The Missionary Call..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Missionary Call

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 4:18-22

I've heard every reason you can imagine for avoiding missionary service: "I haven't been to seminary." "I can't preach." "I'm too old." "My family won't go for it." On and on the list goes. Let me tell you that there are thousands of active missionaries who once thought that God couldn't use them either. I often have the privilege of hearing their stories of how the Lord turned resistance into enthusiasm.

People can offer God plenty of reasons why He shouldn't call them to spread the gospel. But His call is not issued for our consideration; He expects a response of obedience and surrender.

A believer is accountable only to say yes to God's call. It is the Lord's responsibility to equip the chosen for the work He's assigned. A personal plan has been mapped for each believer's life, and God provides the personality and temperament that suits. Then He adds skills that can be developed and the spiritual gifts necessary to fulfill His mission.

God makes His call with wisdom and discernment. He knows why He created you and what you're capable of accomplishing in His strength (Eph. 2:10). Rejecting the invitation to serve Him is foolish. It would be like telling almighty God that He made a mistake. But surrender opens the door to a lifetime of service, blessing, and joy!

Mission work can occur near or far. You could serve: at home by writing to prisoners; down the street by dishing out meals at a shelter; across the nation by providing flood relief; or in a foreign land by translating the gospel. In short, a missionary calling is whatever God tells you to do.

The Faithfulness of God......?

 The Faithfulness of God

Weekly Overview:

This week we’ll spend time simply stirring up our affections for God. God has designed us to see him, to know his character and to let the truth of his goodness lead us into deeper relationship with him. Augustine wrote, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” In seeing God for who he is our hearts are naturally stirred to find rest in his goodness. May your heart be stirred at a revelation of God’s wonderful character.

Scripture: “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19

Devotional:

Numbers 23:19 describes a foundational aspect of God’s character, his faithfulness. Scripture says, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” As believers, we need a revelation of God’s faithfulness. Being able to fully trust God is the beginning of living an abundant life. If you don’t fully believe that God is faithful to lead you into the best possible life you could live, then you won’t seek out his will, trust him with your possessions, or be able to fully enjoy his presence.

God’s word promises us in Numbers 23:19 that God is perfectly faithful, steadfast, and true. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Romans 8:28 promises, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Your God is wholly faithful to you. No matter what you do, he will be there for you. His faithfulness isn’t dependent upon your works. All he requires is a willing heart to bring about the incredible fruit of the Spirit in your life.

You aren’t meant to live life apart from the knowledge of God’s faithfulness. You aren’t meant to live with the weight of doing life on your own. Man may fail you, but your God will not. Family and friends may not be there when you need them, but your God will always be there for you.

Where do you feel on your own? In what ways do you need a fresh revelation of God’s faithfulness? He promises to be true to you. He promises to see you through any situation you find yourself in. Isaiah 54:10 says, “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Faithfulness is foundational to the very character of God. God’s steadfast love for you is more sure than the very ground you walk on.

So respond to God’s faithfulness today. Let his promises steady the parts of your life that feel unsure. As you step outside today, take time to look at the world around you. Think about the things you’ve put your trust in. And remember, God promises that his faithfulness will outlast anything your eyes can see. May your affections for him be stirred today. May you respond to his faithfulness with your own. And may you experience the love and joy of a Father who loves you perfectly and completely.

Guided Prayer:           

1. Meditate on God’s promise to be faithful to you.

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”Numbers 23:19

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

2. Now reflect on your own life. Where in your life do you feel unsure? What situations seem to toss your emotions around like a boat in the middle of a storm? Where do you need a firmer foundation today?

3. Ask the Spirit for a revelation of God’s faithfulness in those areas. Ask God to help you trust in his promise of faithfulness. Ask him how he plans on bringing peace to those areas that are disturbing you today. Listen to him as he speaks.

Not only does God promise you his faithfulness, but he will actually reveal to you how he is working in your life. You can ask him for his plans, and he will show you! You can ask him how he feels about you and your life, and he will tell you! Within his promise of faithfulness is the promise of his voice. You will hear him speak today if you open your heart, listen to the Spirit and be alert for God to speak through whatever avenue he chooses. Your heavenly Father loves you. Spend your day establishing the foundation of his faithfulness in your own life. And experience a life lived in the abundance of God’s assurance and peace.

