CALLED FOR HIS PURPOSE

CALLED FOR HIS PURPOSE: “And we know that in all things God works for the good..."Rom8:28 wp.me/p29yfQ-jQ #GoodFriday #Christ #Easter

His Resurrection Destiny

Someone said that the Cross is only half of the Gospel, The other half we reflect on Sunday and that is the fact that He Rose from the Grave. Hey, that is not all because we are in Him we rose with Him! Happy Easter!!

 

His Resurrection Destiny – Oswald Chambers

April 8, 2013Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? —Luke 24:26

Our Lord’s Cross is the gateway into His life. His resurrection means that He has the power to convey His life to me. When I was born again, I received the very life of the risen Lord from Jesus Himself.

Christ’s resurrection destiny— His foreordained purpose— was to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). The fulfilling of His destiny gives Him the right to make us sons and daughters of God. We never have exactly the same relationship to God that the Son of God has, but we are brought by the Son into the relation of sonship. When our Lord rose from the dead, He rose to an absolutely new life— a life He had never lived before He was God Incarnate. He rose to a life that had never been before. And what His resurrection means for us is that we are raised to His risen life, not to our old life. One day we will have a body like His glorious body, but we can know here and now the power and effectiveness of His resurrection and can “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Paul’s determined purpose was to “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).

Jesus prayed, “. . . as You have given Him authority over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him” (John 17:2 . The term Holy Spirit is actually another name for the experience of eternal life working in human beings here and now. The Holy Spirit is the deity of God who continues to apply the power of the atonement by the Cross of Christ to our lives. Thank God for the glorious and majestic truth that His Spirit can work the very nature of Jesus into us, if we will only obey Him.

Recognizing Your Stronghold

Recognizing Your Stronghold – Dr. Neil Anderson

2 Corinthians 11:3

I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ

Hostility is a stronghold. Plan A from God develops the character and the knowledge to love your enemy, pray for him, and turn the other cheek. If you cannot help being pugnacious or argumentative in a threatening situation, it's because you have learned to cope that way and your Plan B response has become entrenched as a stronghold.

Inferiority is a stronghold. Plan A says that you are a child of God, a saint who is inferior to no mortal. If you are constantly shrinking back from people because of feelings of inferiority, it's because the world, the flesh and the devil have carved a negative, Plan B groove in your mind over the years.

Manipulation is a stronghold. Do you feel like you must control the people and circumstances in your life? Is it nearly impossible for you to give a problem to God and not worry about it? Somewhere in your past you developed a pattern of control which now masters you. It's a stronghold.

Homosexuality is a stronghold. In God's eyes there is no such thing as a homosexual. He created us male and female. There is homosexual behavior, which can usually be traced to past negative experiences. Such experiences prompted these individuals to doubt their sexual adequacy and they began to believe a lie about their sexual identity.

Anorexia and bulimia are strongholds. A 99-pound woman stands in front of a mirror believing that she is fat. She is the victim of negative thought patterns about herself which have been burned into her mind and direct all her activities concerning her body and the proper use of food.

Somewhere in the past you may have consciously or unconsciously formed patterns of thinking and behaving which now control you. That's a stronghold. Satan works through strongholds to keep our minds from focusing on Christ. But, thank God, as we appropriate God's truth we are set free.

Prayer: Father, reveal to me and help me deal with any strongholds in my life. I claim Your truth in my life over Satan's lies.

 

P.S. Not too late to get your free ticket to Good Friday Prayer Breakfast tomorrow at Boulevard Baptist Church at 7 AM.

 

LIVE WORRY-FREE

LIVE WORRY-FREE: “Then Jesus said...: 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life...'" Lk12:22,25-26 wp.me/p29yfQ-jL #peace

Praise Him!

Praise Him! – Dr. Bill Bright

The Lamb is worthy-the Lamb who was killed (Revelation 5:12, NLT).

Dear friends:

There is only one Person in the universe worthy of our praise, and that is our wonderful Creator and Savior. "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5:12, NIV).

The day had been long and busy at the office, and I was very weary. The challenges before me were overwhelming. My mind was filled with all the events of the day and what I saw as problems.

Suddenly I was reminded of something that I had been learning over a period of time -- the power of praise.

I turned to the Psalm 145 and began reading that marvelous psalm of praise. Before long, my heart, which had been weary, cold and indifferent to the things of God, was reawakened. Out of my innermost being, I found myself giving praise to our great God and Savior.

