Video Bible Lesson - What Godly Grandparents Should Tell Their Children By Rhonda Stoppe

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

7/20/2020

What Godly Grandparents Should Tell Their Children

By Rhonda Stoppe

I'm so glad God made you.
Our grandkids are growing up in a world that does not acknowledge God as their Creator, so it’s vital that parents and grandparents regularly remind them how God carefully designed them in their mother’s womb.God loves you.Kids learn best how they are loved when it is demonstrated to them through loving actions. Saying “I love you” without showing love can feel like empty words to a child––or anyone really. In the same way, God, who is the perfect loving Father, displayed the depth of His love by sending his only Son whose sacrifice would pay the price for our sin. Reminding your grandchild of how God lovingly offers new life in Christ to anyone who would turn from their sin to follow Jesus is a great way to help them realize how great the Father's love is for them.The Bible offers many reminders of God’s display of adoration for us. You would be wise to memorize some of these verses and regularly share them with your grandchild:“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God.” ( 1 John 3:1)“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” ( John 3:16)“But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ( Romans 5:8)In this way you’ll train them not to grow overwhelmed with anxiety, but rather to ask God to use them as a light shining like a star in a crooked and perverse generation ( Daniel 12:3, Philippians 2:15). For in this, your grandchildren will find purpose in life and hope for the future.

Getting older brings a clarity to what’s important. While we want our grandkids to remember their times on Papa’s farm, we want to leave them with a godly legacy. With this goal in mind, let’s look at what every grandparent should tell their grandchildren.

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

Seeing then that we have a great high Priest… Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Our great Helper in prayer is the Lord Jesus Christ, our Advocate with the Father, our Great High Priest, whose chief ministry for us these centuries has been intercession and prayer. He it is who takes our imperfect petitions from our hands, cleanses them from their defects, corrects their faults, and then claims their answer from His Father on His own account and through His all-atoning merits and righteousness.

Brother, are you fainting in prayer? Look up. Your blessed Advocate has already claimed your answer, and you would grieve and disappoint Him if you were to give up the conflict in the very moment when victory is on its way to meet you. He has gone in for you into the inner chamber, and already holds up your name upon the palms of His hands; and the messenger, which is to bring you your blessing, is now on his way, and the Spirit is only waiting your trust to whisper in your heart the echo of the answer from the throne, "It is done."
--A. B. Simpson

The Spirit has much to do with acceptable prayer, and His work in prayer is too much neglected. He enlightens the mind to see its wants, softens the heart to feel them, quickens our desires after suitable supplies, gives clear views of God's power, wisdom, and grace to relieve us, and stirs up that confidence in His truth which excludes all wavering.

Prayer is, therefore, a wonderful thing. In every acceptable prayer the whole Trinity is concerned.
--J. Angell James

The Power of Patience.....Dr. Charles Stanley

The Power of Patience

Dr. Charles Stanley

Hebrews 6:9-15

Picture yourself waiting in a checkout line that hasn’t moved for ten minutes. Many of us would feel frustrated. We live in a generation that expects instant results.

Everyone struggles with some degree of impatience. We’re born with this trait—think about a three-month-old who wants milk in the middle of the night. The inborn reaction is to fuss at the first hint of discomfort and to keep at it until the need is met. Patterns from our old “flesh” nature make this a continual battle for most people, but one that is very worthwhile to fight.

Let’s consider the biblical definition of patience. It can mean both longsuffering and perseverance, or not giving up and yielding under pressure. In either case, it reveals itself when we are willing to wait without frustration while suffering or experiencing some strong desire. In other words, we accept difficult situations without giving God deadlines. What’s more, patience means accepting what the Lord gives, on His timetable—or what He chooses not to give. This quality results in inner peace and lack of stress. Meanwhile, we should pray, obey, and persist as we seek God’s direction.

The danger of impatience is that we might miss the Lord’s perfect plan and His blessing. Only when we trust our Father’s will and timing can we rest peacefully.

What causes you stress? Carefully examine whether you are taking matters into your own hands or releasing the circumstance to almighty God. Listen to Psalm 37:7, which says, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Seek His way and His timing. Anything else can be destructive.

A Christian’s Response to Racism and Injustice

A Christian’s Response to Racism and Injustice
JOEL MUDDAMALLE

“And he said to him, ‘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 first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV) 

The most important voice we need to hear to instruct us on racism and injustice is the voice of Jesus. In Matthew 22:37-40, we hear Jesus answer the Pharisees' question of what is the greatest commandment. His response masterfully and intentionally answered their question by connecting two commandments that flow into each other:

“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 first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Love the Lord your God.

