Tag Archives: theology

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman -Beloved Enemy

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Read: Acts 9:1-19

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias! Yes, Lord, he answered. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Acts 9:10-12

Paul has been converted. Now he is a Christian. And what is the first thing he experienced as a Christian? The life of the body of Christ. That is wonderful, is it not? Two unknown, obscure Christians are sent to him. He meets them and is immediately helped by the strengthening that can come from the body, from other Christians. First there is a man named Judas. That is all we know about him. Saul is led to his house whom he has never met before. While he is there a man named Ananias is sent to minister to him.

Is there not a joyful, poetic irony about this, that the Holy Spirit has chosen two names which are tainted names elsewhere in the New Testament, Judas and Ananias. These names belong to two other people: Judas the betrayer of our Lord; and Ananias, the first Christian to manifest the deceit and hypocrisy of an unreal life. Yet, here are two people, bearing the same names, that are honored and used of God. It is just a little touch, but it seems so much like the Holy Spirit to use names like this.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Suffered under Pontius Pilate

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Read: Isaiah 53:5-12

He poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (v. 12)

Christians humbly and gratefully believe that Jesus, the promised Messiah, stood before Pilate as his judge, was repeatedly pronounced not guilty, and yet was sentenced to be crucified, to suffer, and to die in our place. Jesus, the sinless Servant of God “poured out his soul to death,” lifting upon his own shoulders and carrying “the sin of many” (v. 12) when we had stupidly strayed from God to follow our own rebellious ways. John Calvin, knowing our consciences as guilty-yet-forgiven sinners, taught his readers to “remember this substitution.”

A dear pastor-friend, Nick Twomey, is living out a life of gratitude. He is ever thankful for God’s gracious substitution of his only Son, in place of us guilty sinners. I have appreciated Nick’s biblical convictions and tenderheartedness, his sense of humor and ability to communicate.

In a well-written booklet entitled Wrecked, Nick tells about how he came to trust in Jesus, our Substitute. For Nick’s personal conversion, our Lord used childhood “stories of regret,” involving a stolen cookie and a wrecked car . . . followed by surprises of grace! These experiences of grace prepared the way for Nick’s trusting acceptance of God’s surprising grace to us in Christ, who suffered under Pontius Pilate and died on the cross, paying a debt we could not possibly repay.

Prayer:

Gracious Father, thank you for surprising us by sending Jesus your Son, “who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

Author: John Tousley

https://woh.org/

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.R.- Flight of Folly

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What comes to mind when you hear the term “repo man?” A burly, tattooed guy in his tow truck, scouring a neighborhood for a car whose owner is past due on his payments? These days, a “repo man” is more likely to be at a coffee shop with a smartphone. Some lenders are now installing “starter interrupt devices” on vehicles. Miss a payment, and they will disable your ignition remotely using GPS. You won’t be going anywhere. They used to say, “You can run but you can’t hide.” Nowadays, you can’t run, either.

But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah 1:3

Jonah foolishly thought he could run from the presence of the Lord. Although the task God had assigned to him was difficult and dangerous, it was ultimately intended to bless Jonah. But stubbornly, he ran…until God brought his diversionary adventure to a quick end.

The Lord may allow you to run for a short season, but in His time He will draw you back. His ultimate purpose in doing so is not punishment, but to lead you “in the way everlasting” David described in Psalm 139. Today, pray that America’s citizens and leaders might turn to, not away from, the Lord’s presence.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24  Click to Read or Listen

 

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/index.php

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Shipwrecked Faith

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Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.—1 Timothy 1:19

All of us hope for clear sailing in the sea of life. But there are storms that come our way, and there are shipwrecks that we will encounter. We will have things happen in our lives that don’t make sense.

The apostle Paul went through three literal shipwrecks during his lifetime (see 2 Corinthians 11:25). Now, that would cure you of ocean travel. But Paul also wrote about people who had their faith shipwrecked. In his epistle to Timothy, he warned, “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples . . .” (1 Timothy 1:19–20).

Some people have had their faith shipwrecked. I have seen it happen. Sometimes when people are facing a tragedy, they say, “I’ve lost my faith through this.”

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Powerful

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“Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” (1 Kings 18:38)

Elijah met up with the false prophets of Baal and made a challenge to them: “Let’s find out who really is God.”

Elijah offered this challenge because he knew that the one true God deserves to be worshipped. The prophets of Baal accepted Elijah’s challenge and spent all day trying to make their gods do what they wanted. They prayed and cried and hollered and even cut themselves, but they never heard a peep out of their idols. They tried to get their god Baal to answer them or at least to do something to show that he had heard them.

