Daily Archives: October 3, 2015

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – How to Foster True Friendships

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1 Samuel 18:1-3

We all long to be in genuine relationships. God created us with this need, as we were not meant to live in isolation.

Our world is so driven by technology that many people today try to ease their loneliness through computer interactions. However, we cannot deny that if a friendship relies solely on social media, it doesn’t compare to the human fellowship. But healthy friendships don’t just happen. They require intentional effort.

Yesterday, in looking to Jonathan and David for a biblical model of godly companions, we saw how mutual respect is vital in a healthy friendship. Now, let’s look at two more aspects of their relationship. These men had an emotional love for one another; their hearts were knit together (1 Sam. 18:1). When one man experienced joy or sadness, the other man felt it too.

They also had genuine devotion to each other, which is a type of commitment that involves giving: To show loyalty, Jonathan gave his friend material items—his robe and weapon. But both of these men selflessly offered more. Jonathan even risked his life and future kingship in order to save David from execution. Notice, too, that Jonathan was often the initiator and the one who gave more. He was a prince, whereas David was a lowly shepherd. Social status shouldn’t interfere with cultivating a true friendship.

We were designed for true companionship based on mutual respect, genuine love, and commitment. This requires time, selfless devotion, and transparency—which means being real, even about our faults. Taking such a risk requires trust, but genuine relationships are well worth the effort.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 1-4

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Better Than Waking Up

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Read: Luke 23:33-43

Bible in a Year: Isaiah 17-19; Ephesians 5:17-33

Today you will be with me in paradise. —Luke 23:43

Have you ever felt that your life was ruined as a result of having done something embarrassing, shameful, or even criminal—only to wake up and realize it was just a dream? But what if it wasn’t just a nightmare? What if the situation was all too real—either for yourself or someone you love?

This is the situation confronted in George MacDonald’s 19th-century novel The Curate’s Awakening. It’s the story of a parish minister who discovers that he’s been speaking for a God he’s not even sure he believes in. Later, he is called to the bedside of a young man who is losing his mind and dying, haunted by a murder he has committed.

In the heart-rending struggle that follows, the minister discovers what we all need to see. The relief of waking up from a bad dream is nothing compared to waking to the reality of God’s forgiveness, which we once thought was too good to be true.

Where will we find the mercy we need? It is found in Jesus, who, from His own cross said to a dying criminal who turned to Him for help, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). —Mart DeHaan

Father in heaven, please help us to believe that our forgiveness is as real as the price You paid for our rescue.For further study, read The Forgiveness of God at discoveryseries.org/q0602

We are saved by God’s mercy, not by our merit.

INSIGHT: According to Mark 15:25, Jesus was crucified at 9:00 in the morning. While on the cross, Jesus spoke three times before noon: He prayed for forgiveness for His enemies (Luke 23:34), He entrusted His mother into the care of John (John 19:26-27), and He granted salvation to the believing criminal (Luke 23:43). Beginning at noon, and for the next three hours, darkness engulfed the whole land, “for the sun stopped shining” (vv. 44-45). This period was largely marked by silence. Then just before He died at 3:00 in the afternoon, Jesus spoke four more times, revealing the anguish of His soul as He bore our sins and proclaiming the completion of the work of salvation (Matt. 27:46; Luke 23:46; John 19:28,30). Sim Kay Tee

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – Angels – The Unseen Attendants

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Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Angels are the unseen attendants of the children of God; they carry us in their hands and keep us from calamity. Loyalty to their Lord leads them to take a deep interest in the children of His love; they rejoice over the return of the prodigal to his father’s house below, and they welcome the arrival of the believer to the King’s palace above.

In ancient times the children of God were able to actually see the angels. Today, although we do not see them, heaven is still open, and the angels of God ascend and descend upon the Son of man, so that they may visit the heirs of salvation. Seraphim still fly with live coals from the altar to touch the lips of men greatly loved.

If our eyes could be opened, we would see horses and chariots of fire surrounding the servants of the Lord; for we have come to an innumerable company of angels, who are all watchers and protectors of the King’s family. Spenser’s line is not poetic fiction, where he sings–

How oft do they with golden pinions cleave

The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant

Against foul fiends to aid us militant!

To what dignity are the chosen elevated when the brilliant courtiers of heaven become their willing servants! Into what communion are we raised since we have communion with spotless celestials! How well are we defended since all the twenty thousand chariots of God are armed for our deliverance!

To whom do we owe all this? The Lord Jesus Christ who must be forever dear to us, for through Him we are made to sit in heavenly places far above principalities and powers. It is He whose camp is around those that fear Him; He is the true Michael whose foot is upon the dragon. All hail, Jesus! Angel of Jehovah’s presence, to You this family offers its morning vows.

