Daily Archives: October 26, 2013

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Standing on God’s Word

2 Comments

Charles Stanley

Ezekiel 13:1-6

The United States Marine Corps is always on the lookout for what they call “a few good men.” The eyes of the Lord are likewise scanning the earth in order to find godly men and women who will step forward and use their influence to exalt righteousness in the land. That is what we see in Ezekiel 22. God says, “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it” (v. 30).

A “gap” in this sense is some place where error or falsehood has crept in, allowing Satanic confusion and inviting the judgment of God. Sometimes these gaps are so serious that they imperil entire nations and carry them to the brink of destruction. Israel was facing such a time following the Exodus, but the Word of God records this remarkable statement: “Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them” (Ps. 106:23).

In all likelihood, not too many of us will ever be called upon to save a nation. But we can nonetheless build up the walls of protection around our families and churches by drawing wisdom from the whole counsel of God. We can resist the Devil daily and refuse the sensuality and perversions of this present age. God has called His children into His service and will equip them in righteousness. In Moses’ day, one man made all the difference. Why not be the one who makes a difference today?

 

 

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Healthy Ingredients

Leave a comment

Our Daily Bread

Proverbs 4:14-27

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. —Proverbs 4:23

My wife, Martie, is a careful shopper when it comes to buying healthy and nutritious food. No matter how attractive the packaging looks, she checks the list of ingredients on the back of the box. Lots of difficult-to-pronounce words usually announce the presence of preservatives that work against good nutrition. She always puts those items back on the shelf and continues to look for labels with lists of natural food products that contribute to good health.

I’ve often thought that her shopping habits are a lot like what God is looking for in our lives: It’s what’s on the inside that counts, regardless of how attractive the outside might be. It’s no wonder that the wisdom-teller of Proverbs warns us to guard what goes into our hearts, “for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Wearing the right fashions and keeping ourselves looking young are of little importance if our hearts harbor greed, hatred, grumpiness, self-pity, and other counter-productive contents.

So, ask yourself: When others get past the packaging of my life, do they experience a heart full of healthy, Christ-honoring ingredients? By putting in grace, kindness, patience, and compassion, we’ll reflect the wonderful nature of Christ. —Joe Stowell

Lord, teach me to value my heart more than the

externals. Grant me the wisdom to cultivate internal

ingredients that will make my heart a wellspring of

life to those whom I come in contact with today.

The contents in your heart are more important than the outer packaging.

Bible in a year: Jeremiah 9-11; 1 Timothy 6

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – Giving Generously

Leave a comment

Alistair Begg

You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? Declares the Lord of Hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.

Haggai 1:9

Grudging souls limit their contributions to the ministry and missionary operations and call such saving good economy; little do they dream that in doing so they are impoverishing themselves. Their excuse is that they must care for their own families, and they forget that to neglect the house of God is a sure way to bring ruin upon their own houses. Our God has a method in providence by which He can cause our endeavors to succeed beyond our expectation, or He can defeat our plans to our confusion and dismay; by a turn of His hand He can steer our vessel in a profitable channel or run it aground in poverty and bankruptcy. It is the teaching of Scripture that the Lord enriches the generous and leaves the miserly to discover that withholding leads to poverty.

In a very wide sphere of observation, I have noticed that the most generous Christians of my acquaintance have always been the happiest, and almost invariably the most prosperous. I have seen the generous giver rise to financial levels of which he never dreamed; and I have as often seen the mean, ungenerous soul descend to poverty by the very stinginess by which he thought to rise. Men trust good stewards with larger and larger sums, and so it frequently is with the Lord; He gives by cartloads to those who give by bushels. Where wealth is not bestowed, the Lord makes a little much by the contentment that the sanctified heart feels in his portion from which a tithe has been dedicated to the Lord.

Selfishness looks first at home, but godliness seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; yet in the long run selfishness is loss, and godliness is great gain. It requires faith to act toward our God with an open hand, but surely He deserves it from us; and all that we can do is a very poor acknowledgment of our amazing indebtedness to His goodness.

