKJV). Elijah affirms a positive answer to these questions: Can a person maintain faith in a world that has little? When a culture belittles belief, can a believer beget strength? Yes! With God’s help, we will discover strength to ride this storm, an unbreakable courage and steadfast faith.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – I Will Help You Speak

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Read Exodus 4:10–17

Public speaking is an important—even essential—skill for leaders. A confident leader uses speech to articulate vision, impart training, motivate team members, persuade thinking, and inspire trust. Yet, public speaking is also a significant fear for many people. According to several studies, about 75 percent of us suffer from glossophobia (the fear of public speaking).

Clearly, public speaking was a key part of the role to which God called Moses (Ex. 3, 4). First, Moses would need to persuade the elders of Israel that God had appeared to him, articulating His exit plan (3:16). Then, God instructed Moses to go—with the elders—to the king of Egypt and ask him to release the Israelites for a three-day worship retreat (3:18). God warned Moses upfront that the king would refuse (3:19), at which point God would display His power through the plagues (3:20).

But even when presented with God’s comprehensive plan, Moses doubted his own credibility (4:1). So, God also provided Moses with multiple, miraculous proofs that would demonstrate his supernatural authority (4:2–9). However, even then, Moses voiced an objection: “I am slow of speech and tongue” (4:10). Did he have a speech impediment? Was he just inexperienced and fearful? ? Regardless, God responded with a series of rhetorical questions, emphasizing His own ability to work through the limited gifts of His faithful servants.

Powerful public speaking requires insightful thinking, coherent organization, and compelling language. It incorporates the poise and presence of the speaker, as well as their eye contact, gestures, and voice. But the most effective public speaking ultimately depends on God-given truth and Spirit-filled delivery.

Go Deeper

Are you a confident speaker? Have you experienced God’s calling to speak to or even in front of others? How did He work through your weakness?

Pray with Us

Jesus, we do not want to get in the way of the messages You want us to communicate. Grant us the courage to speak Your truth with bold confidence.

I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.Exodus 4:12

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – The Beginning of Wisdom

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10

Recommended Reading: Job 28:12-19

We may never find ourselves in a predicament as trying as Job’s. But that doesn’t mean we won’t have some of the same questions. We would do well to learn from Job’s search for wisdom as he tried to unravel the reasons for his circumstances.

Job was searching for the wisdom to navigate his difficulties. In his discourse with his friends, Job said, “But where can wisdom be found?… From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?… And to man [God] said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom’” (Job 28:12, 20, 28). Job’s words would find agreement from Solomon who later wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). When we lack answers, the place to begin is the fear of the Lord—which means elevating His plans and purposes above our own and submitting our lack of answers to His omniscience.

When you find yourself needing wisdom, remember the words of James who quoted Solomon: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

Humility is the hallmark of wisdom. 
Jeremy Collier

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Help God Provides

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Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Today’s Scripture

Hebrews 1:7-14

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Today’s Devotion

When commercial fisherman Scott Thompson fell out of his boat one moonless night in the Santa Barbara Channel off the California coast, he didn’t know if he’d survive. He swam hard after the boat, but the motor was running and he couldn’t reach it. So he attempted to swim to a distant oil platform in the darkness. Beginning to lose hope, Thompson heard a splash in the cold water near him. A harbor seal swam with him for a while, nudging him along toward the platform. Five hours later, Thompson completed the long swim and described the seal as “an angel” sent to help him.

The writer of the book of Hebrews describes angels as “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). The passage highlights the greatness of Jesus and emphasizes that angels—wonderful and glorious beings that they are—exist to further His purposes in saving us. Jesus sustains “all things by his powerful word” (v. 3).

All around us is an unseen reality in which God sends angels to aid those who have gladly received the good news of Jesus. Sometimes our nights may be long, and we may wonder if we can keep going. But He’ll always give us the help we need—help that will nudge us on in Him.

