Daily Archives: August 8, 2016

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Praying for a Change

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James 5:16

Hanging above the door in our house, my mother’s favorite plaque constantly reminded us, “Prayer changes things.” From an early age, I witnessed this powerful truth through her example. She’d tell me about some difficulties she was facing and then have me pray about them with her. And later, she’d always be sure to give God the glory when sharing the awesome news that He had answered those prayers.

Indeed, this is our confidence: Anything we pray for that aligns with the Father’s plan will be granted. And the more time we spend with Him, the more we’ll come to understand His will and how to pray for it.

Remember, prayer doesn’t change God’s mind, but it does transform the believer’s heart. Some requests are granted immediately, simply because our Father is good and He loves to give His children gifts. Other requests may require time or certain divine preparations before they can be given. We, meanwhile, must simply persevere in prayer.

Whatever the Lord’s response or timing, we trust that He has only the very best in store for His children. That means we might not receive exactly what we’re asking for, but something even better. Such is God’s great pleasure, for He alone perfectly knows each heart’s desire and wishes to fulfill it.

Our most powerful tool for shaping the world and lives around us is always available. Prayer lets us witness God’s hand in any situation. And as we give attention, time, and perseverance to conversation with Him, we find there’s no limit to what He can achieve in people’s hearts and circumstances.

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 1-3

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Because I Love Him

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Read: Revelation 22:12–21 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 74–76; Romans 9:16–33

“Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20

The day before my husband was to return home from a business trip my son said, “Mom! I want Daddy to come home.” I asked him why, expecting him to say something about the presents his daddy usually brings back or that he missed playing ball with him. But with solemn seriousness he answered, “I want him to come back because I love him!”

His answer made me think about our Lord and His promise to come back. “I am coming soon,” Jesus says (Rev. 22:20). I long for His return, but why do I want Him to come back? Is it because I will be in His presence, away from sickness and death? Is it because I am tired of living in a difficult world? Or is it because when you’ve loved Him so much of your life, when He has shared your tears and your laughter, when He has been more real than anybody else, you want to be with Him forever?

“Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20

I’m glad my son misses his daddy when he’s away. It would be terrible if he didn’t care at all about his return or if he thought it would interfere with his plans. How do we feel about our Lord’s return? Let us long for that day passionately, and earnestly say, “Lord, come back! We love You.”

Lord, please come back soon!

Look forward eagerly for the Lord’s appearing.

INSIGHT:

Jesus tells us that He is soon to return and will bring with Him a reward for each believer who faithfully waits for Him. We are also told that those who have “washed their robes” have the right to partake of the tree of life. Does this mean that they are meriting a place in heaven through good works? Most certainly not. The New Testament clearly declares: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8–9).

 

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – The Pendulum and the Cross

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The average cell phone user would likely now claim that life without one would be more than inconvenient. Upon its invention, in more ways than one, we became untethered. There are entire generations that cannot remember getting tangled up in phone cords while trying to make dinner or reach for the passing toddler, while finishing that conversation with the loquacious neighbor. The thought of dashing home from work in order to make that important phone call now seems ridiculous. We make it on the way, sitting in traffic, driving to the next appointment, making a stop at the grocery store, or all three. For those who remember that phones used to have cords, it is with great appreciation that we are no longer operating with a five-foot radius. Yet, this is not to say that we don’t feel a tethering of a different sort. Owning a cell phone can foster the attitude that its owner is always available, always working, always obtainable. While there is no cord to which we are confined, the phone itself can seem the tether.

Ironically, these kinds of shifting dilemmas are not all that uncommon. Just as the pendulum swings in one direction offering some kind of correction, so we often find that the other side introduces a new set of problems or the same problem in a new form. Major and minor movements of history possess a similar, corrective rhythm, swinging from one extreme to another and finding trouble with both. The pendulum swings from one direction, often to an opposite error, or at best, to a new set of challenges.

