Tag Archives: christianity

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Beyond Time

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Read: John 6:53-69

Bible in a Year: Proverbs 19-21; 2 Corinthians 7

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”—John 6:68–69

During 2016, theater companies in Britain and around the world have staged special productions to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. Concerts, lectures, and festivals have drawn crowds who celebrate the enduring work of the man widely considered to be the greatest playwright in the English language. Ben Jonson, one of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, wrote of him, “He was not of an age, but for all time.”

While the influence of some artists, writers, and thinkers may last for centuries, Jesus Christ is the only person whose life and work will endure beyond time. He claimed to be “the bread that came down from heaven . . . whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (v. 58).

When many people who heard Jesus’s teaching were offended by His words and stopped following Him (John 6:61-66), the Lord asked His disciples if they also wanted to leave (v. 67). Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (vv. 68-69).

When we invite Jesus to come into our lives as our Lord and Savior, we join His first disciples and all those who have followed Him in a new life that will last forever—beyond time. —David McCasland

Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of eternal life in fellowship with You today and forever.

Jesus is the Son of God, the Man beyond time, who gives us eternal life.

INSIGHT: The backdrop for today’s passage is the forty years God miraculously sustained the Jews with manna (Ex. 16). The feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-13) caused the Jews to compare Jesus to Moses. Jesus told them it was God, not Moses, who had fed the Jews (v. 32). He then gave them one of the key revelations of His identity: “I am the bread of life” (vv. 35, 48) sent from heaven to offer eternal life (vv. 51, 58).

 

http://www.odb.org

Ray Stedman

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – A Living Faith

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I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the Gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on the part of Christians to live it out. I remember well in the early days of my Christian faith talking to a close Hindu friend. He was questioning the experience of conversion as being supernatural. He absolutely insisted that conversion was nothing more than a decision to lead a more ethical life and that, in most cases, it was not any different from other ethical religions. I had heard his argument before.

But then he said something I have never forgotten: “If this conversion is truly supernatural, why is it not more evident in the lives of so many Christians I know?” His question is a troublesome one. In fact, it is so deeply disturbing a question that I think of all the challenges to belief, this is the most difficult question of all. I have never struggled with my own personal faith as far as intellectual challenges to the Gospel are concerned. But I have often had struggles of the soul in trying to figure out why the Christian faith is not more visible.

After lecturing at a major American university, I was driven to the airport by the organizer of the event. I was quite jolted by what he told me. He said, “My wife brought our neighbor last night. She is a medical doctor and had not been to anything like this before. On their way home, my wife asked her what she thought of it all.” He paused and then continued, “Do you know what she said?” Rather reluctantly, I shook my head. “She said, ‘That was a very powerful evening. The arguments were very persuasive. I wonder what he is like in his private life.’”

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – A Living Faith →

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Spiritual Restoration

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“Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1).

Those walking by the Spirit are to restore sinning fellow believers.

God never intended that the spiritual walk be an end in itself. Instead, He wants believers to have a positive influence on fellow believers so that the church will be purified and built up. Galatians 6:1 reveals how those who walk by the Spirit ought to minister to others within the Body of Christ. Paul says they are to restore other brothers and sisters who might have fallen into sin.

“Caught in any trespass” denotes falling into a sin and becoming bound by it, just as an animal might become caught in a trap. Whenever another believer we know gets ensnared by any sin—no exception—the Holy Spirit wants “you who are spiritual” to seek his or her restoration. The “spiritual” designation does not refer to some elite class of Christians but simply includes anyone who is walking by the Spirit.

The one who is spiritual and is relying on the Spirit’s wisdom and guidance will restore the sinning believer with patience. The Greek verb in Galatians 6:1 translated “restore” strongly implies that spiritual restoration will need to be a methodical, persevering process. (The Greek originally referred to the mending of fishing nets or the realigning of a frame or joint.)