Reflect & Pray

In what ways has God sent you unexpected help? How might He use you to help others today?

I praise You today, loving God, knowing that because You sustain all things, I’ll one day be able to praise You forever!

Today’s Insights

Hebrews says that angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (1:14). They were created by God to worship and praise Him (v. 6), to serve as messengers (Revelation 1:1), and to protect His people (Psalm 68:17). In 2 Kings 6, when the Arameans surrounded the Israelites, the prophet Elisha reassured his frightened servant, “Don’t be afraid . . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (v. 16). The servant’s eyes were opened, and he “saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (v. 17)—a vast army of angels.

Psalm 91:11-12 says, “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Today, no matter what we’re going through, we can be assured that God loves and cares for us and will provide the help we need.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Bystander saves lives at In-N-Out Burger shooting in Idaho

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A twenty-four-year-old gunman opened fire in a crowded In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, last Saturday. He killed three people and wounded seven others; two of the injured were in critical condition as of Sunday. He then took his own life after coming under fire from a bystander and an off-duty Idaho state trooper.

At this writing, authorities have not yet established a motive for the shooting. But they are praising thirty-five-year-old Jordan Salinas of Kimberly, Idaho, who returned fire after the shooting began. “He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways,” Salinas said. “There’s a task that needs to be done, and we’re the ones who need to do it,” he added.

Police said Salinas and the off-duty trooper who responded “are true heroes in our community. They diverted the shooter and without a doubt saved many lives.”

If you were at the restaurant last Saturday and the heroism of the two men saved your life, you might be thanking God today for their bravery and his protection. If you love one of the people who was killed or wounded, however, you might be grateful for the men who protected others, but grieving that their protection and God’s providence did not extend to the ones you lost.

We have all been in both groups. I thanked God when our older son and youngest grandson survived cancer, but still grieve that my father died of heart disease at the age of fifty-five. You can cite times when God acted with benevolence in your life and times when it seemed he did not.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Bystander saves lives at In-N-Out Burger shooting in Idaho →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Righteous and Just

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 For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face. 

—Psalm 11:7

Scripture:

Psalm 11:7 

God reveals Himself to us in His Word. We know that God is holy because in Isaiah’s vision of Him, heavenly creatures declare, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Isaiah 6:3 NLT). We know that God is righteous and just because Psalm 11:7 says, “The righteous Lord loves justice” (NLT). Holiness describes God’s character; righteousness and justice describe how He deals with humankind.

These perfections that we find in Scripture aren’t just the result of God’s people seeing what they want to see in Him. Even the enemies of the Lord recognized His perfect attributes. In the book of Exodus, we read about Pharaoh, who hardened his heart by holding on to the children of Israel after the Lord had instructed him to release them. When the Lord sent a series of plagues to Egypt, “Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. ‘This time I have sinned,’ he confessed. ‘The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong’” (Exodus 9:27 NLT).

From the very first verse of the Bible, we see that God is omnipotent, all-powerful. If He were all-powerful without being righteous, He would be just a celestial tyrant doing whatever He wanted wherever He wanted to do it. If He were righteous without being powerful, He would be unable to execute justice on this earth. But the good news is that God is all-powerful—and He is righteous. He can do whatever He wants, but He does the right thing in every situation.

That includes the exercise of His justice. Unlike human justice, God’s justice is perfect. He doesn’t show favoritism. He doesn’t look the other way at certain offenses. He demands that wrongdoing and wrongdoers be punished. Scripture certainly bears that out.

In Isaiah 51:4–5, God says, “Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm” (NLT).

Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” (NLT).

And in Psalm 140:12, David confidently proclaims, “But I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor” (NLT).

God’s justice leaves no room for appeal because He is righteous. Everything He determines is, by its very nature, perfectly just. Only our perfect heavenly Father can judge perfectly.

And He wants His people to prize justice as well. Proverbs 21:3 says, “The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices” (NLT). And Isaiah 1:17 instructs, “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows” (NLT).

