Building Muscles of Faith..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Building Muscles of Faith

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Kings 18:22-36

"I wish I had great faith." These are words that almost every Christian has said at one time or another. But faith is like a muscle, which must be exercised in order to become strong; just wishing cannot make it happen.

Christians are to believe God, not only for salvation but for everything. Rather than a spiritual "plateau," faith is actually a process that involves increasing degrees of trust throughout life. Little faith hopes that God will do what He says; strong faith knows that He will; and great faith believes that He has already done it.

Elijah was a man of great faith. He saw increased challenges as opportunities for God to do His work—and the prophet believed Him for the supernatural. So can you. The Lord may not do every miraculous thing you ask of Him, but He does some extraordinary work in and through each person who is obedient and willing to trust in Him.

You may be thinking, I am not good enough for the Father to use me. The Scriptures are filled with examples of weak and flawed people whom the Lord used to achieve His purposes. He is looking, not for perfection, but for individuals willing to believe Him. He not only works through people of faith; He transforms them.

Start by reading God's Word to learn what He wants you to do. Each day's situations and needs are opportunities to trust Him. Ask the Lord to bring to mind verses that apply to your circumstances. Trust Him and do what He says—your faith "muscles" will grow, and He will be glorified.

Restoration of Identity..... Craig Denison

 Restoration of Identity

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

The story of the prodigal son moves my heart to delve into the depths of God’s limitless grace. I find myself in every facet of Jesus’ words. I identify with both the son’s rebellion and the power of the father’s love. As children of God we are in constant need of reminders about God’s mercy toward us. When the world rejects us, God calls us in. When the world writes us off, God clothes us with righteousness and honor. May this transformative story of the prodigal son guide you to a deeper and more intimate relationship with your loving heavenly Father.

Scripture:“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” >1 Peter 2:9

Devotional:

The restoration of identity to the rebellious and wayward son in the story of the prodigal son is perhaps the greatest example of God’s heart to restore you and me as his children. In the story, the rebellious son returns to the Father hoping solely to be allowed to serve his father as one of the slaves. But as the son approached his home, the father ran out to meet him and immediately brought restoration to his identity as a good and pleasing son in his eyes.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have been transformed from a rebellious and sinful people into reflections of our Savior. God ran out to meet us at our point of greatest weakness and clothed us with a new nature that we might no longer sin against him but live with him in glorious, powerful communion.

Isaiah 43:1 says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Our Father saved us from a life of wandering and searching for who we are and has called us his holy and redeemed children. Our name is no longer associated with a sinful nature but rather with the bloodline of Christ Jesus. By no power of our own, we have been transformed, set free, redeemed, and made to be like our heavenly Father in both our nature and our deeds.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” We have an identity that reaches far beyond simply getting through this life happily and successfully. Our identity now is to proclaim the unimaginable excellencies of our heavenly Father. We’re called to declare to the world the incredible power of our God, that he could take our weak and helpless lives, give us new names, place his Spirit within us, and ignite a passion so deep no circumstance could ever change it. This world is not your home. The nation in which you live is no longer your highest allegiance. You are the child of the Creator, the one true God, and he has made you new, whole, and purposed for works of eternal significance.

Allow your Father to declare to you your identity in Christ. Take time today to listen and receive a fresh revelation of who you are. Allow the Spirit to fill you afresh and empower you to live a life worthy of the one who has saved you. There is no greater joy than living in light of the incredible gift of a restored identity we’ve been given by the grace of our heavenly Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the restoration of the son’s identity in the story of the prodigal son. Allow Scripture to give you perspective on your own identity in Christ.

“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.” >Luke 15:21-24

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” >2 Corinthians 5:17

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh today. Take time to rest in God’s presence and allow him to reveal his love for you anew.

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” >Ephesians 5:18

3. Ask the Father to show you the good works he has set before you today. Ask him to lead you into a lifestyle of proclaiming his excellencies. Ask him to empower you to live out your new identity in Christ.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” >1 Peter 2:9

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” >Isaiah 43:1

May Colossians 3:1-4 serve as a foundation on which we pursue the fullness of life afforded to us by the love and grace of our heavenly Father:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Extended Reading: Colossians 3

When Stress Relief Is All You Want..... TRACIE MILES

 When Stress Relief Is All You Want

TRACIE MILES

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)

By the time I returned home from traveling on business, I could feel the weight of stress and anxiety gripping my heart.

During my six-hour road trip, I had made the mistake of tuning in to radio news channels rather than music to keep me occupied and awake. Countless news stories, one after the other, each personified the brokenness of our world. Stories of abuse, mass shootings, disaster, political corruption, pandemics, business closings, people hurting, and more fell upon my heart and mind like an avalanche of heavy rocks.

This overdose of negative news, on top of the already stressful situations I was dealing with in my own life, left my head spinning with anxiety-filled thoughts and emotions. I wasn’t surprised when I felt a tightness forming in my chest and an ache in my stomach — a sure sign the toxicity of stress was threatening to squirm its way into my spirit. Yet again.

