Monthly Archives: May 2016

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Faith & Grace: Working Together

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For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God.—Ephesians 2:8

Let me give you an illustration of the way that faith and grace work together to bring us the blessings of God. In my meetings I often take along a large electric fan that I set up on the speaker’s platform. I call up a member of the audience and have her stand in front of the fan, telling her that I am going to cool her off. When the fan doesn’t run even though I turn it on, I ask the audience, “What’s wrong? Why is this fan not running?”

Of course, the audience sees right away what’s wrong: “It’s not plugged in!” they yell. “That’s right,” I say, “and that’s exactly what’s wrong many times when our prayers are not answered.” I explain that we get our eyes on faith (the fan), expecting it to do the work, but we fail to look beyond the fan to its source of power, which is the Lord.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – First Step to Wisdom

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“How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! Only fools refuse to be taught” (Proverbs 1:7).

In 1787, the Constitutional Convention was on the verge of total failure. The issue: whether small states should have the same representation as large states.

From the wisdom of his 81 years, Benjamin Franklin recalled the Scriptures which says, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1), and in this hopeless situation, he offered a suggestion.

“Gentlemen,” he said, “I have lived a long time and am convinced that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The Divine Wind

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Read: Acts 8:25-40

After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Go south to the road — the desert road — that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. Acts 8:25-26

An angel suddenly appeared to Philip. I’ve never had an angel appear to me. I do not know anyone else to whom an angel has appeared. You may ask, Does God still work through angels today? and the answer is a resounding Yes! He does. But they are not always visible. The ministry of angels, according to the Bible, goes on all the time. They are ministering spirits sent forth to serve those who are heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). All of us are being touched and affected by the ministry of angels, but we do not see them. There have been well-documented experiences and incidences of the appearance of angels recorded in church history. I believe that, as we draw nearer to the days of the return of Jesus Christ, we may well expect to see a return of angelic manifestation.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary

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Read: Matthew 1:18-25

“The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (v. 23)

As Christians we believe that Christ, who always was God, also became sinless man, by a unique miracle of the Holy Spirit. Matthew’s Gospel testifies to the virgin birth of Jesus as a striking fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us” (Matt. 1:23; see Isa. 7:14).

When “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14), when Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, our heavenly Father gave believers a gift to bring us joy! This wonderfully unique gift was something like a lesser gift once given to me and to my wife.

It was a lasting gift received many years ago, and yet, still as beneficial as when it was given. The giver of this gift was Betsy, a loving, smiling Christian believer and church member. Her gift was plain yet beautiful. My slippers were skillfully knit from tan, brown, and rust-colored yarn, my wife’s from a well-blended assortment of white and blue-colored yarn. The slippers not only kept our feet and ankles warm but also warmed our hearts whenever we remembered Betsy, the kindhearted giver of this gift.

What an incomparable gift, when God’s only Son was born for us!

Prayer:

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15)

Author: John Tousley

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.K. – First With You

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Bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote the following: “Calling on God supposes knowledge of him, faith in him, desire toward him, dependence on him, and, as evidence of the sincerity of all this, conscientious obedience to him.” None of this was happening at the time of the prophet Joel. He sounded the alarm. The impending devastation of the land by locusts, coming as merciless armies and leaving total destruction in their wake, caused Joel to appeal to Israel to “cry out to the Lord” and return to Him with all their hearts (Joel 1:14).

Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain!

Joel 2:1

If there was true repentance, the affliction promised might not come. The possibility of that should have encouraged them to repent. God would certainly forgive His people. For the Lord “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” (Joel 2:13)

The same is true today. Your gracious God looks for repentance from this nation – a people who, in great part, does not call upon the Lord nor desire or depend on Him. Let it be…in your life first. Then intercede for leaders and citizens alike to turn again to the God who guided the Founding Fathers to form a union with the freedoms enjoyed today.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 40:1-5, 13-17  Click to Read or Listen

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – Whom Does God Count Worthy?

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“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

How does one become “worthy” of God’s calling? Is your worth decided by whether or not you are part of a special group of really rich or smart or talented or good-looking people? Even if you were all those things, it does not seem like they would be important things in God’s eyes. What would make us worthy in His eyes? Whom does God count “worthy”?