The verse further indicates that we must approach the entire restoration process with “gentleness.” As believers who have this fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23), such an approach should be almost automatic for us. But since we are merely sinners saved by grace, we need Galatians 6:1 and other reminders of the right way to restore a sinning brother or sister: “And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thess. 3:15).

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray that your church leaders would be faithful in confronting and seeking to restore those members who fall into sin.

For Further Study

Read Galatians 5:16-26.

  • What two things within the believer are at odds early in the passage?
  • Record two or three observations that are most striking to you about the contrasts between the individual good and evil character traits listed here.

 

http://www.gty.org

Uncategorized

Wisdom Hunters – Do Your Own a Passport?

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Before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9

Christ commands Christians to go into all the world and make disciples. The Lord’s vision is for all nations to come to know Him through faith in Jesus. There is a divine burden for the burden of sin to be lifted from those who need forgiveness. Our Heavenly Father wants all people around the globe to hear the good news of Jesus and to grow in a personal relationship with Him. Disciples are made by hearing the gospel, believing, and obeying Christ’s commands. Is your faith expression landlocked for fear of leaving your comfort zone? Have you experienced the joy of taking Jesus to other shores outside your homeland security?

Heaven will be populated with people from “every tribe and tongue”—reached because of the faithful carrying the gospel to far away places. The evangelist John paints a portrait of diverse ethnicity in eternity—one result of 144,000 Jewish witnesses taking the gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth—sharing the good news during an economic meltdown and worldwide natural disasters. The Lord’s love reaches beyond all geographic borders to bring all cultures to Christ.

“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

Jesus states very clearly that He accompanies us as we go forth by faith to share His love. He energizes. He empowers. He engages. His Spirit invites the lost to Himself. His overseas mission mobilization is not limited to the few “navy seals” of the faith. All disciples are called to make disciples. Yes, there is spiritual preparation before you experience cross cultural missions. Make sure you are ministering to those in your home before you export your faith to foreign families. The Lord’s first opportunity to live out what you believe is with those who know you the best. Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Do Your Own a Passport? →

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – A Touch of Compassion

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Today’s Truth

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Friend to Friend

It was Easter Sunday, and I was sitting in the sanctuary waiting for the worship service to begin. Anticipating a large crowd, I arrived early to drop Jered off in the nursery, one of his favorite places to go since every nursery worker doted on him. As the choir filed in, a friend slipped into the pew beside me and said, “I think you need to go to the nursery. Something is wrong with Jered.” Jumping up, I leapt over legs, toes, and pews as I raced to the church nursery and my son.

When I got to the nursery, I was not prepared for what I saw. In a far corner, lying on his favorite red mat was Jered, staring at the ceiling, silent and rigid. As I bent over him, searching those beautiful blue eyes, huge tears slid down his chubby cheeks as he flew into my arms, sobbing. You have to understand – as a baby, Jered cried only when he was hungry, wet, or sick. Something was obviously very wrong. I kissed his forehead. No fever. I checked his diaper. Dry and clean. I had no idea what had broken my son’s heart, but I certainly intended to find out.

The nursery worker drew me aside and said, “We had a new little girl in the nursery today. It was her first time in a church nursery – ever. When her parents left, she immediately began screaming and wouldn’t stop. Jered came running and wrapped his arms around her, but she pushed him away. He then brought her his bottle, but she hurled it across the room and continued screaming. Desperate to help her, Jered then found his diaper bag and fished out Turtle.

Turtle was a small, green-and-blue stuffed turtle we had given Jered during a stay in the hospital when he was seriously ill with the croup. From the moment Jered saw Turtle they were inseparable. He slept, ate, and played with Turtle clutched tightly in one hand. Turtle quickly became Jered’s most precious possession.

Mrs. Giles continued, “I couldn’t believe Jered was willing to give Turtle to a stranger, but he tried.” The crying child took one look at Turtle and threw it in Jered’s face. Stunned, he picked up Turtle and lay down on the mat, refusing to move, Turtle clutched tightly in his arms.

