Obeying God..... Dr. Charles Stanley

Obeying God

Dr. Charles Stanley

Acts 5:27-32

The high priest ordered Peter and the apostles to stop teaching about Jesus, but they ignored the order. When questioned about their actions, Peter replied, “We must obey God rather than men” (v. 29). What motivated them to follow the Lord with such conviction?

God’s Sovereignty. Peter and the other disciples recognized that God had carried out His divine plan of redemption in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Convinced that salvation was found in Christ alone, they had the courage to speak boldly about their faith. They didn’t alter their words, even in front of a powerful authority. Instead, they gave allegiance to God and obeyed Him.

Thankfulness. Their obedience was also motivated by gratitude. After betraying the Lord, Peter had wept over his failure (Mark 14:72). Think of the disciple’s joy to realize that Christ had forgiven him for his mistakes and restored him to a right relationship with God (Mark 16:7; John 21:15-17). With his past behind him, Peter became a leader of the Jerusalem church, with a passion to obey fueled by a thankful heart.

God is in charge of our lives. He has rescued us from the bondage of sin, forgiven us, and brought us into His family. Grateful obedience should be our response too.

Each day we have a choice. We can acknowledge God’s sovereignty and trust Him, or we can turn away and follow our own plan. Cultivating a thankful spirit will motivate us to stay the course and obey the Lord. Like Peter, let’s commit to following our heavenly Father wherever He leads.

God Longs for Us to Know His Truth..... Craig Denison

 

God Longs for Us to Know His Truth

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

One of the most scandalous truths of the gospel is that our Creator longs to be encountered by his creation. God longs to meet with us. His greatest desire is for relationship with us. I can’t fathom why God in all his holiness and goodness makes himself available to us, but it is the powerful truth of Scripture. God is pursuing each of us with his relentless love, seeking out those who might respond to his open invitation by opening the door of their hearts to him. My prayer is that in response to God’s desire to meet with his people we would be those who say yes to centering our lives around his nearness. May your week be marked by the reality of God’s presence and love.

Scripture:“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Devotional:           

In the incredible, abundant blessings of Scripture and the Holy Spirit, God has demonstrated his longing for us to know truth. Truth is a powerful weapon against the schemes of the enemy. Truth has an ability to bestow confidence and freedom on all who find their satisfaction in it. And truth in the eyes of God is completely founded in relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. May God grant us a hunger for truth that is deeply satisfied in communion with our loving Savior today.

Everything God is and does is truth personified. There is no lie or deceit in our God. And therefore it is only in centering our lives around relationship with him that we will begin to experience the fruit of truth in our lives. In John 14:6 Jesus says,“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The life of Jesus is our example of truth. Everything he did was a perfect demonstration of truth. If we don’t devote ourselves to the study of his life and experiencing who he is personally, we’ll find ourselves living on the rocky shores of indecision and half-truths. We need his example to follow.

We need the life of Jesus at the forefront of our minds if we are to enjoy the abundant life that truth has to offer us. 1 John 5:20 says, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” Jesus is the Word made flesh. And through the Holy Spirit and Scripture, we have access to not only learning about his life, but being transformed into his likeness.

Romans 8:29 says, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” You and I are created to seek truth and see it come to fruition in our lives. We are created to shine the powerful light of truth into a world filled with the darkness of lies and deceit. But before we can share the truth of God, we must allow it to fill and transform us. 1 John 3:18 says, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” Truth is meant to manifest itself in our actions. Truth is so much more about our deeds of love than the words we say. Anyone can say words and not truly mean it. No one can truly love someone without revealing to them Jesus, truth made manifest in flesh. We can’t love someone without the power of truth shining forth into the core of who we are, that God loves us unconditionally just as we are.

Take time today to allow the truth of God’s love and Jesus’ life to make its way into every part of your life. Continue the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus by meditating on Scripture and experiencing the living, active person of Jesus today. May the truth of God’s love lead you to a life of enjoying God’s presence and loving others well.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of knowing and experiencing truth. Allow Scripture to stir up your desires to seek truth.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

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

“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:18

2. Where is the truth of God not shining forth out of you in deed? Where are you not experiencing the fruit of truth in your life?

