Why God Speaks..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Why God Speaks

Dr. Charles Stanley

James 1:23-25

God is not one to speak in generalities. When He whispers from the pages of Scripture or confronts through a friend's words, the Father directly addresses issues in His children's lives. With that in mind, let's look at His three goals for communicating with believers—namely, for us to:

1. Comprehend the truth. God wants us to learn His ways and principles, to recognize our own frailty, and to identify the needs of others. He does more than offer this as head knowledge—He makes truth applicable to our lives. For example, the Lord assured Paul that His strength was sufficient to carry the apostle through anything (2 Cor. 12:9). Circumstances taught the apostle that God's Word was true.

2. Conform to the truth. Our lives are shaped by our belief system. What we hold as true influences our thinking. In turn, how we think affects our character, conduct, and conversation. God is determined to mold His children into Christlikeness so that they reflect His gospel to the world.

3. Communicate the truth. Every child of God is called to make disciples (Matt. 28:19). Believers can know the Lord and walk in His light but still fall short of this expectation. We must share the gospel by sharing God's truth with others and explaining how His words played out in our lives.

Notice that each goal builds on the one preceding it. Christians are a light reflecting God's glory to this world. We shine brightly by being attentive to God's voice and following His will. And when someone takes an interest in the source of our light, we are prepared to share the good news of Christ.

Understanding...... Craig Denison

 

Understanding

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

God’s goodness over our lives far exceeds anything we’ve experienced. We’ve only yet splashed around in the shallows of God’s deep love and mercy. In order to dive deeper into the fullness of life available to us, we must learn how to posture our hearts. May your relationship with God be enriched this week as you position yourself to receive all your loving heavenly Father has to give.

Scripture:“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalms 145:18

Devotional:           

For most believers, understanding and experience seem to be mutually exclusive. Theology and spirituality are believed to be separate, and while one might help the other, they don’t belong together as one wholehearted pursuit of God. The truth is that understanding and experience couldn’t be more intertwined. In fact, one does not truly exist without the other. To experience God is to have understanding. To understand God is to experience. It’s for this reason Jesus said in John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God longs for us to know him in spirit and truth, in experience and understanding. I can’t truly know someone by just reading a book about them. I can’t say that I know C. S. Lewis, Martin Luther, or Dietrich Bonhoeffer just because I’ve read a biography or some of their works. It is the same with God. Scripture is intended to give us understanding about God and guide us into a true relationship with him. Its words are intended to be an avenue to the Author who wrote them. And if we will adopt a perspective of gaining as much understanding about our heavenly Father as possible in order to know him more, Scripture will become a priceless resource to our lives we cannot do without.

Having understanding about the God we’re pursuing is absolutely vital to going deeper. Psalm 145:18 tells us, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Isaiah 26:3 says,“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” And Jesus commands us in Matthew 22:37 to “love the Lord your God with all your . . . mind.” Your mind is the gateway to your heart. If you believe lies about who you are or who God is, you will never seek him fully or properly. If you don’t know of his goodness, faithfulness, and nearness promised to you by Scripture, you’ll never have a reason to pursue truly knowing God.

God longs to guide you in a process of daily renewing your mind through Scripture. The Holy Spirit longs to help and teach you the truth of Scripture that you might know the God you serve. If you will commit yourself to a process of renewing your mind, new avenues will be created from your understanding to experience. If you will truly love the Lord by giving him your understanding to be molded and transformed, the truth of his love for you will flood from your mind to the untouched, dry, and weary places in your life. Commit to growing in your understanding of the Lord today that you might grow in your relationship with your loving, near, heavenly Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of worshipping God in spirit and truth.

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  John 4:23-24

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

2. In what ways have you been pursuing experience or understanding as if they are mutually exclusive? In what ways have you allowed a head knowledge of God or an experience of God to be enough?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what it’s like to truly pursue God in spirit and in truth. Ask him what it’s like to live your life where understanding and experience are never separated. Rest in his presence and commit yourself to knowing God in every part of your life.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalms 145:18

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13

God is after redemption and transformation in every part of our lives. Our spirit, soul, and body are not separated as if we can work on one part without developing the others. Our understanding affects both our hearts and bodies. Our emotions are impacted directly by our thoughts. And our bodies carry the weight of our stress or joy. To truly be transformed by God is to invite him into every facet of ourselves and allow his love to do a mighty and necessary work. May you experience the fullness of joy and redemption today as you invite God to transform every part of your life.