Then I knew. I knew Jered couldn’t stand to see the little girl in pain and was determined to help. When he couldn’t comfort the little girl, he retreated, waiting for someone else to help. That’s compassion.

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – A Touch of Compassion →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Blessed Peacemakers

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“Is there any such thing as Christians cheering each other up? Do you love me enough to want to help me? Does it mean anything to you that we are brothers in the Lord, sharing the same Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic at all? Then make me truly happy by loving each other and agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, working together with one heart and mind and purpose” (Philippians 2:1,2). “Happy are those who strive for peace – they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Few individuals are more pleasing to our Lord than those who seek to promote peace. He is our great example since He is the author of peace. He is called the Prince of Peace, and He promises, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27, KJV).

When you and I think of peacemakers today, we think perhaps of national leaders who have made great efforts toward international peace, or of negotiators who have served as intermediaries, attempting to eliminate strife between management and labor.

But more is involved in this beatitude – certainly more of a spiritual nature. You may know, or have known, as I have, members of churches whom the Lord has been able to use as peacemakers – those who calm fears and help to unruffle feathers when the inevitable quarrels arise.

Peacemaking is something that requires work. It does not come easily. Basically, man is hostile toward himself, toward his neighbor and toward God. The peacemaker is one who can build bridges of love and understanding and trust.

Continue reading Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Blessed Peacemakers →

Kids 4 Truth

Ray Stedman – One ManRay Stedman – One Man

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Read: Romans 5:11-21

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Romans 5:17

Paul’s argument is that Adam’s transgression permitted sin to reign over the whole race. This is talking about more than just the funeral at the end of your life. True, that funeral happens because of Adam’s trespass, but there is more to it than that. Not only does death come to us at the end of our life because of Adam, but it reigns throughout our life because of Adam. Paul is talking about forms of death other than the mere cessation of life.

What is life? Life is love, joy, and excitement. It is vitality, enrichment, power; it is fulfillment in every direction, in every possibility of your being. That is life. Death is the absence of life. Death is emptiness, loneliness, misery, depression, boredom and restlessness. How much of your life is made up of death? A lot of it, right? Some people never seem to have anything but death in their lives. Death reigns because of Adam’s transgression.

Paul is saying that Christ’s death provides such abundant grace and loving acceptance, which are available again and again and again, that all who are in him can reign in life now. You can have life in the midst of all the pressures and circumstances and suffering and troubles. Your spirit can be alive and joyful — experiencing fulfillment and delight. Life in the midst of death! We reign in life now. Love, joy, peace, glory, and gladness fill our hearts even in the midst of all the heartaches and pressures of life.

Paul is drawing this parallel so that we might see how much more we have in Jesus than we ever had in Adam. What we lost in Adam, we regain in Jesus, plus so much more. Just as a climber on a mountaintop can dislodge a pebble which rolls on and accumulates others until it begins to launch an avalanche that will move the whole side of a mountain, so Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden dislodged a pebble that has built into an avalanche of sin and death that has swept through our entire race. But, Paul tells us, Jesus has launched another avalanche of grace, and in him there is ample counteraction against all that Adam has brought.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – One ManRay Stedman – One Man →

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Right Perspective

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And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” —Revelation 6:10

Are our loved ones watching us in heaven? How much are they aware of what’s going on in our lives?

Revelation 6 gives us a little insight on this topic. In verse 10, we read of those who have been martyred for their faith. They are saying with a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” They are aware that the injustice they experienced has not been avenged. They are aware of the fact that time is passing. They are asking the Lord to intervene.

This is a good indication that in heaven we may know more than some people think we will know.

