Charles Stanley – How to Turn Your Crisis into an Opportunity

August 24, 2014 broboinhawaii 3 Comments

Trust that God is working everything in your life for your good.
“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
Believe that our heavenly Father is in control of everything.
“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all” (Ps. 103:19).
Accept that the Lord’s ways are higher than ours.
“‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isa. 55:8-9).
Refuse to make quick judgments in the midst of a crisis.
“Thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength’” (Isa. 30:15)
Focus on the Father instead of the crisis.
“O our God . . . we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (2 Chron. 20:12).
Avoid dwelling on the pain.
“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence” (Ps. 42:5).
Recall past crises and the opportunities that followed.
“They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He also brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me” (2 Sam. 22:19-20).
Let go of your anger immediately.
“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:26-27).
Submit yourself to God’s will.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Pr. 3:5-6).
Demonstrate a spirit of gratitude.
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18).
Determine to view the trial as a chance to see God at work.
“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD” (Lam. 3:25-26).
Refuse to listen to unscriptural interpretations of your situation.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. . . . The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts” (Ps. 119:105, 110).
Remain in constant prayer, listening for the Father’s instructions.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).
Do not give in to fluctuating emotions.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26).
Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
“Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him” (Ps. 37:5-7).

Resources About Adversity

Our Daily Bread — Memory Loss

August 24, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Psalm 118:1-14

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. —Psalm 118:1

Sometimes when we face times of trouble, we may get spiritual amnesia and forget the grace of God. But a good way of reestablishing a thankful heart is to set aside undistracted time and deliberately remember God’s past provisions for us and give thanks.

When the children of Israel found themselves in a barren, hot desert, they developed memory loss about the grace of God. They began to wish they were back in Egypt, enjoying all its foods (Ex. 16:2-3) and later complained about their water supply (17:2). They had forgotten the mighty acts of God in their deliverance and how He had showered them with wealth (12:36). They were dwelling on their current circumstances and forgetting God’s gracious past provision.

The psalmist challenges us: “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Ps. 118:1). The word mercy means “steadfast love.” It refers to God’s faithfulness. He has promised to be present always to care for His children.

By remembering specific ways God has provided for us in the past, we can change our perspective for the better. God’s steadfast love endures forever! —Dennis Fisher

Wait on the Lord from day to day,

Strength He provides in His own way;

There’s no need for worry, no need to fear,

He is our God who is always near. —Fortna

Remembering God’s provision for yesterday gives hope and strength for today.

Bible in a year: Psalms 116-118; 1 Corinthians 7:1-19

Insight

Psalms 113–118, collectively known as psalms of praise or the “Egyptian Hallel,” are used in the Passover celebration commemorating the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Ex. 12–13). Psalms 113–114 are recited before and Psalms 115–118 after the Passover meal. The emphatic refrain “His mercy endures forever” (Ps. 118:1-4) reminds the Jews of God’s faithfulness. In response, the psalmist calls for renewed trust in God (vv.8-9).

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – Make Restitution

August 24, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution. Exodus 22:6

But what restitution can be made by one who throws the firebrands of error or stirs the coals of lust and sets the souls of men ablaze with the fire of hell? The guilt is beyond estimate, and the result is irretrievable. Even if such an offender is forgiven, he will still experience grief in recognizing that he cannot undo the effects of his foolish behavior! A bad example may kindle a flame that years of amended character cannot quench. To burn the harvest is bad enough, but how much worse to destroy the eternal harvest! It may be useful for us to consider how guilty we may have been in the past, and to consider whether, even in the present, there might not be evil in us that has a tendency to cause damage to the souls of our relatives, friends, or neighbors.

The fire of conflict is a terrible evil when it breaks out in a Christian church. Where there are converts, and God is glorified, you will discover jealousy and envy doing the devil’s work most effectively. Where the golden grain of blessing was being stored to reward the work of the servants, the fire of enmity comes in and leaves little else but smoke and a heap of blackness. Woe to those by whom offenses come. May they never come through us, for although we cannot make restitution, we shall certainly be the chief sufferers if we are the chief offenders.

