Are You a Spiritual Fighter?.....By Dick Woodward

 Are You a Spiritual Fighter?

By Dick Woodward

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Heavenly Father, how can we possibly comprehend your will? In times of uncertainty, help us to put our trust in you.

When we read in the Bible about the great men of God we find that they all seem to have deep experiences with God. The details of their experiences vary greatly but the results are very similar.

Jacob wrestled all night with an angel. The angel forced Jacob to look up and wrestle his way through to God. Then the angel forced Jacob to look in and confess that he was a rascal who lived up to his name. The name “Jacob” meant “Grabber.” He was a mover, shaker, doer kind of man who was always running and would not stand still long enough for God to place a blessing upon him.

God could not get Jacob to wait on his Lord. He had to cripple him so He might crown him with His blessing. We might call it: “The cripple crown blessing of God.” When a man is crippled what else can he do but wait?

When God won the wrestling match He pronounced a blessing upon this man – the one quoted above from the book of Genesis. By changing his name to “Israel” God declared that Jacob was a fighter. He had fought his way through to his God and confessed to what he saw when he looked in. He was then ready to look around and fight through his relationships with people.

Are you a spiritual fighter? Have you fought all the way through your up look to God? Have you won the battle when you look in? Are you winning the battle when you look around and work out all your relationships?

The Spirit and the Heart..... Denison Ministries

 The Spirit and the Heart

Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

So often we view God as an enforcer of religious rules. We see the commands of Scripture as a list of to-dos rather than a path leading to abundant life. But those perceptions aren’t the truth of Scripture. Those beliefs are founded on misguided notions of God’s character. God is after the heart. More than he wants us to do right, he wants us to see him rightly. He wants going to church, reading the Bible, worshipping, serving the poor, and living righteously to come from a heart filled with a true revelation of his loving-kindness. May your heart be wholly God’s this week.

Scripture:

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

Devotional:    

Abundant life is given in the communion of the Spirit and the heart. It’s our hearts the Spirit speaks to. It’s our hearts he fills with love, joy, peace, and hope. It’s our hearts in which he dwells. To acknowledge the communion between the Spirit and the heart is to open ourselves to the wellspring of life abundant. And to live seeking a greater awareness of the union that was formed in us with the Spirit at salvation is to position ourselves to receive all that God longs to give us.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” Scripture tells us of a greater level of communion with God than we are right now experiencing. Scripture tells us that when Jesus died God tore the veil in two from top to bottom. Prior to Jesus’ death, God’s glory had to be contained within the temple. Now through the sacrifice of Jesus we have become the temple of God. We now have union with our Creator in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.” To say that God dwells in our hearts isn’t just a figure of speech. If you are a believer, you have been sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit. You have constant communion with God. All that’s left is to grow in your understanding of this wonderful, supernatural union you have with your heavenly Father.

The Spirit longs to reveal how near he is to you. He longs to make you more aware of his manifest presence. He longs to lead you, speak to you, fill you, satisfy you, heal you, set you free, and empower you. He longs for your heart to find freedom and security in him. He longs to be your best friend, companion, and teacher.

Take time today as you enter into guided prayer to gain a greater revelation of God’s nearness. Ask him to reveal himself to you that you might know to greater depths how unified you are with him. May your time be filled with a greater measure of God’s presence and love.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on what Scripture says about the Spirit and the heart. Reflect on the communion you already have available to you with the Holy Spirit.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” 1 Corinthians 6:17

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Romans 8:9

2. Ask the Holy Spirit for a greater revelation of his nearness. Open your heart to God and receive his presence. Take notice of how close he is to your heart.

3. Rest in the presence of God. Allow a revelation of his nearness to establish within you a new reality founded on God’s manifest presence.

Allow the Spirit to permeate everything you do today. Seek to live in constant awareness of his presence and love. You don’t have to strive to be with God. You don’t have to strive to encounter him. He is already with you. He is already in you. All that’s left is for you to simply open your heart to him moment by moment. Don’t live as if God is separate from you. Don’t talk to him or worship him as if he is distant. Rather, live in light of Scripture and experience all the abundant life he has for you in his nearness. May your life be changed by the powerful, constant, unfailing, and wholly satisfying presence of God.