Often people go to extremes on this topic. Some think that our loved ones are watching everything we do and sending us messages and such. Others will say that people in heaven are oblivious about what’s going on—that they’ve had a heavenly lobotomy and are sitting on clouds sleeping. These people reason that if there is no sorrow or tears in heaven, our loved one can’t be aware of what’s going on here on earth because they would be saddened by our suffering.

But both of those extremes are incorrect. From this passage in Revelation we know that there is some level of awareness of happenings on earth. To what degree, we don’t know. But if we are being watched by our loved ones in heaven, I believe they would see everything with an eternal perspective. That is the key.

My grandson Christopher sometimes comes to me with his little battery-operated trains. “Papa, it is broken!” He is sad. His world has just ended. He doesn’t have my adult perspective.

I have a screwdriver. I have more batteries. I have got him covered. I am going to fix it. He doesn’t have to worry about it. He might be sad, but I am not, because I know the outcome.

It’s all about having the right perspective.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – Jesus Will Never Change

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“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Have you ever gotten ready for school in the morning and decided you did not like your outfit? Maybe you did not like that color of socks. Maybe that shirt is uncomfortable. Maybe your shoes were too tight or too dirty to wear. Unless you are short on time, it is usually OK to change your clothes. People do it all the time.

Have you ever realized that a food you used to hate is starting to become a favorite food now? Maybe you used to hate spinach. After all, it is slimy and green. Your parents made you try it when you were little, and you wanted to spit it out! But let’s say that you just tried spinach again recently. (You had to, because it was in Grandma’s manicotti dish, and you love Grandma’s manicotti! So you tried it again – you put it on your fork, turned it around so you could get a good look at it, tasted it thoughtfully, and swallowed it right down! And you could not believe your tastebuds! After all those years of hating spinach, you are starting to love it. People are like that. As we grow older, our tastes change.

Did you ever lose track of someone who used to be a good friend of yours? Maybe you moved to another town, or maybe you just got busy with things going on at church or with your schoolwork. Maybe something happened in your family, and you just have not been seeing the same friends every day anymore. Or maybe your friends and you have just become interested in such different things that you do not need to spend much time together. That happens to people. Some friends will always be a part of our lives. But some of our friends will change over the years. We make new friends. We may never forget the old friends, but we might spend less time with them.

Change is a part of every human being’s life. Things change around us. We have to deal with that change. Other people change around us. And we ourselves change, both inside and out. We change our minds about little things like favorite clothes or what to drink at breakfast-time. We change our minds about big things, too, like whether we will obey our parents and what we want to be when we grow up. Sometimes it takes a very long time for us to change – it takes a long time to grow taller or wiser! On other things, we might change overnight – it does not take too long to decide whether or not to obey, does it?

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – Jesus Will Never Change →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Discouraged by His Discipline

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Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 12:5

“Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.”

Another improper response to God’s discipline is to “be weary” when he reproves us. We tend to lose heart when we think God is disciplining us out of anger instead of out of love. Hebrews 12:6, however, explicitly states that “the Lord disciplines the one he loves.” I acknowledge it’s often difficult to sense God’s love when we are undergoing his discipline, but we must by faith accept the testimony of Scripture.

The Puritan Samuel Bolton (1606?654) wrote, “God has thoughts of love in all he does to his people. The ground of his dealings with us is love (though the occasion may be sin), the manner of his dealings is love, and the purpose of his dealings is love. He has regard, in all, to our good here, to make us partakers of his holiness, and to our glory hereafter, to make us partakers of his glory.”

When the writer of Hebrews told us not to lightly regard the Lord’s discipline or be wearied by his reproof, his purpose was to encourage us. A good part of that encouragement must come from the realization that the hardships we encounter come from a God who is not only in sovereign control of every circumstance of our lives, but who also loves us, and who deals with us only on the basis of love. He’s not only the sovereign ruler of his universe, but also our heavenly Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

So in times of adversity, don’t lose heart under it by failing to see his love in it. (Excerpt taken from The Discipline of Grace)

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – No Pain, No Gain

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 4-5

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

I have a friend who says that physical conditioning is simply a matter of how much pain you’re willing to endure. And I believe it. But all those people who voluntarily exercise and abstain from hot fudge sundaes are convinced that their ultimate gain is worth their present pain.