Those who feed the fire deserve fair criticism, but the one who first kindles it is most to blame. Discord usually takes hold first among the thorns; it is nurtured among the hypocrites and empty professors in the church and leaps among the righteous, blown by the winds of hell, until no one knows where it may end. O Lord, the giver of peace, make us peacemakers, and never let us aid and abet the men of strife, or even unintentionally cause the slightest division among Your people.

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The family reading plan for August 24, 2014 * Lamentations 1* Psalm 32

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

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon – The comer’s conflict with Satan

August 24, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

“And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.” Luke 9:42

Suggested Further Reading: 1 John 5:13-21

“There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it.” “There,” says the devil, “the apostle did not say he could even pray for the man who has committed certain sins.” Then he reads that “sin against the Holy Ghost shall never be forgiven.” “There,” he says, “is your character: you have committed sin against the Holy Ghost, and you will never be pardoned.” Then he brings another passage: “Let him alone; Ephraim is joined unto idols.” “There,” says Satan, “you have had no liberty in prayer lately; God has let you alone; you are given unto idols; you are entirely destroyed;” and the cruel fiend howls his song of joy, and makes a merry dance over the thought that the poor soul is to be lost. But do not believe him, my dear friends. No man has committed the sin against the Holy Ghost as long as he has grace to repent; it is certain that no man can have committed that sin if he flies to Christ and believes on him. No believing soul can commit it; no penitent sinner ever has committed it. If a man be careless and thoughtless—if he can hear a terrible sermon and laugh it off, and put away his convictions—if he never feels any strivings of conscience, there is a fear that he may have committed that sin. But as long as you have any desires for Christ, you have no more committed that sin than you have flown up to the stars and swept cobwebs from the skies. As long as you have any sense of your guilt, any desire to be redeemed, you cannot have fallen into that sin; as a penitent you may still be saved, for if you had committed it, you could not be penitent.

For meditation: The devil is the father of lies, a murderer and sinner from the beginning (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8). His attempts to be a Bible expositor are never to be trusted (Luke 4:9,10).

Sermon no. 100

24 August (1856)

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Covering Sin

August 24, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

“[Love] bears all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).

Love confronts sin but protects the sinner.

In 1 Corinthians 13:7 Paul mentions four qualities of love that are closely related: bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and enduring all things. That might sound like love is indiscriminate and accepting of anything that comes along, but “all things” in that verse is qualified by the context. Love rejects jealousy, bragging, arrogance, and so on (vv. 4-6), but it bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things that are within the parameters of God’s Word.

“Love bears all things” speaks of love’s willingness to cover sins and protect sinners from further harm. That’s opposite our tabloid-mentality society in which gossip is big business and people seemingly have an insatiable appetite for exposes and “true confessions.”

Love seeks to protect, not expose. It confronts and disciplines sin but never broadcasts failures or wrongs. It feels the pain of those it loves and is willing to take that pain upon itself when necessary—as Christ did when He suffered for our sins.

In the Old Testament, the mercy seat was the place where the blood of atonement was sprinkled to cover the sins of the people (Lev. 16:14). That covering prefigured the perfect covering of sin that Christ brought through His death on the cross (Rom. 3:25-26). All who trust in Him are forever covered with the mantle of God’s love.

You cannot cover sins in the redemptive sense, but you can help protect and restore its victims. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.” First Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”

When you hear of someone’s sin, what is your first reaction? Do you think the worst of him or even gloat over his failures? Or do you expect the best and want to protect him from further exposure, ridicule, or harm? Are you willing to confront sin when necessary and even help bear the burden that person might be carrying? How you react indicates the quality of your love.

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for covering your sins with Christ’s blood.
Commit yourself to loving others in a way that truly bears all things.

For Further Study; Read Isaiah 53:3-12.

How is Christ pictured?
What did He endure on your behalf?

