Suffering — while not God’s ideal intention — is a necessary element in our becoming our truest, most beautiful, most Heaven-ready selves.
Are you suffering? No doubt, along with Dr. Thompson, we want to suffer less often, less acutely, and even differently. It requires realizing that God is good and He is good to us. He allows suffering, yes, but in a redemptive and Heaven-preparatory way. Can you trust in that today?
The real reason people reject Jesus Christ is because they want things left as they are. They don’t want to change.
Despite all their rhetoric and claims of interest in spiritual things, these religious leaders were not really searching for the truth. Nor were they searching for the Messiah. Otherwise, they would have embraced Jesus.
The same truth that can liberate one person can harden another. It’s entirely up to the person who is listening to that truth and their response to it.
There’s a difference between ignorance and a deliberate choice. There’s a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is a matter of the mind, but unbelief is a matter of the will. Doubt takes place when we may not understand what God is doing or why He’s doing it. But unbelief is a choice that we make.
Whatever blessings we receive are set before us right in front of those insidious enemies! It’s God’s way of defying them, of saying to them, no matter what you do, you are not welcome at this feast of life.
We can make all the plans we want — and so can our kids — but God is the one who directs our path.
If you’re in a season of launching your graduate into adult life maybe you’re experiencing the frustration of waiting for your child to find a job, too. Why not spend that time in prayer, specific prayer and surrender?
The Holy Spirit is incredibly patient and persistent. But there comes a point when the Spirit will no longer be patient, because we continue to resist Him. This leads to the ultimate, unforgivable sin: the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
People don’t reject Jesus Christ for any other reason except that it’s a threat to their lifestyle. They hate the light and know their deeds will be exposed.
When people deliberately choose not to believe in Jesus Christ because they don’t want to change the way they live, ultimately it can lead them to the one sin that even God will not forgive.
John MacArthur pointed out, “There is no forgiveness of even the smallest sin unless it is confessed and repented of; but there is forgiveness of even the greatest sin if those divine conditions are met.”
“A man without passion is only a latent force, only a possibility, like a stone waiting for the blow from the iron to give forth sparks,”
wrote Swiss philosopher Henri Frederic Amiel.
God wants us to love Him more than anyone else. He wants us to want His will more than anyone else’s will. And what God does in our lives will be better than what we ever could have done on our own.
God wants the best of you for His Kingdom. God is always good, always loving, and always wants the best for you. Are you ready to heal and quit hiding behind Christian structures that have held you back? Are you ready to be so full of the Holy Spirit that He flows out of you in beauty and strength? Are you ready to be the true you that God intended for you to be?
Our spirits long for the goodness and intimacy they were created to experience.
God wants us to live in actual freedom, not counterfeit freedom. Jesus wants you awakened to a life that can hold both hurt and hope. Is that how you’re living? What parts still need to be redeemed with the freedom Jesus already paid for? Come share your thoughts with us.
let’s commit ourselves to being disciples of Jesus Christ—not mere fair-weather followers, but true disciples.
Are you bearing the cross and following Jesus? For some, this could mean suffering persecution. For others, it could mean a major change of lifestyle. It could cost us friends. But we will live life as it was meant to be lived: in the perfect will of God.
Sometimes we think of a cross to bear as a trying relationship, a health problem, a challenging job, or some other tough circumstance. Those may be difficulties in life. But they are not our crosses to bear.
"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."— Desmond Tutu
"Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts."— Mother Teresa
"Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith."— Samuel D. Gordon
Every person who has found new life through the Lord's merciful salvation needs reviving at times. When the difficulties of life seem to choke all spiritual vitality out of us, it is time to call upon the Lord and turn to His word. Sometimes, the battle is so intense that our inner man seems to be smashed face down in the dirt. Again, it is time to seek the Lord in His word. Yes, in God's word, we find direction for our lives and replenishing of our lives.
To live by grace, one must trust in the Lord. David urged others to trust in the Lord. "David himself trusted in the Lord. Part of trusting in the Lord involves holding His word in an exalted place (trusting in it, honoring it, praising it). David proclaimed, "I will praise His word." This is an inherent part of living by grace, since it is "the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance" (Acts 20:32).
Those who live by grace trust in God to work in their lives. We can see David's heart to live this way, as he urges others to trust in the Lord. "Trust in the LORD… feed on His faithfulness…. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him."
SI SE PUEDE (YES WE CAN)
Success is not the result of being given more opportunities than others. It is the direct result of discipline and determination. How disciplined and determined are you feeling today
Matty T. , Fast is fun and slow is painful~
If we are not conscious of the Spirit's presence in our lives then it would be wise to do what Paul instructs in 2 Corinthians 13:5: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you -- unless, of course, you fail the test?" Knowing about Jesus, reading the Bible, memorizing Scripture, doing good works, or regular attendance at church does not equate to salvation. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior will do. This is what Paul means when he writes: "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." I think we make an error when we divide Christians into the two categories of Spirit-filled and non-Spirit-filled. Paul's point today is simple: If a person does not have God's Holy Spirit, then they are not a Christian at all.
