Video Bible Lesson - Answers in Times of Great Disaster by Dr. Charles Stanley

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

8/3/2020

Answers in Times of Great Disaster

by Dr. Charles Stanley

Deuteronomy 29:29
Almighty God reserves the right to reveal some things and conceal others. Although we may not know why natural disasters occur, the biblical truths we do know with absolute certainty allow us to trust the Lord even in times of great suffering. These include:1. God is in control (Ps. 103:19). Nothing in heaven or on earth is outside of His rule and authority. He does not react to events but sovereignly ordains or permits them to run their course. Although we cannot know for certain if He has sent a catastrophe or allowed it, we can trust in His goodness and wisdom.2. The Lord loves people and wants them to be saved (John 3:16-17). Giving His Son for the salvation of the world proves without a doubt that He loves each person. This truth stands firm despite the fact that many reject the Savior. He cares for us, even when we can’t feel it or won’t accept it.3. God ordains or permits events for His good purpose (Isa. 46:10). Though we cannot fully comprehend what He is doing in each incident, every disaster is a wake-up call for humanity. He is alerting us of the need to repent—so the lost can be saved and the saved can be revived to live totally for Him. Catastrophes open our ears to hear from the Lord.The One who loves us perfectly is in full control, working everything out according to His good purpose. Knowing this should fill us with hope, even in the midst of crisis situations. The Lord even promises to turn disaster to good for those who “are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

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

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. (1 Cor 16:13)

Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle.
—Phillips Brooks

We must remember that it is not in any easy or self-indulgent life that Christ will lead us to greatness. The easy life leads not upward, but downward. Heaven always is above us, and we must ever be looking up toward it. These are some people who always avoid things that are costly, that require self-denial, or self-restraint and sacrifice, but toil and hardship show us the only way to nobleness. Greatness comes not by having a mossy path made for you through the meadow, but by being sent to hew out a roadway by your own hands. Are you going to reach the mountain splendors?
—Selected

Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle; face it. ’Tis God’s gift.

Be strong!
Say not the days are evil—Who’s to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesece—O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, In God’s name.

Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long,
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
—Maltbie D. Babcock

The Consequences of Sin.....Dr. Charles Stanley

The Consequences of Sin

Dr. Charles Stanley

Genesis 3:14-19

Christians tend to categorize sins, rating some as small and inconsequential, but others as huge and far-reaching in the damage they cause. In reality, no one sins in isolation. Each disobedience to God affects not only the sinner but also countless others in both the present and the future.

If we were to separate Adam and Eve's sin from its context, few of us would convict them of great transgression. All they did was swallow some fruit from a tree with a "do not eat" sign. Today people think nothing of ignoring commands—even biblical ones.

But God has a totally different view of our sins. Each one is followed by negative consequences. Adam and Eve's disobedience led to pain and frustration in two basic areas of fulfillment—relationships and meaningful work. The whole earth fell under sin's curse, and every person born since then has entered the world with a sin nature that alienates each one from the Lord.

That first rebellion plunged humanity into a terrible condition. Civilization is now plagued by countless ramifications of the innumerable sins committed by human beings throughout the ages. Is it any wonder the world is in such sad shape? Sin not only causes suffering; it robs us of God's best. The Garden of Eden is closed and locked to sinful mankind.

The good news of Christ's grace and forgiveness is our only real hope in this fallen world. Though unpleasant, focusing on sin's consequences is necessary at times to remind us of the greatness of our salvation and to move us to obey God, even in the small things. Each obedience is huge to Him.

Diamonds and Dumpster Fires..... JADA MCLINTICK

Diamonds and Dumpster Fires
JADA MCLINTICK

“… to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

Have you ever messed up so badly that you thought to yourself, Well … God might be able to use her, but not me. My life is a dumpster fire …?

It seems logical to me that God would make something good out of the bad things that happen to me, but what about those things I do to myself? The sinful situations of my own making?

I have a hard time accepting unfailing love and grace from my heavenly Father when I do something epically stupid and find myself in a hot mess.

In our key verse, Isaiah 61:3, there’s no distinction on when God loves us enough to bestow on us a crown of beauty, nor does it say He only uses certain ashes and not others. It says “… to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

In other words, God can turn what has been set ablaze into something beautiful … even if you were the one who lit the match.