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – You Can Handle Whatever Life Hands You

August 24, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. —Romans 8:37

For years, I have pondered what being “more than a conqueror” means. I’m sure other people have other perspectives, but I have come to the conclusion that being more than a conqueror means having such confidence that no matter what comes up in your life, you know that through Christ you can handle it. You know before you are ever faced with a problem that you’re going to have victory over it. So therefore, you don’t dread things, you don’t fear the unknown, you don’t live in anxiety about what’s going to happen in uncertain situations.

It doesn’t really matter what the specifics of the situation are, you know you can handle it through Christ. For you, defeat isn’t an option!

Begin to think every day, I can handle whatever life hands me. I can do whatever I need to do in life. I am more than a conqueror. I am equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me. Even before you get out of bed in the mornings, let these thoughts roll over and over in your mind, and your confidence will skyrocket and you will find that indeed, you can do whatever you need to do in life.

Right thinking is the first step toward a better life. Wishing won’t work. Being jealous of someone who has what you desire does no good. Self-pity is a waste of time and energy. Discovering God’s will through an accurate knowledge of His Word and beginning to think as He thinks is the beginning of a new life for anyone who desires one.

Trust in Him In what specific situation do you need to believe you are more than a conqueror? Trust that through Christ, you are equal to anything.

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Reverence Brings Reward

August 24, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

“If you belong to the Lord, reverence Him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs” (Psalm 34:9).

Roger had a heart for God. He wanted to be everything the Lord wanted him to be. But he was troubled over how to achieve the balance between being what God wanted him to be and doing what God wanted him to do.

As we talked together I reminded Roger that everything flows from our relationship with the Lord – that He has to be primary. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” As we follow Him, He enables us to become fishers of men.

“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7, KJV). “Out of the heart are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23, KJV). That which is most on our hearts will be most on our lips. If we love the Lord Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, it will be impossible for us to remain silent.

At the same time, obedience is a confirmation of our walk with the Lord. Jesus said, “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21, KJV).

One of the most important commandments of our Lord is that we lead holy lives. Another is that we be fruitful in our witnessing for Christ. There is no substitute for reverence, worship, praise, adoration.

As we remember to reverence God by enlisting His guiding hand before we get into a predicament, He reaches out in love and extends a protecting hand in the midst of the trouble as we again invoke His divine care. If I am to live the supernatural life today, it will require divine enabling, and I must remain yielded to God’s indwelling Holy Spirit.

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:10-15

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I will worship God today as a demonstration of my love and trust for Him by spending quality time with Him in His word and in prayer, and helping others to understand the importance of reverence for and worship of God.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Storybook Ending

August 24, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Though Naomi certainly had her moments of negativity, saying “the hand of the Lord has gone out against me” (Ruth 1:13) and “the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20), her daughters-in-law positively loved her and did not want to leave her side. Ruth loved Naomi so much she determined she’d follow her, no matter what: “May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1:17)

But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me?”

Ruth 1:11

Naomi served God faithfully, though she couldn’t understand why He would allow her husband and sons die, and seemed unaware of His loving kindness and His good intentions toward her. In the end, God turned Naomi’s misfortune into blessing when Ruth married Boaz and gave her a grandson who was in Christ’s lineage.

At times, you may feel God has forgotten you. Serve Him anyway. Regardless of your circumstances, He is always worthy. As America goes through turmoil, pray God will work in this country for the good of His people. Remember the words of Habakkuk when things went wrong: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18)

DAILY DEVOTIONS, NEWS AND INFORMATION

Daily Archives: August 24, 2014

Charles Stanley – How to Turn Your Crisis into an Opportunity

Our Daily Bread — Memory Loss

Alistair Begg – Make Restitution

Charles Spurgeon – The comer’s conflict with Satan

John MacArthur – Covering Sin

Joyce Meyer – You Can Handle Whatever Life Hands You

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Reverence Brings Reward

Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Storybook Ending

Scriptures, Lessons, News and Links to help you survive.