There are many Christians who live in defeat when it is totally unnecessary. As an act of the will, even if they do not feel like it, if they took the time to praise, worship and adore God, they would experience His victory. Praise of God is one of the most liberating experiences one can know. Our "feelings" do not change His worthiness nor our need to praise Him.

Psalm 145 has 21 verses. I suggest you open your Bible, read it and vocalize it today to our Savior. Here are the first seven verses:

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness (NIV)

 

BE STILL

BE STILL: "And he...rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!”... and there was a great calm." Mk4:39 wp.me/p29yfQ-jF

AT THE THRESHOLD OF TEMPTATION

AT THE THRESHOLD OF TEMPTATION – Dr. Neil Anderson

Titus 2:11, 12

The grace of God has appeared . . . instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age

Yielding to temptation is another step toward a stronghold being established in your mind. Whenever you are stimulated to conform to Plan B instead of God's Plan A for your life, you are experiencing temptation. The essence of all temptation is the invitation to live independently of God and fulfill legitimate needs in the world, the flesh or the devil instead of in Christ. That's the great contest. And Satan knows just which buttons to push to tempt you away from dependency on Christ.

The moment you are tempted to get your need met in the world instead of in Christ, you are at the threshold of a decision. If you don't immediately choose to take that thought "captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5), you will begin to consider it as an option. And if you begin to mull it over in your mind, immediately your emotions will be affected and the likelihood of yielding to that temptation is increased.

The Scriptures teach us that God has provided a way of escape from every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). But the escape is right at the threshold of the temptation. If you don't control the temptation at the threshold, you run the risk of allowing the temptation to control you. Rare is the Christian who can turn around after directing his will toward Plan B.

For example, a man sees a pornographic picture and is tempted toward lust. He has the opportunity to respond by saying something like, "My relationship with sin has ended. I choose to take this thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I'm not going to look at it or think about it." And he separates himself from the picture immediately and escapes the lust.

But if he hesitates at the threshold, stares at the picture, and begins to fantasize about it, he will trigger an emotional landslide producing a physical response which will be difficult to stop. He must capture the tempting thought in the threshold or it will probably capture him.

Prayer: Dear God, I want to be obedient to Your perfect plan for my life today. I don't want to give in to Plan B thinking. Strengthen my will to obey.

 

CHRIST'S MIGHTY POWER

CHRIST'S MIGHTY POWER: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2Cor12:9 wp.me/p29yfQ-jB #power

GOALS

GOALS: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen..4 what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2Cor4:18 wp.me/s29yfQ-goals

The Evaluation of Stewardship

The Evaluation of Stewardship – Dr. Tony Evans

In His Presence: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Each Christian will one day come before the judgment seat of Christ and will be evaluated for their Christian walk. This is when God will look at our stewardship, at our use of time, talents, and treasures. He will evaluate us not to determine our entrance to heaven—that has already been given through Christ’s finished work on the cross—but to determine our reward in heaven.

As we reconsider the parable of the three stewards in Matthew 25, let us first remember the issue of responsibility in stewardship. The three servants did not own the possessions they took care of; those things belonged to the master. None of the slaves could claim ownership of anything they had. In the same way, everything we have, are, or ever will be belongs to God.

We must also remember the issue of accountability. After time had passed, the master came back to see what the slaves had done with his money. We will all one day answer for the use of our resources. To the servants who invested wisely, the master gave public praise and more treasures (vv. 21, 23), but to the servant who buried his talent in the ground, he gave a tongue-lashing (v. 26). Each one got the reward he was due.

How can we prepare for the day when we will answer for the use of our time, talents, and treasures? Start rewriting our obituaries now! We can’t change the past, but we can change tomorrow. Begin reorganizing your life to reflect your changed priorities.

One Minute Please

Live so that at His judgment seat, God will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

 

PERFECT PEACE:

PERFECT PEACE: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Is26:3 wp.me/p29yfQ-jp #peace

God is Working

God is Working – Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. Mark 4:26-27

God’s work is not rushed or rattled. He quietly gets things done. While man sleeps, the Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers. The effective work of the Holy Spirit is not bound by human efforts. Indeed, the Sprit softens the heart, so when the word of God is sown, it grows. There is a divine dynamic  taking  place that may seem delayed in its outcome. For example,   a small child who  hides hymns in his  precious heart, will result in  music to their ears as teenagers.