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

3. Give that area of your life to God and ask him to transform you into the likeness of Jesus today. Meditate on truth centered around that area and allow it to sink down from your head to your heart. Make space to let God fully love you and ask the Holy Spirit to help you love others well throughout your day.

“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 longs to reveal himself to you and fully love you today. He longs for you to taste and see his goodness. To grow in godly truth isn’t like taking a class or learning a subject; it’s all about relationship. May the truth of Scripture be revealed to you in relationship with the living, active God. May you experience firsthand the God of the Bible and see truth in the man of Jesus. And may your life be a better reflection of God’s love today as his truth works its way into every part of your life.

Extended Reading: 1 John 5

Promises, Promises …..... QUANTRILLA ARD

 Promises, Promises …

QUANTRILLA ARD

“Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” Joshua 21:45 (NIV) 

Growing up, I never made promises. Not to friends or family.

Experience taught me that promises, full of meaning and well-intended follow-through, often fall flat, bringing sorrow in their wake. I learned at a young age that promises were hard to keep, and I governed myself accordingly, hoping to alleviate heartache for both myself and others.

Life has pivoted a lot since then, and I thought I had finally learned to manage the disappointment I felt over unfulfilled promises. But when I think of the circumstances I’ve walked through lately and how I’ve responded to them, I realize that disappointment has wiggled its way back into my everyday life.

Why is there such a struggle with this issue?

The initial thread began to unravel the day I received my husband’s call relaying he had just been let go from the job he had for two only months. The unraveling continued when I found out we’d be leaving our life behind, moving from one state to another, with no knowledge of what was next. The whole thing fell apart (and I did, too, if I’m being honest) as I watched firemen sweep water out of our home after an arson attempt, which was unrelated to the job loss or move but was another source of fear and distress.

Time and time again, it felt like the wind was being knocked out of my perfectly filled sails, and the God I was depending on felt absent. At the end of myself, I cried out to God, desperate for His help. God’s promises aren’t like people’s promises, right? I could count on Him to help … right? (Psalm 37:5)

There are pages upon pages in the Bible testifying that God keeps His word. The same God who kept His promises to Israel is faithful to His children today. (Deuteronomy 7:9) I’d seen it in Scripture. Yet I found myself questioning when I’d experience the fulfillment of God’s promises to me. Where was the disconnect?

The Israelites’ story in Joshua teaches us so much about the time just before the fulfillment of God’s promise to them and their forefathers: to bring them into a land created just for them. After nearly 400 years of oppression in Egypt (now that’s a long wait), I can imagine they were more than ready to receive God’s promise. But first, they needed to let go of some things. They also had to relearn how to be completely dependent on God for survival — a God who, at times, may have felt absent in their struggle. Their experiences in Egypt and in the wilderness, as uncomfortable as they might have been, became stepping stones along the path that led Israel to the promised land.

When the time was right, God fulfilled His promises to them. Our key verse, Joshua 21:45, says, “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” Not one good promise failed, even hundreds of years after God spoke those promises into being! What hope for our weary, tired-of-waiting hearts!

Friends, I, too, have seen many promises of God fulfilled in my life, despite the wait. While this season has been difficult, I’ve been able to distinctly mark God’s presence, provision and protection on this journey that has felt like a desolate wilderness. An unexpected check in the mail, an all-clear on what could have been a cancer diagnosis, a near miss on the highway, a family of well-adjusted children. These are not necessarily the promises I was looking for God to fulfill, but nonetheless, they are promises kept.

In the past, we may have doubted God’s promises and given up hope. It’s easy to become disappointed when we lump God in with flawed humans who can’t keep their every promise. But God wants to, can and will fulfill His promises to us. No matter how long we may have to wait, they will ultimately come to pass. He will never fail us!

Lord, I’ve struggled as I’ve waited for Your promises to be fulfilled in my life. And sometimes it’s hard to feel Your presence. Help me to remember that Your promises are sure and that You are here, working everything together for good. I trust You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How to Show Hospitality without Grumbling..... By: Amanda Idleman

 How to Show Hospitality without Grumbling

By: Amanda Idleman

Today’s Bible Verse: Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. - 1 Peter 4:9

Do you remember the days of Sunday afternoon covered dish potluck meals? Or when going to church was a week-long event! You attended Sunday school, Sunday service, Sunday night church, Wednesday night church, and more!