Ask yourself these questions: Has the Spirit given you the desire to honor Jesus? Is the Spirit guiding you to become more like Jesus? Is the Spirit at work in your heart? In your life? If you don't know or are unsure, ask God for His Holy Spirit. The Bible says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)
Don't ever stop being teachable, and your faith will never stop growing. Even if it is through chastisement, never stop learning. Don't ever back out and say, "I don't need to hear from anybody, I don't need to do anything, and I know everything I need to know." No, this is the devil's lie.
Unity must be ordered according to God’s Holy Word, or else
it were better war than peace.
~Hugh Latimar~
WHEN THE IMPOSSIBLE MEETS GOD ALL KINDS OF POSSIBILITIES COME TO PASS
Are you waiting for your spouse, who you see as being a bigger offender than yourself, to move first? Are you giving up after a few tries when you don’t get an instant result? .... I challenge you to be the more mature one in your marriage.
~Emerson
When I compare my negative thoughts to God’s Word, the differences amaze me:
My thoughts: I want to give up. God’s Word: Be committed (Philippians 4:13, Galatians 6:9).
My thoughts: I’ll feel lost. God’s Word: He watches my paths and establishes my ways (Proverbs 5:21, 4:26).
My thoughts: No one loves me. God’s Word: He loves me more than life (John 3:16).
A true leader is one you follow whether there are orders in place or not!
“It’s time to declare war on the pestilence that goes by the name, I can’t. It attacks our self-control with I can’t keep a job and it attacks our marriages with I can’t forgive. It even attacks our faith with I can’t believe God cares for me. From Glory Days
If we are not walking according to God’s plan, we will be walking according to our will—most likely our flesh. In our own will, or in the flesh, we will not be walking according to God’s plan for our lives and will not be happy with the outcome. All we have to do is inquire of the Lord and He will guide.
To pray effectively we must want what God wants—that and that only is to pray in the will of God.
~A. W. Tozer~
We commit our lives to Christ and effectively give Him the master key to every door in our lives—but maybe not every door. We may leave a few closets locked up because we have some skeletons in them. We have some areas that we don't really turn over to the Lord, and then those little problems later turn into big problems.
It is not unlike having a tree that has overtaken your yard. You decide it's time to remove it, and so you cut it down. But you can't simply cut it down; you also have to pull out the stump too. Otherwise, it will grow back. It might even grow back stronger and cause more trouble.
In the same way, sin needs to be rooted out in our lives. When we compromise a little here and a little there, little things turn into big things. It's like those adorable bunnies and chicks that parents buy for their children at Easter. Sweet little bunnies turn into adult rabbits, and cute little chicks become full-grown chickens.
Little things turn into big things. That is how sin can work in our lives.
refrain that I hear when pastors preach or when people try to provide advice on forgiveness. In fact, I have heard it so much that I was convinced that this was a part of a biblical passage. Another familiar term has been “the sea of forgetfulness.” Hailing from a passage in Micah 7:19, this scripture describes the depths of willingness that God has for the forgiveness for our sins. However, the actual word forgetfulness is not used in this passage: “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” It seems that while forgetting may provide a less painful avenue towards forgiveness, it is not biblically required. Undoubtedly there are benefits to taking the sting out of an offense if it can be dismissed or forgotten, but this forgetting is not necessary.
What We Know In answering Peter’s question, how many times shall we forgive? Jesus uses the number seventy-seven. Why does Jesus up the ante from seven times per person to seventy-seven times per person? I believe he was making the point that keeping a forgiveness tally, to keep in line with the caps Jesus set, would be cumbersome, immobilizing, and petty.
It does not take great men to do great things;
it only takes consecrated men.
~Phillips Brooks~
Time spent abiding in Christ is what brings fruitfulness in the life of the believer. We are able to bear fruit only when we are connected to the Father.
Without Christ, we would not have the ability to be connected to the Vine, and without His tending, pruning, and watering, we are simply a branch. Only through Christ are we able to bear fruit which grows and flourishes.
Socially Acceptable
When Paul speaks of “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” he’s also addressing the problem with the reliance and preoccupation with mysticism. We see it every day on our television shows, movies, music, and even conversations. Psychics, clairvoyants, mediums, wizards, witches and the like, are accepted as part of our culture – and people are deceived. Intuitively, humanity knows there is something greater than ourselves, so we ask questions. Satan is more than willing to provide the deception, and ultimately the destruction, that accompanies his answer. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent said to Eve, “Eat this fruit and your eyes will be opened. (Experience secret enlightenment.) You’ll be like God. (Assume a position of divinity.) You’ll never die. (Reincarnation or spiritual transformation.)” Does this all sound familiar? It should because the same deception, misdirection and spiritual garbage is still being peddled by Satan to this day. Why? Because it’s as effective today as it was with Adam and Eve.
