Category Archives: Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Third Conversion

June 18, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

As you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in this grace also. —2 Corinthians 8:7

The story is told of Sam Houston, hero of Texas history, who gave his life to the Lord in the later years of life and asked to be baptized. He was taken down to a little country stream, and the pastor said, “General Houston, you should take your glasses off because I am going to immerse you in water.” There also were some papers in General Houston’s pocket, so he took those out as well.

Then, just as he was getting ready to go into the water, the pastor noticed that General Houston still had his wallet in his pants. He said, “Well, General, you might want to take that wallet out of your pants. It is going to get wet.”

Houston responded, “If there is any part of me that needs baptizing, it is my wallet.” So Houston was baptized, wallet and all.

Maybe some of us need our wallet or checkbook or credit cards baptized. As Martin Luther said, “There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind, and the purse.”

Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. . . . For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

You might say, “Well, if I had a million dollars, then I would give more to the Lord.” But that isn’t necessarily true. Maybe you feel that you can’t afford to give. But in reality, you can’t afford not to. I don’t know of a single person who has ever managed to outgive God.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Not All There Is

June 17, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. —James 1:12

Not long ago, I had a conversation with two people after church.

One was in a wheelchair with a severe disability, and the other was speaking at length. I listened to her for a while, and then I turned to the woman in the wheelchair and said, “Well, how are you doing?”

“I am doing fine,” she told me.

But then her friend said that she actually had just had two brain surgeries to remove cancer, and they were successful.

I looked at this young woman with her disability, someone who had just come through such a difficult time, and I thought, And where is she now? She is at church.

I think of all of the excuses people come up with as to why they can’t make it to church. They have a cold, or it takes too long to get into the parking lot, and so forth. Yet here was this young woman who, despite her severe disability and recent surgeries, was at church, praising God and saying she is doing fine. I was touched by her example.

So I said to her, “You know, the Bible promises a special blessing and crown to those who have suffered in this life. I admire your faith. You are an inspiration to me.”

James 1:12 says, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (NLT). It all will be made up to us in the life to come. Have you lost something to follow Jesus? Whatever losses you may have incurred for following Christ will be more than made up to you.

Make no mistake about it: Our life on earth isn’t all there is. There will be rewards for our faithfulness to God.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Through the Fire

June 16, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. —Job 23:10

God specializes in putting us in situations where only He can delivers us. That way, we can’t “thank our lucky stars” or compliment ourselves on our own cleverness or resourcefulness. Rather, we must say, “Only God could have done this.” The Lord wants to receive the glory for what He does. And He clearly says in Scripture that He will not give His glory to another (see Isaiah 42:8).

It reminds us of a man who knew something about suffering, whose very name, in fact, is synonymous with the word. I am speaking, of course, of Job. Here was a man who lost his children, his home, and everything he owned, including his health.

Job had a lot of questions, the same questions that many of us have. He said, “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me” (Job 23:3-5).

Job honestly admitted what he was struggling with. Then he added what would become a classic statement of faith: “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Job was saying, “I don’t know what’s is going on. I don’t know why God has allowed these things to happen. But I know this: when I am tested, I will come forth as gold.” That was God’s objective for Job. And it’s His objective for you, too.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – God’s Specialty

June 14, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. —Isaiah 64:4

I know it is hard to imagine sometimes what God is up to in your life. You see a blank canvas, but God sees a finished painting. You see a piece of coal, but God sees a refined diamond. You see an untalented person, but God sees a mighty man or woman of God.

This is also true of those we see in Scripture. We see an impetuous, impulsive Simon, but God sees a strong, decisive apostle named Peter. We see a conniving, manipulative Jacob, but God sees a godly, trusting man named Israel. We see a young, naïve Joseph, but the Lord sees a brilliant, wise world leader. And when it was all said and done, Joseph was able to look back and say to his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). He recognized that God used the things that happened to him to mold him into a compassionate, forgiving leader of many. He was clay in the Potter’s hand. He trusted in the Lord.

God specializes in making something out of nothing. I wonder what He is doing with you right now? You are a work in progress, and He isn’t finished yet. If you are still alive and reading this, God has more work to do in your life! Most artists usually don’t like someone looking over their shoulders, trying to second-guess what they’re about to do. “Wait until I am done,” they will say, “and then you will see.”