Most of us don’t have the space in our lives for that much church anymore but we all still are in desperate need of the community. Our sense of community and belonging only grows when we rub shoulders with others on a regular basis. God literally made us for relationships. The first thing in the Bible that God said was not good in all of creation was the fact that Adam was alone! He knew Adam needed companions, friends, and partners for life. The same is true for every human ever created. We need each other.

Sadly, we are all living through a time in history where distance is encouraged. During these trying times, It’s easy to forget that one way to protect each other is through closeness. Loneliness, isolation, and fear wreak havoc on our emotional and physical well-being. We should not be reckless in our interactions, but we must not leave each other alone for too long! Isolation makes space for the enemy to steal so much from our lives.

Now is the time to revive the ministry of hospitality! This does not mean we have to bring back to the 90’s style of church potluck, the same way that Target has embraced the 90’s style in their new clothing line, but it does mean that we need to start making more space to love on others that are in our lives. People need people! This is a fact that will never change. Here are a few ways to show hospitality to others:

1. Cook a Homemade Meal to Share

I know you are going to immediately think of all the reasons cooking and hosting is not for you! Pinterest has totally ruined our idea of what hosting a dinner party should look like.

My husband and I have lived in apartments, old houses, newer houses, tiny houses, and now an average house... I am happy to report that friends have come to dine in each and every one! The imperfect layout of our rooms or lack of square footage had nothing to do with our ability to build community within the walls of the home God had blessed us in at each stage of our lives. Being faithful to love others with the resources God is given is all that is required. Perfection is not at all necessary to show amazing hospitality to others.

2. Organize a Meetup

If cooking and hosting are not your things, then do a little planning and invite others to meet up for an activity! Pick something that brings you joy and takes an extra moment to think of one person who would enjoy doing it with you. Invite them to be a part of your fun!

How many of us are just waiting for the invitation? Wishing we were the ones with closer friends and more ways to destress at the end of our weeks? Guess what you are not alone! Basically, everyone else is also waiting for the invite, so be brave and take the first step towards community by initiating.

3. Start a Bible Study

One quick way to get a group onto common ground is through the Bible! People from different backgrounds can unify through the power of the Holy Spirit that becomes more evident when we study God’s book together. Connection and growth happen when we spend time in God’s Word as a community.

Think of people that you spend time with in your daily life and invite them to take time out of their schedule to read the Bible together. This can be co-workers, neighbors, Mom friends, family, fellow parents at your child’s school, or people from church. Throw in some free coffee and treats and people will feel so loved and excited to connect with you in this way.

Remember, 1 Peter charges us to joyfully open our homes and lives up to others. These words should encourage us to take time to step a little out of our comfort zones in an effort to be a place where other people can find God’s love. We were made to live in close proximity with each other, so that we can be encouraged when we desperately need it.

The Top of the Waterfall..... by Katherine Britton

 The Top of the Waterfall

by Katherine Britton

"My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you." – Isaiah 26:9

As I looked up the path – and up, and up – I couldn’t even see the head of the waterfall. The last cataract foamed in front of me, but the first was far up on the mountain, where the sunlight hit the summit. I wanted to see more.

The trail was relatively easy, but I was huffing and puffing before long thanks to the incline. The trail snaked back and forth across the mountain, taking us up fifty feet with each turn. The second, third, and fourth cataracts appeared, and we clambered onward after each one, still intent on seeing that first drop. In the words of C. S. Lewis, the lure of “further in and further up” kept us going, as beauty upon beauty made us eager to see even more.

The view didn’t disappoint us. The autumn panorama spread over the surrounding hills, contrasted in highlight and shadows from the afternoon sun. Everyone at the summit was smiling and taking pictures. Nobody sat with their back against the view. To our right, the head of the waterfall rushed on, flowing over the first drop. Nothing in the suburbs compares with what we saw.

What is it about a waterfall – or anything natural wonder – that makes us stop and stare? What is it about a rainbow that keeps us looking for the next one? Why is Niagara Falls so famous? Why does the human soul dream of places so far from what we normally experience? Why do we keep following the path until we see the greatest beauty of all?