We do not always understand how or where God is at work, but we can be confident that His Spirit is on the move to grow His kingdom. He is at work in your work, since you have sown  seeds of integrity; He has harvested a culture of honesty. He is at work in your single adult life: since you have sown seeds of purity, He has harvested a relationship of respect. He is at work in your finances; since you have sown seeds of generosity, He has harvested a heart of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. Psalm 126:6

You may feel frustrated by  the lack of progress in your personal finances. If so, remain faithful in sowing seeds of wise stewardship, because God is at work growing good habits in your giving, saving and spending. Consequences from unhealthy money decisions that took years to accumulate, will take time to correct. However, the Lord is working, so surround yourself with wise money managers and loving friends who model generosity. Give your way out of worry.

God is working in the hearts of friends and family who do not know Jesus. You keep sowing a life of love and one day they may love to know the Lord. As you comfort those whose hearts have been crushed, plant the seed of their need for a Savior. Tragedy makes a mind teachable to spiritual truths. Each day scatter the seed of a committed life to Christ. The Spirit will grow those around you to be more like Jesus. His quiet work never ends,  one day it brings a holy harvest.

It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:7, The Message

Sid Stewart

Executive Director
864 226-6193
www.havenofrest.cc

PREPARED FOR BATTLE

3/22/13, 4:39 AM PREPARED FOR BATTLE: “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” Prov21:31 wp.me/p29yfQ-jm #God

DO YOU KNOW?:

DO YOU KNOW?: “The Lord is the everlasting God...and his understanding no one can fathom." Is40:28 wp.me/p29yfQ-jh #ourgreatGod

ACCUSATION AND CONVICTION

“Our thinking about who we are as Christians should not begin with what we can discover about ourselves by self-analysis. Rather, it begins with what God says about those who trust in Christ.”
Sinclair B. Ferguson

ACCUSATION AND CONVICTION – Neil Anderson

2 Corinthians 7:10
The sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death

A graphic example of the contrast between accusation and conviction is found in the lives of Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter. Somehow Judas allowed Satan to deceive him into betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Luke 22:3-5). When Judas realized what he had done, he was so remorseful that he hung himself. Was his suicide the result of Satan's accusation or of God's conviction? It had to be accusation because it drove Judas to kill himself. Accusation leads to death; conviction leads to repentance and life.

Peter also failed Jesus by denying Him. It apparently began with pride as the disciples argued over who was the greatest among them (Luke 22:24-30). Jesus told Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat" (verse 31). That's right--Jesus allowed Satan to put Peter through the mill because Peter had given the enemy a foothold through pride. But Jesus also looked at Peter and said, "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (verse 32).

Peter vowed to die with Jesus, but Jesus told him that he would deny Him three times (verses 33, 34) which he did. The remorse Peter felt was every bit as painful as that which Judas experienced. But Peter's sorrow was from conviction which led to his eventual repentance and restoration to Christ (John 21:15-17). When your feelings of remorse drive you from God, you are being accused by Satan. Resist it. But when your sorrow draws you to confront Christ and confess your wrong, you are being convicted by the Spirit. Yield to it through repentance.

According to Revelation 12:10, Satan's continuing work is to accuse the brethren. But the good news is that Christ's continuing work is to intercede for us as He did for Peter (Hebrews 7:25). We have a persistent adversary, but we have an even more persistent, eternal advocate who defends us before the Father on the basis of our faith in Him (1 John 2:1).

Prayer: I rejoice, Lord, that You are constantly defending me against accusation before the Father.

 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

LOVE ONE ANOTHER: “This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another...” 1Jn3:11,23 wp.me/p29yfQ-jd #Jesus

DO NOT FEAR

DO NOT FEAR: “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." Ps34:19 wp.me/p29yfQ-j8 #fearnot #God

THE SPIRIT'S CONVICTION

THE SPIRIT'S CONVICTION – Dr. Neil Anderson
2 Corinthians 7:9
I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God

I'm often asked, "How can I tell the difference between the devil's accusations and the Holy Spirit's conviction?" Every Christians is faced with the choice of walking by the Spirit or by the flesh on a daily basis. The moment you choose to walk according to the flesh, the Holy Spirit brings conviction because what you have just chosen to do is not compatible with who you really are. If you continue in the flesh, you will feel the sorrow of conviction.

