Daily Archives: December 26, 2015

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Bible: God’s Voice Today

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2 Timothy 3:16

In biblical times, God spoke in many dramatic ways. Although He still speaks today, His methods have changed. We can’t expect Him to speak in an audible voice or to send an angelic messenger every time He has something to say to us. We must learn how to perceive His voice today.

The primary way our Father speaks to us today is through His written Word—we have His complete revelation within this Book. There is not a single thing missing that He needs to add. Why? Because He has already revealed His Word perfectly to those whom He inspired to write it down. This isn’t a book written by human beings; the Holy Spirit of God literally breathed His truth upon the minds of certain men so they could record it (2 Tim. 3:16).

The Bible is God’s way of speaking to our pressing needs, concerns, heartaches, and worries. So often when trouble strikes, we turn here or there, talking to some friend or counselor. All of that is well and good, and the Father does indeed speak through godly men and women. But the first place we should turn is to His Word.

The Lord has given us this Book so that we might know His mind—which requires consistently spending time in the Word. If you pick up the Bible only when you have a question or emergency in your life, you’ll never get the big picture of what God wants to say to you.

Scripture is a treasure trove of God’s thoughts. Spend time there every day—starting today—mining it for new truths and insights.

Bible in One Year: 2 John, 3 John, Jude 1

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Christmas Sacrifice

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Read: Galatians 4:1-7

Bible in a Year: Haggai 1-2; Revelation 17

When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son. —Galatians 4:4

  1. Henry’s classic tale “The Gift of the Magi” tells of Jim and Della, a young married couple who are struggling financially. As Christmas approaches they want to give special gifts to each other, but their lack of money drives them to drastic measures. Jim’s prized possession is a gold watch, while Della’s is her long, beautiful hair. So Jim sells his watch in order to buy combs for Della’s hair, while Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch.

The story has deservedly become beloved, for it reminds us that sacrifice is at the heart of true love, and sacrifice is love’s truest measure. This idea is particularly appropriate for Christmas, because sacrifice is the heartbeat of the story of the birth of Christ. Jesus Christ was born to die, and He was born to die for us. That is why the angel told Joseph, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

Long before Christ’s birth, it had been determined that He would come to rescue us from our fallenness—which means that we can never fully appreciate the manger unless we see it in the shadow of the cross. Christmas is completely about Christ’s love, seen most clearly in His sacrifice for us. —Bill Crowder

In what ways would you like to say thanks to Jesus for what He has done?

Share your story at odb.org

The essential fact of Christianity is that God thought all humanity worth the sacrifice of His Son. William Barclay

INSIGHT: Paul’s words on the birth of Christ form some of the strongest spiritual family images in the New Testament letters. He talks about the relationship of an heir to his father (vv. 1-2), of the heavenly Father who sent His Son (v. 4), and of the work of Christ that makes it possible for us to be adopted as sons and daughters of God (v. 5). The result? As Jesus, the Son of God, called His Father “Abba” (Papa), we can, as sons and daughters, call Him “Abba” as well (vv. 6-7), for we are not only children of God but also heirs through Christ.

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – The Sponsor and Substitute

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The last Adam. I Corinthians 15:45

Jesus is the representative head of His people. In Adam every heir of flesh and blood has a personal interest, because he is the covenant head and representative of the race when considered under the law of works; so under the law of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord from heaven, since He is the Second Adam, the Sponsor and Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love.

The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Melchizedek met him: It is a certain truth that the believer was in the loins of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, when in eternity the covenant settlements of grace were decreed, ratified, and made sure forever.

Whatever Christ has done, He has accomplished for the whole body of His Church. We were crucified in Him and buried with Him (read Col. 2:10-13), and to make it still more wonderful, we are risen with Him and even ascended with Him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6). It is in this way that the Church has fulfilled the law and is “blessed in the Beloved.”1

She is regarded with satisfaction by the just Jehovah, for He views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head. As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Christ Jesus has nothing distinct from His Church, but all that He has He holds for her. Adam’s righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it, and his sin was ours the moment that he committed it; and in the same way, all that the Second Adam is or does is ours as well as His because He is our representative.

Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace. This gracious system of representation and substitution, which moved Justin Martyr to cry out, “O blessed change, O sweet permutation!” is the very groundwork of the Gospel of our salvation and is to be received with strong faith and rapturous joy.