Love your neighbor.

Our love of God requires and compels us to love our neighbor. A love of God without a love of our neighbor is a fractured love of God to begin with. Jesus emphasizes the importance of these two truths by saying that both of these commandments are the hinge that the law (the writings of Moses) and the prophets (the rest of the Old Testament) hang on.

To fully understand the weight of Jesus’ word, we have to rewind and look at the past. We could turn to so many places in the Old Testament (Amos, Zechariah, Leviticus and Deuteronomy), but one of the most helpful places for us to start is Micah 6:8. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

The prophet Micah speaks out on behalf of two types of people: those who are in poverty and those who are in the margins of society. Micah is dealing with both racism and social classism, which are both offensive to God. Micah responds by calling the people of God (and calling us today) to walk humbly with God, do justice and love mercy.

Walk humbly: This is an image of walking hand in hand in intimacy with a father. As a child, when we walk in the shadow of our parents, hand in hand, we are humbled by their presence, and we live and act as a result of that humility.

Do justice: The Hebrew word for justice is “mishpat,” and it deals with a legal decision. This speaks of having systems and structures that are not morally bankrupt but reflect the righteous justice of God.

Love mercy: As a people who’ve experienced extravagant and undeserved mercy, we should pour out extravagant mercy onto others, even if it’s undeserved.

Jesus teaches us that these three characteristics mentioned in Micah 6:8 should be embodied and reflected in the lives of Christians as we relate to our neighbors.

Who is our neighbor? Every image bearer of God. In other words — all of humanity. As Christ-followers, we love God with every ounce of our being, and we’re then sent out to love our neighbors to be a reflection of the love, mercy and justice of God. This is what can be referred to as the “Law of love” (Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8; John 13:34-35).

Jesus is telling His people today to walk humbly, do justice, love mercy and love all of humanity. Will we listen to His voice and instruction?

Lord, thank You for teaching us so clearly what it means to love our neighbor through Your Word. Thank You for the gift of the Scripture and how it has the power to instruct and guide us in every situation and circumstance. Empower us through Your Spirit to live a life of love that serves as a sign and symbol of the goodness of the gospel to our neighbors that may not know You. Help us, Lord, when things are hard. Remind us to lean into You through Your Word by the power of Your Spirit and not on our own understanding. Stir our affections for You, King Jesus, and be with us as You’ve promised. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Galatians 5:14-15, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” (ESV)

James 2:8, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” (ESV)

What's it to You?

What's it to You?
by Kelly Givens

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at the table close to him… When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:20-22

Have you ever wondered why God allows some Christians to suffer so much, and others seem to glide through life relatively pain-free? I know many godly men and women who seem to suffer without end. Their pain is more than I have ever experienced; they’ve faced more trials in a year than I’ve faced in my entire life. Why is that? Am I loved by God more than these people? Are they glorifying God more through their suffering than I can in my blessings? The comparisons go in all directions.

Comparison was Peter’s go-to when Jesus told him this: “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God). Then he said to him, “Follow me!”  (John 21:18-19).

Jesus was foretelling that Peter, just like himself, would be led to his death, arms stretched out in his own crucifixion. Tradition points to Peter being crucified upside down during Nero’s persecution, not wanting to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.

I’m not sure if Peter knew then by what kind of death he would die, but no doubt he got the gist of what Jesus was saying. So it’s no surprise that he quickly disregarded Christ’s instruction to “follow me!” Instead, he looked around at the other disciples, spotted John, and exclaimed “Lord, what about this man?”  I wonder if Peter was thinking, “I get what you're trying to tell me, but what about that guy? Why should I go through this trial and not him? Do you love him more than me?”

Our sinful nature is hard-wired to compare. When others seem to get ahead or are seemingly blessed more than us, we grow envious. When the tables are turned and we are the ones being blessed, we might fight the urge to brag or think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Both kinds of comparison are fatal to our faith, and Jesus knows it. So when Peter bluntly asked, “what about this man?” Jesus’ response was clear. “What is that to you? You follow me!”

Peter died a horrible, agonizing death. Most historians agree that most of the other apostles met similar, violent ends to their lives. Except for John. John died, presumably peacefully, in his old age. Why? Because that was how each “was to glorify God.” When God bestows on us blessings we should proclaim his glory joyfully and humbly. But when he allows us to suffer, we have the opportunity to proclaim him King through our hopefulness and faith. God’s glory is what's important, not our circumstances.