 

 

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon – The wounds of Jesus

Leave a comment

CharlesSpurgeon

“He showed them his hands and his feet.” Luke 24:40

Suggested Further Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9

There are three things in Christ that death never met with before, all of which are fatal to it. There was in Christ, innocence. Now, as long as man was innocent, he could not die. Adam lived as long as he was innocent. Now, Christ was about to die; but death sucked in innocent blood; he sucked in his own poison and he died. Again, blessedness is that which takes away the sting of death. Now Christ, even when he was dying, was “God over all, blessed for ever.” All that death had ever killed before was under the curse; but this man was never by nature under the curse, because for our sakes he was not born into this world a cursed man. He was the seed of woman it is true, but still not of carnal generation. He did come under the curse when he took upon himself our sins, but not for his own sins. He was in himself blessed. Death sucked in blessed blood; he had never done that before—all others have been under the curse—and that slew death. Yet another thing. Death had never met before with any man who had life in himself. But when death drank Christ’s blood it drank life. For his blood is the life of the soul, and is the seed of life eternal. Wherever it goes, does it not give life to the dead? And death, finding that it had drunk into its own veins life in the form of Jesus’ blood, gave up the ghost; and death itself is dead, for Christ has destroyed it, by the sacrifice of himself; he has put it away; he has said, “Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?”

For meditation: On the cross Jesus was making the arrangements for death’s own funeral (1 Corinthians 15:26; Revelation 20:14).

Sermon no. 254

26 October (Preached 30 January 1859)

 

 

 

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Passing on a Godly Heritage

1 Comment

John MacArthur

“From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).

Not long ago I met with a group of Christian leaders to consider several candidates for a significant ministry position. During our meeting it dawned on me that each candidate’s father was a prominent pastor. Each candidate had grown up in a family that daily taught and exemplified biblical truth.

That illustrates the enormous impact a Christian heritage can have on a person–whether he pursues the pastorate or not. And by no means is it fathers only who influence their children toward righteousness. Quite the contrary: A godly mother usually has far more opportunity to do so.

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had four sons–all of whom followed his example by becoming ministers. It’s reported that at a family reunion a friend asked one of the sons, “Which Morgan is the greatest preacher?” “That’s easy,” the son replied, “Mother!”

Timothy knew the benefits of a spiritual heritage like that. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois (2 Tim. 1:5) taught him the sacred writings, which give the wisdom that leads to salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). Even as a child, Timothy was being equipped for the ministry God would later call him to. The spiritual training he received as a child–and the reservoir of biblical knowledge he accumulated in those early years–were crucial elements in his adult ministry.

If you are a parent, the most precious gift you can give your child is a godly upbringing that will serve as the foundation for his or her future ministries.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Praise God for those who have instructed you in the Word and encouraged you in righteousness.

If you are a parent, pray that your children will exceed you in the faith.

Be faithful to pray for the young people around you and set a godly example for them to follow.

For Further Study:

Read 1 Samuel 1:1–2:10. What characteristics of a godly mother did Hannah display?

 

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Submit to Authority

Leave a comment

Joyce meyer

Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to bring vengeance (punishment, justice) to those who do wrong and to encourage those who do good service.

—1 Peter 2:13-14

A godly response to those in authority over you provides you with spiritual safety. If you submit to authority for the sake of honoring God and His Word, you will enjoy a free flow of His anointing in your life. If you rebel and refuse to submit, you will block the anointing. Submission protects you from demonic attack, while rebellion opens the door for the enemy.

Live by the anointing. God has given it to you to help you in all that you do. You must remember that things are accomplished by the Spirit of God and not by might nor by power (see Zechariah 4:6). Tonight, stay peaceful and calm; be quick to forgive, slow to anger, patient, and kind. You’ll find that your anointing will be stronger.

 

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – You Will Be Saved

Leave a comment

dr_bright

“For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord, and believe in your own heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Many years ago, God clearly led me in the preparation, planning and production of a little booklet called the Four Spiritual Laws. Still widely used today, its volume of copies to date might well be second only to the Bible itself. More than a billion copies have been distributed and one can reasonably conclude that many millions have received Christ as a result of reading its message.

