Contagious Joy,..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Contagious Joy

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 John 1:1-4

Jesus calls us to be His “witnesses.” When some Christians hear this word, they worry that they need exceptional skill or charisma in order to share the good news with others. Yet to witness is not to merely speak of the “plan of salvation” to someone. The word literally means to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception; to testify; bear witness to; give or afford evidence of. When John wrote that he was sharing what he had experienced first-hand, he was saying, “I am full of joy because of the experience of knowing Jesus, and I want to invite you to share in that joy!”

When you’re in love with someone, you are excited about the relationship and time spent together. Likewise, when you’re in love with Jesus, you can’t keep to yourself the joy that comes from knowing Him—it just spills over, bearing witness and strengthening other believers. In fact, as you give testimony of who God is and how He’s working in your life, it makes no difference whether you speak quietly or with great exuberance: in their spirit, Christians will pick up on the deep, genuine gladness in your heart that goes beyond natural happiness. And people who don’t yet know the Lord will find themselves hungering for the relationship you have. In that way, they will be drawn to His Spirit in you.

Witnessing is not a matter of eloquence or talent. It’s an overflow of the personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is conforming you to His image. As you allow the Holy Spirit to increasingly express His life and power through you, contagious joy will be “fruit” of His indwelling presence.

The King of Kings..... Craig Denison

 

The King of Kings

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

What a gift we have in the Christmas season. God himself took on flesh and dwelt among us that we might find eternal relationship in him. His coming serves as a continual reminder of his grace and pursuit of us who are lost without him. As we look to Jesus this week to celebrate who he is and what he’s done, may you find life-giving hope and foundational joy.

Scripture:

“On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:16

Devotional:

The fate of so many nations has historically rested on the strength of its leaders. From Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great to King David, we look to kings as the catalyst for either victory or defeat, success or failure.

Scripture tells us in Revelation 19:16 that we as the people of God find our fate in the One True King. Scripture says, “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Isaiah 9:6-7 says,

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

This Christmas season we celebrate the truth that our lives are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3). Our fate is wrapped up in his. Our victory and success is assured because our King sits enthroned on the heavens. He is high and lifted up, and his heart is filled with steadfast love for us, his bride.

If your future feels uncertain, if your heart is filled with anxiety, look no further than your Savior on whose robe and thigh is written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” If the furthest thing from your heart seems to be peace, look to Jesus, whom Scripture calls, “Prince of Peace.” If you feel heavy and burdened from the weight and weariness of this world, look to God, our “Wonderful Counselor.”

God’s desire is to be near to you this season. His purpose is to pull you in closely to him and remind you that you are his and he will never let you go. Sometimes all we need to get through the day is a little perspective. Sometimes all we need to experience victory over our current circumstances is to remember that Jesus has already won us.

Take time today to bring your cares and weights to the feet of the “King of kings.” Allow him to declare over you both his unceasing affection and limitless power. May you find abundant peace today in the person of Jesus.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on what Scripture says about your Savior. 

“On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:16

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

2. What cares are weighing you down today? What’s keeping you from the abundant life Jesus came to bring you?

3. Bring your cares to Jesus in prayer. Ask him for a revelation of who you are in him. Take time to rest in his steadfast love and nearness.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

You and I are made to look to someone or something for leadership. We aren’t created to rule our own lives. If we don’t look to Jesus, we will undoubtedly look to this world, which only has the power to lead us away from abundant life in God. Where are your eyes set today? What are you looking to for provision, peace, and life? Fix your eyes on Jesus today, the “founder and perfecter” of our faith, that you might find transcendent peace and steadfast hope (Hebrews 12:2). May your day be filled with all the goodness of one who serves the “King of kings.”

Extended Reading: Revelation 19

2 Areas of Your Life to Watch Over..... By Ronnie Floyd

2 Areas of Your Life to Watch Over
By Ronnie Floyd

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.” – Proverbs 16:17

Watch what is going on around you. Watch what is going on in you. Watch what all the gauges are telling you about your life.