Extended Reading: John 16

Trusting God in the Secret Places..... SARAH GERINGER

 Trusting God in the Secret Places

SARAH GERINGER

“‘How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.’” Genesis 39:9c-d (NLT)

“Mom, have you ever stolen something?” My teen daughter waited for my response. Since teens seem to have built-in lie detectors, I knew there was no hiding from her.

“Yes,” I sighed. I recounted the times I took relatively small things, knowing what I was doing was wrong. When I took those things, I squashed down my guilty feelings by telling myself, “No one will know.” I convinced myself the secret swipes were no big deal. But every time I saw or used those stolen things, I was reminded of my lapses in integrity.

Not only did I tell my daughter that stealing is wrong, but I emphasized that lying to myself and God was just as bad. We both needed to be reminded that God knows everything, even if no one else will ever find out. That’s what makes integrity so challenging but so important.

To live as devoted followers of God, we must protect ourselves with integrity. This is a challenge that can only be met when we listen to the Holy Spirit’s warnings, follow Jesus’ example, and desire to honor our heavenly Father with full obedience. God wants us to live with integrity, trusting Him in the secret places of our lives.

Joseph, whose story is found in Genesis, is my favorite example of a person with integrity. A teenager sold into slavery by his family, he was suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar yet sophisticated world. As an adult, he was placed in a high-ranking Egyptian officer’s home, where he faced relentless temptation from his master’s wife. (Genesis 39) But when she invited him to sin in secret with her, he said:

“‘How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God’” (Genesis 39:9c-d, NLT).

Joseph knew sexual sin was wrong. But he was most concerned about how a lapse of integrity would damage his relationship with God. Though his choice for integrity landed him in prison, it intensified his relationship with God. This constant awareness of God’s loving presence must have sustained Joseph in those years before he became second-in-command of Egypt. (Genesis 41)

It’s so easy to tell ourselves that “secret sins” don’t really matter — the purchases we don’t really need, the videos we shouldn’t watch, the fantasies we shouldn’t entertain. I’ve been tempted in all these areas and failed more times than I can count. But the more I choose integrity when no one else sees, the stronger my trust in God becomes.

I want to be a woman of integrity for God’s glory and an example to my daughter. I want her to learn that trusting God in the secret places is a mark of integrity, something that will strengthen her faith as she grows. It protects me, and it will protect her, too.

Father God, thank You for the gift of integrity. I want to trust You more in the secret places where I am tempted to sin because no one else sees. Guide me with Your Holy Spirit’s conviction and help me follow Jesus’ example. May I be a woman of integrity for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Discipline of Self-Control..... By: Betsy St. Amant Haddox

 The Discipline of Self-Control 

By: Betsy St. Amant Haddox

Today's Bible Verse: For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. - Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

Self-control isn’t really the most popular thing to talk about in Christian circles. It can bring a lot of shame for those who struggle with it, and a lot of pride to those who think they have it mastered (newsflash—they don’t!)

The Bible puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of self-control in a believer’s life. For instance, in the book of Proverbs, it says that someone without self-control is in danger of a break-in: Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control Proverbs 25:28. Think of how many other bad things sneak in when our “walls” of self-control are down. Anger. Bitterness. Lust. Unforgiveness, to name a few.

The Word also says that having patience is better than being a warrior! Proverbs 16:32 says, Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. In our “microwave” culture today, where we tend to expect everything to be given to us immediately, patience can become a foreign concept. But this Scripture links patience directly to self-control. It’s hard to have one without the other.

So, we agree that self-control is crucial, and we all wished we had more of it. But what do we do about it? Thankfully, the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave us alone to figure it out. He does the work of sanctification is us that produces good fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. One of those good fruits is self-control. It goes hand in hand with the others listed, which makes sense. Think how much easier it is to have self-control when you already possess joy, love, and peace!

Our theme verse in Titus 2 informs us that the grace of God is what teaches us to say no to sin, and to live self-controlled lives. It’s not something we pull out of ourselves, but what He works in us.

Sometimes, we think “it’s just too hard” or “no one would blame me if I binge-ate right now.” We think we deserve to indulge in this vice or in that sin because of what we’ve been through. We justify our wrong thoughts or motives with “no one can be expected to withstand this.”

But 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) begs to differ.  No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

We are truly without excuse. All temptation is common. King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun. Jesus even went through the same temptations as we did, and yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

The Bible promises us that we will be able to withstand temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit—through the Lord working self-control in us. That means we have the ability to change the channel, avert our eyes, put down the second helping of cake, drop the cigarettes or alcohol for good, or leave the room. We can walk away, bite our lip, hold back the mean words, or stop seeking revenge—not because of our best efforts, but because of the Spirit in us. Because of God’s grace.