To be “worthy” of anything to do with God sounds so much above us — and in a way it is! God is the One Who deserves all honor and glory. Without Him, we are nothing. Much like salvation and the way God continues to work in the lives of those He saves, becoming worthy is not something people ever deserve. Nobody is worthy of God’s calling, and it cannot be earned — just as we are not worthy of salvation. People are not worthy by themselves, and we cannot earn favor with God. No matter what you have done, if you are willing to trust and follow Christ, God counts you worthy to be saved from sin and to be given eternal life. It is not about you. It is about Christ. Because of His worthiness, God can count you worthy.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Diligence in Receiving God’s Word

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Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 4:1

“Be attentive, that you may gain insight.”

We need to approach the Scriptures with an attitude of mental discipline. We need both discipline and dependence in the pursuit of holiness, and the same is true in our study of the Scriptures.

There are many Bible study methods and approaches, but common to all of them is an attitude of dependent diligence that’s well expressed in Proverbs 2:1-5: “If you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” The thought of searching the Scriptures with the same intensity that one would search for hidden treasures suggests the value we should place on Scripture’s teaching. We see this value expressed also in Proverbs 7:2: “keep my teaching as the apple of your eye.”

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – When We Suffer

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Today’s Scripture: Job 1-3

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. – 1 Peter 5:10

Thousands of books have been written about human suffering. Most of them grapple with the problem of why good people suffer. Some try to find some meaning in our experience of pain. In their study of suffering, many authors find their way back to the book of Job.

The Bible describes Job as perfect and upright, a man who feared God and shunned evil. He was also well known and wealthy, a man who gave generously to the needs of the less fortunate. Yet neither his godly life nor his great wealth shielded him from the calamities of life.

Continue reading The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – When We Suffer →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word –GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

When Father Christmas finally breaks into Narnia in C. S. Lewis’s story, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, he gives Peter, Susan, and Lucy special gifts. Peter receives a sword and shield, Susan a bow and arrows and a horn, and Lucy a small dagger and a bottle filled with a healing cordial. These gifts have particular purposes that are revealed as the story continues.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts not for our personal enjoyment but for God’s particular purposes. Paul taught in today’s passage that the main purpose of spiritual gifts is to serve and edify the church (v. 7). Continuing important themes in this epistle, Paul addressed the question of order or propriety in worship as well as the issue of how to live in obedience to the gospel.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – A Correct View of Salvation

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Matthew 5:14-15

Every Sunday countless people all over the world sit in church buildings with a false sense of security. They assume that their morality, lifelong church membership, or baptism will earn them a place in heaven. While many of these folks have a sincere desire to please God, they are confused about what the Christian life is all about. They think in terms of doing rather than being. So they imitate the actions of good Christians: going to a weekly service, praying, reading the Bible, and trying to be decent people.

However, salvation is not the product of our good works. We come into the world with a corrupt nature, and our wrongdoing is born of a heart turned away from the Lord. Because we are all sinful people, we sin. It’s that simple. The good news is that in the salvation experience, we are given a brand-new nature (2 Cor. 5:17). Our sin is wiped away because Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to pay the penalty we owed. From the moment we trust in Him, the Holy Spirit dwells in our heart so we can live righteously.

The world values action, but God prioritizes relationship—specifically a right relationship with Him. People who scurry about flaunting religiosity are missing out on the deeply satisfying and joyous intimacy between a believer and the heavenly Father.

We can help correct others’ tragic misunderstanding by being ready to explain the reason for our hope. (See 1 Peter 3:15.) Knowing Christ is what matters. So speak of the personal relationship with Him that’s possible when a person admits his or her need and trusts in the Savior.

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 16-18

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — No Greater Joy

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Read: 3 John 1:1-8

Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 23:26-56

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. —3 John 1:4

Bob and Evon Potter were a fun-loving couple with three young sons when their life took a wonderful new direction. In 1956 they attended a Billy Graham Crusade in Oklahoma City and gave their lives to Christ. Before long, they wanted to reach out to others to share their faith and the truth about Christ, so they opened their home every Saturday night to high school and college students who had a desire to study the Bible. A friend invited me and I became a regular at the Potters’ house.