Within and without the walls of religious institutions, people of faith, too, are continually responding to what we perceive needs correction. When the need to get away from dead, religious worship initiated certain shifts, it was an observation wisely discerned. But what this meant for many was unfortunately a shifting away from history, shared liturgies, and our own past—in many cases contributing to a different set of problems. While breaking away from the “religiosity” of history, many now find themselves tethered in a sense to all things contemporary and individual, unable to draw on the riches of the history from which we have isolated ourselves. While the intent may have been good, and in the case of the church, the shifts did separate us from certain problems within church history, it also seems to have separated us from all of history. As a result, many Christians now seem more divorced from history than ever, having swung so far in one direction that we can no longer see from whence we have come. Coupled with our culture’s general devaluing of anything that is “outdated,” the risk of seeing the church’s identity more in terms of today’s form than its enduring essence seems both high and hazardous.

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Proof of Greed’s Dangers

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“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang” (1 Timothy 6:10).

There’s no doubt that the sinful effects of loving money actually occur in some people.

It is hard to imagine a sin that has not been committed for the sake of greed. It can lead to self-indulgence, flaunting of possessions, lying, stealing, murder, distortion of justice, and abusing the poor.

Today we return to 1 Timothy 6:10 to note how the apostle Paul proves that loving money is indeed dangerous. He knew that some were actually “longing for it [money]” or reaching after it as far as they could figuratively stretch their arms and hands. That means such people would have been passionately pursuing money. Paul does not give any names, but it is reasonable to think he was referring to ones such as Demas, who was perhaps beginning to pursue worldly things even as Paul wrote this letter (see 2 Tim. 4:10).

Such people “wandered away from the faith” or departed from the body of Christian truth (see Jude 3). Like Demas, they were exposed to truth, but they eventually chose material goods and comforts in preference to God. Those apostates were in effect proving what we noted earlier this month: you can’t serve both God and money (Matt. 6:24).

Such lovers of the temporal and the material also “pierced themselves with many a pang.” The word “pierced” originally referred to running a skewer through an animal as it was placed on a spit. Those who love money more than God impale their own souls and end up experiencing much grief—a condemning conscience, an unfulfilled heart, and complete disillusionment with life (see Ps. 32:10).

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Remember to Ignite Your Gift From God 

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For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Sometimes at the inception of salvation the fire of God’s Spirit burns the brightest, but then life happens—faith loses its fuel—smothered, lacking hope’s oxygen. Bustling activities tend to push Christ to an “as needed role”—as a spiritual EMT. “Jesus, I’ll involve you in my life when I can’t control it.” Instead of enjoying a blazing bonfire of belief, a distracted Christian falls into a routine that doesn’t rock the boat of status quo, and forgets to stoke the fire of God’s gift, as it turns cool and stale within their soul. Luke warm is not an acceptable option to our Lord!

With his authority from God, and his affection for Timothy, Paul reminded his mentee to fan into flame God’s gift of evangelism—which laid dormant in his heart. Like a campfire’s smoldering embers, Timothy needed to take a stick of faith and stir Christ’s simmering coals in his being, so the gospel flame would erupt in a life engulfed for the Lord. Every Christian has received the Spirit of God, who bestows on every believer, unique gifts from God. The warm gray ashes of an ignored gift—must be replaced by the orange-hot flame of an unleashed gift.

“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:14-15).

Humility is a good attitude to employ when we focus on kindling into fire the gift God has given us. Whatever our gift: service, administration, teaching, giving, leading, encouraging, hospitality, wisdom or mercy—make sure to exercise it with dependence on Christ and in deference to others. The Spirit gives us the resolve, the love and the self-discipline to see us through the process of growing our gifts. As with sports, we—practice, practice, practice—until we feel comfortable and at our best. Ongoing improvement helps a gift reach its capacity.

Develop your gift’s potential by learning from other gifted individuals—so, remain a student of seasoned practitioners. Apprentice, ask questions—as you concurrently apply what you learn. When you fail—adjust, and keep moving forward by using your gifts for the good of the Body of Christ. Rest in your unique gifting from God and resist wishing you had another’s giftedness. Ask the Holy Spirit’s fire to ignite your gifts for God’s glory and to strengthen the church. An under utilized gift fades away, but an enflamed gift delights heaven and disgusts hell.

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me the discipline to grow to capacity the gifts You have given me.

Application: What gift do I need to regularly exercise and develop for God’s glory?

Related Readings: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:9-11

 

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Bridge Between God and Man

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For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

Recommended Reading

Job 9:32-35

Labor unions began forming in the United States in the middle of the nineteenth century. The demands of workers concerning wages and working conditions often brought them into conflict with employers. Those conflicts gave rise to the roles of arbitrators and mediators—third parties who helped settle labor-management disputes.