So trust in the Lord during those times when it is hard to see what He is doing. Don’t allow the hardships you face to make you a bitter person. It’s time to let go of that. Rather, allow them to make you a better person.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – The Generosity Principle

June 13, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. —Proverbs 11:25

An infamous pirate named Juan Carlos was known for his theft and was rumored to have buried treasure hidden somewhere. A man approached Juan Carlos one day in Mexico, pushed him to the ground, and said, “Tell me where all your money is buried, or I will kill you right here on the spot!”

Juan Carlos didn’t speak a word of English and needed an interpreter, so he saw a boy nearby and called him over. The boy relayed the man’s message to Juan Carlos, and fearing for his life, Juan Carlos said to the boy, “Tell this man I don’t want to die. Tell him the money is located 30 paces north of the city water tower, under a large rock.”

The boy turned to the man and replied, “Juan Carlos says he is an honorable man and that he will never tell you where the money is. Juan Carlos says kill him now.”

There are some people who, once they have something, don’t ever want to let it go. But the Bible tells us that as we give, God will give to us. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, we read, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (NLT).

This goes along with the principle Jesus gave us: “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38, NLT).

As God blesses you, you can bless others.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Crabs in a Pail

June 12, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. —Matthew 23:12

A fisherman who caught crabs would keep them in a bucket without a lid. Someone noticed this and asked him, “Don’t you have to keep a lid on that bucket?”

He said, “No, they never get out.”

“Why? Because they can’t get out?”

“No,” he said. “When one crab tries to go over the side, the others reach up and pull him back down again.”

That is just like human beings as well. As one person begins to climb, others are thinking, How dare you succeed? How dare you do better than me? How dare you get that promotion? How dare you get that attention? How dare you do well when I’m not doing just as well? You get back down here with me!

It has been said that envy shoots at another and wounds itself. This is so true. Envy can eat us up inside. We need to recognize it as sin and repent of it. We may try and rationalize our jealousy, but we need to realize it is wrong and ask God to forgive us. God wants us to put the needs of others above our own, love one another, and care for one another. This is so very important.

Instead of worrying about what other people have, let’s be thankful we are even drawing breath in our lungs. It is a gift from God. And if God lifts you to an exalted position, then that is His grace. If He lifts up someone else, that also is His grace. None of us deserve it; it is all the grace of God. Just be faithful to what God has called you to do.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – It’s at the Door

June 11, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. —Genesis 4:7

Years ago, my son Christopher was lying out in the sun at our house when he woke up to find a huge gopher snake, coiled up and hissing at him, poised to strike. It must have been six or seven feet long. Terrified, he ran into the house and shut the door behind him.

That is a picture of how sin can be: ready to strike. It is at the door — for all of us. It is potentially there at all times, and for some of us, it has already slithered across the threshold.

When Cain saw that the Lord accepted Abel’s offering, but not his, he was angry. So God gave him a warning. He essentially told Cain what was going to happen to him if he didn’t get himself under control: “Sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). Another way to translate it would be, “Sin is crouching at the door like a beast.” What a vivid picture that is of sin crouching, ready to pounce like a wild animal.

So the next time sin comes knocking at your door, you might say, “Lord, would You mind getting that? I’m going to stand in Your strength. I’m going to trust in You. You are the only one who can give me the strength to overpower sin.” If we will master sin, then we must first be mastered by Him who mastered it.

Tragically, Cain did not allow himself to be mastered by God but instead became enslaved by the Devil.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Receiving from Giving

June 10, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. —Proverbs 11:24

A mother who wanted to teach her daughter the joy of giving gave her both a quarter and a dollar to take to church one Sunday morning. She told her daughter that she could put in either one; the choice was hers. As they were leaving church, the mother asked her daughter what she ended up giving to the Lord.

The little girl replied, “I was going to give the dollar, but just before the offering, the man in the pulpit said we should be cheerful givers. I knew I would be a lot more cheerful if I just gave the quarter.”

That is how a lot of us are. We think, I am not cheerful about giving, so I suppose I had better keep it for myself. But we need to understand that God wants to change our hearts. We need to discover the joy of giving. And if we haven’t yet discovered it, then we need to ask God to change our hearts because giving is a blessing. We can experience joy in it.

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). It is hard for children to wrap their minds around that truth. But as we get older, and especially if we become parents, we discover the joy of giving. We actually find more pleasure in giving than in receiving. The word Jesus used for blessed is a word that could be translated “happy”. In other words, the Bible is saying that if you want to be a happy person, then be a generous person. If you want to be a happy person, then be a giving person.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Sow a Thought . . . Reap a Destiny

June 9, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. —Psalm 17:4

When the Devil wanted to lead the first man and woman into sin, he started by attacking their minds. And he still uses that tactic to this day.

