A Wealth of Fatherly Affections..Craig Denison Ministries

 A Wealth of Fatherly Affections

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As children of the Most High God, we have been granted access to unconditional, tangible, and perfect love. All we need we have in relationship with our Father in heaven. He longs to reveal himself to us as a loving, real Father. He longs for us to live in the fullness of restored relationship with him. He longs for us to experience his vast and limitless affections. May we grow in our understanding and experience of God as our good and loving Father this week as we look at what it is to be his child.

Scripture:“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” Psalm 36:5

Devotional:

Being the child of God gives us an open invitation into the endless affections our heavenly Father has for us. There is no end to the wealth of his love. There is no limit to how deeply and tangibly we can experience his heart. Through the sacrifice of Jesus we can live our lives totally and completely experiencing the love of the Creator and Sustainer of all.

Psalm 36:5 says, “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” When you look across the horizon as far as your eye can see, picture the arms of your heavenly Father stretching even farther than the faintest speck of blue sky. When you see the clouds in their immensity and wonder, picture the enormity of your God’s faithful love toward you.

So great is the wealth of affections your heavenly Father has toward you that he would send his pure, blameless Son as payment for the sins that have kept you from experiencing his love. So great was his desire for you to know his heart that Jesus gave his life, creating a bridge across the vast chasm of sin that separated you and the Father.

1 John 4:10 says, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Most of us wander through life looking for any source of love we can find. We give ourselves to people, jobs, society, and wrongful expectations trying our hardest to satiate an insatiable need to be loved. Only in making time to receive God’s perfect, tangible, and transformative affections will our need to be loved finally be satisfied. Only when we look to the cross as a continual reminder that we are fully and forever loved will we stop searching for affections from a world that will only ever reject and disappoint us.

Your heavenly Father longs for you to experience the wealth of his affections today. He longs to guide you into a safe place of simply being loved by him. This broken and needy world has taught us to shield the wounded places of our hearts from any outside contact. We’re taught to just get over our wounds, pick ourselves up, and let our scars be signs of our inner strength. God wants to take your wounds and heal them with his perfect love. He wants to take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it into real, eternal good. He’s waiting right now to love you and make you whole. He’s waiting right now to satisfy the deep longing to be loved you’ve carried with you all your life.

Take time in guided prayer to truly encounter the love of your heavenly Father. Wait on his presence and open your heart to him in response to his love and faithfulness. He will shepherd you to green pastures and still waters if you make time and follow his leadership. May you experience the wealth of affections your heavenly Father has for you as you pray.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the wealth of affections your heavenly Father has for you.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” - Isaiah 49:15-16

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” - 1 John 4:10

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” - Luke 15:20

2. What wound are you carrying that God longs to heal with his love? What past experience has affected you for too long? What part of your heart have you kept shielded that God longs to speak to today?

3. Ask the Lord to guide you into a transformational encounter with his love. Ask him to help you receive all the love he has to give you today. Take time to wait on him and rest in his presence. Don’t leave this place of rest until you feel satisfied and renewed.

May Ephesians 1:3-10 stir your heart to pursue the depth of affections your heavenly Father has for you throughout your day today:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Extended Reading: Ephesians 1

And All That Jazz..KAREN EHMAN

 And All That Jazz

KAREN EHMAN

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 (CSB)

A few days ago, my Instagram scrolling was interrupted when I saw a surprising ad emerge on my screen.

The ad was promoting a sale on some Bible study accessories such as colorful highlighters, trendy bookmarks and a set of creative tabs for all 66 books of the Bible. These products looked whimsical and even helpful.

But what stood out to me most was the tease at the top of the post, which told readers it was about time they finally “jazzed up” their Bibles.

Now, of course the entrepreneur of these items was talking about adding functionality and a little pop of color to the pages of a physical Bible, which so many of us love to do when studying the Word. But the ad caused me to ponder this idea of “jazzing up” the Bible in a different and spiritual sense.

So often in our culture, we try to jazz up God’s Word — God’s very words. We display Scripture verses on a lovely social media graphic or on a rustically stenciled sign for our home. While there is certainly nothing wrong with using Scripture in our decorating — whether at home or online — let’s remember what the real purpose of Scripture is in the first place.

The writer of Psalm 119 declared: “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). In ancient times, a lamp was used to help people find their way in the dark. The lamp was suspended over their feet as they walked along a dim pathway. This illumination helped keep them from stumbling and falling.

The original Hebrew meanings of the three items depicted in this verse — a lamp, feet and a light — are straightforward. Their English meanings identically match. However, the phrase “your word” has a multifaceted meaning we would do well to pay attention to.

The Hebrew connotation for “word” can be all the following: a message, command, edict, advice, thought, verdict, conversation, counsel or promise. This myriad of meanings is remarkable!

Do you need advice? Go to God’s Word.

Would you like to know God’s thoughts? His Word lights the way.

Could you use a good conversation with Jesus today? You will find it in the pages of Scripture.