The role of mediators is not a modern one. Job lamented that there was no one to mediate between him and God (Job 9:32-35). But the absence of a divine mediator was solved with the coming of Jesus Christ, the “one Mediator between God and men.” The presence of a mediator implies a conflict between two parties. In the case of God and mankind, the problem was sin manifested in rebellion and disobedience; we were the “enemies” of God as a result (Romans 5:10). But God reached out and “reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ” our Mediator (2 Corinthians 5:18). Christ was the bridge between God and man.

If you have not taken advantage of Christ’s mediation, you should today. Be reconciled to God by accepting the agreed-upon settlement of salvation by grace through faith.

The saved are singled out not by their own merits, but by the grace of the Mediator.

Martin Luther

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 15 – 17

 

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Keep Alert

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Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are those servants whom the master finds awake and alert and watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself and have them recline at table and will come and serve them! – Luke 12:37

In Ephesians 6:10 God’s word teaches, Be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. We are to put on God’s armor so we won’t be deceived by the devil. Verse 16 says, Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

In verse 18 we are also told to pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people) (emphasis mine).

From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – You Are Reflection of God’s Glory?

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Today’s Truth

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

Friend to Friend

My friends Gwen, Lisa, and Bill joined Steve and I for a shrimp boil at my home. We spread out the steamed shrimp and then made a glorious mess as we shucked and ate one tasty morsel after another.

After dinner, Gwen and I challenged Bill and Lisa to a paddleboat race across the lake. “Oh, we’ll cream you guys,” Bill boasted as he and his paddling partner accepted the challenge. He puffed up, knowing that victory was eminent. He was pumped.

I pointed Bill to one of our two vessels. “Here, you take this one.”

“Fine with me,” he said, self-assured.

My husband, with a knowing smile, signaled for the race to begin. Off we went. Bill and Lisa paddled furiously and pulled out ahead. While Bill had his eye on the finish line across the lake, I turned around in my seat and lowered our secret weapon. Unbeknownst to Bill, our boat had a silent, hidden, battery-powered bass motor. I dropped the motor, flipped the switch, and in no time we passed our competitors and left them in our tiny wake. While Bill and Lisa paddled frantically like milkmaids churning butter, Gwen and I sliced through the water like a hot knife through cream.

Bill was confused. We were tickled.

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – You Are Reflection of God’s Glory? →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Trusting Means Safety

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“Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety” (Proverbs 29:25).

One of the delegates attending a lay institute for evangelism protested that he was not going to go out into the community to share his faith, something he had never done before. I assured him that he was not required to go; it was simply an optional assignment. But I explained that if he would go along and observe a more mature witnessing Christian, he would learn something and would feel greater freedom in the future to witness on his own. Again he expressed his fear, but he did go, and God marvelously used him and his witnessing partner to introduce two people to Christ. He came home absolutely radiant, joyful, overflowing with thanksgiving and praise to God. He came to me immediately to say, “I am so glad that I went. I would have missed one of the greatest blessings of my life had I not gone. Thank you so much for encouraging me to go.”

The number one barrier to witnessing in the Christian life is the fear of man. Think of the contradiction. It never occurs to the average Christian that not to witness is to disobey God, and the consequences can be devastating to his spiritual life. Therefore the average Christian risks offending God for the fear of offending man.

It is interesting that there are 365 “fear nots” in the Bible – one for every day of the year. And yet there is one fear in particular that thwarts effective witnessing for Christ more than any other – the fear of man.

It would not be a distorted picture to envision thousands – and even millions – of believers caught in that dangerous trap referred to by the psalmist. And what a deadly snare! Martin Luther, years ago, found a solution to this deadly enemy:

Continue reading Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Trusting Means Safety →

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Boasting in God

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Read: Jeremiah 9:1-26

This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

What a revelation of the greatness of God! Far beyond the greatness of men, a God of wisdom and knowledge and power is at work. The prophet’s heart was directed to think of that. Man’s wisdom is not enough. Let not the wise boast of their wisdom… Why not? Well, because man’s wisdom is always partial wisdom. It never sees the whole story, never is it wide enough to take in all the factors involved. It is tunnel vision, narrow and limited. And that is why we are always thinking we have arrived at solutions to problems only to find in a few years that the solution has only made the problem worse. Pollution is a case in point, is it not? Warfare, and all the other great problems that confront us today. Man’s wisdom is not enough. It is limited.