Paul warned of this when he said, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The Devil attacks our minds because our brain, our thoughts, our imagination—these are command central. With the mind you can reach into the past through memories, and you can reach into the future through imagination. The Devil knows that if he can get us to think about something, to contemplate it, to consider it, then he is halfway there.

The Bible tells us, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

It has been said, “Sow a thought; reap an act. Sow an act; reap a character. Sow a character; reap a destiny.” It starts with a thought, but it can lead to a destiny. The Devil knows that if he can get us to think about something, to consider something, then he almost has us.

Eve’s mind certainly wasn’t filled with the things of God when the Devil approached her. Had it been, she could have effectively resisted his temptations. When we have the Word of God hidden in our hearts, it will give us an important resource that we can call upon to effectively resist temptation.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – God’s Masterpiece

June 7, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” —Genesis 1:26

A little girl climbed up on the lap of her great-grandmother and studied her white hair and wrinkles. She said, “Grandma, did God make you?”

Her grandmother said, “Yes, honey, He sure did.”

The little girl looked at her for a moment and said, “Did God make me, too?”

“Yes, He sure did. He made you, too.”

Then the little girl said, “Don’t you think He is doing a better job now than He used to?” As David wrote in Psalm 139, the human body, created by God, is a masterpiece of exquisite design. He said, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (verse 14). The human body is incredibly engineered, governed by several hundred systems of control, each interacting with and affecting the other.

For example, the brain has ten billion nerve cells to record what we see and hear. Our skin has more than two million tiny sweat glands, about three thousand per square inch, all part of an intricate system that keeps our body at an even temperature. God has put this pump in our chest, known as a heart, that makes our blood travel 168 million miles per day, equivalent to going around the world 6,725 times. The lining of our stomach contains thirty-five million glands secreting juices, which aid the process of digestion.

These are just a few of the involved processes and chemical wonders that God has built into our bodies to sustain human life. There is nothing like a man or woman made in the image of God. We aren’t highly evolved forms of animal life; we are clearly made in the image of God Himself and stand apart from the rest of creation.

The most wondrous fact of all, however, is this: our Creator and Designer desires a relationship with each one of us — and sent His own Son to earth to die for us and pay our penalty in order to make that possible.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Thinking of You

June 6, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? —Psalm 8:3–4

One night, probably when David was watching over his sheep, he looked up at the incredible stars and made this statement: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

It’s incredible to think that the Creator of the universe, the Almighty God who knows every star by name, would care about us. And not only does He care about humanity as a whole, but He also cares about us as individuals. Not only does He care about us as individuals, but He also knows about every detail of our lives. God even knows the very thoughts that we think. Jesus said, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8).

Psalm 40:5 tells us, “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Psalm 115:12 says, “The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us.”

So even when family and friends have forgotten about you, know this: the Lord is thinking about you. The Lord cares about you and takes an interest in even the smallest details of your life. They might seem trivial to someone else — but not to God. If it concerns you, then it concerns Him.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – A Great Reunion

June 5, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. —Hebrews 11:25

A Christian father who was terminally ill called his three sons to his bedside. To his two sons who were believers, he said, “Good-bye, my sons. I will see you in the morning.” Turning to his third son, he simply and sadly said, “Good-bye, my son.”

The young man was deeply disturbed. He said, “Father, why is it you said to my brothers,

‘I will see you in the morning,’ and you only said to me, ‘Good-bye, my son’? Why didn’t you say you would see me in the morning, too?”

His father replied, “Son, you have never asked Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Savior and Lord. And that is what breaks my heart the most. I will never see you again.” That son began to ask his father how he could be saved, how he could see his father again. His father told him how. And so he prayed and received Christ into his life. Then his father said, “Now our family will be together in eternity.”

That can happen for everyone who has put their faith in Christ. It will be a great reunion one day in the future. But what does the unbeliever have to look forward to? Judgment after death and a miserable, empty life on earth. There might be some fun in sin — for a while. But payday comes. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

If you do not commit your life to Christ, ultimately you will look back on your life and realize that you wasted it. But don’t wait until the end of your life to figure that out. Figure it out now.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Make it Count

June 4, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. —1 Corinthians 10:31

I remember when, as a young Christian, I would sit in the pews at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa and listen to Senior Pastor Chuck Smith speak. I would think to myself, I wonder if God would ever use me? I wonder if the Lord would ever speak through me? Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that God would allow me to be a pastor and someone who has the privilege of proclaiming the gospel. It was beyond my own dreams, beyond my own aspirations, even.