Extended Reading: Isaiah 54

Follow Me, I Know the Way! (Mark 1:17)..... By: Rachael Adams

 Follow Me, I Know the Way! (Mark 1:17)

By: Rachael Adams

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” – Mark 1:17

“The park closes in ten minutes,” the person over the loudspeaker boomed. We’d ridden everything we wanted except for one last rollercoaster. With a knowing nod, my son and I started the gauntlet from one end of the park to the other.

“Follow me, I know the way!” I yelled as I strategically zig-zagged through the crowd, my bag bouncing upon my back. Sweat dripping from our foreheads and gasping for breath, we reached our destination with only a couple of minutes to spare.

“We made it!” I exclaimed, raising my hand to celebrate with a high-five. Hands at his sides, my son looked down in disappointment. “Mom, this isn’t the right ride.”

We laugh at the mishap now, grateful for the reminder to be careful who we follow with minimal consequence. However, in our spiritual life, there is so much more at stake. Quite frankly, the people we are following might not know the way.

Admittedly, I’m prone to follow other people. Sometimes, I even follow people I don’t know. I emulate their actions and behaviors in an effort to become more like them. The problem is Jesus wants us to follow and become more like Him, not others.

Throughout Scripture, Jesus extends the invitation to follow Him. One of my favorite followers is Peter. Much like us, his first interaction with Jesus was an invitation to follow (Mark 1:17).

As a disciple, Peter followed Jesus faithfully witnessing miracles firsthand and even following Him to walk on water (Matthew 14:29). Later when Jesus was arrested, Peter followed Him, but this time at a distance — which in turn led to his denial and despair soon thereafter (Mark 14:54).

In His graciousness, Jesus appeared to Peter after His resurrection and invited Peter to follow Him once again. Regrettably, Peter was focused on John rather than Jesus and asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Interestingly enough, Jesus’s last words to Peter match His first. He answered, “What is that to you? You must follow me” (John 21:19-22).

Friend, Jesus issues this same invitation and challenge to us — to take up our cross daily and follow Him alone (Matthew 16:24). Even well-intentioned Christ-followers can lead us astray and how painfully tragic it would be to find ourselves at the wrong destination with only minutes to spare.

Following Jesus is not easy. Peter can attest to that and I have a feeling you can too. There is a cost, but the value of following Him is infinitely greater. Because those who follow the Lamb will be with Him eternally (Revelation 14:4).

We may stumble, get distracted, and detoured, but we can follow Him because as His sheep we know His voice. Do you hear Him calling?

Follow me. I know the way!

Sweet sister, He is the way. The only way (John 14:6). So with a knowing nod, let’s run with perseverance to our final destination. May we be among the many faithful followers by Jesus’s side high-fiving in victory for all of eternity because we made it there together.

Jesus Wept..... by Ryan Duncan

 Jesus Wept

by Ryan Duncan

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. – Matthew 4:1-2

I once heard a story of a woman who lost her only daughter in a tragic accident. After the funeral, she fell into deep despair, and many of her friends began to worry about her safety. In desperation, one of them asked their local priest if he would go to her house and speak with her, but the moment the woman saw him she flew into a rage.

“Get out!” She screamed, “I already know what you’re going to say. You’re going to tell me that everything happens for a reason, that this is God’s will, and I don’t want to hear that.” The priest did not move. Eventually, the woman began to calm down and started to sob. It was at that the priest spoke, quietly and gently.

“Listen,” he told her, “I don’t know why your daughter died, and I do not know why God allowed it to happen, but I do know that God understands what it is to lose a child, and that he is standing next to you, and that he cannot stop your suffering but that he loves you and he loves your daughter, and if you let him into your heart you will see her again.”

What really struck me the first time I heard this story was that God really did understand the pain of losing someone. I realized that for a long time I’d had a false view of Jesus. I’d always pictured him as this tall, soft-spoken man who was completely serene no matter what the world threw at him. I didn’t understand that when God became a man he embraced all human sensations, even the ones that hurt.

Jesus got hungry, just like us (Mark 11:12). He got frustrated, just like us (Mark 11:14). He got sad (John 11:35), and angry (John 2:16-17), and scared (Luke 22:44). Jesus probably laughed with his friends, and grew stern with the Pharisees. The Bible says that Jesus lived a sinless life, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t human.

Some of you may be having a fairly nice day while reading this and some of you may be having a pretty miserable one. Regardless of what is happening to you, know that God understands how you feel, and that he will always love you.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Follow Christ through his years of ministry. Take note of the times when Christ displays his emotions.