1) Ephesians 1:6

Family Bible Reading Plan

  • 2 Chronicles 31
  • Revelation 17

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

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon – The vanguard and rear guard of the Church

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“The Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.” Isaiah 52:12

Suggested Further Reading: Ezra 8:21-23 and 31-32

We shall soon launch into another year, and hitherto we have found our years to be years of trouble. We have had mercies, but still we find this house of our pilgrimage is not an abiding city, not a mansion of peace and comfort. Perhaps we are trembling to go forward. Foreseeing trouble, we know not how we shall be able to endure to the end. We are standing here and pausing for a while, sitting down upon the stone of our Ebenezer to rest ourselves, gazing dubiously into the future, saying, “Alas! What shall I do? Surely, I shall one day fall by the hand of the enemy.” Brother, arise, arise; anoint your head, and wash your face, and fast no longer; let this sweet morsel now cheer you; put this cup to your lips, and let your eyes be enlightened: “The Lord Jehovah will go before you.” He has gone before you already. Your future path has all been marked out in the great decrees of his predestination. You shall not tread a step which is not mapped out in the great chart of God’s decree. Your troubles have been already weighed for you in the scales of his love; your labour is already set aside for you to accomplish by the hand of his wisdom. Depend upon it, your:-

“Times of trial and of grief,

Times of triumph and relief,

All shall come and last and end

As shall please your heavenly Friend.”

Remember, you are not a child of chance. If you were, you might indeed fear. You will go nowhere next year except where God shall send you.

For meditation: Fear of the future and fear of the unknown still have to be faced by the believer. But the Christian has the remedy to such fear—a great God who knows the future and who leads the way (Acts 20:22-24; Hebrews 11:8-10).

Sermon no. 230

26 December (1858)

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Born to Die

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“We . . . see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).

Jesus Christ was born to die as our substitute.

At this time of year, it is difficult for us to see Jesus other than as a little baby. We of course know why He came, but we usually focus on His death on the cross at another time of year. But we must never forget that He came to die.

Those soft baby hands fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb were made to have two great nails hammered through them. Those little chubby feet were to walk up a hill and be nailed to a cross. That sacred head was made to wear a crown of thorns. His tender body wrapped in swaddling clothes would be pierced by a spear to reveal a broken heart. The death of Christ was no accident; He was born to die.

Jesus died to remove the curse so we could regain our dominion. But to do that, He had to come as a man. Even though in doing so He temporarily became lower than the angels, He accomplished something no angel could: our restoration.

The first and foremost reason for the incarnation is that Christ might taste death on behalf of every man and woman. He came to die in our place—to be our substitute. God had two options: Either let us die and pay for our own sins, or allow a substitute to take our punishment and die in our place. He mercifully chose the latter.

It is vital that we affirm the fact of Christ’s substitutionary death because modern liberal theology claims Jesus died merely as an example, like a martyr dying for some cause. But He died as a substitute for you and me. As a result He freed us to live for and with God. Rejoice that the creator of angels, the Lord of hosts, would become lower than His creation for our sakes.

Suggestion for Prayer

Thank the Lord for His willingness to humble Himself to become a man to save you.

For Further Study

Read Psalm 22 and note which verses prophesy Jesus’ suffering on the cross.

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Mighty Things Through Faith

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“And so [Jesus] did only a few great miracles there, because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58).

It was my first visit to Nazareth, and through a series of fortuitous circumstances, I found myself enjoying lunch with one of the city’s prominent leaders. As we talked together in the crowded dining room our conversation turned to Jesus Christ, and ultimately this gentleman bowed his head and began to pray aloud, inviting Christ to be his Savior and Lord.

The change seemed to be immediate and dramatic, and follow-up has proven that God did meet him and change his life. During the course of our conversation, he indicated that what I had shared with him was a new truth. Though he was religious and active in his church, he never had been told that he should receive Christ.

Upon further exploration, I found that, in the entire community of Nazareth, there were but a few in those days who understood the truth of the living Christ indwelling the believer. I was amazed!

Nazareth was the town in which our Lord had spent approximately thirty years of His life. The son of a carpenter, He had walked those winding streets, living, loving and laughing with other young children as they were growing up. He left the town when He entered His public ministry, and went on to perform mighty miracles, die on the cross for our sins and be raised from the dead – and He changed the whole course of history. But 2,000 years have passed since then, and there is still little evidence of the influence of Jesus in the lives of the people of Nazareth.

Then I remembered that it was said of our Lord, He could do no mighty things in Nazareth because of their unbelief. That seems to be true in more than just that city today. Even though there are a billion and a half professing followers of Christ throughout the world, the majority seem to be practical atheists.