This was a serious Bible study that included lesson preparation and memorizing Scripture. Surrounded by an atmosphere of friendship, joy, and laughter, we challenged each other and the Lord changed our lives during those days.

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Imagining Elfland

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Whether compelling the visions of a child or inspiring music or architecture, the power of the imagination is often clear.

O hark, O hear! How thin and clear,

And thinner, clearer, farther going!

O sweet and far from cliff and scar

The horns of Elfland faintly blowing.(1)

But what of the mere presence of the imagination? “I do not think the resemblance between the Christian and the merely imaginative experience is accidental,” wrote Lewis. “I think that all things, in their way, reflect heavenly truth, the imagination not least.”(2) Certainly, this taste of a richer fare was sensed in the formative imaginations at which Lewis supped long before he knew he was starving for their Host. Writes Lewis:

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Trials’ Lessons: Contentment

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“Considering the reproach of Christ greaterriches than the treasures of Egypt . . .” (Hebrews 11:26).

Trials can show that material things are inadequate to meet our deepest needs.

We rely every day on material possessions—cars, computers, pagers, telephones, microwaves, radios, and TVs. These familiar conveniences make us feel as though it’s quite a hardship to cope without them. Therefore it’s difficult to avoid the pitfall Jesus warned about in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [riches].”

Materialism can exert such a powerful influence on us as believers that the Lord will sometimes subject us to trials just so He can remove us from the grip of the world’s devices and riches. Various trials and sufferings will almost invariably reveal how inadequate our possessions are to meet our deepest needs or provide genuine relief from the pains and stresses of life. And this realization ought to become more and more true of you as you grow in the Christian life. I have observed that mature believers, as time goes by, become less and less attached to the temporal items they’ve accumulated. Such stuff, along with life’s fleeting experiences, simply fades in importance as you draw closer to the Lord.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – How To Be Prosperous 

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A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

My friend Scott was one of most generous and prosperous people I have ever known—he freely gave his time, his wisdom, his prayers, his finances, his relationships and his hospitality. He was quick to take my calls, listen to my concerns, offer comfort and elevate my eyes of faith to the bigger picture of God at work. Not surprisingly, Scott was one of the most refreshing men I was ever around: full of energy and ready to engage life as the Lord’s ambassador of love. Over 1,000 of us attended Scott’s funeral—grieving, but refreshed by our friend’s boundless generosity. Following Jesus is often counter cultural and counter intuitive. To find your life is to lose your life. To be victorious is to surrender. To be successful is to submit. To bear fruit is to die. To suffer for Christ’s sake is a blessing. The way up is down—when you decrease, Christ increases. Prosperity—materially, relationally, emotionally, spiritually—comes from giving not getting. Being refreshed comes by refreshing others. See yourself as a gallon water pot brimming with cool liquid looking for a thirsty life, like a budding garden, is always in need of refreshment!

“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people” (Philemon 1:7).

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – What Spouses Should Expect

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[The union of husband and wife] is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:32

Recommended Reading

Ephesians 5:22-23

Counselors sometimes suggest that a sure way to avoid disappointment is to avoid expectations. Married couples are sometimes told if they expect nothing from a spouse, they will not be disappointed if they receive nothing.

Often, we confuse expectations with rights, especially in marriage—“It is my right to be loved and understood by my spouse.” Demanding rights can be problematic. But are expectations in marriage wrong? When we follow Paul’s lead, comparing marriage to Christ and His Church, it would seem not (Ephesians 5:22-33). Do we as the Bride of Christ have expectations of Christ? Yes, and He is always faithful. Does Christ have expectations of us, His Bride—expectations of love, loyalty, obedience, service, and more? Yes. And while we sometimes disappoint Him, expectations remain.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Pray at All Times

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Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty.… —Ephesians 6:18

In the verse for today, Paul is basically saying that we are to pray in every circumstance, following the Holy Spirit’s direction, using different types of prayer in different situations. But how do we “pray at all times,” as the Bible instructs? We do it by keeping an attitude of thanksgiving and total dependence upon God as we go about our everyday lives, turning our thoughts toward Him in the midst of doing all the things we have to do and listening for His voice in every situation.