The Family Bible Reading Plan

  • 1 Kings 6
  • Ephesians 3

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

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon – Confession and absolution

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“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13

Suggested Further Reading: 1 John 1:5-2:2

The Greek explains more to us than the English does; and the original word here might be translated—“God be propitiated to me a sinner.” There is in the Greek word a distinct reference to the doctrine of atonement. It is not the Unitarian’s prayer—“God be merciful to me;” it is more than that—it is the Christian’s prayer, “God be propitiated towards me, a sinner.” There is, I repeat it, a distinct appeal to the atonement and the mercy-seat in this short prayer. Friends, if we would come before God with our confessions we must take care that we plead the blood of Christ. There is no hope for a poor sinner apart from the cross of Jesus. We may cry, “God be merciful to me,” but the prayer can never be answered apart from the victim offered, the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. When thou hast thine eye upon the mercy-seat, take care to have thine eye upon the cross too. Remember that the cross is, after all, the mercy-seat; that mercy never was enthroned, until she hung upon the cross crowned with thorns. If thou wouldst find pardon, go to dark Gethsemane, and see thy Redeemer sweating blood in deep anguish. If thou wouldst have peace of conscience, go to Gabbatha, the pavement, and see thy Saviour’s back flooded with a stream of blood. If thou wouldst have the last best rest to thy conscience, go to Golgotha; see the murdered victim as he hangs upon the cross, with hands and feet and side all pierced, as every wound is gaping wide with misery extreme. There can be no hope for mercy apart from the victim offered—even Jesus Christ the Son of God. Oh, come; let us one and all approach the mercy-seat, and plead the blood.

For meditation: Confession of sins is a totally useless practice unless we go straight to God, the only one who can forgive us, pleading Christ crucified, the only valid reason for us to be forgiven. But when we come in God’s way, we can come to him confidently (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Sermon no. 216

3 October (1858)

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – The Ministry of the Word

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“My Word . . . shall not return to Me . . . without accomplishing what I desire” (Isa. 55:11).

“Man does not live by bread alone, but . . . by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3).

God’s Word is both productive and nourishing.

The Bible contains many precious promises, two of which relate specifically to itself. First, the prophet Isaiah said that the Word is productive: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I send it” (Isa. 55:10-11).

As you administer the Word, it may encourage a fellow Christian, bring a sinner to repentance, or even confirm an unbeliever in his sin. Whatever the response, be assured that the Word always accomplishes its intended purpose.

The Word is like a messenger that runs to do God’s work: “He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes. He casts forth His ice as fragments; who can stand before His cold? He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow. He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel” (Ps. 147:15-19). Just as God sends the natural elements to accomplish His purposes, He also sends His Word.

The Word is also nourishing. Moses wrote, “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3). God’s Word feeds believers, causing spiritual growth.

How should you respond to such a powerful and productive Word? Trust it, so you can live each day in confidence. Proclaim it, so others will come to know its author. Obey it, so it can continue its transforming work in you, making you more like Christ each day.

Suggestions for Prayer

God’s promises are intended to bring you great joy and encouragement. List seven promises that are especially meaningful to you. Use one each day for one week as a focal point for prayer and praise.

For Further Study

What promises does Jesus make in John 14:1-14?

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – God Forgets!

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For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will [seriously] remember their sin no more.—Jeremiah 31:34

God not only forgives but also forgets all your sins. He does not forgive you and then say, “Oh, boy, I remember when I had to forgive Johnny for pulling his sister’s hair and making her cry. Now he wants me to forgive him for cheating on his algebra test. His list of forgiven sins is getting awfully long.”

No, if Johnny were to say to God, “I know You’ve already forgiven me for pulling my sister’s hair, but now I need Your forgiveness for cheating on a test,” God would say, “Your sister’s hair? You asked me to forgive you for that? I have absolutely no recollection of that; there’s no record of it anywhere.”

The passage above from Jeremiah, and many others you will find in the Bible (Hebrews 10:14-17, for example), is not talking about a forgiveness that happens the day we receive Christ and only takes care of all of our previous sins. God’s forgiveness is ongoing for the duration of our lives; it is for every day.

When Jesus died on the cross 2,000 years ago, He not only forgave everything we had done in our pasts, but He also committed Himself to forgive every sin we would commit in the future. He knows every wrong decision we will ever make, and they’re all covered. All we have to do is admit our sins, be willing to turn away from them, and stay in relationship with Him. When God looks at our sins, He sees our faith in Jesus, Who is our perfect sacrifice—not the sin we just committed.

Because of this, what God really wants from us is not perfect performance, perfect behavior, or perfect attitudes, because He already sees those things in Jesus on our behalf. What God wants from us are hearts that truly love Him.

Trust in Him: God is not surprised by anything you do. You can trust His love and forgiveness because He knew about your mistakes long before you did, and He wants you anyway. Today, determine to stop remembering what God has forgotten and focus instead on loving Him

From the book Trusting God Day by Day by Joyce Meyer

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – The Key to Blessing

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“He replied, ‘Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice'” (Luke 11:28).

If you and I could know only one rule that would guarantee us real happiness, no doubt this should be it. Because the meaning of this promise is the same in or out of context, we shall share briefly the out-of-context guarantee contained therein.

Man’s chief happiness – his, or her, highest honor – is to obey the Word of God. No earthly honor or achievement can compare with the blessing, meaning in and fulfillment that come from obeying the Word and Will of God.