"How do I know which kind of sorrow I'm experiencing?" you may ask. "The devil's accusation and the Spirit's conviction both make me feel sorrowful." Determine whether your feelings reflect thoughts of truth or error, and you will identify their source. Do you feel guilty, worthless, stupid, or inept? That's a sorrow provoked by accusation because those feelings don't reflect truth. Judicially, you are no longer guilty; you have been justified through your faith in Christ, and there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. You are not worthless; Jesus gave His life for you. You are not stupid or inept; you can do all things through Christ. When you find lies lurking beneath your feelings of sorrow--especially if your feelings persistently drive you into the ground--you are being falsely accused. To disarm the sorrow of accusation you must submit yourself to God and resist the devil and his lies.

But if you are sorrowful because your behavior doesn't reflect your true identity in Christ, that's the sorrow according to the will of God which is designed to produce repentance. It's the Holy Spirit calling you to admit on the basis of 1 John 1:9, "Dear Lord, I was wrong." As soon as you confess and repent, God says, "I'm glad you shared that with Me. You're cleansed; now get on with life." And you walk away from that confrontation free. The sorrow is gone, and you have a positive new resolve to obey God in the area of your failure.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the "tough love" of Your Holy Spirit in bringing me to repentance when I sin.

 

DEATH OF THE OLD SELF

DEATH OF THE OLD SELF – Dr. Neil Anderson
Colossians 3:3
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God

A pastor visited me a few years ago, and he was in real turmoil. "I've been struggling to live a victorious Christian life for 20 years. I know what my problem is. Colossians 3:3 says: "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.' I've been struggling all these years because I haven't died like this verse says. How do I die, Neil?"

"Dying is not your problem," I said. "Read the verse again, just a little slower."

"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.' I know, Neil. That's my problem. I haven't died."

"Read it once again," I pressed, "just a little bit slower."

"For you have died--" and suddenly a light switched on in his understanding. "Hey, that's past tense, isn't it?"

"Absolutely. Your problem isn't dying; you're already dead. You died at salvation. No wonder you've been struggling as a Christian. You've been trying to do something that's already been done, and that's impossible. The death Paul talks about in Colossians 3:3 isn't something God expects you to do; it's something He expects you to know, accept and believe. You can't do anything to become what you already are."

Thanks to the incredible redemptive work of Christ in your life, your old self has been replaced by a new self, governed by a new nature, which was not there before (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your old self was destroyed in the death of Christ and your new self sprang to life in the resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). The new life which characterizes your new self is nothing less than the life of Jesus Christ implanted in you (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:4).

Prayer: Lord, I'm so grateful that I don't have to work for new life. You have already paid the price, done the job, and handed me the prize.

 

Humble Yourself

Humble Yourself: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” 1Ptr5:6 wp.me/p29yfQ-j4

Helmet of Salvation – Boyd Bailey

Helmet of Salvation – Boyd Bailey

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

The helmet of salvation saves from past sin, empowers to overcome present evil and provides a future hope of Jesus coming back for His bride, the church. Salvation is much more than a moment in time conversion when a person is delivered from darkness into light. It is an ongoing experience of the Lord saving us from ourselves, saving us from sin and saving us from the enemy’s influence. The Spirit convicts us, Jesus saves us and the Father keeps us secure in Him.

Moreover, our mind is a battleground over what we believe. Unscrupulous spiritual forces seek to create confusion and vain speculation. We are wise to take every thought captive for Christ, so none of our ideas are locked up in a prison camp of lies. Like a magician presenting a false appearance of reality, so Satan seeks to play mind games that create fear or false hope. However,  we wisely renew our mind daily by His cleansing word. Jesus saves us from stinking thinking.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Does God’s good plan and future hope fill your head? Indeed, these hopeful thoughts breed healthy thinking that leads to wise living. You can be hopeful, because your provision is from the One who gave you the vision. You can be hopeful, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. You can be hopeful, because there is nothing that can separate you from the love of your Heavenly Father. You can be hopeful, because in Christ you have all you need!

Therefore, put on heaven’s helmet of salvation. It may look unusual to a lost world, but your outward devotion reminds them of their inner need for a Savior. Be ever vigilant to protect your mind, since a blow to the head from trashy thoughts leads to bad behavior. Ask the Lord to deliver you from talking yourself into foolish decisions. Submit to Him and to trusted advisors who provide checks and balances in your decision-making. Fill your mind with Christ’s mind!

Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16

The Light of the World

The Light of the World: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness...." Jn8:12 wp.me/p29yfQ-iY #God

GOD WORKS IN THE ORDINARY

GOD WORKS IN THE ORDINARY – Dr. Neil Anderson

Hebrews 13:5

He [God] Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you"

A devout Christian heard an urgent news report on his radio that a flash flood was within minutes of entering the peaceful valley where he lived. Immediately he went to his knees and prayed for safety. The words were still on his lips when he became aware that water was gushing under his door. He retreated to the second floor and finally onto the roof of his house.

While he sat on the roof, a helicopter flew by and the pilot asked over the loudspeaker if they could lift him off. "It's not necessary since I have the Lord's protection," he replied.

Moments later the house began to break up and he found himself clinging to a tree. A police boat, braving the waters, approached him for rescue, but he assured them that the Lord would save him. Finally, the tree gave way and the man went to his death.

Standing before the Lord, he asked, "Lord, I'm glad to be here, but why didn't You answer my prayer for safety?"

The Lord responded, "Son, I told you over the radio to get out of there Then I sent you a helicopter and a motor boat!"

Nowhere in the Bible are we given the idea that God works only in the extraordinary. Much of the time He supernaturally works through His created order. Many people think God is present only when there is a miracle and that He leads only through signs and wonders.

There are people who always look for a sign. They walk by sight, not by faith. To them, God is only present in the miraculous. God was "really" at the church service if something unusual happened. Many desire and look for "visitations" from God.

But how does that square with God's omnipresence and the fact that He will never leave us or forsake us? Isn't God at every church service? Since God created the fixed order of the universe, would you expect Him to work primarily within that fixed order or outside of it? If God gave us a watch, would we be honoring Him more by asking Him what time it is or by simply consulting the watch?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for looking for signs when I only need to trust Your Word and live by Your promises.

His Presence Brings Rest

His Presence Brings Rest: “The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Ex33:14 wp.me/p29yfQ-iU #Jesus

Recognizing God’s Fatherhood

Recognizing God’s Fatherhood – John MacArthur

 "Our Father who art in heaven" (Matt. 6:9).

The term Father is one of the most commonly used terms in our prayers, and rightly so because that's how Jesus taught us to pray. But as common as that term is to us, it was very uncommon to the people of Christ's day.

Then, most of the people who worshiped false gods thought of them as distant, capricious, and immoral beings that were to be feared. Even the Jewish people, who should have understood the fatherhood of God, had removed themselves from His Fatherly care through their sin and apostasy. Consequently He seemed remote to them. Even some who did claim God as their Father were rebuked by Christ, who called them children of the devil because they rejected the Son (John 8:44).

Against that backdrop, Christ's teaching was revolutionary. He proclaimed God as a caring and gracious Father who desires intimate fellowship with His children. That fellowship can come only through faith in the Son.

Beyond that, Jesus revealed the Father's character in everything He said and did. When Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father, Jesus replied, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Jesus also proclaimed God as a Father who has all the treasures of heaven at His disposal and who makes them available to His children so they might glorify Him: "Your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him. . . . Do not be anxious then . . . but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all [you need] will be added to you" (Matt. 6:8, 31, 33).

Your faith in Christ is what makes God your Heavenly Father. He loves you, listens to your prayers, and supplies your needs according to His abundant resources. Look to Him today and live as a thankful, obedient child.

Suggestions for Prayer:

• Thank God that He is your gracious and loving Father.
• Praise Him for the abundant blessings He gives to you.

 

His Ways

His Ways: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...." Is55:8-9 wp.me/p29yfQ-iP #TrustGod

Our Weakness, His Strength

Our Weakness, His Strength
by Charles R. Swindoll

Wait for the LORD; be strong
and let your heart take courage;
yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

Let's look at that term wait. It is from the Hebrew verb kah-wah meaning "to twist, stretch." The noun form means "line, cord, thread."

A vivid picture emerges here.

[Kah-wah] is a verb describing the making of a strong, powerful rope or cord by twisting and weaving ourselves so tightly around the Lord that our weaknesses and frail characteristics are replaced by His power and unparalleled strength. It describes very literally the truth of what has been termed the "exchanged life."