A few years earlier, I had experienced the dangerous toll that a stressed-out, anxiety-riddled lifestyle takes on our minds and bodies. Therefore, I knew I needed to grab the reins of my thoughts and emotions and steer them in a different direction to intentionally focus on the peace available through Jesus instead.

This gift of peace, which is our only rescue from toxic stress, can be summed up in one verse, John 16:33: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

In John 16, Jesus is warning His disciples that life is about to get stressful. He encourages them not to abandon their faith and to remember He will always be with them. Jesus was trying to explain His upcoming crucifixion and assure them that, although He would be leaving them, He would also be returning. But the disciples were confused and concerned.

So, in verse 33, He reassures them that, no matter what happens in their earthly life, they can always remain peaceful in Him.

Just like the disciples, we, too, can quickly allow the uncertainties and troubles of life to steal God’s peace from our hearts, setting ourselves on a path to chronic stress and anxiety, which is unhealthy for us mentally, emotionally and even physically. Despite the fact that the word “stress” is not mentioned in the Bible, Jesus addressed it nonetheless.

He referred to this disease of stress consistently through synonyms such as anxiety, worry, troubles, fears, burdens, anguish, dismay, strain, trials, tribulations and adversity, just to name a few. Jesus spoke of heartache, fears, frustrations and betrayal — the sadness of deceit, the pull of temptation, and the devastation of sin. He tells of difficult circumstances taking place in governments, churches, relationships, marriages, families, communities and the world as a whole. But Jesus also voices encouragement for dealing with the stressors of life.

Despite the differences between biblical times and the 21st century, the presence of stress and our need for Jesus is the same. Jesus understood life would always be stressful, and His promise of peace is applicable no matter what century we live in. His Word is our only source of true, lasting peace and relief when we feel stressed out, depleted and stretched too thin.

Maybe you have tried every stress relief tactic known to humankind, to no avail. That’s because none of the stress management options of our world can hold a candle to the real and permanent stress relief found only in Jesus.

If you have been searching for a peace and serenity that seems completely out of reach, maybe you have simply been searching in all the wrong places. Stress is an outward indication of an inner situation — a situation of a heart that needs the peace of Jesus.

Dear Jesus, I desperately need Your peace in the midst of today’s chaotic times and my own personal stressors that I am facing. Fill me with a peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

When The Gospel Changes..... By Jennifer Waddle

 When The Gospel Changes (Galatians 1:11-12)

By Jennifer Waddle

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12)

There are many ways to present the gospel, whether it be to children at Vacation Bible School or to people on the street. But one thing remains the same—the gospel message itself.

Paul warned the Galatians that if anyone—even an angel from heaven—preached another gospel to them, they would be accursed. Those were some strong words for some serious times. And we are in some serious times as well.

Watered-down versions of what it means to be saved have infiltrated the church. Words like sin, shame, death, and hell have been removed from some pastor’s language. Even though the Bible is clear about the condition of mankind—sinful and deserving of death—people have decided to change the gospel to fit a softer, kinder version.

The wonderful truth of the gospel is that it doesn’t fit man’s agendas, opinions, or purposes. In fact, Paul stated it wasn’t according to man at all! Instead, the gospel calls people to repentance, to admit they are sinners and in need of a Savior. It demands they lay their shameful lives down in submission to a righteous Savior.

I guess you could say the Good News is also tough news. And because of that, people insist that the gospel needs to change with the times. It’s far easier to say “I love Jesus,” but continue in sin, (even calling sin “good”), than to say “I need Jesus because I’m a sinner deserving hell.”

One of the greatest comforts for believers everywhere is that God never changes. He is steadfast, true, and holy in all His doings. We don’t have to worry that one day He will come up with a different plan to save us. Instead, we are assured that “He has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

Hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News that says, “There is a God who loves you, so much so, He sent His one and only Son to die on a cross for you. And when you repent of your sins, turn from them, and believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will be saved.”

Remember, the gospel wasn’t written from man’s imagination. It came through the revelation of Jesus Christ at just the right time and in just the right way. It doesn’t need changing. So, if you ever hear a “new” gospel being preached, run as fast as you can. Pray for discernment to know when the teaching of the gospel is “off” and test everything you hear in light of the Scriptures.

Be encouraged today, knowing you can count on God’s unchanging grace. The Good News is still the same Good News that has been preached from the beginning. That’s something you can count on.

God is So Much More..... by Debbie Holloway

 God is So Much More

by Debbie Holloway

For your Maker is your husband--the LORD Almighty is his name--the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth - (Isaiah 54:5).

It is natural and good for us to turn to God for comfort when we are overwhelmed by life. Scripture, prayer, and meditation can help us through anxiety, loneliness, divorce, the death of a loved one, and depression. Divorce rates continue to skyrocket, and many women (including single mothers) struggle to fill the hole in their lives with promises of God’s faithfulness. Many women use Scripture to remind themselves that, like Hosea married Gomer, the LORD said:

“I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy” (Hosea 2:19).