Justice matters to the Lord, and it must matter to us.

 

Reflection question: What would seeking justice look like in your life?

Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Lord God of Heaven

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” (Ezra 1:2)

It is noteworthy that the words of this verse are almost the same as in the last verse of 2 Chronicles. This indicates that Ezra the scribe (who wrote the book of Ezra) was also the compiler and editor of the two books of Chronicles.

Even more noteworthy is the fact that the great emperor Cyrus seemed to acknowledge that the God of Israel was not just a tribal god, as many have claimed, but the Lord God of heaven—that is, Jehovah Elohim—recognizing Him as both Creator and Redeemer of the world. The Persians were largely followers of Zoroaster, but his religious system did bear some resemblance to the true monotheism of Israel.

Cyrus had been called, and even named, by God long before he was born (Isaiah 44:28–45:6). When he conquered Babylon, the prophet Daniel was there (Daniel 6:28). The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Daniel even became prime minister under Cyrus and was able to read Isaiah’s remarkable prophecy to him, thus influencing him to send the Jews back to Jerusalem.

There have also been other Gentile rulers who acknowledged God, even before Christ came. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, once hating God, finally was forced to confess that He was “the most High” and “King of heaven” (Daniel 4:34, 37). Another was the Queen of Sheba, who recognized “the LORD thy God” (again Jehovah Elohim, 1 Kings 10:9). Then there was the king of Nineveh and Assyria, who believed in God at the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:6–10). In fact, in the ages to come “the kings of the earth” will all “bring their glory and honour” to the Lord in the holy city (Revelation 21:24). HMM

 

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Walk in the Fruits of the Spirit

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By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:8 (ESV)

The apostle Paul writes that he prays for the Colossians to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10 AMPC, emphasis mine). As our souls are healed and we become stronger, we are better able to bear the fruit He wants us to produce.

Galatians 5:22–23 lists the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Recently, we looked at the first four, and today we will look at the remaining five of these and consider how God has put them in us and now wants us to bear their fruit.

  • Kindness: The psalmist says that God’s “lovingkindness is better than life” (Ps. 63:3 NKJV), and it is His kindness that leads people to repentance (Rom. 2:4). The Bible teaches us to “be kind to one another” (Eph. 4:32) and to “put on kindness” (Col. 3:12). Because Jesus lives in you, the ability to be kind is in you also.
  • Goodness: The Lord is good! This is repeated often throughout the Bible (Exod. 33:19; 1 Chron. 16:34; Pss. 106:1, 107:1, 119:68). The psalmist encourages us to “taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Ps. 34:8). He also praises God by saying, “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you” (Ps. 31:19). The apostle Paul urges us: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom. 12:9). The best way I know to enjoy each day is to commit to being good to all people everywhere you go.
  • Gentleness: The Scriptures compare Jesus to a lamb, which is a very gentle animal. In 2 Corinthians 10:1, Paul appeals to the Corinthians “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” He also writes: “So, as God’s own chosen people, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col. 3:12 AMP), and “Let your gentleness be known to all” (Phil. 4:5 NKJV).
  • Faithfulness: He who calls you is faithful. When God’s presence passed before Moses, God said this about Himself, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exod. 34:6 ESV). Scripture teaches us: “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you” (Prov. 3:3 ESV), and “Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart” (1 Sam. 12:24 ESV).
  • Self-Control: Throughout God’s Word, God withholds anger. Proverbs 16:32 says that a patient person is better than a strong warrior, and that someone with self-control is better “than one who takes a city” (NIV). Some people say, “I just don’t have any self-control,” but if they have received Jesus into their heart, that statement is inaccurate. They do have self-control and simply need to keep exercising it and watch it get stronger and stronger.