I wonder if we have that same attitude toward our life of daily discipleship. Are we willing to endure pain when it comes to growing in our lives as Christians? In Romans 5:2, the apostle Paul wrote, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” But he doesn’t stop there. Notice the next words: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” The hope spoken of in Romans 5 is much more than keeping our fingers crossed and wishing for the best. It’s a confident, joyful expectation.

While all of us want this God-given hope, very few of us get excited about the process by which it is produced. There is a definite progression here: suffering, when taken in the right spirit, will produce patient endurance. Over a period of time this persistent obedience to God produces character. And out of integrity of spirit emerges hope.

We can’t skip over any part of the process. One of the clearest teachings in the New Testament is that God wants His children to grow up to be strong disciples and not remain spiritual babies. He wants us to be mature, godly people with staying power in our walk with Him.

Prayer

Lord, as You shape me into a fit vessel for Your use, help me to realize that the pressure You put on me will make me strong. Amen.

To Ponder

When a clay pot emerges from the fire, it has beauty, strength, and color not possible without the heat.

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint – New Fossil Discovery Poses Problem for Evolutionists

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There’s an old story about a chemist, a physicist, and an economist stranded on a desert island with nothing to eat but a can of soup. Puzzling over how to open the can, the chemist says, “Let’s heat the can until it swells and bursts from the buildup of gases.” “No, no,” says the physicist, “let’s throw it off that cliff with just enough kinetic energy to split it open on the rocks below.” The economist, after thinking a moment says, “Assume a can opener.”

There’s more than one trade that deals in assumptions. The way Darwinists approach the origin of life is a lot like that economist’s idea for opening the can. The Darwinian mechanism of mutation and natural selection explains everything about life, we’re told—except how it began. “Assume a self-replicating cell containing information in the form of genetic code,” Darwinists are forced to say. Well, fine. But where did that little miracle come from?

A new discovery makes explaining even that first cell tougher still. Fossils unearthed by Australian scientists in Greenland may be the oldest traces of life ever discovered. A team from the University of Wollongong recently published their findings in the journal “Nature,” describing a series of structures called “stromatolites” that emerged from receding ice.

“Stromatolites” may sound like something your doctor would diagnose, but they’re actually biological rocks formed by colonies of microbes that live in shallow water. If you visit the Bahamas today, you can see living stromatolites.

What’s so special about them? Well, they appear in rocks most scientists date to 220 million years older than the oldest fossils, which pushes the supposed date for the origin of life back to 3.7 billion years ago.

Continue reading BreakPoint – New Fossil Discovery Poses Problem for Evolutionists →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – A RISKY MESSAGE

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Read ESTHER 4:6–8

During the Revolutionary War, the British and American armies used invisible ink to deliver confidential messages. They would mix ferrous sulfate and water to place secret messages in between the lines of a seemingly innocent letter. When the letter was placed over the flame of a candle, its hidden message was revealed.

Today’s passage involves a secret message that needed to be delivered to the queen. At Esther’s request, Hathak, one of the eunuchs appointed to her service, left the palace and met Mordecai in the open square of the city (v. 6). Mordecai was unable to pass through the king’s gate while he was in mourning. Esther, likewise, could not go to Mordecai directly.

Not wasting any time, Mordecai laid out all of the details of Haman’s plot to destroy the Jewish people, a plot that threatened both himself and Esther. He provided specific evidence to prove his case, the exact amount of money Haman had promised, and a copy of the edict. He could not risk this message being dismissed as an empty rumor or fear-mongering.

Mordecai realized that Esther alone was in a prime position of influence. She was the one person who might be able to prevent the destruction of God’s people. He would ask Esther, this woman whom he had raised as a daughter, to risk her life on her people’s behalf (v. 8).