Isaiah 54:10 also addresses this unconditional type of love: “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

It does not say His unfailing love will remain just so long as the shaken mountain was something done to you and not by you. What it does say, in effect, is this: I will always love you … no matter what.

Many years ago, after suffering as the victim of infidelity in my marriage, I was anguished and heartbroken.

I felt unworthy, unloved and unwanted.

And although I went to the Lord to find healing, it wasn’t happening as fast as I would have liked, so I took matters into my own hands by making a terrible choice. To ease the pain and emptiness I was feeling, I had an affair of my own.

Attempting to put a Band-Aid on my shattered pride, I found it did not ease my pain long term — quite the opposite, in fact. What it did was set fire to any hope of reconciliation in my marriage, burn my fairy-tale expectations to the ground, and hurt everyone around me in a cascading flow of lava.

One sinful match I lit myself destroyed it all.

But then something amazing happened — God didn’t leave me there.

He blew life and breath on the ashes I had made and sparked a new flame. A flame of Holy-Spirit fire that released me from my sin and shame.

He gave me forgiveness and unconditional love I did not deserve. Then, He fueled in me a passion to tell others that their mistakes and messes are not the measure of how God sees and loves them. He loves them no matter what.

God uses fire to refine, and over time, great pressure produces valuable diamonds. Sometimes the refiner’s fire is something we fling our own selves into. And that’s OK. He can still make diamonds out of it.

If your impossible and sinful situation seems like too much to use, remember that the hotter the fire, and the greater the pressure, the larger the diamond He can produce in you to wear on your life and reflect His glory that has restored you.

Don’t simply put out your life’s dumpster fire and hide the diamonds. There may be a sister nearby holding a match who needs to hear your story.

Lord, thank You for Your unending grace that has no stipulations. Today, I will embrace the “no matter what” unending love You have for me, even in my messes. Help me take that kind of love and grace and shower my sisters with it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (ESV)

Setting a Christian Example..... by Sarah Piper

Setting a Christian Example
by Sarah Piper

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:12

Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt like you had nothing to offer or that your contributions didn’t matter? Ever had to prove yourself to others in order to gain their respect? Think back to your childhood—maybe you experienced this in a classroom or on a sports team. It’s easy to be intimidated or overshadowed by those who are older, smarter, more talented or more experienced than we are. In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul is writing to Timothy, a young believer. He encourages him not to give anyone an excuse to write him off as immature or undeserving of their attention, but instead to confidently set an excellent example of the Christian life.

Of course, Paul’s message here doesn’t apply only to Timothy, but to us as well. Even if we sometimes feel useless, God has a plan to use us for His glory in every situation. He enables us to live in a way that exalts Him and to bless others with our example.

In this verse, Paul names five specific areas in our lives that should be representative of a changed heart, the first of which is speech. This is probably one of the most difficult aspects of our character to keep in check; as James 3:6 says, “the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.” Although there’s no denying that it’s challenging, it’s vital that we learn to control what we say since it often has a huge effect on others. Thoughtful and loving words can establish relationships, but just a few angry or careless words can destroy years of friendship.

Next, Paul emphasizes our conduct. In his letter to the Philippians, he encourages them to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” As believers, we have a responsibility to represent Christ to the world through our actions. If we wear the label of “Christian,” we must be willing to live our lives to that standard.

Perhaps the most essential aspect, love must also be characteristic of our lives. As Jesus says in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” More than anything else, our love distinguishes us from unbelievers. Christians are called to exhibit a kind of love that others would see as crazy, the same kind that Jesus showed us: unconditional, undeserved, and often unrequited—the type of love that makes people do a double take.

Next, Paul addresses our faith. As believers, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). We trust that the Bible is true, that Jesus was who He said He was, and that God has the ability to keep the promises He has made to us. This faith should give us courage to live boldly for Christ because we know God will love, protect, and provide for us no matter what.

Finally, we are called to be an example of purity. In the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:8, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Because of our fallen nature, we can’t reach perfection in this life, but nevertheless, we are to strive to keep God’s commands as a demonstration of our love for Him and gratefulness for the saving work He’s done in our lives. As we grow in our walk with Him, He promises to purify us and make us more like Himself.

The characteristics outlined in this verse aren’t easy to perfect by any stretch of the imagination. That doesn’t give us a free pass not to work towards that goal, though. Paul challenges us to reach for a higher standard, not only to set an example for other believers, but also to make unbelievers wonder what we have that is so special that it changes everything about our lives.

