Daily Archives: June 8, 2014

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Roadblock of Doubt

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Charles Stanley

Have you experienced so much failure that you’re afraid to try again? Have you ever felt alone, wondering if God cares about your dreams? Is it difficult to believe that biblical promises will really work for you? If so, you might be held back from pursuing your God-given purpose by what I call the roadblock of doubt.

Believing you can achieve a goal is vital to reaching it. The writer of Hebrews says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). After you receive His gift of salvation, obeying God includes pursuing goals He has designed for your life. Without faith in God—and without believing He will reward those who diligently seek Him—you will fail.

Perhaps you doubt because you lack understanding that God is with you always. I encourage you to read aloud one of these passages of Scripture until you truly believe it:

  • Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
  • Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
  • Hebrews 13:5: “I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you.”
  • Matthew 7:7: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

When I experience momentary doubt, I usually get on my knees, open my Bible, and read it aloud to God, saying, “Lord, this is what You have said in Your Word. I trust You to do this in my life.”

Another reason people doubt is their past failures.Most of us need to stop looking over our shoulders at past mistakes. By doing so, they carry guilt over sins the Lord has already forgiven and forgotten. If God has forgiven you—which He says He does every time you confess your sins to Him—then forgive yourself. (See John 1:9.) It isn’t possible to mess up so badly that God will reject you or turn away from using you.

Thinking that you’re a failure will cause you to act like one, and the things you attempt to do will miss the mark. Choose to lay down your defeatist mindset, and embrace your identity as a beloved, spiritually-gifted child of God.

Don’t wait for someone else to do what is really your responsibility. Too often people expect others to provide opportunities and blessings to help them succeed. God wants you to reach the goals He designed uniquely for you. Nobody else can do the believing or the work necessary to accomplish His plans for your life.

Take God at His Word. Many people read the Bible but then conclude, “That’s for somebody else.” What you read in the Scriptures is for you. Count on it.

Jesus gave us great encouragement about what happens to those who face life with faith rather than doubt. He taught that they could move mountains (Mark 11:22-24). Such a large feat may take time––in some cases, years or decades, but it is possible when a believer is yielded to the Holy Spirit and perseveres in His power.

Consider a young man who is called to a life of preaching the gospel. The Lord doesn’t say, “I expect you to produce 50 years’ worth of sermons.” Rather, the Lord says, “I set before you the goal of preaching the gospel as long as you are alive, as effectively and irresistibly as you can.”

The young preacher needs to say, “What does the Lord want to say through me to the people in my church this week?” With that attitude of trust and dependence, he is likely to believe God for a good sermon each week, one at a time. Then, if he lives long enough, he’ll have sermons for 50 years.

Focus your energy on short-range goals, where it will be most effective and potent. Over time, your faith will grow stronger as your goals become more challenging. Only as you look back will you be able to say, “I lived by faith.” And that, of course, is precisely God’s desire for you (2 Cor. 5:7).

Do you doubt your ability to reach God-given goals? If your answer is yes, confess your need to the Lord. Ask Him to forgive you. Then ask Him to help you move forward in your life. Push doubt aside, and act as the saved, Spirit-filled, gifted child of God that you are.

Adapted from Success God’s Way (2000).

 

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Lesson From A Toothache

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Our Daily Bread

Hebrews 12:3-11

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons. —Hebrews 12:7

When I was a child I often had a toothache,” wrote C. S. Lewis in his classic book Mere Christianity. He continued, “and I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something that would deaden the pain for that night and let me get to sleep. But I did not go to my mother—at least not till the pain became very bad. . . . I knew she would take me to the dentist the next morning. . . .  I wanted immediate relief from pain, but I could not get it without having my teeth set permanently right.”

Similarly, we might not always want to go to God right away when we have a problem or are struggling in a certain area. We know that He could provide immediate relief from our pain, but He is more concerned with dealing with the root of the problem. We may be afraid that He will reveal issues that we are unprepared or unwilling to deal with.

In times like these, it is helpful to remind ourselves that the Lord “deals with [us] as with sons” (Heb. 12:7). His discipline, though perhaps painful, is wise, and His touch is loving. He loves us too much to let us remain as we are; He wants to conform us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus (Rom. 8:29). God’s purposes of love can be trusted more than any of our emotions of fear. —Poh Fang Chia

Thank You, Lord, for showing me my hidden

faults, for You treat me as Your dear child.