“You follow me.” Fixing ourselves on Jesus is the key to fruitful ministry, the key to humility, the key to joy regardless of our circumstances. It’s the key to glorifying God - the true purpose of our lives and ministry.

Intersecting Faith & Life: How quick are you to compare your joys and sufferings to those around you? Comparing our circumstances to others is fruitless. Jesus desires us to follow him, and have faith in the plan he has for our lives.

Further Reading:
1 Peter 1:6-7, Romans 8:37, Philippians 3:13-14

“The only glory which Jesus ever sought for himself or offered to his disciples was to be caught up in God’s redemptive purpose.” - George Caird

God Will Lead Your Way

God Will Lead Your Way
by Lynette Kittle

How are you making decisions in life? Do you believe it’s all up to you or do you rely on God to direct your steps?

You may believe since God gave you free will, it’s for you to choose what to do and where to go. And yes, God has given you the ability to choose but He wants you to choose His ways.

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages you to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight.”

So by choosing to follow God, you don’t have to depend on your own knowledge because He will lead you. By doing so, you’ll gain the ability to hear His voice. John 10:27 describes how “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Of course, you still have the choice to listen to God or go your own way. If you choose to venture out on your own, you may want to ask yourself if are you listening to your own voice or following another’s leading?

If you’re not sure how to distinguish the various thoughts that come into your mind, 2 Corinthians 10:5 directs you to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

So in a practical, living-it-out daily kind of way, what does this look like?

When the devil tried to lead Jesus astray in the wilderness, Luke 4:1-13 describes how He handled bringing thoughts into captivity. He turned to God’s truth in responding, understanding “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

As Hebrews 4:12 explains, “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Through studying the Scriptures, Jesus was prepared to reject wrong thoughts from leading Him astray. Like Him, you, too, can prepare yourself to recognize and take ungodly thoughts captive by studying God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

If you want to be confident you are hearing God’s voice and following His leading, the key is to know God’s Word. Studying Scripture equips you to recognize His voice and gives you the ability to distinguish between what is true or false.

A Prayer to Stay Afloat When Your Feet Can't Touch the Bottom

A Prayer to Stay Afloat When Your Feet Can't Touch the BottomBy Jenni Hereen

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ( Ephesians 3:20)

When I was very young, I went to a backyard pool party. Even though I couldn’t swim yet, I had fun splashing around in the cool water. It was up to my waist and I could laugh and play with my friends. I kept walking until the water was up to my chest. Then, I went a little further and it was up to my shoulders. But it still felt refreshing to be submerged in that icy water on a hot summer day. But then, another couple of steps further and my feet lost their footing and I was pulled under by the force of the water. I was drowning! An adult jumped in and pulled me out and as I sat on the grass panting, I thought, I’ll never do that again!

It can be the same in my walk with God. It’s okay in the beginning, up-to-my-ankles, testing and kicking at the water as I get my bearings. Soon the water is up to my knees but I can still easily reach down and splash around. It’s fun and very refreshing and even seems easy. I’m happily learning about the ways of God. Before I realize it, I’m up-to-my-waist in the living water of God. My learning has gone deeper. I’m grasping bigger concepts but I am also realizing that I can never know everything.

Suddenly, I find myself in water that is too deep to walk across. I have to swim. Therefore, I have to trust God to get me through when I can’t touch the ground.

Remember who God is, as well as His love, grace, patience, and kindness. While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. He purchased my freedom with His blood and forgave my sins. He continues to show me much kindness and grace even when I’m still messing up so that I can get back up again.

Remember that Christ’s life flows within me. Christ’s life and the Holy Spirit’s constant encouragement pumps through me. That “energy” is inside me, not somewhere out there, so that I can live for God and show His grace and kindness to people all around me. God continually sculpts me so that I can do good works and shine to others.

Remember that Christ’s love is deeper than I think. The more I understand just how wide, how long, how high, and how deep the love of God goes, the more peace I will feel, and when I feel all of that love and peace, I can surrender to His will and ways more and more.

Remember to lead a life that is worthy of this calling. With this love, kindness, power, and grace flowing within me, it is much easier to live out the Christian life and swim in the deep water where I can’t touch the ground or my own understanding. I am better prepared to live a life of humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness, as well as making the most of my God-given talents to build up God’s church.