No, you cannot trust in the wisdom of man, can you? Nor in the might of man — …let not the strong boast of their strength… Why not? Here is a man with great power and authority, a great force at his command to do what he wants — a dictator, a tyrant. Why does he not have the right to boast? Because his force is directed only at material things. It has no power to oppose an idea or a moral value.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Boasting in God →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – God’s Call Provides Strength

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Read: Ephesians 3:14-21

That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through

his Spirit in your inner being. (v. 16)

I was exhausted after the first day of work building a house for a Mexican family. Paint covered my clothes and every inch of my body felt dirty. My back ached and my neck was stiff. I wanted nothing more than a warm shower, a quick meal, and a good night’s sleep.

As we drove away, I was surprised to see the family for whom we were building a house remain on the home site. The father sat on the ground guarding the building materials. The mother held her one-year-old son, and the three-year-old girl sat on the steps of the framed house, waving good-bye to us with a big smile, eyes beaming. The family was so excited to have a home, they were ready to move in despite not having finished walls, a roof, or furniture.

Suddenly, I didn’t feel so tired. Not only did I feel a new sense of commitment towards the task, I felt reenergized by God’s Spirit. God filled my heart with love and compassion for this family.

Answering God’s call can be tiring. When we feel our strength waning and our commitment wavering let’s put our eyes on Jesus and those he loves. Doing so will provide us with renewed strength.

Prayer:

Lord God, strengthen me when I am weak by helping me see the purpose of your call. May I always keep my eyes on you, Lord.

Author: Rob Donoho

 

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Coming Back to Life

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Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name. —Psalm 80:18

America needs an awakening, but the church needs a revival. We often use the words revival and awakening interchangeably, but there is a distinction. An awakening is when a nation comes alive spiritually, sees its need for God, and turns to Him. A revival is when God’s people come back to life again.

Revival simply means to bring back to life, to restore. To be revived is to wake up from a state of sleep. As C. S. Lewis pointed out, “A moderately bad man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right. . . . You understand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeping.” In other words, if you think you are a great person with no problems, then you are really more asleep than you realize.

Revival is coming back. It is waking up. Revival is getting back to the Christian life as it was meant to be lived. Revival is being in the bloom of first love for a lifetime, walking closely with the Lord. You can’t always have those initial emotions you had as a new believer any more than you can have the same butterflies in your stomach you had when you first met your husband or wife to be. That is unrealistic. But your love can grow deeper. Your love can grow stronger.

That is how we ought to be as followers of Jesus. We need the faith of the Christians of the first century, the faith that turned the world upside down. Revival is nothing more or less than a new obedience to God. Then it is, to quote Nietzsche, a “long obedience in the same direction.”

Only God can send an awakening to America. But revival can happen right here, right now.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Never Changes

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“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)

Cabinet doors were slamming; angry looks were given; Dan was snapping commands to everyone, and now his entire family was in a bad mood. All of them were wondering what they had done to cause Dan to be so rude. What happened? Normally Dan was a nice kid, always helping his family and never saying unkind words. But today it seemed like no one could do anything right, and he acted as though everything and everyone was against him. Did someone say something mean to him? Did he have a bad day at school? Why was he so upset and mad?

Sometimes we let people and events affect our moods and attitudes. If we are sick, if someone is mean to us, if we have lost a soccer game, or if we perform badly in a recital, we let it show through our attitudes and actions. For example, when someone is not feeling well, he might be tempted to “take it out on” everyone around him. Many people are affected by the moods, attitudes, and actions of one.

Have you ever noticed that your moods affects others? Whether you are in a bad mood or a good mood, people around you are affected. If you walk into a room, smile, and greet a person with a pleasant hello, he will probably smile and respond with an equal amount of cheerfulness. But if you come in and scowl at a person, you will probably cause him to frown and look away to avoid your glance. When you are in a bad mood, You might allow your attitude, actions, or even the tone of your voice to change. You let the way you feel cause you to treat others badly.