Help me surrender to Your cleansing work

till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

God’s hand of discipline is a hand of love.

Bible in a year: 2 Chronicles 30-31; John 18:1-18

Insight

A constant refrain in Scripture is that God chastens and that such discipline is evidence of His love and a prerequisite of our sonship (Deut. 8:5; 2 Sam. 7:14; Job 5:17-18; Ps. 89:30-33; Prov. 3:12; Heb. 12:5-8). But God’s discipline is much more than just rebuke and punishment. It includes nurture, instruction, and training in holiness and righteousness (12:10-11).

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – Look to the Creator

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Alistair Begg

Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not. Numbers 11:23

God had made a positive promise to Moses that for the space of a whole month He would feed the vast company in the wilderness with meat. Moses is then overtaken by a fit of unbelief, looks to the outward means, and is at a loss to know how the promise can be fulfilled. He looked to the creature instead of the Creator. But does the Creator expect the creature to fulfill His promise for Him? No; He who makes the promise always fulfills it by His own unaided omnipotence. If He speaks, it is done—done by Himself. His promises do not depend for their fulfillment upon the cooperation of the puny strength of man. We can immediately see the mistake that Moses made. And yet how routinely we do the same!

God has promised to supply our needs, and we look to the creature to do what God has promised to do; and then, because we perceive the creature to be weak and feeble, we indulge in unbelief. Why do we look in that direction at all? Will you look to the North Pole to gather fruits ripened in the sun? You would be acting no more foolishly in doing this than when you look to the weak for strength, and to the creature to do the Creator’s work. Let us, then, put the question on the right footing. The ground of faith is not the sufficiency of the visible means for the performance of the promise, but the all-sufficiency of the invisible God, who will definitely do what He has said.

If after clearly seeing that the onus lies with the Lord and not with the creature we dare to indulge in mistrust, the question of God comes home forcefully to us: “Is the LORD’s hand shortened?” May it also be that in His mercy the question will be accompanied by this blessed declaration: “Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg.

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The family reading plan for June 8, 2014 * Isaiah 40 * Revelation 10

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Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon – Salvation to the uttermost

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CharlesSpurgeon

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

Suggested Further Reading: Romans 8:31-34

It is pleasant to look back to Calvary’s hill, and to behold that bleeding form expiring on the tree; it is sweet, amazingly sweet, to pry with eyes of love between those thick olives, and hear the groanings of the Man who sweat great drops of blood. Sinner, if you ask me how Christ can save you, I tell you this—he can save you, because he did not save himself; he can save you, because he took your guilt and endured your punishment. There is no way of salvation apart from the satisfaction of divine justice. Either the sinner must die, or else someone must die for him. Sinner, Christ can save you, because, if you come to God by him, then he died for you. God has a debt against us, and he never remits that debt; he will have it paid. Christ pays it, and then the poor sinner goes free. And we are told another reason why he is able to save: not only because he died, but because he lives to make intercession for us. That Man who once died on the cross is alive; that Jesus who was buried in the tomb is alive. If you ask me what he is doing, I bid you listen. Listen, if you have ears! Did you not hear him, poor penitent sinner? Did you not hear his voice, sweeter than harpers playing on their harps? Did you not hear a charming voice? Listen! What did it say? “O my Father! Forgive…….!” Why, he mentioned your own name! “O my Father, forgive him; he knew not what he did. It is true he sinned against light, and knowledge, and warnings; sinned willfully and woefully; but, Father, forgive him!” Penitent, if you can listen, you will hear him praying for you. And that is why he is able to save.

For meditation: How often do you stop and think what Christ is doing for you right now, if you are a Christian (1 John 2:1)?

Sermon no. 84

8 June (1856)

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Being a Doer of the Word

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John MacArthur

“Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22).

Effective Bible study is built on three key questions: What does the Bible say? What does it mean? How does it apply to my life? Each of those questions is important, but applying the Word must always be the highest goal. Knowledge without application is useless.

Both the Old and New Testaments emphasize the importance of applying Scripture. For example, just prior to leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, Joshua received this message from God: “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (Josh. 1:8). That’s a command to be a doer of the Word—one who receives, studies, and understands Scripture, then applies it to every aspect of his or her life. That was the key to Joshua’s amazing success.

James 1:22 is a New Testament counterpart to Joshua 1:8 and is directed to every believer: “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” It’s not enough to hear the Word; you must also do what it says.