But there was one slight problem. Baal was not able to hear them. He did not have real ears. He was a man-made idol, not a real God. As Elijah watched these prophets, he laughed and made fun of their thinking. If they made their god, and if they could tell it what to do, and if they were stronger than their god, then how could this god help in time of need? It could not give them anything they had not already given it!

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Moral Superiority

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Today’s Scripture: Nehemiah 1:6

“We have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.”

Of all our subtle, “acceptable” sins, the pride of moral superiority may be the most common, second only to the sin of ungodliness. Although it’s so prevalent, it’s difficult to recognize because we all practice it to some degree. In fact, we seem to get a perverse enjoyment out of discussing how awful society around us is becoming. When we do that, we’re guilty of the pride of moral superiority.

How, then, can we guard against this sin of self-righteousness? First, by seeking an attitude of humility. If we’re morally upright, it’s only because God’s grace has prevailed in us. No one is morally upright by nature. Rather, we all have to say with David, “surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5, NIV). We ought to feel deeply grateful that God by his grace has kept us from, or perhaps rescued us from, the lifestyle of those who practice the flagrant sins we condemn.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – A Severe Mercy

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Today’s Scripture: Job 4-7

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. – 2 Corinthians 4:17

The word correct means “to make something right.” The word discipline conveys the idea of instruction or restraint. When we put those words together, we get a clear picture that God instructs us and disciplines us to help us walk in the right way, within the protective boundaries of His Word.

It’s folly to argue with God, the fountain of all wisdom, and it’s useless to look for a better path than the one He has selected for us. So how should we react when we suffer? We must trust God for the grace to let Him lead us through the dark and difficult times of life.

I have a friend whose young son was diagnosed with leukemia. When he heard the doctor’s report, he went to a park and walked and cried and prayed for hours, seeking to know the mind of God in this devastating situation. He asked God to search his heart and expose any sin or rebellion that might be there. After many days of seeking the Lord, he concluded that he didn’t know why God had allowed this and he might never know. But every day he wanted to trust the Lord and walk with Him and witness of His love.

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  Why We Should Choose Our Heroes/Heroines Wisely

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Visitors to Google.com are used to their “doodles,” the search engine’s creative drawings commemorating important anniversaries and people in history. Google has marked Independence Day, MLK, Jr. Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, and last week, the doodle honored the birthday of Japanese American political activist, Yuri Kochiyama, who died in 2014.

Now for those who don’t recognize the name, Google linked to the Wikipedia article on Kochiyama, which described her as an advocate for “human rights.” But that’s hardly an honest summary. Yes, she supported reparations for Japanese Americans and was an outspoken advocate of oppressed minorities, having herself been forced into an internment camp during World War II. But calling her a “human rights advocate” because of this is a bit like calling the Titanic a popular cruise ship that suffered a navigational setback.

The fact is, Kochiyama spent decades supporting some of the worst movements and political regimes on the planet.

An outspoken admirer of Chinese communist leader Mao Tse-tung, Kochiyama praised the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution—movements that claimed more lives than the Holocaust or Stalin’s ethnic cleansing. She encouraged urban guerrilla warfare as a means of racial liberation—contrary to the ideas of Martin Luther King, Jr., who insisted on peaceful demonstration.

Kochiyama also became something of an apologist for the bloodiest Marxist revolutions of the last half-century, like the Peruvian communist party, popularly known as the Shining Path, which killed, raped, and tortured tens of thousands over the course of a decade. The Peruvian and U.S. governments, as well as the European Union, all classified the Shining Path as a terrorist organization.

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE IMPERATIVE OF UNITY IN DIVERSITY

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Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

A classic series of Peanuts comic strips by Charles M. Schulz features Snoopy taking up jogging. As he runs, his body parts speak up. The lungs complain, “This is hard on us lungs.” The feet whine, “Why do we feet have to do all the work?” And the heart warns, “If I start complaining, you’re all in trouble.”

Sometimes the body of Christ acts this way as well! But that’s not what God intended. By comparing the church to a human body, Paul has highlighted its diverse yet unified nature. He had already taught on the imperative of unity, but unity doesn’t mean sameness. God’s design includes amazing, wonderful diversity, and this is beautifully communicated in the metaphor of the body with Christ as the Head (vv. 12–14). A body has many parts and functions and differences, yet it has a single identity and passes through experience as a unified entity. So, too, does the church.

In Paul’s first cycle of rather humorous examples (vv. 15–20), his point was that no part of the body is inferior or unneeded. Jews were not more important than Gentiles; slaves were not less essential than free believers. In context, then, we know there is no pecking order in the second list of spiritual gifts in verses 28 through 30—none are inferior or unneeded. The second cycle of examples (vv. 21–27) makes the same point from the other direction, as Paul asserted that all parts of the body are indeed necessary and interdependent.

