Daily Archives: January 19, 2016

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Our Convictions—Our Defense

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Romans 14:20-23

A person of conviction has become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his or her beliefs are true. Today, most people would rather live by preferences than by convictions. They choose to believe something based on conditions and circumstances. When situations change, so does their loyalty. Many people vacillate on issues that require a firm resolve.

Contrast this wishy-washy approach with the mindset of the great men and women depicted in Scripture. Despite years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to godly principles. As a result, he was in the right place at the right time to ensure the survival of Israel (Gen. 50:20). Daniel, another righteous man living in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Dan. 1:19-20). When his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego also refused to compromise their beliefs, they influenced a king to recognize Jehovah as the one true God (Dan. 3:29).

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — You First!

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Read: Philippians 2:1-11

Bible in a Year: Genesis 46-48; Matthew 13:1-30

[Jesus] humbled himself. —Philippians 2:8

Tibetan-born Sherpa Nawang Gombu and American Jim Whittaker reached the top of Mount Everest on May 1, 1963. As they approached the peak, each considered the honor of being the first of the two to step to the summit. Whittaker motioned for Gombu to move ahead, but Gombu declined with a smile, saying, “You first, Big Jim!” Finally, they decided to step to the summit at the same time.

Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to demonstrate this kind of humility. He said, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4 nkjv). Selfishness and superiority can divide people, but humility unites us, since it is the quality of “being one in spirit and of one mind” (v. 2).

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – An Answered Prayer

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Just type the word “prayer” into an internet search engine as I did the other day and you’ll find almost a hundred million different articles, sites, books, and periodicals on the topic. Discussions about prayer are as ubiquitous as the praying football player in the end zone after a touchdown. Every major world religion has some form of prayer, and in some of the earliest words to the church Christians are exhorted to pray “without ceasing.”

And yet if we’re honest, prayer can be a frequent source of confusion and deep mystery. Confusion comes not only with questions concerning what to pray and how to pray, but also in questioning whether or not prayers make a difference or are being heard at all. Phillip Yancey’s book, which asks one such question in the title, attempts to address many of these questions about prayer. Why does God seem silent so much of the time to our prayers? Why does God seem to answer prayers affirmatively for some and not for others? And when all we seem to receive in response to our prayers is “no,” how are we to understand both prayer’s efficacy and the God who loves us?(1)

If these questions aren’t difficult enough, Jesus’s own bold statements about prayer make us all the more confused. The Gospel of Matthew seems to record some matter-of-fact statements about prayer. After all, Jesus proclaimed, “I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and the one who knocks, it shall be opened.” Likewise, Jesus promises that like our earthly fathers, God longs to give us what is good in response to the asking, seeking, and knocking of prayer.(2)

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Christ’s Gentle Example

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“Walk . . . with all . . . gentleness” (Ephesians 4:1-2).

Jesus is the greatest example of gentleness: He became angry when God the Father was dishonored, but not when He, the Son, was.

Jesus Christ is our supreme example of gentleness. Paul refers specifically to this in 2 Corinthians 10:1. Jesus Himself said, “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:29).

Jesus showed righteous indignation when it was proper. When He found the Temple filled with people selling exorbitantly priced sacrificial animals, He drove them out, pouring out their money and overturning tables (Matt. 21:12). He told them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den” (v. 13). Jesus later said to the scribes and Pharisees, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell?” (23:33). He did not stand idly by while the Temple was defiled. He spoke out in judgment against hypocrites who dishonored God.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – When You Want to Give Up Before You Start

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I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13, KJV

Have you ever had an idea that set your soul on fire? You were certain it was God calling you out to do something for Him and you were totally stoked. You immediately wrote down your idea, called your best friend, and announced it to your neighbors. But then a couple hours or days passed and the flame of enthusiasm you initially felt began to die, doused by the reality of what it would take: resources you didn’t have; courage you felt you lacked, and expertise you didn’t possess. So, because it looked impossible, you gave up before you started.

This common scenario reminds me of the book of Nehemiah in which Nehemiah describes how he rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem. His passion for this project was ignited when he asked one of his brothers, Hanani, about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile. His brother told him.

“Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire” (Nehemiah 1:3).

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Uniqueness and Unity

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From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:16

Recommended Reading

1 Corinthians 12:7-20

Adult humans have 206 bones, 640 muscles, 78 internal organs (12 organ systems), 900 ligaments, thousands of tendons, and 100 trillion cells. Humans also have four major appendages (arms, legs), each of which has five separate digits (fingers, toes). And they are all connected to form one human body. There is one body with a vast number of parts. All the parts are separate and unique, yet all are connected and unified.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Christ Is Our Confidence

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For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances. —Philippians 3:3

God is merciful toward us and wants to bless and prosper us. He sees our heart attitude and our faith in Jesus. When we have confidence in God and His love and kindness, we can progress to living confidently and enjoying the life He wants for us. Note that I said confidence in God, not in ourselves. Usually, people think of confidence as self-confidence, such as TV self-help gurus or athletes promote when urging us to “Believe in yourself!”