The phrase “doer of the word” doesn’t refer to the person who obeys periodically, but the one who habitually and characteristically obeys. It’s one thing to run in a race; it’s something else to be a runner. It’s one thing to teach a class; it’s something else to be a teacher. Runners are known for running; teachers are known for teaching—it’s characteristic of their lives. Similarly, doers of the Word are known for their obedience to biblical truth.

Never be content to be a hearer of the Word only, but prove yourself a doer in the Christian life. Your claim to love Christ will mean something only if you obey what He says.

Suggestions for Prayer:  Memorize Joshua 1:8 and pray regularly that God will make you a faithful doer of the Word.

For Further Study: Read Psalm 1.

•             What are the benefits of delighting in God’s law?

•             How does the psalmist characterize those who reject righteousness?

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Power of Rejoicing

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Joyce meyer

About midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God . . . Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.—Acts 16:25-26

Throughout the Bible, God instructs His people to be filled with joy and to rejoice. For example, Philippians 4:4 says: Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

Any time the Lord tells us twice to do something—the Philippians were told twice in this verse to rejoice—we need to pay careful attention to what He is saying. Many times people see or hear the word rejoice and think, That sounds nice, but how do I do that? They would like to rejoice but don’t know how!

Paul and Silas, who had been beaten, thrown into prison, and had their feet put in stocks, rejoiced by simply singing praises to God. We don’t often realize the “rejoicing” that can release so much power can be just as simple as smiling and laughing, having a good time, and enjoying ourselves. And doing that in itself often makes the problem go away!

If you have a personal relationship with the Lord—if you are saved— the Holy Spirit dwells within you (SEE John 14:16-17 AND 1 Corinthians 12:3). If joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and the Spirit is in you, joy is in you. You’re not trying to get joy or manufacture it—it is already there, just as are the ability to love and the other fruit of the Spirit— because the Spirit is there.

It is very important to understand that we as believers are not to try to get joy—we have joy. Joy is in our spirit. What we need to do is learn how to release it.

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – In the World to Come

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dr_bright

“And Jesus replied, ‘Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything – home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property – for love of Me and to tell others the Good News, who won’t be given back, a hundred times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – with persecutions! All these will be his here on earth, and in the world to come he shall have eternal life'” (Mark 10:29,30).

What a wonderful promise. God will return to you and me a hundred times over what we invest for Him and His kingdom.

I believe that millions of Christians like ourselves are awakening to the fact that we must be about our Father’s business. As I observe God’s working in the lives of people around the world through many movements, I am persuaded that the greatest spiritual awakening since Pentecost has already begun.

Jesus said, “Go…and make disciples in all nations.” In order to make disciples, we must be disciples ourselves. Like begets like. We produce after our own kind.

The man who is committed to Christ, who understands how to walk in the fullness of the Spirit, is going to influence others and help to produce the same kind of Christians. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

For some, such a call to discipleship may sound too hard. However, in these verses Jesus tells us that we must be willing to give up everything. That this promise has been fulfilled in the lives of all who seek first Christ and His kingdom has been attested to times without number – not always in material things, of course, but in rewards far more meaningful and enriching.

Bible Reading: Luke 9:23-26

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Realizing that God has promised manifold gifts, persecutions, eternal life in exchange for faithfulness and commitment to Him, I vow to make that surrender real and meaningful in my life every day.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.K. – Not a Stranger

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ppt_seal01

Imagine God walking before you, believer, shining a light on your path and spreading seeds of joy in your path? Notice His steady steps as He shepherds you through trials and difficulties, through days of ease and happiness, comforting and blessing as you go. Love Me, He says, and keep my commandments so you can find your way (Matthew 22:37-40).

Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Psalm 97:11

“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165) Satan entices with temptations for success, wealth, prestige, or anything that makes you seem content. But God sets before you His Word of truth to give you liberty to do what will be most beneficial to you – and bring true contentment and joy in your heart.

Dr. Andrew Davis, Senior Pastor/Elder at First Baptist Church in Durham, NC, says, “Every time we choose to feed our hearts by the Word of God and heavenly meditation rather than to pursue worldly pleasures (even if lawful and not corrupt), we are expanding our capacity for heavenly joy.” Ask the Spirit to help you put sin to death. Discipline yourself for godliness. And pray the same for this nation and its leaders. Then joy will not be a stranger.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 97