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – TIM TEBOW WRITING BOOK ON ‘LIFE’S STORMS’    

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Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow is writing a book on how to handle success and disappointment. Titled Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life’s Storms, the book will be published this October.

We can use his advice.

Researchers are warning today that antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as “superbugs” could kill ten million people by 2050. Scientists say this issue is “as big a risk as terrorism” and could cost world economies nearly $100 trillion. According to one expert, “If we don’t solve the problem we are heading to the dark ages.”

If you’re like me, however, you’re less than alarmed by this news. The reason: 2050 is a long time off. Over the next thirty-four years, surely scientists will find solutions to this problem, we assume. We have more pressing problems, it seems.

For instance, authorities are still searching for the cause of the EgyptAir Flight 840 tragedy, but many remain convinced that a terrorist bomb destroyed the airplane. Meanwhile, ISIS is calling on followers to attack the West during the month of Ramadan, which begins in two weeks. According to CNN, the group has conducted or inspired at least ninety terrorist attacks in twenty-one countries other than Iraq and Syria.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Holy Spirit: God’s Presence

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Acts 2:1-4

The Holy Spirit did not make His first appearance at Pentecost. Students of the Bible will find Him mentioned as early as the creation account (Gen. 1:2). He is also shown to be doing the Father’s work throughout the Old Testament and Gospels. However, the Spirit arrived in the upper room with a fresh mission from the Father.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit empowered individuals for specific tasks. For example, Bezalel’s God-given wisdom and craftsmanship enabled him to become the tabernacle’s chief architect (Ex. 31:1-5). The Spirit also settled upon leaders needing help in administration (Num. 11:16-17), warriors facing formidable tasks (Judg. 6:34; 1 Sam. 16:13), and men called to proclaim God’s Word (Isa. 61:1; Ezek. 2:1-4). When the Father chose a person for a task, the Holy Spirit equipped that individual to accomplish it. He gave power only to certain people and didn’t necessarily remain with them long.

Indicating that the Spirit’s involvement with believers would be different than before, Jesus told the disciples, “He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). God’s Holy Spirit had come alongside the disciples during their time with Jesus Christ. But following the completion of Jesus’ work on earth, He would dwell within them.

Since Pentecost, every believer has received the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, then the Spirit is the energizing sap that equips us for the Christian life. Furthermore, He no longer comes and goes but rather remains permanently. He seals us in Christ—proof of the promise that we are forever in God’s presence (Eph. 1:13-14).

Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 35-36

 

http://www.intouch.org/

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Entrusting All to God

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“Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Peter 4:19).

The final attitude we should have in facing trials and sufferings is that of entrusting ourselves to God.

Geoffrey Bull epitomizes the modern-day believer who entrusts his entire soul to God’s will in the middle of terrible suffering. Bull was punished with solitary confinement, brainwashing, many kinds of intimidation, and starvation during more than three years of imprisonment by the Communist Chinese forty years ago. During his affliction he prayed that God would help him remember Scriptures, realize His peace, and triumph over doubt, fear, loneliness, and fatigue. The final two lines of a poem he wrote summarize Bull’s complete trust in God’s plan and purpose:

And Thy kingdom, Gracious God,

Shall never pass away.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Show Up 

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When he [the king] saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.     Esther 5:2

Successful living is about showing up, which means you arrive at the appointed time, ideally a little early. Your mode of operation is to say less and do more, as your actions speak for themselves. You show up for work as a diligent employee even when you don’t feel like it; You show up for a first date in spite of all the unknowns; You show up on behalf of another even though they may not expect your sincere concern; You show up to exercise when your body begs you to stay in bed; You show up for a funeral when you don’t know what to say; You show up for church even when you feel guilty and insecure.

Make it a priority to show up, and you may be surprised at the result. Eager athletes show up on the bench next to the coach. Those who show up at the right place, at the right time, are the ones who experience God’s best. You may meet a new friend or become reacquainted with an old one, which may lead to an unexpected opportunity. So show up, shut up, and listen up.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Faith & Grace: Working Together

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

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

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

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Campus Crusade for Christ

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

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

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

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

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

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The Divine Wind

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Read: Acts 8:25-40

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

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

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Words of Hope

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

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Read: Matthew 1:18-25

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

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

Author: John Tousley

https://woh.org/

Presidential Prayer Team

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

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

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

Joel 2:1

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

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

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

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – Whom Does God Count Worthy?

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

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

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

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The Navigators

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

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Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 4:1

“Be attentive, that you may gain insight.”

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

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

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