As a believer in Christ, you can be confident that everything that is in Him is in you. Believing this truth is the beginning of a new way of living. We don’t have to struggle as we try in the flesh to produce these things, but we believe we have them and let each one flow as needed.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me bear the fruit of Your Spirit in every area of my life. Let kindness, goodness, and self-control flow naturally through me as I walk with You, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Enter…Elijah 

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Play

Ancient Israel had the scruffy hills of Gilead, and somewhere in this rugged land Elijah came to believe in a mighty Yahweh who refused to share his glory with others. He confronted Ahab and Jezebel with a surgical strike. Baal was regarded as the god of fertility, yet Baal’s veil was about to be yanked back. Jehovah has declared a drought.

Does Elijah have some encouragement for our generation? Absolutely! The story of Elijah offers us hope. Elijah shows us that one person following a living God is greater than hundreds of people praying to a lifeless one.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – God Confuses Language

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Read Genesis 11:1–9

The international terminal at an airport is an interesting place to people watch. It’s a unique space where people from around the globe converge for a brief time. You can hear multiple languages. You see the whole range of human emotion—sorrow, fear, confusion, anticipation, ambition, stress, excitement, joy. In some ways, it gives us a glimpse of Babel.

In Genesis 11, we see the results of sin and pride as the population grew and the people migrated east. Their collective sin had previously provoked a worldwide flood (Gen. 6–9). And now—just decades later— their perverted use of language and power drew a disciplined response from the Lord.

Language is a gift from God that facilitates communication and fosters communion. One primary purpose for language—as God intended—is to give Him praise (Ps. 34:1). However, in the land of Shinar, the people were using their common language to glorify themselves. They collaborated to build a city and a tower that would garner status and praise. The Moody Bible Commentary calls Babel “the first expression of secular humanism.” Human prominence was pursued while divine purpose was ignored.

The LORD “came down” to see their city (v. 5). He was grieved by the human-centered trajectory that the people had established, an act that predicted even greater idolatry in their future. As tall as the tower may have been, it could not reach His heights.

So, for their own good, God confused their language, forcing them to scatter (vv. 7–9). Nevertheless, His heart still yearns for the unified worship of all nations and tongues as prophesied in Zephaniah 3:9: “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”

Go Deeper

Why did God confuse the language at Babel? How have you experienced the consequences of a “language barrier”?

Pray with Us

Lord, nothing that we can ever accomplish could reach the heights of Your glory. We praise You for this! We long for the day when people from all nations and tongues will worship You in unity.

If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.Genesis 11:6

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Seeking Wisdom

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If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

Recommended Reading: 1 Kings 3:4-14

Imagine you are facing the most daunting challenge of your life—and you feel totally unprepared to handle it. Then imagine God invites you to ask Him for anything you need. What would you ask Him for?

This was the experience of Solomon, David’s son, when he was about twenty years old and became king. What would you have felt as a twenty year old in Solomon’s position? God came to Solomon in a dream and told him to ask for whatever he needed (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon’s reply to God was humble and wise. He asked God for “an understanding heart” to be able to judge the people of Israel as king. Because Solomon did not ask for long life, riches, or victory over enemies, God granted his request and gave him “a wise and understanding heart” (1 Kings 3:9, 12).

The apostle James wrote that we have the same privilege—to ask God for wisdom whenever we need it. If you are facing a challenge in your life, ask God for wisdom and expect to receive it.

Of all the pursuits open to men, the search for wisdom is most perfect, more sublime, more profitable, and more full of joy.
Thomas Aquinas

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Waiting for God

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The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. Lamentations 3:24

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

Kazuto and his wife, Migiwa, waited with trepidation for the ultrasound exam results. Migiwa’s liver had been failing for more than nine months, and she urgently needed a liver transplant. Kazuto could donate a portion of his liver to his wife, but there was one condition: Migiwa’s heart had to be strong. The last ultrasound had shown slight improvement to her heart. Would it show more this time?