I believe God really wants us to live a lifestyle of prayer and that He wants to help us stop thinking about prayer as an event and begin to see it as a way of life, as an internal activity that undergirds everything else we do. He wants us to talk to Him and listen to Him continually—to pray our way through every day with our hearts connected to His and our ears attuned to His voice.

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Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Family Matters

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Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Friend to Friend

I remember that night well. It was so many years ago, but it seems like yesterday. And what a crazy day it had been! Probably a day like many of yours.

I was a young mom with two small children. My husband was the youth pastor of a large church in town. I taught a weekly Bible study for senior high girls and directed a youth choir that practiced one night a week and sang for the early worship service every Sunday. We hosted a youth bible study in our home every Monday night … and, well, you get the idea. My schedule was almost to the point of ridiculous and I was exhausted most of the time. But this particular day had been crazier than most.

Both kids had a cold and were grumpy because they didn’t feel well. The house was a mess, the laundry was piled high, and I had a meeting at church that night. I was counting the minutes until my husband came walking through the front door. I needed rescuing.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Christ Lives in Me

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“I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

After many years of working with thousands of Christians, I am convinced that a person cannot enjoy the supernatural life – which is a believer’s heritage in Christ – apart from the proper balance between Bible study, prayer and sharing Christ with others out of the overflow of an obedient, Spirit-filled life.

We need to be able not only to experience this great adventure with Christ ourselves, but also to share this good news with others.

A word of caution and reminder is in order at this point. We become spiritual and experience power from God and become fruitful in our witness as a result offaithand faith alone.

Continue reading Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Christ Lives in Me →

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – What To Do?

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Read: Acts 2:38-41

Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

The Apostle Peter is answering this question, What shall we do? He acknowledges that there is something to be done. When you come to the place where you understand that Jesus is Lord, and that you are out of harmony with all his purposes and his life, then there is something to do. There are two things you need to do, Peter says, and then one thing God will do.

You need, first, to repent. Repent is a word that is greatly misunderstood. Most people think repentance means that you feel sorry, and you begin to cry and weep. That has nothing to do with repentance. You may feel sorry, and you may begin to weep and cry, but that is not necessary, and it does not mean that you have repented. Repent is a word which means to change your mind, to change your thinking. You have been thinking that everything was all right with you and all is well. You have been thinking that Jesus is nothing but a great teacher, or a great prophet, but that he is not the Son of God, and he is not the Lord of glory, the Lord of all the earth; well, think again. Repent — change your mind, get in tune with reality, line up with things the way they really are, is what Peter is saying. You have been kidding yourself, you have been deluded, you have been fooled; well, change your mind. Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God — repent and put him where he belongs in your life.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – What To Do? →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Hope Through Death

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Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Therefore encourage one another with these words. (v. 18)

My mother died when I was 7, and my sister died when I was 15. Of course I had a full range of emotions including anger and fear. But my faith and resolve have actually been solidified through times of loss. The verses referenced today were used by the pastor who officiated at my sister’s funeral. They have been marked in my Bible all these years, and often I have revisited them. I have been acquainted with death many other times, as my dad, other relatives, and friends passed away. Each loss has brought very painful times. Yet I believe there is no greater comfort for those still living on earth than to know where their loved one has gone.

Death cannot have the final say in the life of a believer; instead, it is a passage into a much greater life. When someone dies we grieve, but we do not have to “grieve as others do who have no hope” (v. 13). The great promise is that Jesus secured our salvation by his death and resurrection.

Despite the pain of loss when those I held close died, I want to communicate hope for those who go through similar situations. The stages of grief are normal and natural, and the Lord will draw near to all who call to him in times of loss. Yet we can also envision that wonderful scene of being caught up together with our loved ones in the arms of our Lord on the final day.

Prayer:

Eternal Life, thank you for your beautiful promises.

Author: Myrna Folkert

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