This conversation held risk for everyone involved. If Haman or Xerxes were to find out about this collusion, they would not wait eleven months to punish them. Esther, Mordecai, and Hathak had to trust each other to keep the information confidential and prioritize the safety of the Jewish people over their own immediate security.

APPLY THE WORD

Believers around the world today must take great risks in order to worship together, to share the gospel, or even to read the Bible. Let us support our brothers and sisters in Christ in our prayers, and may their testimonies inspire us to live boldly for God. For more information about how you can pray for persecuted Christians, see persecution.com.

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – WHAT HILLARY CLINTON’S HEALTH CONTROVERSY SAYS ABOUT US

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About three million Americans are diagnosed with pneumonia each year. Only one of them is running for president of the United States.

Hillary Clinton’s pneumonia continues to generate headlines this morning. According to her physician, she was diagnosed last Friday and put on antibiotics. After she collapsed Sunday morning, she was taken to her daughter’s New York City apartment. She exited the building ninety minutes later and told the press she was “feeling great.” A few hours later, her campaign announced that she has pneumonia and is recovering.

Her campaign is now working with her doctor to release “additional medical information,” according to her press secretary. He assured the public that “there is no other undisclosed condition.” However, many are skeptical. As Damon Linker notes in The Week, “Political trust is a fragile thing. Once it’s gone, it’s exceedingly difficult to get back.”

Mrs. Clinton is not the only candidate with trust issues. Donald Trump is facing his own questions regarding his health, his taxes, and his much-disputed statements on the war in Iraq. According to a recent poll, 60 percent of Americans believe Hillary Clinton is “not honest and trustworthy”; 58 percent say the same about Mr. Trump.

You might think that our trust issues begin and end with our presidential candidates, but the facts say otherwise.

According to David Brooks’s latest column in The New York Times, a generation ago, about half of all Americans felt they could trust the people around them. Now less than a third of us think other people are trustworthy. Only 19 percent of millennials believe other people can be trusted. As Brooks notes, “We set out a decade ago to democratize the Middle East, but we’ve ended up Middle Easternizing our democracy.”

Continue reading Denison Forum – WHAT HILLARY CLINTON’S HEALTH CONTROVERSY SAYS ABOUT US →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Getting Rid of Anger

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Ephesians 4:26-32

The apostle Paul wrote extensively about the character and conduct of believers. He said that as Christians, we are to “walk in a manner worthy of [our] calling” (Eph. 4:1) and to “be imitators of God” (Eph. 5:1). In his letter to the church at Ephesus, he explained what it meant to live a godly life.

First of all, we must curtail some of our old habits and behaviors and replace them with new ones that are acceptable to God. The acts of the flesh are no longer to be a part of us—we now have a new nature and must conduct ourselves accordingly. Galatians 5:19-21 lists 15 specific behaviors that have to cease. These include enmities, strife, outbursts of anger, disputes, and dissensions. Notice the role anger plays in each of these. It fuels disagreements and inflames antagonism. And second, if we get angry, we need to apologize quickly (Eph. 4:26).

The fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) should replace ungodly thoughts and actions. If we have been quick-tempered, then we need to gain patience. If our anger runs hot, then we are to become peaceful people. Foolishness in speech must give way to the wisdom of Christ. Change is possible because sin’s power over us has been permanently broken. We have been set free to live in a way pleasing to God.

We all struggle with some form of ungodly behavior, but happily, we need not continue in it. As new creations, we no longer have to be defined by who we were before salvation (2 Cor. 5:17). To exhibit the righteousness that is yours, cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s transforming work.

Bible in One Year: Daniel 3-4

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Ready for a Change?