"In your presence there is fullness of joy." Psalm 16:11

Extended Reading: 1 Corinthians 6

She Would Have Kept Going.....BINU SAMUEL

 She Would Have Kept Going

BINU SAMUEL 

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25 (NIV)

I couldn’t wait to talk to her … but what would I say? What exactly do you say to someone who saved your mom’s life? “Thank you” doesn’t seem like enough.

It all began a few months ago when my parents attended a funeral in Houston, Texas. At the burial site, my mom passed out. Actually, she did more than pass out. She had no pulse because, as we later found out, she went into cardiac arrest.

An ICU nurse practitioner just happened to be standing a couple of feet away from my mom. The nurse assessed the situation and immediately began CPR. Meanwhile, several pastors and other attendees also took charge and began to pray aloud for my mom.

Within minutes, my mom began to breathe again. And within a few more minutes, she walked into the ambulance, talking and fully aware of where she was.

Thank You, Jesus! 

The next day, I was given the nurse’s phone number. And the day after that, my husband and I called her.

We thanked her. We asked her to tell us her perspective of what happened. We listened. We thanked her again … and again … and maybe even again. I wasn’t trying to be extra. I just couldn’t help myself. God used her to save my mom!

Friends, have you been to Houston in the summer? It’s hot! Have you ever taken a CPR certification course? Two-inch-deep chest compressions are not easy. They require an incredible amount of arm strength and physical exertion. This precious woman didn’t even know my mom, yet as we ended the conversation, she said something that has stuck with me:

“I was not going to give up on your mom. If I needed to, I would have kept going.”

Who does this? I asked myself.

God does.

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ exerted every ounce of physical strength He had. He hung on a cross and died … for you and me. Knowing we would sin and keep sinning, Christ still didn’t give up.

In 2 Peter 3:9b we read, “he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (NIV).

Jesus Christ has not only finished the redemptive work of the cross needed for our salvation, but as Hebrews 7:25 makes clear, He has kept going. He is our Mediator and our permanent High Priest, who “always lives to intercede” on our behalf.

Through the actions of this courageous nurse, God allowed me to see an earthly glimpse of His unwavering, “I’m not going to give up on you” love for me. And you know what? He loves you just the same. I promise.

John 3:16 tells us so: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV).

So what did I say to the woman who saved my mother’s life? Here’s the short version.

“Thank you. I’d love to meet you the next time I’m in Houston. Thank you for not giving up on my mom.”

What do I say to the One who strategically placed this woman just a few feet away from my mom? To the One who gave this nurse the physical and mental strength to do what she did? To the One who allowed breath to re-enter my mom’s lungs and blood to flow through her body?

What do I say to the One who gives ME breath each and every day and has never given up on me?

Here’s the short version:

Thank You, Lord. Thank You for saving my mom. Thank You for saving me.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the countless times You have protected and saved my life. Times of protection I know about and countless other times of protection I am completely unaware of. Thank You for pursuing me, for never giving up on me and for dying on a cross for me so that I can have eternal life. Help me to live my life in a way that pleases You and makes those who don’t know You want to know You. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The First Empty Tomb.....Dr. Charles Stanley

 The First Empty Tomb

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Jesus is the only person who has an empty tomb. Everyone else who's died has returned to the dust, but Christ is alive and seated at the Father's right hand. Because He overcame death, His followers are also guaranteed empty tombs someday. When Jesus returns for His church, those who have died in Him will be resurrected into glorious bodies. And believers who are alive at that time will instantaneously be changed.

Knowing this, we naturally wonder, What kind of body will I have? The best way to answer that is to see what Scripture reveals about Christ's body after He rose from the dead. He didn't come invisibly in the form of a ghost but rather had a literal, physical body. He talked, walked, and ate with His disciples. Yet although He was recognizable, He was somehow different, and at times it took His words or actions to jog their recognition.