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Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Time Investment

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Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

Friend to Friend

Time management is a dreaded and often ignored spiritual discipline for many of us. We have forgotten that our minutes, hours, and days are precious commodities – gifts from God that can be unwrapped only once. Time is wasted unless it is invested in goals and priorities that are rooted in God’s plan.

A busy life is not necessarily a productive life. Oh, I can hear it now. “I am very busy, but I am busy doing good things.” Those words were the cry of my heart just before I crashed and burned and landed in a pit of clinical depression. The problem with my list of “good things” was that it was just that – my list – which was the wrong list for my life. The result was exhaustion, burnout, and disobedience.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – He Will Tell You

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“I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to” (Galatians 5:16).

Major conflicts in life are resolved when, by an act of the will, one surrenders to the control of the Holy Spirit and faces temptation in His power.

It should be explained that there is a difference between temptation and sin.

Temptation is the initial impression to do something contrary to God’s will. Such impressions come to all people, even as they did to the Lord, and they are not sin in themselves.

Temptation becomes sin when we meditate on the impression and develop a strong desire, which is often followed by the actual act of disobedience.

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – To Whom Shall We Go?

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Read: John 6:60-71

You do not want to leave too, do you? Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God. (John 6:67-69)

Here is the mark of the true believer: He cannot quit! When Jesus said to them, Will you go away also? it is clear that he would have let them go if they had wanted to. He does not hold anybody against his will. Responding to our Lord’s words, Peter says three wonderful things:

First, he says, in effect, Lord, we have been thinking about it. We have investigated the alternatives. You’re not easy to live with. You embarrass us. You frighten us. We don’t understand you at times. We see and hear you do things that simply blow our minds. You offend people who we think are important. We have looked at some alternatives, but I want to tell you this, Lord: we have never found anyone who can do what you can do. To whom shall we go? You have two things that hold us, two things we cannot deny, and the first is your words. What you say to us has met our deepest need, has delivered us from our sins and freed us from our fears. Your words, Lord, are the most remarkable words we have ever heard. They explain us and they explain life to us. They satisfy us. Nobody speaks like you do, nobody understands life like you do. That holds us.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Being with Jesus

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Read: Acts 4:1-13

He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him. (Mark 3:14)

The first practice for knowing Jesus is tucked innocently into the opening words about Jesus’ call of the Twelve: “He appointed twelve . . . so that they might be with him.” That was the main thing, the great secret of becoming an apostle, someone sent by Jesus to change the world. They had to be with him day in and day out, walking and talking, watching and listening, eating and sleeping for three years. They grew in their knowledge of Jesus simply by being with him.

As a result, the Twelve were able to continue Jesus’ mission even when he wasn’t with them anymore. No sooner had they begun to bear witness than they ran into the same trouble that killed Jesus. The Sanhedrin tried to silence Peter and John by throwing them in jail and subjecting them to the third degree.

Peter responded to their intimidation by boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, going so far as to claim that salvation is found in no one else than Jesus (Acts 4:10-12). The Jewish leaders were stunned by the courage of the apostles, especially because it was obvious that Peter and John were not highly educated men like the Sanhedrin (v. 13).

How could these “unschooled, ordinary men” give such bold and eloquent testimony in a hostile setting? The Jewish leaders reveal the secret in words that still challenge us: “they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Prayer:

Jesus, help us to believe that you are with us always. Amen.

https://woh.org/

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; G.C. – Extenders

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Are you thinking of next year’s tax bill yet? Strangely, some are – and with anticipation! They are recipients of “tax extender” provisions. It’s the federal package in which lawmakers offer tax breaks to a select few. The practice started with the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, which wrapped several tax breaks together in an effort to make reauthorization a simple process. It was meant to be a temporary measure, but like many government benefits, it has ballooned out of control.

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Proverbs 19:17

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Brings Good out of Sadness

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Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Will I trust God to bring good out of the sad time I’m going through?

One day, I brought home a bright red helium balloon. I was so proud of it! I could hardly wait to get it out of the car and begin playing with it. But no sooner had my feet touched the pavement of our driveway than it slipped out of my hand and went floating away toward the clouds. I was disappointed and angry. It wasn’t fair! I had lost my balloon before I even had a chance to play with it.

But my dad had an idea. “I’ll get my binoculars,” he said. “Let’s watch your balloon till it’s out of sight.” We stood out in the backyard, my dad and I, for a long time that evening. We passed the binoculars back and forth, tracking the red balloon’s flight into the sky. What fun we had! That evening that had begun so sadly ended up filled with laughter and joy. It was one of my favorite times spent with my father.