If you are planning your future right now, if you are thinking about what course you want to follow in life, ask God for His direction. Say, “Lord, I want to be the person that You want me to be. I want to marry the person You want me to marry. I want to be in the center of Your will. I don’t want to go out there and blow it. Help me to do Your will.” God’s plans for you are better than anything you have ever planned for yourself.

God has given each of us certain abilities, talents, and resources. The question is, what are you doing with them? Are you seeking to use them for His glory? Are you offering your resources and future to Him?

I’m not saying that you have to be a pastor. But whatever you do, whether you are a doctor, an architect, a secretary, a computer programmer, a builder, a musician, or something else, you should want to serve the Lord and do it for the glory of God. That is what matters. Your life can be a testimony and a witness for Jesus.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Ready for Your Reward?

June 3, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

—Matthew 6:3–4

Maybe you were a great achiever academically. As a young boy or girl, you were winning the spelling bees. You always got As on your report cards. Maybe you were given some special honor, such as a scholarship to attend a great college, because of your incredible abilities. Or perhaps you were a big sports star. You always excelled in sports, and you have plenty of trophies and ribbons to prove it.

Me? I always had those honorable mention ribbons. Do you know what those are? They are the ribbons they give you when you really do poorly, but they don’t want you to feel too bad for yourself. You know, after first, second, third, fourth, and fifth have crossed the finish line, and an hour later, someone comes across, they say, “Give him an honorable mention ribbon.” They were usually purple, although I don’t know why that was. I had a room filled with purple ribbons.

But in heaven, there will be many rewards for those who have been faithful to God over the years. Even the smallest and most insignificant gesture on behalf of God’s kingdom will not be overlooked by our Heavenly Father. Jesus spoke of our service to God, pointing out that even though it may not be seen by people, it is indeed seen by Him: “Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

One day in our future, when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, the Lord will reward us openly.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – The Nut Has Gone

June 2, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. —1 Corinthians 15:20

A minister who was conducting a funeral service wanted to speak of some of the wonderful things about the deceased. But this poor guy said the wrong thing. He boldly proclaimed, “What we have here is only the shell,” gesturing toward the coffin. Then he added, “But the nut has gone.” He didn’t want it to come out that way. But that is a pretty accurate statement of what happens when we die.

God will give us new bodies one day — resurrection bodies. And we will need these new bodies because we will be in a new place called heaven. Of course, we wouldn’t think of sending astronauts into space dressed like they are going to the beach. They must have special suits that are designed to allow them to breathe and function in their new environment. Our earthly bodies suit us fine for life on earth. But in heaven, we will need new bodies.

We will need new bodies for our new environment because, to begin with, if we were to see God in the bodies were are living in right now, we would disintegrate on the spot. Why? Because we aren’t perfect people. Our bodies are limited by the effects of sin. The very fact that we age, can get sick, and will one day die (if the Lord does come back for us first) means that we have bodies that are tainted by sin. We need new bodies, made into the image of Jesus.

You will leave the shell, but the “nut,” the real you, will go into the presence of the Lord.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Something’s Missing

May 31, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

—Philippians 1:23

I read a story about a little dog named Mugsy who was walking across the street one day and, tragically, was hit by a truck. His sad owners took Mugsy down to the pet cemetery and buried him. They were so sorry they would never see their precious little dog again.

But three days later, much to their surprise, they found Mugsy scratching at the back door. They could hardly believe their eyes as they opened the door and let little Mugsy in. He was covered with dirt but alive. It turns out their little dog wasn’t dead after all. They had buried him alive, but the industrious little pooch clawed his way out and found his way home.

There is no place like home. And I want you to know there is a home waiting for every child of God, a future destination for all believers. It’s called heaven. We need to be homesick for heaven. Though we have never been there, we still have something God has built within us that gives us a certain homesickness, a desire to be there. I love the way the apostle Paul put it when he said, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:23-24).

God has put a homing instinct inside every man and woman, a sense there is something more to life. In fact, Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has put eternity in their hearts.” Because of this, we will never be fully satisfied in this life. Something always will seem to be missing . . . until we see our Lord face to face.