Here's one thing I can tell you about the resurrection: you will look better than you do today! God is going to give you a strong, glorious, eternal body which is perfectly fitted for your life in heaven. Believe me, you will not be disappointed, because God has far more in store for us on the other side than we can ever imagine. You will be more alive there than you could ever be here.

A more important issue we must face is how to get ready for that day. This life is just a puff of wind compared to our eternity. It's my personal opinion that the way we live here on earth will determine our capacity to enjoy heaven. The time to begin living for God is now.

God Will Keep Your Way Secure.....By Debbie McDaniel

 God Will Keep Your Way Secure

By Debbie McDaniel

"It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure." - 2 Samuel 22:33

I was sitting outside early one morning just before dawn. Rainstorms were all around, I could hear the distant thunder and feel the strong winds. But my little place under the roof awning with a hot cup of coffee, Bible, and favorite blanket was secure, safe, undisturbed, though all around me it was stormy.

God's reminder came: "You are secure in Me. You are held strong by My protection overhead though the storms of life may surround you. The winds can blow, the rains can beat down hard, the times may look dark, but My Presence surrounds and I am greater than the storm."

Just because I was under the roof awning, it didn’t stop the storm. But it did provide protection during the storm.

Just because we are under God’s care, it doesn’t stop the storms from happening around us. But it does provide incredible strength and protection for every battle we face in this life.

Many of you might find yourselves facing huge storms in life right now. Maybe your storm is caused by circumstances that are out of your control. Maybe your storm is caused by people, broken relationships, and betrayal or hurt that has wounded you deeply. Maybe the biggest storm you face is caused by the enemy himself whose main goal is simply to bring you down, stop you in your tracks from being a light in this world. God reminds us in His word, that the enemy's intent is always to steal, kill, and destroy. He will do all he can to prevent truth from being shared, and he is ruthless and cruel.

But the storms never have full reign, for right in the midst He reminds us: You are held secure by a Mighty God. You may feel some wind, you may hear the loud thunder, and see darkness or rain all around. But His covering of protection and love surround, you don't face it alone. And in just a short time the storms will pass, the light will shine again, and you will be strengthened for a greater work ahead.

Press on my friends who are facing hard times.

He knows your way and has a plan.

You are held, and He is with you.

Peace.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Write down a storm you’re facing right now. Then after it, write down this verse, "It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure." 2 Samuel 22:33. Put it in a place you’ll see it daily, maybe tucked in your Bible, or hang it up on the bathroom mirror, or keep it in your car. But choose to remind yourself daily, that you are not facing this battle alone. God is the One who is with you, strengthening you daily, keeping your way secure. He gives peace and joy right in the midst of the toughest times. Trust Him, even though you can’t figure it all right now. He knows what’s up ahead, and He is building greatness within you.

Further Reading:
James 1:2-3
John 16:33
Psalms 91

A Prayer to Be Led by the Spirit.....By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer to Be Led by the Spirit

By: Emily Rose Massey

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” - Psalm 119:105

What does it look like for the Holy Spirit to lead in the Christian’s life?

From the onset, I believe it is helpful to define the work of the Holy Spirit. In John 16:7-8, we see that the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. With this being established, in the life of the Christian, we are continually being conformed by God’s grace, to the likeness of His Son. We seek to obey the commands of scripture and live our lives in obedience to Christ.

Being led by the Spirit is the antithesis of being led by the flesh (Galatians 5:17-18). When we are being led by the Spirit, it means that we are putting to death the ways of the flesh because the sins and desires of the flesh are against the Spirit.

Being led by the Spirit is not a passive or mysterious leading or “subjective feeling,” but rather an active, ever-present fight in the life of the Christian. Some believe they are led by the Spirit by the dreams they have as they believe that God is trying to tell them something or that they saw a butterfly flying in a certain direction and that’s “how they knew God was leading them.” Unfortunately, this subjective, experience-based reliance leads to many misunderstandings of what it looks like to be led by the Spirit.