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Read: Galatians 5:16-25

Bible in a Year: Proverbs 16-18; 2 Corinthians 6

But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control.—Galatians 5:22–23

Self-control is probably one of the hardest things to master. How often have we been defeated by a bad habit, a lousy attitude, or a wrong mindset? We make promises to improve. We ask someone to hold us accountable. But deep inside, we know that we don’t have the will or the ability to change. We can talk, we can plan, we can read self-help books, but we still find it difficult to overcome and control many of the things that are inside us!

Thankfully, God knows our weakness, and He also knows the remedy! The Bible says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). The only way to gain self-control is by allowing the Holy Spirit to control us.

In other words, our key focus is not effort but surrender—to live moment by moment submissively trusting in the Lord rather than in self. Paul says this is what it means to “walk by the Spirit” (v. 16).

Are you ready for a change? You can change, for God is in you. As you surrender control to Him, He will help you bear the fruit of His likeness. —Jaime Fernández Garrido

I am in need, Lord, of Your power so that I might change and grow. I surrender myself to You. Please help me to understand how to be submissive to You that I might be filled with Your Spirit.

God is not nearly as concerned with our ability as He is with our surrender.

INSIGHT: Today’s passage exhorts us to “walk by the Spirit” (v. 16). Just as a surgeon operates by means of a scalpel, we are to walk by means of the Holy Spirit. We are to be consciously dependent upon Him in attitude and choices. Yet there are two spheres of influence that pull us in different directions. The term “flesh” is used to describe the old sinful way of life that seeks to live independently from God and exhibits behavior displeasing to Him. The “Spirit” refers to those behaviors that flow from the indwelling Christ and produce fruit exemplifying His character. When we walk by means of the Spirit, we can say no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit.

 

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Unlikely Blessing

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Stranger things have happened. My friends had struggled with infertility for most of their married lives. Employing the latest reproductive technologies didn’t work and thousands and thousands of dollars later there was still no child. As a result of all this, and because of their advanced age, they had given up the possibility of having a biological child and adopted a little boy. They were overjoyed to bring this little one into their family, and we rejoiced together at his baptism. Little did we know at the time that my friend was pregnant; nine months later this couple welcomed their daughter into the world. They were truly overwhelmed by this unexpected and unlikely turn of events. Sometimes, surprise is the greatest blessing.

Surprise is at the start of Luke’s gospel narrative which begins with two women, who were both, like my friend, unlikely candidates for mothers. Elizabeth was a woman beyond child-bearing age. She was barren. Mary was a young, unmarried girl. Yet, these two women were the mothers of two of history’s most famous individuals: John the Baptist, the last prophet of Israel, and Jesus, who would be called, Messiah. The announcement of these pregnancies must have been disconcerting at best. As if this strange news wasn’t enough, it was announced to both families by an angelic visitor. The first words spoken were “do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid, indeed! These births would turn the world upside down, and would change the lives of these women; both women were the unlikely recipients of unlikely blessing.

Despite the improbable circumstances, Elizabeth praises God by saying, “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men” (Luke 1:25). Elizabeth and Zacharias were both from priestly lines: Zacharias from Abijah, and Elizabeth from Aaron. The gospel alerts the reader that they “were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of God” (Luke 1:5-6). However, Elizabeth’s barrenness would have called her “righteous” status into question. Childless women were a ‘disgrace among men’ in her day. Childlessness was naturally looked upon as a grave misfortune or even as a sign that one was cursed by God. The wife who presented her husband with no such tangible blessings or supporters felt that her aim in life had been missed. So the announcement that Elizabeth would bear a child beyond her child-bearing years was as unlikely as a virgin having a child.

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – The Spirit and Prayer

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“Be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer” (1 Peter 4:7).

Spending time with God in prayer is another crucial element in walking by the Spirit.

During my regular times in the Word, I often don’t know where Bible study ends and meditation begins, or where meditation turns into prayer. My devotions are definitely a seamless process in which I read Scripture, meditate on it, and pray that God would help me understand it. I’m sure that many of you have had the same experience. It ought to be like that for any believer who is faithful in spending time with the Lord daily.