To their disappointment, the results were the worst yet. Kazuto shared, “After I comforted my crying wife, I also cried by myself. But . . . as Henri Nouwen writes, waiting isn’t a waste of time because God is nurturing something wonderful . . . while we wait, even though we can’t see anything on the surface.”

Kazuto’s confidence in God paralleled that of King David, who wrote, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). Because God is our “light,” “salvation,” and “stronghold” (v. 1), we can trust Him to offer hope amid darkness (v. 3), comfort us during our trials (v. 13), and secure us safely in “his dwelling” (v. 5).

When God seems to delay in answering our prayers, we can still put our complete trust in His unchanging attributes. As we bring our heartaches to Him, let’s also instruct our hearts: “Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14). He is with us and always working for our good.

Reflect & Pray

What are you waiting for from God? Which of His attributes can you cling to as you wait?

 

Loving Father, please help me to be strong as I wait for You.

Today’s Insights

David’s anxious prayer in the second half of Psalm 27 (vv. 7-12) must be read against his unwavering proclamation at the beginning of the psalm: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life” (v. 1). The psalmist chose to focus on God rather than on his difficult circumstances. He speaks of Him as his light, which guides him safely into God’s presence and goodness. God is also his salvation, delivering him from dangers and death. He’s his stronghold, providing a strong, fortified place for his refuge and security. Knowing who God is, David rhetorically asks, “Of whom shall I be afraid?” (v. 1). The psalmist didn’t fear, for he knew God wouldn’t abandon him. Today, when we’re waiting on God, we can put our trust in Him and “be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14).

For further study, read The Sword, the Son, and a Rest for God’s People.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Sophie Cunningham and the transgender sports controversy

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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is one of the best-known players in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and a committed Christian. She was re-baptized as an adult prior to this season and regularly speaks up about her faith on social media.

She has been in the news recently, however, for a subject that is relevant whether we follow women’s basketball or not. In a long profile published by ESPN, a few sentences in a single paragraph caused a cultural uproar. Here’s the quote:

I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, “I never once said that.” I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Sophie Cunningham and the transgender sports controversy →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Delighting in the Law of the Lord

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 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 

—Psalm 1:1–3

Scripture:

Psalm 1:1–3 

Many years ago, a young man named Billy Sunday placed his faith in Jesus Christ. An older believer then gave Billy some advice that he never forgot. The man said, “Billy, there are three simple rules I wish you would practice in life as a Christian. If you do, no one will ever write the word backslider after your name. Billy, take fifteen minutes each day to let God talk to you. Take fifteen minutes a day to talk to Him. And then spend fifteen minutes a day telling others about the Savior.” Billy Sunday followed this advice and became one of the most powerful evangelists in the history of the church. Billy Sunday recognized the value of moving forward.

That’s the central message of Psalm 1: Move forward. “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (verses 1–3 NLT).

You’ll notice that the people described in these first few verses aren’t passive or stationary. They understand that making a difference for the Lord involves more than not doing bad things. It also involves moving forward in the right things. That’s why “they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night” (verse 2 NLT).

They don’t simply “do their duty” when it comes to God’s Word. They don’t opt for the “hunt and peck” method of reading a little here and a little there with no genuine concern for context. They don’t return to it sporadically and then wonder why it’s not having much of an impact on them.

Instead, they delight in Scripture. They meditate on it. They find joy, meaning, purpose, and direction in it. They recognize its wisdom and actively look for ways to apply it to their lives. They ask key questions about the passages they read, questions such as “Is there any sin here for me to avoid?” “Is there any promise for me to claim?” “Is there any victory to gain?” “Is there any blessing to enjoy?”

Reading Scripture in this way creates a real sense of anticipation. Instead of treating Bible study like a classroom assignment, we approach it like the treasure hunt that it is. We embrace the awe-inspiring reality that we have access to the words of God Himself—and that those words have the power to change our lives.

 

Reflection question: What would delighting in and meditating on God’s Word look like in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

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