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Divine Appointments

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“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” —James 4:17

The will of God is not always easy to discern. I would like say that when I get up every morning, the Mission Impossible theme song plays in the background while I listen to a message that says, “Good morning, Mr. Laurie. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go to the gas station at 12:45 p.m. A man named Joe will be pumping gas. Your mission is to share Jesus Christ with him. This message will self-destruct in ten seconds.”

That has never happened to me. Here’s how it might happen instead. I get into my car and see that the fuel is low, so I decide to drive to the gas station. As I’m standing there at the pump, I start chitchatting with a guy who’s also pumping gas. One thing leads to another, and the next thing you know, this guy has accepted the Lord.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Humility Before God

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Today’s Scripture: Philippians 2:8

“He humbled himself.”

Humility toward God is akin to the fear of God: It begins with a high view of God’s person. As we see God in his majesty, awesomeness, and holiness, we are humbled before him. In every occasion in the Scriptures in which man was privileged to view God in his glory, he was brought low or humbled in his presence. Moses bowed to the ground and worshipped; Isaiah cried, “Woe is me!”; Ezekiel fell face down; John fell at his feet as though dead. Even the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders in heaven of Revelation fell down before the throne of the glorified lamb.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – His Yoke Is Easy

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Today’s Scripture: James 1-5

Read it online:  NIV  ESV  KJV  The Message

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. – John 8:32

Whenever I’m driving an automobile and I see a law enforcement officer, I slow down. It’s an automatic reaction. I may be going twenty miles per hour under the speed limit, but the sight of a cop always causes me to touch the brakes and make a quick mental inventory of any driving laws I might be breaking.

This is a strange reaction because I’m a very cautious driver. I haven’t had a traffic ticket in years. In fact, my kids call me the world’s greatest yielder. Nevertheless, the sight of a police car makes me nervous.

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  The Colson Fellows Program: Putting Your Worldview to Work

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Imagine having dozens of new friends come into your life this year—friends who are, like you, committed Christians. These friends have the capacity to change your life forever, and help you develop your own ministry, using your own vision and your own God-given gifts. Plus, they’re a lot of fun. Wouldn’t you gladly embrace new friends like these?

Well I think, folks, you’d be crazy not to. Because these new friends are the leaders and participants of the Colson Fellows Program, formerly known as the Centurions Program.

As a Colson Fellow in training, you’ll spend nine months reading the best books, participating in teleconferences with the best thinkers, and attending three residencies with the best teachers of Christian Worldview—people like Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family; Joni Eareckson Tada; Sean McDowell of Biola University, Nabeel Quereshi of the Ravi Zacharias Institute, and our own Colson Fellows National Director, Dr. Bill Brown, former president of Bryan College and Cedarville University. And yes, of course John Stonestreet and I will be speaking to you as well!

Chuck Colson founded this program, as he said, “to equip serious Christians to think seriously about all of life’s issues and to become change agents to strengthen the church and in turn the culture for generations to come.”

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – GADARENE DEMONIAC: DELIVERANCE FROM SHAME

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Read Mark 5:1-20

Some military veterans survive the horrors of war only to come home to find captivity. Some are hounded by memories of atrocities they’ve experienced; others feel adrift without purpose in daily life apart from the battlefield. Veterans say no one understands their struggles except others who have been there.

The demoniac in our passage had been held captive for years, tortured by invisible enemies who had infiltrated his body and his mind. Instead of standing by him, his family and friends identified him with the evil spirits tormenting him.

Even after the man was free from the demons’ control, he was still bound by the stigma of what they had done to him. His community expressed more concern over their economic loss than in the gain of their friend. Rather than thank his Rescuer, they tried to drive Him out.

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – WHY DONALD TRUMP HAS A ‘GREAT RELATIONSHIP’ WITH GOD

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Donald Trump told CNN last Sunday that he has a “great relationship” with God. He explained: “I like to be good. I don’t like to have to ask for forgiveness, and I am good. I don’t do a lot of things that are bad. I try to do nothing that’s bad.”

I’m reminded of Warren Buffett’s explanation when he signed over $30.7 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: “There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way.” Donald Trump and Warren Buffett are not alone; according to a recent survey, seventy-one percent of Americans think works play an essential role in salvation.

Hopefully you know better. Hopefully you know that you are saved only on the basis of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8–9), and that you can do nothing to deserve such love. But let me ask you: If you attended worship last Sunday, why did you go? If you spent time in prayer and Bible study today, why did you do so? Why did you open this Cultural Commentary? Is there an impulse, perhaps unstated and unconscious, compelling you to earn God’s favor by your actions?

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