Fight the Appeal of Sin with the Truth of the Word..... by Lynette Kittle

Fight the Appeal of Sin with the Truth of the Word
by Lynette Kittle

One Sunday morning I dug through my drawer and pulled out a pair of white pantyhose. “Great,” I thought, just what I needed to complete my outfit.

After checking for runs and snags, I pulled them on. At the time they seemed to fit well so I put my shoes on and ran for the door.

However soon after arriving at church and walking my daughters to their classrooms, my hose started to slip.

As hip-huggers, it wasn’t too bad and I honestly thought. “I can live with it.” But as I continued to walk, the hose continued to spiral downward. With each step they slipped further, moving to my knees, then inching just above my ankles, making it more and more difficult to walk with every step.

Jesus told his disciples how things that cause people to stumble are bound to come (Luke 17:1). I just wouldn’t have guessed it coming through a hasty fashion choice on my way to church.

Hidden by my maxi dress, I waddled into the ladies restroom. One might think there would be no question what strategic decision needed to be made. However, I actually questioned whether or not to pull up my stretched out stockings and keep trying to wear them. My DIY ideas ran from tying a knot on the side in effort to keep them up, or, twisting and tucking them into my slip?

Yet just trying to walk and move around would be uncomfortable and difficult. My mind envisioned how my walking, sitting, and standing would be impaired, and how weird my moving would appear to onlookers, along with inhibiting my participation and fellowship at church.

Thinking back it's easy to see that I just needed to take them off and pitch into the nearest wastebasket, especially so I could enjoy church. It should have been a no-brainer. Why would I even consider continuing to wear them?

Surprisingly, those sagging stockings turned my thought to consider sin's appeal in life. It can be so obvious when something isn't beneficial for me and is causing unnecessary challenges and difficulties to my daily walk.

Yet at the same time, things can have such a hold or appeal in my thinking that it's difficult to give up. Thankfully, when tempted and feeling weak about making right choices, I can turn to God who empathizes with my weaknesses, One who has been tempted in everyway but not sinned (Hebrew 4:15).

Scripture describes how it's my decision whether to hold-on or let-go of sin when it becomes evident in my life. Galatians 5:1 encourages me that because Christ has set me free, I can stand firm and not let myself be bound by sin.

Surprised by my real-life footstep hindrances, I wouldn’t have ever guessed an old pair of hose would offer me such a practical example of sin's ability to entangle and trip up my walk.

Hebrews 12:1 encourages me to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” so I can run with perseverance the race marked out before me.

Thankfully I came to my senses and threw those pantyhose into the trash, choosing to freely (and literally) walk away, free from entanglement.

A Prayer of Healing for Sick Family and Friends..... By Wendy van Eyck

A Prayer of Healing for Sick Family and Friends
By Wendy van Eyck

Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. – Jeremiah 17:14

Some time ago, I sat in an office where an oncologist told my husband after three battles with cancer that sometimes you just have to have faith. I sat there and thought about how the burden of healing sickness is never on the patient, how it is never even on a doctor, but how it is always, always, on God.

The burden of healing rests on the shoulders of my big, gracious God who turns when I touch the hem of his garment.

The burden of healing falls on my God who knows the plans he has for me even when my own hopes collapse around me.

The burden of healing doesn’t lie in saying just the right words or praying something that sounds beautiful. And I don’t know about you but that frees me up to pray a little more boldly for God to heal.

I don’t know if you need healing from a sickness or if you know a family member or friend who does but if you’re searching for words you’re welcome to borrow some of mine. Let’s pray:

Lord Jesus, thank you that you love [name of person who needs healing]. I know that you hate what their illness is doing to them/me. I ask that you would heal this disease, that you would have compassion and bring healing from all sickness.

Your word says in Psalm 107:19-20 that when we call out to you the Eternal one you will give the order, heal and rescue us from certain death. In the Bible, I have read of miraculous healing and I believe that you still heal the same way today. I believe that there is no illness you cannot heal after all the bible tells of you raising people from the dead so I ask for your healing in this situation.

I also know from my experience of life on earth that not everyone is healed. If that happens here than keep my heart soft towards you, help me to understand your plan and help me to be excited about heaven.

God, I thank you that [name of person who needs healing] belongs to you and that you are in control of everything that happens from our first breath to our last sigh.

Amen.