Implicit in putting into practice – or obeying – the Word of God is the matter of knowing the Word of God. This, of course, implies reading, studying, meditating upon and even memorizing the Scriptures. If we are neglecting this phase of the Christian life, we are omitting a vitally important part of spiritual nurture, without which it is impossible to live a supernatural life.

Something about the Word refreshes, cleanses, uplifts the heart and soul of each one of us when we spend time in its pages. God made it – and us – that way. No matter how many times we may have read the Word of God, even the entire Bible, there is something remarkably fresh and new about it every time we read it.

If somehow we lack the discipline to do what we should about the Word, we may pray ceaselessly for the Holy Spirit to illumine its truths to our minds and apply them to our lives.

Bible Reading: James 1:22-25

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I will not neglect God’s Word but will consider it a necessary ingredient to the life of the Spirit -supernatural living.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.K. – Feeling Alone?

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Sometimes you can ask the wrong question. In a difficult situation, “How can I get out of this mess?” may not be appropriate. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19) The proper perspective is, “How can God be glorified in this situation?”

Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord.

Exodus 14:13

Think of the Israelites as they fled from Egypt: directed by the Lord into the desert, right to the edge of the Red Sea. Pharaoh and his army pursued them and they imagined nothing but their imminent death. God’s plan, however, was to be victorious – and He was. Later, as Israel entered the Promised Land, their enemies feared them because the Lord had fought for them with great power. His name was glorified (Exodus 15:13-18).

Do you doubt God’s presence in your life or feel alone as you go through a valley? The words “fear not” appear often throughout Scripture. The Lord will be your guide, your comfort and your refuge. Pray that you will stand firm. Then intercede for the people and leaders of this nation that they would praise God and turn to Him for guidance in every circumstance…that His name might be glorified!

Recommended Reading: Psalm 34:3-9, 17-19

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Everybody Is Essentially the Same

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“Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.”—Ecclesiastes 7:20

No life is without its share of problems.

If you don’t have much wealth, you worry about how to get more. If you have a lot, you always find someone who has more. If you have the most, you worry about how to keep it.

Wealth is a relative concept. Someone wrote, “If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.”

Even the most beautiful, famous, and wealthy people have their hurts and pains.

The American public loves to follow the adventures of the rich and famous. Just look at all the tabloids. I was standing in line at the store one day and saw on the cover of a tabloid: “Cellulite of the Stars.” These people can’t even take off their shirt at the beach without being photographed—it’s brutal.

We take some perverse delight in knowing these people are just like us. And indeed they are.

There is an old legend about people in a certain village who constantly complained about their troubles. Each was invited to throw all of his burdens and problems into one big heap in the middle of town. Then he was given the privilege of choosing other troubles to replace the ones he gave up.

After careful deliberation and consideration, each selected the same problems he had cast aside, feeling his own to be less difficult than those of the others.

People put up a front, and pretend to be happy when they are not. But deep down inside, we are really all the same, with the same hurts and needs. And the answer to these needs is the same for everyone: a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Night Light - James & Shirley Dobson

Night Light for Couples – Where Is Your Treasure?

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“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10

Money. Men and women have lusted for it, killed for it, died for it, and gone to hell for it. Money has come between the best of friends, fractured families, and brought down the proud and mighty. And it has torn millions of marriages limb from limb! According to Larry Burkett, founder and CEO of Christian Financial Concepts, 80 percent of couples seeking divorce say the focus of their disagreements is money. During Jesus’ time on earth, He spoke more about money than any other subject. Most of His pronouncements came in the form of warnings: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21); “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26); “You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24).

If we want to love and serve God—and keep our marriages intact— we need to regularly examine our relationship with money, then ask: “Whom do we serve?”

Just between us…

  • Have you ever had a hurtful disagreement with family or friends over money?
  • How do you feel about the way we handle our finances?
  • Are there ways in which we push God aside to “serve” money?
  • What could we do to make sure our financial decisions are in line with Jesus’ teachings?

Dear God, we confess that we’re so often beguiled by the allure of money and possessions. But we want You to be Lord of our money and all our belongings. Lead us into an enduring obedience to You in this area, we pray. Amen.

From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert for Kids

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A Wild Dream

Genesis 41:4, 7

Pharaoh had a really bad dream. He saw skinny, ugly cows gobble up fat, healthy cows. Shortly afterward, he had a second dream of seven heads of thin, sickly grain swallowing up seven healthy heads of grain. When he called Joseph to come tell him what the awful dreams meant, he probably did not expect what Joseph told him. Joseph said that there would be seven years with good harvests, but right after that there would be seven years of famine, hard times, and hungry people—unless they prepared. God was good to the Egyptian king and all the people who lived in his land when he gave them an opportunity to get ready for the hard times that were coming.

God tells us that we will have hard times, but we can be prepared by staying close to God and his love. He will care for us in tough times.

Dear Lord, I know that tough times happen in everyone’s life. Help me to be ready by staying very close to you every day. Amen.