Along with meditating on Scripture and focusing on God, prayer is an essential component of our strategy to walk by the Holy Spirit. An attitude of moment-by-moment prayer, patterned after 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (“Pray without ceasing”), will greatly help us walk in step with the Spirit.

“Pray without ceasing” obviously does not mean believers are to spend every waking moment in formal prayer. Paul’s command to the Thessalonians refers to recurring prayer, not a ceaseless uttering of words from a certain posture.

To pray as part of our spiritual walk means we bring every temptation before God and ask for His help. It means we thank Him for every good and beautiful experience. It means we ask the Lord to allow us to join the fight against evil. It means when we have an opportunity to witness, we pray that God would help us be faithful and that He would draw the person to Himself. And finally, this kind of prayer means we’ll turn to God as our Deliverer whenever we have trials.

Thus, walking by the Spirit is a lifestyle of continual prayer. All of our thoughts, actions, and circumstances become opportunities to commune with God. And if that is true, we obey Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18).

Suggestions for Prayer

Take a brief prayer list with you (on an index card) today, and try to pray through it several times during the day.

For Further Study

Matthew 6:1-8 leads into Jesus’ presentation of the Lord’s Prayer. What general attitude has no place in prayer?

List the specific things Christ warns against, along with those He commends in this passage.

 

http://www.gty.org

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – That’s Some Serious Crying

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You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?     Psalm 56:8

While I was growing up, my mom cried during touching television moments. She cried during old movies when two lovers were reconciled. She cried while watching The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie, and she even cried during Folgers coffee commercials. Yep, stories surrounding that stuff that is good to the last drop made her weep. So I grew up in a home where tears were acceptable and normal.

Now that I am older, I value tears for a couple of reasons. First, I generally believe when we are willing to be authentically real and honest with others, they will often do the same with us. Of course, there are exceptions, but on the whole, transparency promotes transparency, so intimacy is built. When we cry with others, they may feel free to do the same. Second, tears help us experience God more intimately. When all our posturing and posing before the Almighty is stripped away through tears, we are humbled before Him in dependency. Tears cleanse the eyes of the heart so we can see Him more clearly and experience His grace more fully.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).

But not everyone is happy to shed tears either publicly or privately. For many reasons (including our histories and insecurities), shedding tears can make us feel vulnerable and out of control. That’s understandable. But if you have a hard time allowing yourself to cry, you might find what the Bible says about tears enlightening and even liberating.

For example, in Luke 19:41, Jesus—the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End—wept over Jerusalem and was grieved that the Jews did not recognize Him as Savior. The Greek word translated “wept” means more than just shedding a few silent tears—it means “to wail aloud.” That’s some serious crying!

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – God Can

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And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

Recommended Reading

Hebrews 7:25

“I can’t.” We hear it all the time—and sometimes for good reason. Children say “I can’t” because they lack knowledge or skill. They literally can’t! And sometimes adults say “I can’t” for the same reason. “I can’t be an astronaut.” “I can’t be a professional athlete.” In most cases, those are honest and accurate statements. No problem. But there is a problem when we don’t think we can because we don’t think God can.

There are numerous instances in Scripture that describe God being able. And there are no examples of God not being able to do something because of limitations on His power. One of the most encompassing statements that connects God’s ability to our ability is 2 Corinthians 9:8: “God is able to make all grace abound” toward us so we will have “all sufficiency in all things.” Because God is able, we are able. When we say, “I can’t give, love, forgive, reconcile, repent, be kind, be compassionate, be content . . .” we are saying, “God isn’t able to make that grace abound to me.”

Don’t limit yourself by limiting God. Let His grace abound to you.

The sinner, apart from grace, is unable to be willing and unwilling to be able.

  1. E. Best

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Daniel 9 – 12

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/