And so, our Lord cannot do mighty things in Nazareth, or throughout the world, because of unbelief. The key to releasing His power to accomplish revolutionary, supernatural things in the world – and in individual lives – is faith. “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29, KJV). “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23, KJV). “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17, KJV).

Bible Reading: Mark 6:1-5

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Remembering that Jesus Christ lives within me in all of His supernatural power, waiting to accomplish great and mighty things through me, I will trust and obey Him for a life that is characterized by the supernatural, and I will encourage others to do the same.

 

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; A.W.  – Mighty Intercessions

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The recent movie War Room is about Elizabeth, a real estate agent who discovers the power of prayer through one of her clients, Miss Clara. The young mother and wife, along with her husband and daughter, experience an unexpected turn for the better when they begin to focus on their prayer life. Many critics blasted the movie, some going as far as to call it “poppycock” and an “elongated infomercial for prayer.” Cinemablend.com said “nonbelievers will find it laughable” but had to admit it “struck a chord” with its evangelical audience.

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:16

Today’s verse might be one reason it resonated so well with believers. James instructed Christians the same way Miss Clara did – to confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. The reason Elizabeth’s family experienced a turnaround is also found in today’s verse: there is power in prayer. Whether non-Christians believe it or not, prayer works.

If you haven’t spent enough time in your own “war room” this holiday season, it’s not too late to start. Refocus on your prayer life now and into the coming New Year. The nation’s people and leaders need your mighty intercessions.

Recommended Reading: James 5:13-20

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Shadow of the Farmer

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“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'”—Mark 16:15

We have to go to where people are if we are going to reach them with the gospel message.

So often, it seems we are trying to “get away” from nonbelievers. We want to isolate when we ought to infiltrate. But that is your mission field:

  • The grumpy neighbor
  • That inquisitive coworker
  • Those unreceptive kids, and their mom and dad who don’t yet know Jesus.

It would do us well to remember it wasn’t all that long ago that we too were separated from God. I am just one beggar telling another beggar where to find food—not better than anyone, only better off.

God wants us to take this gospel to all people. He said, “Go into all the world . . .” They may be of a different age or race or economic background, but there is no room for bigotry, no room for prejudice, no room for bias in the life of the child of God. God may lead you to share your faith with someone you are not comfortable with.

Jesus told us the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few.

I went to visit a farm in Central California a few years ago. I learned all about growing fruit, pruning, packing, and of course sampling! Farmer David Jackson told us that his father always told him, “For the fruit to grow, the farmer’s shadow has to fall on the field.” In other words, the farmer needs to be in the field, tending and harvesting crops.

We must do the same. The Bible does not say that the whole world should go to church, but rather the church should go to the whole world. So that’s just what we are doing. On March 6, we’re broadcasting the gospel as far as we can reach through Harvest America. Will you let your “shadow fall on the field”? Will you host this event in your home, church, or small group? The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Become a fellow laborer. Become a host for Harvest America!

Night Light - James & Shirley Dobson

Night Light for Couples – Numbering of Our Days

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“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14

I (jcd) had invited fellow‐believer Pete Maravich to join me and a few others for a pick‐up basketball game the day before he was to appear on a Focus on the Family broadcast. It was an audacious thing to do. Though retired for nearly eight years, “Pistol Pete” had been one of the NBA’s all‐time best players. Nevertheless, he joined us, and we scrimmaged for about forty‐five minutes.

During our break, I asked Pete how he felt. He answered, “I feel just great.” Those were his last words. As I turned away, he fell hard on the court. He died seconds later in my arms, the victim of a congenital malformation of the heart that had never been diagnosed.

Moses wrote this prayer: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). That is a strange verse at first glance. What does knowing that life is short have to do with wisdom? Everything, in fact. If we retained an eternal perspective, we would surely order our choices by eternal values. Would a husband pursue an adulterous affair? Would a wife belittle her mate for his failings? Would both devote their lives to the pursuit of power and wealth? I think not.

Time is an embezzler, juggling the books at night when no one is looking. So remember to use each day for the Lord as though it could be your last. All too quickly, it will be.

Just between us…

  • Do we live each day as if it might be our last? Why or why not?
  • What does it mean to “live in light of eternity”?
  • How can I encourage you to live for things that really matter?

Father, each day of life is a gift, and we do not know when we will draw our last breath. May we live circumspectly, with eternity always in view. Amen.

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