In the Scripture, we are instructed to watch over our life and all God gives to us.1 Our future way in life and even the preservation of our life can depend on our intentionality, discipline, and watchfulness. The Bible calls upon the watchman to watch over the city at night while others sleep.2 The Bible also calls upon spiritual watchmen to watch over the people of God in prayer continually.3 It also calls each person to watch out for people around them.4 We are even told to watch for the Lord’s soon return.5

There is another way we see this word watch used in the Scripture, depending on the translation. We are called upon to watch over our own life, to avoid evil, and to protect our life. Proverbs 16:17 says, “The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.” If you will keep your life going on the right highway, you will avoid evil or any detour from the road that God wants you to travel. Then the Scripture says that as you guard or watch over your own life effectively, you will protect or keep your life from trouble in the future.

The word translated here as guard is the Hebrew word nat sar, meaning to guard, watch over, or keep watch over your life so you can observe it properly, and save your life.6

I find it interesting how various translations and paraphrases communicate the heart of the verse. Notice these examples from Proverbs 16:17.

• “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.” (nkjv)

• “The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.” (esv)

• “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.” (kjv)

• “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life.” (nasb)

• “The path of the godly leads away from evil; he who follows that path is safe.” (tlb)

• “The road of right living bypasses evil; watch your step and save your life.” (The Message)

Each of these offers a nuanced perspective, but the translations and interpretations are consistent. They all relate to guarding, watching, or keeping. We are called to carefully watch over our lives.

What is going on around you will, many times, bring out what is really in you. This can be quite revealing. When the wheels of your life start to fall off, your emotional gauge begins to reflect it.

Here are two actions to take to watch over your life effectively:

Action 1: Watch your gauges consistently.

Recognize, read, monitor, and act upon what each of the five gauges of your life are registering. Measure consistently to see whether you are living fit spiritually, physically, relationally, financially, and emotionally.

Action 2: Watch your steps daily.

What you do each moment, every day, in these five areas of your life will determine your overall level of fitness. Connectedness exists between each of these areas. It is essential to keep watch over not just each one, but all of them together, because this will determine how healthy you really are. The only antidote to this is to watch your steps daily.

Therefore, a key to living fit is to live watchfully.

1. Genesis 2:15; Joshua 23:11.

2. Isaiah 62:6.

3. Isaiah 62:7.

4. Hebrews 10:24.

5. Matthew 24:42–44.

6. W. E. Vines, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words

Thanking God for What Didn’t Happen..... By Debbie McDaniel

 Thanking God for What Didn’t Happen

By Debbie McDaniel

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Psalms 91:1-2

Sometimes we need to thank God for all the things that didn’t happen, for what He’s stopped that we never even knew about.

We may not always see it, or feel it, we might forget it’s there at times, or even wonder if God’s left us to fend for ourselves in the heat of hard situations in life. But His protection is real. He sees what we can't see. He knows what we may not know. And if we belong to Him, we can trust, He's with us, every step, going before us, and covering our back too.

Yet in a world of dark, He often gets blamed for a lot of stuff that swirls around us. "Why would God let that happen? Why didn't He do something different? Why did God cause that to happen?"

But the truth is we often have no idea how much He has protected us from, how He's continually working on our behalf, even behind the scenes where we can't see. Following after us. Chasing us. To bring great blessing, and to show us the way.

He promises to take us by the hand, He reminds us not to fear, and assures us He will help us.

We’re never left on our own to try to figure everything out, we’re not left to fight our battles in our own strength. That pathway is filled with potholes of worry and burdens. It’ll trip you up, it’ll wear you out.

God’s way is better. Full of security, peace, assurance, and all that this world can never fully offer.

Trust Him, even when it's hard to understand it all, and believe His ways are the best for you.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Dear God, thank you that you go before us, and that you cover us from behind. Thank you for your protection over us, that you surround our lives as a shield. Thank you for your grace and favor, for your blessings and love that you so graciously shine over your people. We trust you even when we cannot see all that you’re doing. We know that you are for us and you fight for us today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Psalms 46:1, Isaiah 54:17, Isaiah 41:13, Psalms 23

A Prayer for Fresh Hunger for the Word..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for Fresh Hunger for the Word

By: Emily Rose Massey

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” - James 4:4-6, NIV.