Thankfully, we as disciples of Christ are not left to human subjectivity and confusion. We have God’s Word as a lamp to our feet in a world of darkness and sin. The Spirit will always use the Word to guide us.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” - Psalm 119:105

If we need direction in our lives, the best way to get it is to fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word. This will increase our trust in God, and we will no longer live in fear of the “what ifs” of life but rely solely on His divine providence to cover every step we take. As we study the scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth to us, we learn to rest in God’s sovereignty, trusting He is in control and will care for every detail. Believe today that he will give you wisdom and help you resist the temptation of the flesh.

Let’s Pray:

Father God,

I need direction in my life. I often want some type of external, tangible evidence or sign that will give me the answer or show me the way. I know You have called me to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. I trust that the Holy Spirit guides me by the Truth that is found in Your Holy written Word. I repent of looking to signs, omens, and dreams, which are subjective. I resolve to build my life upon Your Word: a strong foundation that cannot be shaken or changed.

Give me a hunger to study the scriptures so that I may know You and Your will and walk in wisdom to make righteous decisions that please only You. Please strengthen my faith and trust in Your sovereignty, so that I can rest in knowing that Your providential hand leads me every day, even when I cannot always see it or understand it. Thank You for Your Word that is a light to my path and lamp to my feet so I can see the narrow way clearly that You are calling me to walk on.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Our Sacred Substitution.....Gwen Smith

 Our Sacred Substitution

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Friend to Friend
All who pause for reflection and allow their hearts to wander in wonder down the Way of Suffering feel the darkness of this day in history. Good Friday was anything but good – yet, because of God’s unsearchable love for you and me, it was the pathway to our hope, to our forgiveness… and to eternal life.

Injustice took center stage that day as Pilate turned Jesus over to a rowdy mob, though he had found no fault in him. Roman soldiers rendered Him wounded and weak as they flogged an innocent man – the perfectly innocent Son of Man – with 39 excruciating lashes. 

A twisted crown of thorns was placed on his head and a purple robe draped over his shoulders as the crowd struck Him in the face and mocked God’s Son. (John 19:1-3)

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

Forced, then, to carry the weight of a heavy, wooden cross through streets full of accusations and curses, Jesus, the Messiah, was led toward the hill of death to the place of the skull: Golgotha.

He was poked, prodded and provoked by angry voices that cried for his torture. For his death. 

Crucify! Crucify!

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” (Isaiah 53:3)

Nails to flesh. 

Agony.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4)

On that pivotal day, darkness hurled hatred at the Light of the World. The sun stopped shining and the sky grew black as night as the beloved Son of God drew His final breath and declared, “It is finished.”

It. Is. Finished.

Death. 

A spear to His side. (John 19:34)

The tomb. Myrrh. Aloe. Burial. Heaven’s sorrow.

All for you. All for me. This sacred substitution. 

Radical love.

To fulfill the wrath of a holy God who cannot accept imperfection into His presence, the Bible tells us that “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) and that the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf brought a new and living way of redemption to all who would call on His name. Once for all. (Hebrews 9 and 10)

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

His punishment. Our peace.

By His wounds we are healed. 

Read that again: by His wounds we are healed. Made whole. Forgiven. Saved. Redeemed. Set free. Healed. 

The condemnation of our failings no longer bind us to hopelessness. 

It is finished because though darkness shook the earth with death that Friday long ago, the grave could not hold Jesus and death could not defeat Him! {TWEET this!}

Friday brought death, but Sunday brought life! 

He is risen, friend! He is risen, indeed!

Reflect and respond with me today in worship and thanksgiving in light of the life we have in Christ alone!

Let's Pray
Holy Father,

My heart is swollen with the weight of Your love. That You would give Your only Son to make a way for me to know You – to be made right with You – to be made righteous in Jesus – is more than I could ever, ever thank You for.

All glory and honor and praise be to Your name, Jesus!

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
This sacrifice of Jesus was personal, friend. And so is salvation. Have you ever responded on a heart level to this good news? Have you confessed your mistakes and failures to God? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ – trusting that what He did on the cross was for the forgiveness of your sins?