We are all human, and our moods change. Some people are even more like that than others; we call them “moody” because their moods swing back and forth all the time. But do you know Who never changes? God! God never changes – He is always the same. It doesn’t matter what is going on in the world or what you do – God still loves and cares for His children. Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t change His mind about loving you when you do something wrong?

Let’s list some ways that God does not change:

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – God Never Changes →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Being Like Him

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 8:29

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”

The Spirit’s work within us is as much a gift of God’s grace as is our justification and adoption as sons. But whereas justification and adoption are instantaneous and complete at once, our growth in Christ-likeness is a lifelong process. Therefore, we should never look solely to our love and obedience for our assurance of salvation. At most they can demonstrate our salvation, never prove it. Ultimately our assurance must rest on the Gospel and on the promises of God.

Meanwhile, we can grow in realizing how those promises point to both a glorious present and an even more glorious future. John spoke of our glorious present when he wrote, “Beloved, we are God’s children now” (1 John 3:2). In the same verse he went on to speak of our even more glorious future: “We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” Likeness to Christ is God’s ultimate purpose for us and the hope we look forward to.

What does it mean to be like Jesus?

First, it means to be like him in spirit, in our true inner being. This is a process that begins at conversion and will reach its ultimate fulfillment when we enter the Lord’s presence at death. Paul calls this process transformation. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). God has predestined us to be conformed to the likeness or image of his Son, and he’s now at work in us through his Spirit to bring that to pass.

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Ritual or Reverence?

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Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 1-4

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” – John 4:23

There is an old story about two families in the mountains of Kentucky who had been feuding for years. When a young man was asked why he was fighting the other family, he had no idea. It’s what his family had always done.

That was exactly the situation in Isaiah’s time. When the Lord spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah, it wasn’t good news, because judgment was on the way. The reason? They were going through various rituals and religious activities, but they had forsaken the Lord, spurned the Holy One of Israel, and turned their backs on Him.

Oh, they were bringing offerings, but they were meaningless. They celebrated various convocations–feasts of the new moon and special Sabbaths–but God said, “They have become a burden to me.” Isaiah 1:15 records these words of the Lord: “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.”

They had kept the form but lost the meaning. And the problem is still with us today.

A close pastor friend of mine spent twenty years in Christian work, but all the time he was drifting away from the Lord. He doubled the membership, tripled the budget, and built a 100,000-square-foot building. But today he weeps and says that not one person came to faith in Jesus Christ during that time. He had kept the form but lost the meaning.

Christian, do you read the Bible merely to satisfy a habit? How do you approach your time of worship at church? Take a moment and reflect on Isaiah’s words. God longs to restore the meaning to your walk of daily discipleship.

Prayer

Lord, I want to be the kind of worshiper You seek. Show me how to worship You in truth. Amen.

To Ponder

In our worship of God, what pleases Him most?

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  Ominous Signs for Turkish Christians: Post-Coup Targets

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For nearly the last hundred years, Turkey, straddling Europe and Asia, has walked a precipitous path. Turning its back on the brutal Ottoman Empire of its past, the nation of 80 million people had attempted to combine its dominant Muslim culture with a more Western-oriented secularism—allowing a measure of political and religious freedom not common in most other Muslim-majority states.

Well, it seems as if Turkey is now on its way to falling into an intolerant form of Islam—if it hasn’t already. How do I know this? By listening to the country’s beleaguered Christian minority, which has dwindled from 22 percent of the population to a microscopic 0.2 percent just over the last century.

You probably know that Turkey, a key NATO ally that is 98 percent Muslim today, has deep Christian roots. The Book of Acts tells us that the followers of Jesus in Antioch, Antakya today, were the first to be called Christians. Revelation’s Seven Churches of Asia were in what is now Turkey. The first seven Ecumenical Councils in church history were held there. The magnificent Hagia Sophia in Constantinople—today, Istanbul—was one of the crown jewels of Christendom, until the city fell to the Ottomans in 1453. For the past 85 years, the Hagia Sophia, under secular rule, has been a museum, a cultural artifact of a proud Christian past. However, Muslim prayers are again being heard from within its walls.