I think such scenes are part of God’s mercy to the whole world, because they teach us what it means to hunger for more. They give us a glimpse of the time when we can drink so deeply that our thirst will be quenched. Like in the Narnia books, they shadow the real thing, when we will be in God’s eternal presence. Do we hunger for that?

Scripture is full of references to this kind of longing. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul writes of “seeing dimly, as in a mirror,” as he waits to see the true nature of love revealed. Roman 8:18-27 empathizes with all of creation’s “groaning” as it waits to see the full glory of God revealed. After all, “who hopes for what he already has?”

As I remember that panorama – and how I want to go back – I consider those verses of longing after God. The more I know and see of God’s character, the more I should be amazed and want to see even more. Someday, every Christian will experience the joy of seeing the fullness of the Lord displayed, but until then, we see one beauty at a time as we keep going. Are you satisfied with the small glimpses, or does the summit beckon you?

Intersecting Faith & Life: While each cataract on the way up the falls had a beauty all its own, I didn’t want to stop until I had seen it all. This week, I want to ask myself daily: am I content with my faith journey, stopping before I should? Or does each new sight give me a thrill that spurs me on to see even greater heights? Let’s encourage each other to keep going, and to seek to know our God more each day.

A Prayer to Speak When God Moves..... By: Chelsey DeMatteis

 A Prayer to Speak When God Moves

By: Chelsey DeMatteis

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

Each year as my website contract ends, I fill out a survey of my experience and any changes I'd like to see. I answer these very honestly and always mark the box that says I’d love to talk with a representative on the phone to go over my answers. This year's phone call unfolded a little differently and praise be to God for it!

The phone call started with all the regular matters, going through the changes I’d like to see, and ways to make what they sell better. As I could tell the phone call was wrapping up, I interjected and said, “there is one more thing I'd like to share with you today, and I really want you to hear my heart in what I say.”

The door was open and the young man on the other end of the phone said he was all ears. I then shared with him about the many emails I’d been receiving over the last 12 months that left me feeling queasy inside. Emails are being sent directly from their company about supporting things that I feel very strongly against. I prayed at that moment that he heard me loud and clear that I was against the movements, not the hearts of the broken people.

He responded in a way I wasn’t expecting; with full understanding and a thankful heart for what I shared. He proceeded to tell me that he believes many people like me probably feel afraid to share what I had said. He said he was grateful that he had the opportunity to hear me share my thoughts in such a kind, assertive, clear manner.

I pray this encourages you today. You see, when the Spirit moves in our hearts to share, we must move! The Lord made a way for me to not just share with this company that has provided me a service for years, but I got to share with this young man's heart, for whom God deeply cares.

John 16:13 was spoken when Jesus was sharing what would take place once He ascended into heaven. “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.” We cannot forget this, His Spirit guides only into truth: His truth. The truth that this hurting, dark world needs.

As we continue journeying on in this world, trust in the Lord as He moves, follow His leading as He directs your heart, and remember that the Lord is for His people. Though conversations can be difficult, when they are God-led, they pierce the hearer's heart in a way only He can.

Pray with me...

Lord,

Thank you for blessing us with the gift of the Holy Spirit. I pray that as I lean into your Spirit, I will be obedient to follow your direction. I pray for conversations to unfold that allow me to share Your heart and Your truth. Your deep love for us is gracious and powerful, and it changes everything. I love you, Lord!

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

A Prerequisite for Giving Thanks..... Greg Laurie

 A Prerequisite for Giving Thanks

Greg Laurie

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT)

To give thanks, we must realize as Christians that God is in control of all circumstances that surround our lives, both good and bad.

In 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 we are told, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (NLT).

The apostle Paul also wrote, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT). God loves you, and He is always looking out for your eternal benefit. God is wiser than we are. And if He tells us to not do something, He does so for good reason.

Now, the devil doesn’t want you to believe that. He would whisper in your ear, “God hates you. God wants to ruin your life. All those rules in the Bible are just there to make life miserable. You Christians serve an oppressive God who doesn’t want you to have any fun.”

What a bunch of nonsense. I’ve lived apart from Christ. I’ve had the so-called fun this world has to offer, and it wasn’t fun at all. I’ve also found that a life with Christ is a life of fulfillment and purpose.

We must realize that God loves us and is always looking out for our eternal benefit, even if what we are presently going through is difficult.