If you’re struggling in this area of your life today, pray for grace. Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you self-control. Ask Him for that particular fruit in your life. Then trust Him to grow it in you.

Child-Like Trust in the Lord..... by Shawn McEvoy

 Child-Like Trust in the Lord 

by Shawn McEvoy

O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.
Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
Psalm 131:1-2, NAS

This song, like many of the Psalms, was written by David - the man who would be Israel's greatest king. Is David who comes to mind when you think of someone "not involved in great matters" (kingdom conflicts, maybe)? Or unbothered by "things too difficult" (slaying a giant, anyone)? No, to me, this doesn't really sound like David. Doesn't really sound like me most of the time either.

Let's take a quick look at three things that stand out about this little Psalm:

1) Attitude. David's "heart" - his inner being, his spirit, is not proud... of things he's done, of where he's been and where he's going... but neither is he beating himself up. He is just... content.

2) Appetite. David's "eyes" - his senses - are not haughty. He's not seeking to please them. He doesn't have the look of arrogance. He knows Whose he is, and that his needs are met not of himself. He is not restless to feed like an infant, he is not stalking around asking to eat out of boredom like my 2-year-old.

3) Aptitude. David places the responsibility for this peaceful state upon himself. Not circumstances, not achievements, not even on God. "Surely I have quieted my soul," he says.

Taken all together, this shows us what trust looks like, and helps us understand why trusting God brings such soothing peace. Jesus said we must have faith like children to come to Him. Apparently, trust is also best exemplified in little ones.

David's "talk" is of not being proud; his "walk" then backs it up by what he "involves" (or doesn't involve) himself in. This doesn't mean God hasn't given him - or you - important stuff to get done, just that David has "declared himself free from excessive ambition" (Ryrie study notes).

To sing not of self, to seek not to fill the senses, to seek the will only to be quiet before God - that is trust. A "weaned child" knows instinctively where to find trust. By extension, and through the example of "the man after God's own heart," so do we.

Intersecting Faith & Life: "Involve" yourself in a small, humble matter today - perhaps a child's squabble, creating a meal, or going for a walk - and see if you can compose your soul.

Further Reading

Matthew 18:4-5

A Prayer for the Father of Your Children..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for the Father of Your Children

By: Emily Rose Massey

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. - (Psalm 112:1-3, ESV)

My husband and I have this “game” that we play: “Tell me something you love about me” where we list a quality that we admire about each other. Since we have been married for ten years now, I’m sure we have repeated some of the answers, but I always try to come up with something new or something that may pertain to our current season of life.

One day, while we were playing, I told him, “I love that you are a hard worker.” He is always working hard to provide for our family and help me take care of things around the house (I have never mowed a lawn in my life!). I am thankful for that quality of his because this man is anything but lazy.

Yet, if I am being honest, because my love language is quality time, it sometimes can get under my skin that he has trouble slowing down and resting.

Most of us have a drive to work, work, work. We find pleasure in accomplishment and productivity and have a longing to provide for our families. But I think it is important to find a balance between work and rest, much like we see how God rested on the seventh day in creation.

God has given us wives to our husbands (and vice versa), so it is important to pray for them in this area so that they do not become exhausted both physically and mentally. But more important than praying for them to find balance and rest, their walk with the Lord is of utmost priority. Apart from God’s grace, we are all limited, so we need to make sure we are leaning upon the Lord and looking to Him for wisdom and strength for everything we put our hand to. We see in Psalm 112 the benefits of a man who fears the Lord:

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 112:1-3, ESV).

A man who seeks the Lord and trusts in His word is a reason for praise. God calls this man and his children blessed. This isn’t a passage about “getting rich quick,” but we see that in addition to the blessings of God’s peace, joy, and love in our life, God provides and blesses us materially as well. As a father’s love for God grows, and he leads his children in God’s righteous ways, his children will want to imitate their dad and follow in his footsteps. Much more than teaching them how to work hard and use the gifts that God has given them, a father with a fear for the Lord and a hunger for God’s word is one of the best treasures he could give them. As women, we should pray for the men in our life, especially when they have children, that we would learn how to find a balance of work and rest, but most of all, a desire to seek God first in all things.

Father,

We pray for the men in our lives. If the father of our children does not know you, we pray that You would draw him to Yourself and that He would have a hunger for Your word. We pray that He would learn the importance of rest so that he can be restored. We ask that he would lean upon Your grace in all that You have called him to do.

We thank You that You are a faithful Father who always provides for our needs. We pray that the father of our children always looks to you first for wisdom and strength as he learns how to walk in your righteous ways and leads his children in the admonition of You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.