Further Reading

Matthew 4:1-11

A Prayer for the Anxious Heart..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for the Anxious Heart

By: Emily Rose Massey

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, HSCB).

Growing up, I learned very early on that not much in my life would stay consistent and that the pattern of my life would include a lot of change, and sometimes drastic change. It did not take long for a heart of anxiety to be formed in my life because there was not much in my life that I could run to for security.

As I got older, I ran toward other things, other people, trying to fill a void in my heart only God could fill. As a result, I was constantly anxious and depressed.

But, after I graduated from college, my eyes were truly opened to my selfish existence and my deep desire to find something firm and secure. I realized God was the security and peace I was searching for, even in the midst of change.

Change is just a part of life. How we handle that change is where we will discover where our hope and sense of security lies. If change is causing you to worry or stress out, you need not to run to other things or people to try to fix your anxiousness. You will always be disappointed, left feeling empty and even more anxious. You must run to God.

Philippians 4:6 tells us that we must not allow anxiety to overwhelm us, but instead, we are to come to God in prayer and cry out to Him with our requests, full of a thankful heart knowing He hears us.

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Nothing is too small when it comes to our prayers to God; He wants us to come to Him about everything! God not only hears our prayers; He responds with giving us His peace and protection.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

God’s peace is like nothing else this world can offer; it is beyond all human logic or reasoning. He promises to protect our hearts and minds when we dwell on our position in Jesus, as forgiven children of God. He is not only the Creator and sustainer of life, but He is our heavenly Father that longs to protect and provide for us.

When you are anxious, do you find yourself looking to other things or people to calm your heart? We must learn to run to the throne of God first and ask for His peace to invade your troubled heart when we are faced with changes in our life that may bring about many unknowns and uncertainties. The Lord is faithful to bring peace to our lives that will carry us through the storms of life when we are tempted to worry and live in fear.

Father,

My heart is full of anxiety. Things feel so out of my control. I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring. But I know You are the author of my future. I trust that You hold my life in Your hands.

Help me to grow in that trust when I am tempted to fear the unknown. Holy Spirit, remind me to cry out to God when I am scared instead of looking to other things or people to try to distract myself from the worry. Like scripture encourages us to do, I cast all my anxieties upon You, Lord, knowing that You care for me because You are a good Father that longs to provide for my needs, both physical and emotional.

I remind my heart right now to remain thankful; You hear every request and every cry. I continue to cry out for help. I lift my eyes to heaven and fix my gaze upon my ever-present help in time of need.

Lord, thank You for being a constant in my life. Thank you for being my solid rock when everything around me seems to be shaking. I choose to rest in Your peace- a promise that You are faithful to keep.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Why Didn't Jesus Defend Himself?..... By Rick Warren

 Why Didn't Jesus Defend Himself?

By Rick Warren

“But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’” (Mark 14:61 NIV)

What’s so important about Easter? It’s important because it proved that Jesus was who he claimed to be. He was God in the flesh, and he came to Earth to save us.

Three events occurred in dramatic succession on that Easter weekend: the trial of Jesus, then the death of Jesus, and finally the Resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus actually went through six trials. In that one night, he was brought before Annas (the father-in-law of Caiaphas), Caiaphas (the high priest), the Sanhedrin (the religious Supreme Court), Pilate (the governor of Jerusalem), Herod (the governor of Galilee), and then Pilate again.

At the end of those six trials, what did they find to accuse him of? Nothing. He had done nothing wrong. They brought in people to make up phony charges, but those didn’t stick. Finally they convicted him on one count: claiming to be the Son of God. That’s the sole reason Jesus went to the cross.

Everyone who has ever been introduced to Jesus has already made some kind of decision about who he is. You either believe he’s a liar or you believe he’s a lunatic or you believe he’s the Lord. It can’t just be, “I believe he was a good teacher.” He couldn’t be just a good teacher, because a good teacher would not say, “I’m God, and I’m the only way to Heaven.” A good person would not say that unless it was the truth.

Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world. In John 12:47, he is recorded as saying: “I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” (NIV). He allowed himself to be put on trial so there would be no doubt about who he was. He could have stopped the trial at any moment; he knew he would be proven guilty and put on the cross. But he allowed it to happen. It was all part of the plan.

Playtoday’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

Talk It Over

• Why do you think God allowed Jesus to be put to death, even though he was innocent? What does it say about God’s character?
• What was your reaction when you were first introduced to Jesus?
• What do you believe about Jesus now?