The darkness in the world will never overtake the light completely!
Gary Malkus Jr.
Periods of waiting are not times to sit and do nothing at all...
When you think of power, what do you imagine? Do you see large muscles, electricity, or a strong storm? Maybe you think of a large animal or a mountain range. But do you ever think of God?
Psalm 48:10 says that just as His name, God’s “praise reaches to the ends of the earth.” This verse is saying that all of the praise given to God is equal to His reputation. Think about that for a minute. Think about how much praise is given to God by Christians on a daily basis all over the Earth. Why do they worship Him? Why do you worship Him? Because He is good and merciful, and just, and righteous, and so many other wonderful things. The Bible is full of story after story of the mighty works of God. His reputation precedes Him and proves that He is worthy of being praised. What kind of power must God have in order to have a reputation like that?
It can be easy to forget just how powerful God is. Today may you be reminded of the incredible strength of your God. He is known throughout the world, simply because of His reputation. He has done mighty things in the past, and He will continue to do mighty things in the future. Thank Him for this gift! Take great comfort in knowing that nothing is too small for God.
“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.’” —C.S. Lewis
Preach with authority. The authority for us is the Word of God. Preach with simplicity . . . Preach with urgency . . . heaven and hell are at stake. Preach for a decision.”
~Billy Graham~
We who call ourselves Christians are to live in the world in such a way that God is truly and obviously present. We are to be the “temple” of the living God, the “place” where God can be found in this world. We are to do this in our private lives and our public lives, in our families and our workplaces, in our neighborhoods and schools.
Dwight L. Moody, according to his biography, “had one central message to share with the people: Men and women are all created to be friends and lovers of God. We are made for no other end. Until we realize this we will live lives of turmoil, confusion, and even desperation.”
Dorsett, Lyle W. A Passion for Souls, The Life of D.L. Moody (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1997), p. 192.
Who is to say what is “right?” For many, it merely means being guided by your own moral compass. Sin or disobedience to God’s commands is irrelevant to the one focused solely on living by their own personal code.
The Bible speaks to the post-modern idea that you can decide for yourself what is right. “Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoys acceptance… There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:9, 12).
The Gospel of Christ offers amazing good news for those willing to acknowledge God’s place as Author of life and Judge of humankind. Those willing to admit the limitations of their own perspective and ask for divine help will indeed see what the “next right thing” might be. Make no mistake, God requires nothing other than humble acceptance of His grace to begin to know Him and follow in His ways. Jesus said “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find: knock and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).
When a nation teems with people in awe of God, seeking His leadership –THAT nation will be blessed with direction and peace and the ability to do right.
Great names come and go, but the name of Jesus remains. The devil still hates it, the world still opposes it, but God still blesses it and we can still claim it! “In the name of Jesus” is the key that unlocks the door of prayer and the treasury of God’s grace.”
~Warren W. Wiersbe~
In a day when “spiritual” people are less and less inclined to be actively involved in any religious community when millions of Christians seem satisfied to remain disconnected from other believers when COVID-19 keeps us from being in physical proximity with other believers, we need to hear the good news of Ephesians 2:19 and consider the implications for our lives. Because of Christ, we are fellow citizens with God’s people. We belong, not just to God, but also to the community of those who have pledged their allegiance to God through Christ.
Christ uncrowned himself to crown us, and put off his robes to put on our rags, and came down from heaven to keep us out of hell. He fasted forty days that he might feast us to all eternity; he came from heaven to earth that he might send us from earth to heaven.
~William Dyer~
When Jesus faced substantial challenges or needed to make key decisions, he spent time in prayer. If the Son of God found it helpful to talk with his Heavenly Father in such times, shouldn’t we do the same? As I look back I have spent the most time in prayer when I am in a trial.
Christ had reasons for demanding that people openly follow Him. He knew that an unwitnessed vow is no vow at all. Until you have surrendered to Christ by a definite act of your will, you are not a Christian.
~Billy Graham~
Sometimes the words of Jesus bring extraordinary comfort and inspiration. Sometimes, however, they are disturbing. They challenge us in our comfort and self-reliance. They force us to take a fresh look at how we’re living, to see through our self-serving assumptions. Jesus disturbs us because he wants us to experience the truest joy and meaning as we live, not for ourselves, but for the kingdom of God.
“If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?”
~David Livingstone~
"Christians are not inspectors; they are spiritual fruit pickers looking for any sign of life."
— Mark Driscoll
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