As we wait on God, our weakness is exchanged for His strength.

Strength and courage are developed during a trial, not after it is over.

 

Faith

Faith: “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2Cor5:7 wp.me/p29yfQ-iL #TrustGod #Faith #Believe #Jesus #Help

The God to Whom We Pray Dr. Charles Stanley

The God to Whom We Pray Dr. Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 1:1-11

What’s your view of the Lord? Do you see Him as the One who can handle all the challenges you bring before Him? Nehemiah knew God in this way. Upon hearing about Jerusalem’s destruction, he mourned, fasted, and prayed for intervention. His supplication (Neh. 1:5-11) offers a glimpse of how he viewed the Almighty.

First, the Hebrew term Yahwehrefers to One who is absolute in faithfulness. Next, the title Elohimindicates infinite power and sovereignty over the universe. Finally, Adonaimeans “ruler over all.” Nehemiah was bringing his request before the throne with full confidence in God.

And the Lord answered his prayer in a powerful, dramatic way. As cupbearer in the palace, Nehemiah tasted food and drink first to protect King Artaxerxes from possible poisoning. For a servant in this position, to look sad was very risky (2:1), yet the terrible news disheartened him.

So the Lord worked a miracle: when the king asked what was troubling his cupbearer, Nehemiah expressed concern for the Jewish people. Instead of punishing him, Artaxerxes let him go to rebuild whathad been destroyed, and even supplied the materials! God handled what seemed like an overwhelming, impossible burden for Nehemiah, and He can do the same for us.

Having the right view of the Lord will allow us to approach Him with absolute confidence. And we know that He will hear and answer our prayers (Ps. 86:7). Remember that He is absolute in faithfulness and infinite in power. Our heavenly Father is the ruler over all.

 

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director

864 226-6193

www.havenofrest.cc

Do I Trust Myself or God?

Do I Trust Myself or God? “Some trust in chariots & some in horses, but we trust in...the Lord our God" Ps20:7. wp.me/p29yfQ-iE

CONFORMING TO THE IMAGE OF GOD

CONFORMING TO THE IMAGE OF GOD – Dr. Neil Anderson

1 Thessalonians 4:3

For this is the will of God, your sanctification.

In a personal sense, God's will for our lives is that we conform to the image of God, something the apostle Paul makes clear in 1 Thessalonians 4:3: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification." In his letter to Roman Christians, Paul writes, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29) and adds in 1 Timothy 1:5, "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Divine guidance will never come to those whose primary goal is not first and foremost conforming to the image of God.

There is no instruction in the Bible concerning career choice, where we live, or who we should marry. There is, however, an abundance of instruction on how we're to relate to our employer and behave on the job we already have (Colossians 3:22-25). And there is much about how to relate with one another (Colossians 3:10-14) and live with our families (Colossians 3:18-21).

The Bible overwhelmingly instructs that to do God's will means living in harmony with God and man: "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).

The whole purpose of the Bible is to teach us how to have a relationship with God and live in harmony with one another. We do this by assuming our responsibilities for today and trusting God for tomorrow.

I'm not sure the Lord cares primarily whether you are a carpenter, teacher or doctor. But He does care what kind of carpenter, teacher or doctor you are. Determine to be the person He has called you to be. No one can prevent you from being God's person except you.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be Your person today, to live in harmony with You and with those around me.

The Lord Knows Me

The Lord Knows Me: “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me..." Ps139:1-4 wp.me/p29yfQ-iA #devotion #trustGod #faith #me

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord: "...He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, & set my feet on a rock" Ps40:1-4 wp.me/p29yfQ-iv

The Racket of Life – Dr. David Jeremiah

The Racket of Life – Dr. David Jeremiah

Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you.
Ezekiel 40:4

Recommended Reading 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Novak Djokovic is the Number One tennis player in the world. After beating Andy Murray at the Shanghai Masters, he told reporters, "A calm mind always wins. Confidence plays a key role for any person on this planet."¹

For Christians, a calm mind comes from having our thoughts fixed on Jesus and our minds stayed on Him (Hebrews 3:1; Isaiah 26:3). Jesus told us to love Him with all our mind (Matthew 22:37). The Bible warns against an "anxious mind" (Luke 12:29) and instructs us to set our minds on "things above" (Colossians 3:2). We're to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. To be spiritually minded is "life and peace" (Ephesians 4:23; Romans 8:6). As we meditate on God's Word, the peace of God guards our "hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). ¹

Amid the racket of life, a calm mind always wins. Learn to deliberately fix your mind on Jesus and His Word today. Focus on Christ and feed on His Word.