There are other sounds in Turkey, too—the sounds of glass shattering, of fires burning, of shots fired, of people screaming. You likely heard of the failed coup by the military against the Islamist-leaning government of President Recep Erdogan. The government has rounded up or jailed more than 15,000 people suspected of participating in the coup. Scores are definitely being settled.

All of that is bad enough, but we are seeing something else in Turkey common in Muslim-dominant cultures when chaos breaks out: Christians become convenient targets. London’s Express newspaper reports that hardline Sunni Muslims, whipped into a frenzy by imams calling on them to take to the streets, targeted a small, Protestant church in a shopfront in Matalya. Shouting “Allahu Akbar,” the mob smashed the church’s windows, although no one was hurt.

“The attack on the church was light,” the pastor told the Express. “But it’s significant that it was the only shopfront attack in those three days. We were the only targets.” In one Black Sea city another group smashed the windows of the Santa Maria Church, breaking down its door with hammers. And the Turkish government has confiscated churches in the city of Diyarbakir.

Continue reading BreakPoint –  Ominous Signs for Turkish Christians: Post-Coup Targets →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE TRINITY AND THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

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Read JOHN 3:22–36

Election season is full of self-promotion. Candidates running for political office trumpet their positions and qualifications in order to persuade voters to support them. Their campaigns often also attack their rivals, both directly and indirectly. Humanly speaking, such strategies are in fact normal. People often seek competitive advantage at the expense of others.

John the Baptist’s actions in today’s passage run counter to this typical human behavior. Jesus had begun His public ministry and gathered some disciples. What did John think about that? He reminded his listeners that he had always said a greater One was coming (v. 28). In his metaphor, God’s kingdom is a wedding, he is the best man, and Christ is the bridegroom (v. 29). The bottom line: “He must become greater; I must become less” (v. 30).

Jesus was the Son of God. He had come from heaven and had spoken with divine authority the very words of God. The Father loved Him and had delegated all authority to Him. Belief in Him is the gateway to eternal life. Significantly, the Father had given Jesus “the Spirit without limit” (v. 34). This reflects the essential unity of the Godhead—all three Persons are of one mind, equal in attributes, and speak and act as God (vv. 31–36).

John knew that his ministry mandate came from the Father, but unlike the ministry of the Son, his work was limited in scope and duration. To believe in the Father is to believe in the Son. The Father loved the Son, sent Him with the Spirit, and gave Him all authority. His wrath awaits whoever does not believe this, because not believing it is the same as calling God a liar (vv. 33, 36). God’s wrath is aimed at sin and evil—He sent His Son to provide another way.

APPLY THE WORD

Do you believe in Jesus? Have you trusted in the Son for salvation? Have you rejoiced in the Father’s plan of redemption and been sealed in the Spirit (see Eph. 1:13–14)? The three Persons of the Trinity loved you enough to make a way for you to escape God’s wrath and spend eternity with Him. Will you accept this invitation and trust in Him today?

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – GABBY DOUGLAS, OTHER OLYMPIANS PUT GOD BEFORE GOLD

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As of this morning, six US athletes have won gold medals at the Rio Olympics. Two won for individual events; four won in a swimming relay. They will be called Olympic champions for the rest of their lives. This is appropriate, since they have dedicated their lives to the success they achieved.

So far, the US women’s gymnastics team is in first place as well. A typical athlete competing on this team began her gymnastics training when she was two or three years old and had a coach by the age of five. She devoted between twenty and thirty hours a week to the sport as a child and has been focused on this year’s Olympics since the last Olympics ended.

It’s hard for the rest of us to imagine the sacrifices needed to become an Olympic athlete. There are 554 Americans competing in Rio, comprising 0.00017 percent of the US population. To win Olympic gold would be the highest goal most athletes could aspire to achieve.

And yet there are some in Rio who know better. Christianity Today profiles twenty-four athletes competing at the 2016 Olympics who believe there’s a greater reward in life than Olympic fame.

Gabby Douglas may be America’s best-known female Olympian. Winner of the gold medal in the 2012 all-around gymnastics competition, she explains how her faith relates to her athletic career: “I always pray at every competition, when the judge’s hand goes up I am praying, and there are little Scriptures I like to quote.” She cites Philippians 4:13 among others.

Continue reading Denison Forum – GABBY DOUGLAS, OTHER OLYMPIANS PUT GOD BEFORE GOLD →