In something so succinct, it of course was impossible to include all of the appropriate Scriptures under each of the four laws. This verse for today, Romans 10:9, is one of those that might have been used with the Law Four, for it fits in well with the wording:

“We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.”

The three passages used (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8,9; Revelation 3:20) clearly direct the seeker after God. And of course this verse in Romans clearly confirms all that the other passages affirm.

Two conditions precede salvation, the apostle Paul is saying to the church in Rome: (1) “Tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord,” and (2) “Believe in your own heart that God has raised Him from the dead.” Simple, yet significant and meaningful, are these two preparatory steps.

As you share your faith with others today and in the days to come, recall with joy these two simple conditions that must be met.

Bible Reading: Romans 10:8-13

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: “Dear Lord, I thank You with all of my heart for the simplicity of the gospel and, with the enabling of the Holy Spirit, I will share this good news with all who will listen.”

 

 

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; H.L.M. – Healthy and Amazing

Leave a comment

ppt_seal01

When the Lord was giving the children of Israel the Ten Commandments, He spoke to them from a fire on Mount Sinai. They were afraid because they realized they were in the presence of their awesome Creator God. He commanded them to fear Him.

Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.

Psalm 119:79

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” What does fearing God really mean? His magnificence brings forth reverence, honor and praise. In a society where the Lord is no longer revered, He certainly is not a “buddy,” “the Man Upstairs,” or a profanity word. God is your Heavenly Father and you are His beloved child. He wants you to approach Him with an attitude of humility, submissiveness and respect.

Allow your Creator’s greatness, holiness and gracious love to captivate you every day. As you cultivate a healthy fear of God, you will be changed forever. People will notice amazing changes in your life and be drawn to Him as a result. Pray and believe God, too, for a daily fear of Him in the lives of our nation’s leaders. Your bold prayers will make a difference!

Recommended Reading: Psalm 111

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Why Going to Church Is Important, Part 4

Leave a comment

greglaurie

In the previous weeks, we have looked at a couple of reasons why the church exists: the exaltation of God and the edification of the saints. But let’s look at a third reason: The church is called to evangelize the world.

This purpose of the church is a natural outgrowth of the first two. If we are glorifying God and edifying one another, we will naturally want to share the hope of salvation with others through our loving actions and words. Healthy sheep will reproduce themselves. This was Christ’s commandment before He ascended into heaven: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere” (Mark 16:15 NLT). The church should do just that.

We are light to the world and salt to the culture. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (NKJV). We do good works in our community: feeding, clothing, helping people get off drugs. We spend countless hours counseling people with marital problems. We reach out to unwed mothers, even helping them to find homes for their unwanted babies. The list goes on and on. Our purpose is to shine God’s light in this dark world.

But we are also salt. Jesus said, in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless” (NLT). Salt, in biblical times, was used to preserve meat. The church is a preservative in the culture. If you don’t believe that, just look at the world after the church is removed: Antichrist emerges effectively unchallenged.

As that preservative, we stand up for what is right and true. We register and we vote our consciences, informed by our biblical worldview. We make no apology for that. We lift up Jesus Christ and we oppose sin. The story is told of President Calvin Coolidge, who returned home from church one Sunday. His wife asked him what the minister spoke on. Coolidge, a man of few words, simply said, “Sin!” “What else did he say?” she asked. President Coolidge replied, “He was against it!” That’s right, we are against sin and yet we love sinners and want them to be saved.

We are here to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. The church makes a huge mistake when it tries too hard to relate and compromise. Martin Lloyd Jones said, “When the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first.”

If you want to see church in a whole new way, stop thinking like a consumer. Start thinking like a disciple. It’s not about you; it is about God and others. Ask the Lord what your place is in the church. Come not to be served, but to serve, and watch what God will do. Church will come alive to you as a result. Let God revive you, and may it impact your church and your country as a result. May God fill us with the Holy Spirit to impact this world.