It is a grand thing when the mind becomes calm, when the soul grows strong, when courage increases, when confidence comes, when deep peace and quiet restfulness flow into the soul.
Charles H. Spurgeon

The Potter

The Potter: “...We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Is.64:8 wp.me/p29yfQ-ir #devotion #faith

God's Grace

God's Grace: "...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9 wp.me/p29yfQ-in

A Focused Mind – Dr. David Jeremiah

Fix your thoughts on Jesus.
Hebrews 3:1 (NIV 1984)

Recommended Reading Hebrews 3:1-6

In his commentary on Hebrews, Kent Hughes tells about a brilliant mathematician, Norbert Wiener, who was walking across the campus of M.I.T. in deep thought. His concentration was so great he didn't respond when greeted by a student. But a moment later, he turned and asked the student, "Pardon me, could you tell me which way I came from?" The student pointed and said, "That way." "Thanks," said the professor. "Now I know I've had lunch!"

We're seldom so focused of mind that we lose track of our surroundings, but the Bible does tell us to devote intense concentration to thinking on spiritual things. Christians must learn to use their minds to ponder who God is, what He has said in His Word, and the majesty of our calling to be His disciples. We must learn to fix our thoughts on Him, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and to think on things that are excellent and praiseworthy.

He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Fixing our thoughts on Jesus requires time, for true reflection cannot happen with a glance. No one can see the beauty of the country as he hurries through it on the interstate.
R. Kent Hughes

Witnessing His Glory – Dr. R.C. Sproul

Witnessing His Glory – Dr. R.C. Sproul

The book of James has an unusual sentence construction that links the word glory with the name of Jesus: "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality" (James 2:1). In this verse the words "Lord of glory" have alternate renditions. Some translations read, "Our glorious Lord." Still another possible translation reads, "Jesus Christ, who is the glory."

B. B. Warfield, in his book The Lord of Glory, says, that Jesus was the glory of God, the shekinah. According to the Old Testament, the shekinah was the visible manifestation of the invisible God. The shekinah was a radiant cloud or brilliant light within a cloud that signaled the immediate presence of God. For Jesus to be identified with the shekinah was to be equated with the presence of God Himself. In Jesus we see the full manifestation of the majesty of God.

That the New Testament writers ascribed glory to Jesus was a clear indication of their confession of His full deity. Glory, in the sense it is used with reference to Jesus, is a divine attribute. It is the glory of God that He refuses to share with any man.

Coram Deo: Living in the Presence of God

The angels sang "Glory to God" at Christ's birth. The heavenly elders give glory to God around His throne. Why don't you follow their example and give God glory today in every circumstance of your life?

For Further Study

John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Psalm 104:31: "May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works."

Spirit of Power

Spirit of Power: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God...” 2Tim.1:6-7 wp.me/p29yfQ-ii #devotion #purpose

	Daily Devotional (@ContemplationsW)
3/1/13, 5:23 AM Unfailing Love: “'Though the mountains be shaken..yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken....” Is54:10 wp.me/p29yfQ-ie

 

Fore! – Dr. David Jeremiah

Do not be afraid of sudden terror ... for the LORD will be your confidence.
Proverbs 3:25-26a

Recommended Reading Proverbs 3:21-26

Did you hear about the shark on the twelfth hole? Golfers in San Juan Capistrano, California, were surprised recently when a shark dropped out of the sky and landed on the fairway. Weighing about two pounds, the young fish had been plucked from the ocean by a bird, which dropped him mid-flight. The shark was bleeding from the bird's talons, but when workers released him into the ocean he swam away as though nothing had happened.

We never know what a day will bring. We try to get along swimmingly with everyone; yet in an instant we can be snatched from our comfort zone, wounded without warning, clawed by an enemy, and dropped into the rough. But the same God who cares for the "birdies" and "eagles" will care for you. The Bible says to trust Him, seek His wisdom, and fall asleep each night without fear. "Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror" (Proverbs 3:24-25).

For Christians, a life without fear is par for the course.

Fear may fill our world, but it doesn't have to fill our hearts.
Max Lucado