Slow mornings in the Word are heavenly, yet they have been scarce for such a long time. I could give a million excuses as to why… life with littles who don’t sleep through the night is a major one. I mean, I think I have lived with interrupted sleep most nights since before my middle son was born in February 2018… so… yeah, that’s a long time of mental fog!
 
But the Lord gives such grace to those in weary seasons. He stirs our hearts to continue to pursue seeking Him even when we feel like we have so little of ourselves (and our mind) to give to Him. We see that one of the reasons we can receive this grace is because we turn from worldly distractions, and are willing to admit our weaknesses and our need for God. Scripture tells us that God gives grace to the humble when we seek Him instead of things of the world:

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:4-6, NIV).

I’m learning to stop lamenting over time lost in my pursuit of knowing God. Instead, I repent for finding pleasure in lesser things and allowing those things to distract me from one of the most important pursuits a Christian can have- seeking to obtain knowledge of who God is.
 
I feel like I have been living off of morsels and scraps for far too long and although the Lord has sustained me this whole time and grown me in ways I cannot fully explain these last few years, I’m finding that the bite-sized devotion and communion with the Lord will not be enough in what God is calling me to in the days ahead- whatever that may be.
 
I don’t know why I sense this urgency all of a sudden. Perhaps all that is going on around us in the world is creating this need to keep my eyes on the eternal more than ever before, but regardless, I don’t want to waste another moment giving my worship to anyone or anything other than God Almighty.
 
Do you sense this urgency to gain knowledge of the Holy One too? If not, pray that the Lord would stir your heart and affections for that pursuit of Him to be ignited in your soul. Ask Him to help turn your eyes from lesser things and into His wonderful face. He alone is worthy of our devotion and heart.

Father,

I am weary, and I can tell that my flesh wants to look to things of this world to fill my life and mind with. But I know that those things will never satisfy when I am feeling weak. I repent for fixing my gaze on lesser things and I ask you for the grace to give me a hunger to seek You and know You in a deeper way.

Will you please stir my heart to read Your word and spend time in prayer with You daily? I look to You because you are worthy of my affection and devotion.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

HAS THE GRINCH STOLEN YOUR CHRISTMAS?..... Pastor Jeff Schreve

 HAS THE GRINCH STOLEN YOUR CHRISTMAS?

Pastor Jeff Schreve

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 
Luke 2:10-11

Without a doubt, Christmas is to be a time of GREAT JOY.  On that first Christmas night, the angel announced to the shepherds “good news of a great joy.”  The Savior has come!!  WOW!!  Those shepherds were so excited.  That announcement changed their lives forever.  They were filled with joy and wonder and praise.

At Christmas time, are you filled with joy and wonder and praise?  Or has the devil, the original Grinch, the thief who comes only to steal and kill and destroy, stolen those things from you?  If so, there is still time to get it back!

Think about the angel’s announcement, “There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  What does that really mean for you and me? 

1.  The Savior has come to save you from a dark past.  So many people are suffering with intense guilt over bad things they have done in the past.  The devil beats them to death with shame and guilt.  But be beaten no longer!  All the terrible, horrible things you have done are no match for the Savior’s blood that He shed for you on the cross.  The moment you confess those sins to God and repent of them, you are forgiven!!  Remember what the Savior said to Peter, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (Acts 10:15).

2.  The Savior has come to save you from an empty present.  Many people are surviving and not really living.  Jesus came at Christmas not to fill your empty stocking, but to fill your empty life!  He has a purpose and a plan for you.  Come to Him.  Surrender to Him.  Let Him lead you.  He wants to bring you joy and peace, regardless of your circumstances.  He wants to use your life to make a difference in others, a difference that will last for all eternity.  It makes life worth living to know that everyday is an exciting adventure with the Lord, an opportunity to touch another person with the love and joy of Jesus.

3.  The Savior has come to save you from a hopeless future.  Everyone without God is without hope.  No one comes to the Father without the Savior, Jesus Christ.  But now He has come, and we can really know Him personally, and we can be assured of His presence and provision while we live … and His heaven when we die.  Paul said, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).  WOW!  What a future is in store for the child of God!

My friend, do not let the devil steal from you and your Christmas time any longer!  The Savior has come, and He has come for you!  Receive the good news and rejoice in the truth!