Greg Laurie – Just a Little Bit Longer

May 30, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” —Revelation 6:10

In Revelation 6 we read about those who were put to death for their faith. They are in heaven, aware of the injustice, aware of the fact there were fellow servants still on earth being mistreated. So they prayed this prayer to the Father: “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” (verse 10). In other words, Hey, Lord, this isn’t right. When are You going to correct it?

Here was God’s response to their prayers: “Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters — their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred — had joined them” (verse 11, NLT).

God’s timing isn’t always our timing. The Bible says that “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (see Ecclesiastes 3:11).

It kind of reminds me of taking a trip with small children in the car. You are cruising along, and an hour into the trip they ask, “When are we going to get there?”

What do you say? “We’re almost there. A little bit longer.”

The martyred tribulation saints were asking when they would be avenged. And God was saying, Just a little bit longer.

We say, “Lord, when are You going to come?” He says, Just a little bit longer. When is judgment going to come?” Just a little bit longer. “When will my prayer be answered?” Just a little bit longer. Hang on, now. I am in control. I am doing everything according to My perfect will.

Know this: God’s delays aren’t necessarily His denials. So keep praying.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – A Pattern for Healing

May 29, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. —James 5:14

I believe that God heals today. We know He has miraculously built into the human body a natural process in which it heals over time. But I believe God can quicken the healing process.

I also believe that He can do a miracle when we have been told there is no hope. I have seen so many of these miracles myself. God promises His healing touch and tells us that by His stripes we are healed. So we should ask God to heal us when we are facing sickness.

In James 5, we are given the scriptural pattern for healing: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

It is interesting that the Bible does not say, “Is anyone among you sick? Then go find a faith healer.” I’m not suggesting that miracles didn’t take place in the early church because they certainly did. I’m not saying that healing wasn’t done by faith because it was. My point is that it never was the focus of the apostles. The early church didn’t follow signs and wonders; signs and wonders followed them. This is an important distinction.

We can go to God and ask Him to heal. I thank God that healing is available to us today. But we make a mistake when we focus on phenomena. Instead, we should focus on the proclamation of God’s Word and leave the miracles, healings, and the rest up to God to do as He sovereignly chooses.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – Songs in the Night

May 28, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me — a prayer to the God of my life. —Psalm 42:8

The great British preacher C. H. Spurgeon said, “Any fool can sing in the day. . . . It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skillful singer is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by. . . . Songs in the night come only from God; they are not the power of man.”

When Paul and Silas were imprisoned for preaching the gospel, it was a hot and horrible environment. Prisons back then were far more primitive than they are today. Archaeologists have discovered what they believe was the actual prison where Paul and Silas were imprisoned as recorded in Acts. It was nothing more than a dark hole, without ventilation.

But instead of cursing God and questioning how a God of love could do this to them, Paul and Silas realized it was time to pray. The Bible tells us, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). Songs — not groans — came from their mouths. And instead of cursing men, they were blessing God. No wonder the other prisoners were listening.

When we are in pain, the midnight hour is not the easiest time to hold a worship service. There are times when we don’t feel like singing to the Lord or praising Him. But Hebrews 13:15 reminds us, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

Are you facing a hardship today? God can give you songs in the night.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie – When Trouble Comes

May 27, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. —Psalm 61:2

I have come to realize that when I am seeking to walk in the will of God and when I am engaging in the things of God, it is then I can expect opposition from the enemy of God, the Devil. Sometimes afflictions do not come into our lives because of our disobedience, but quite the opposite. Our afflictions, our troubles, and our hardships can come because we are obedient to God.

Remember Job and all of the hardship that came upon him because he was a perfect and an upright man, a man who feared God and turned away evil?

Then there was Nehemiah, who went out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that had been torn down and were lying in rubble. God had directed him to do this, but as soon as he undertook this great work for the Lord, a man named Sanballat opposed him and threatened him. What did Nehemiah do? Did he get a restraining order against Sanballat? Did he immediately stop what he was doing and run and hide? No. Instead, Nehemiah did what James says we should do when we are afflicted or when we are in trouble. He prayed. He said, “Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads . . . for they have provoked You to anger before the builders” (Nehemiah 4:4-5). Nehemiah cried out to God and brought his problems to Him.

As 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” So when trouble comes, pray. Bring your troubles, your problems, and your cares to God.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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