As I have been pondering this notion of God acting as husband to an aging single, a neglected wife, a grieving widow, or a lonely divorcee, something interesting came to mind. Something that maybe changes the way we think about God as a husband figure.

Marriage today is not what it was for biblical authors. Today, in the Western world at least, marriage is a union based on commitment, love, and common interest. We marry someone who shares our worldview, so we can journey through life together. We marry someone to whom we are physically attracted, so that we can enjoy them to the fullest. We marry for romance; we marry for personal fulfillment. Mostly, we marry because we want to – not because we have to. Women who remain single are fully capable of earning a living, doing good works for the Kingdom, and enjoying life.

Women in the ancient near east had a much more complex understanding of marriage. Yes, in Genesis 2, the Song of Solomon, and other places, we see that God’s plan was for marriage to create emotional and physical fulfillment and pleasure. But marriage for ancient Israelite women was more than emotional and physical partnership. It was – literally – a lifesaver. A woman who married gained the chance to have her own home. A woman who married gained the chance to have sons (essentially the life-goal of any ancient near-eastern woman). A woman who married would be provided for, fed, and cared for. If anyone hurt her, she had a legal protector and a place to find safety in much greater measure than if she still lived in her father’s household (or, God forbid, had no father or family).

Kind of makes looking to God as “husband” to fulfill emotional needs seem… pretty shallow, doesn’t it? Check out this passage in Isaiah that really elaborates on the significance of the metaphor:

"Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD. "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband-- the LORD Almighty is his name-- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:1-5, emphasis mine).

To ancient Israel, saying "God is your husband" meant that God was their redeemer, God was their savior from captivity, their savior from barrenness.

An important realization comes with this fuller understanding of the God-as-husband metaphor. We can realize that, while God is protector and ultimate satisfaction, he is not a cure-all for our momentary pain. God never promises that his relationship with us can –or should– eliminate every negative emotion that we feel. We must have grace for ourselves, and grace for each other, to mourn and work through pain, without guilt or shame for doing so.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Have you been trying to dismiss your own heartache (or the heartache of a friend) by saying, “The Lord is your husband!”? Take a moment to consider the full extent of what that means, and what it does not mean.

Further Reading
Hosea
Jeremiah 31

A Prayer for the Peace of Christ..... By Andrea Herzer

 A Prayer for the Peace of Christ

By Andrea Herzer

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ - John 20:19

After Jesus’ death, his disciples were taking shelter together in a locked home. Fearing for their lives, they were hiding from those who had just helped to execute Jesus. I cannot imagine the distress they faced. Have you been living in fear lately? I have deep compassion for you, friend. You are the reason I am writing today. 

Have you ever noticed that fear often travels hand-in-hand with other emotions? Jesus’ followers were afraid, but they were also grieving the violent death of their friend and Savior. Their dreams had been shattered. They had left everything to follow Jesus, but now their work as his disciples seemed to be at an end. And to top it off, they were afraid that if they ventured outdoors, they could face the same death Jesus suffered. Are you, like the disciples, grieving the death of a loved one? Have you also lost your job or the dreams you had for your future? Read on to learn what Jesus gave his frightened and worried followers. If you are his follower, he gives the same thing to you today.

In Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples after his resurrection, a door that fear had locked could not keep him out. Jesus came and stood among them. He had compassion for their suffering, as evidenced by his first words, “Peace be with you!” After he showed them his hands and side, he said it again, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:20-21) Peace. The word, in Greek, is eiréné and it implies complete wholeness, tranquility, and rest. Jesus gave them exactly what they needed. Their difficult circumstances had not changed, but Jesus in their midst meant that everything had changed. His presence and peace unlocked their courage and restored their faith. If you need courage and faith right now, then invite Jesus into your midst and accept the peace he gives to all who believe in him.

Let us pray this together:

Dear Jesus, I need your peace. I believe that you died for my sins, and that God raised you from the dead so that by believing in you I can have peace with God and life in your Name. Forgive me for allowing the cares of this world to obscure my spiritual vision. 

I confess that I have not been trusting your plan for my life and the lives of my loved ones. You have given me peace that brings restoration, wholeness, and rest to my soul. I have allowed the trials of this life to lock me into a spirit of fear, robbing me of the peace that is mine in Christ. 

Forgive me, Lord. Right now, I confess my fears and my worries to you. I declare that you did not give me a spirit of fear or cowardice! You gave me a spirit of power, and of love, and of soundness of mind and judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7) 

I know that rejoicing and delighting in you is a safeguard for my spirit. (Philippians 3:1) Please help me to practice the discipline of thanksgiving every day, so that I will be filled with your peace. (Now, give God thanks, allowing thanksgiving to give way to rejoicing and praise.) Thank you, Lord, that I can come to you with prayers and thanksgiving; in return you give me peace that is supreme over my worries. 

I ask for that peace to fill me now, let it watch over and protect my heart. (Philippians 4:6-7) Let your peace have authority in my heart, because that is your calling for me. (Colossians 3:15) Give me the courage I need to tell others about you, so that they may also have peace with God and peace from God. 

In Jesus’ Precious Name. Amen.