Want to be sure you are following the Lord’s commands? Crack open your Bible.

And if you’d like to explore the promises of God, you will find them lovingly penned on Scripture's pages.

While it’s fun and even beneficial to “jazz up” the physical pages of our Bibles with bright highlighters, colorful pens, and helpful bookmarks and tabs, Scripture itself doesn’t need to be jazzed up at all. Instead, it should be diligently read, carefully studied and prayerfully applied. Let God’s holy Word light your path and show you the best way forward. May it illuminate our minds, causing us to eliminate ungodly behavior.

We develop a closer relationship with our Creator through times spent soaking in Scripture. Let’s carve out time to encounter Jesus personally through God’s Word very soon. (Cute Instagram picture of said encounter is optional.)

Almighty God, I want the light of Your Word to be what guides my life. Help me to make studying my Bible a priority in my life this week. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reasons to Surrender..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Reasons to Surrender

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As we learned yesterday, God tells us to surrender our lives to Him. This is no small task. All our plans, every desire we feel, each entitlement that once seemed our right—everything is put aside in order to make way for our King’s will. But perhaps you have wondered why God can ask this of us.

The Lord has every right to demand that we give Him our all. First, Scripture teaches us that He is sovereign—the King and Ruler over the entire universe. As a result, we are under His authority, whether we choose to submit or not. Next, through His death and resurrection, Jesus saved us from our sin and its consequences. Therefore, we are indebted to Him more than we could ever repay. And finally, He sustains us; we should consider each breath and heartbeat a gift from Him.

Undoubtedly, God is entitled to ask that we yield our life to Him. At the same time, surrender is in our best interest. The Father promises that following Him leads to hope and an established future. Psalm 31:19 states, “How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You . . .” So, while He is the Almighty One with all authority to demand our life, He promises to care for us and to do what will benefit us most.

Are you willing to put yourself aside in order to follow Jesus? His way is best, and it offers hope, joy, and peace. We will not always like everything He chooses at the moment, but He promises to work all things for good. Will you trust God enough to hand the reins over to Him?

How to Recognize a Rebellious Heart..Lynette Kittle

 How to Recognize a Rebellious Heart (Isaiah 14:13)

By Lynette Kittle

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” – Isaiah 14:12-15

My family was surprised with my results from the online quiz we took just for fun, designed to see which of a favorite classic TV show’s character we’re most like.

Yet when my answer identified me with the rebellious one, I wasn’t shocked. “You’re not rebellious at all,” they said, dismissing the outcome, trying to comfort me and make me feel better.

While I know the silly quiz was a marketing tool designed to engage online readers’ participation, it still seemed as if God was gently speaking to me. Inside, I know the truth. And God knows the truth, too. Sometimes my heart has been rebellious.

So what is rebellion, where does it come from, and do I need to be concerned?

Although worldly culture celebrates rebellion and loves the heart of a rebel, like the 1955 classic film Rebel Without a Cause, rebellion is nothing to celebrate. There is arrogance behind it. It is all about rejecting and challenging God’s authority, setting ourselves above Him.

Isaiah 14:13-14 describes the scene where Satan rebelled against God. “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” Satan’s rebellion was the height of arrogance, rejection and challenge.

Unlike the world’s opinion, God sees rebellion as a serious issue. In response to Satan’s rebellious uprising, Isaiah 14:12 reports the results. “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You’ve been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!”

Luke 10:18, further describes the scene. “He (Jesus) replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’”

Revelation 12:9 gives us another angle on the story. “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”

Why does this all matter? Finding where rebellion originated and the consequences of it helps to lessen its day-to-day appeal. Still, simply identifying the origin of our rebellion doesn’t mean we are aware of the ways it might express itself in our lives. Here are just a few ways rebellion shows up:

• Refusing to listen to God’s instructions for life (Isaiah 30:9)
• Being disloyal to God in our thoughts and actions (Psalm 78:8)
• Carrying out our own plans rather than God’s will for our lives (Isaiah 30:1)

• Forming alliances with ungodly businesses, entertainment, and personalities (Isaiah 30:1)
• Turning away from God and going our own way (Jeremiah 5:23)
• Selling out to the world by following their counsel rather than God’s Word (Isaiah 1:23)

The next time we’re tempted to be rebellious, instead of turning away from God, let’s choose to turn toward Him. Joel 2:13, urges us to return to God, who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.

A Prayer for Your Enemies..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Your Enemies

By Emma Danzey

Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

It is extremely easy to pray for those in our families, our friends, and for ourselves. However, it is a whole new ballgame when we realize that Jesus called us not only to pray for those who we like but also for our enemies. He even goes as far as to say to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This means the bullies, the evil leaders, the harsh coworkers, the rough family members, and the most terrible of people can be prayed for in the power of Jesus.

Who do you feel is your enemy today? Who in your life is overwhelmingly discouraging or wrong to you? Jesus is not saying that we should be victimized and abused, so please set healthy boundaries in place. He is, however, saying that we are called to pray for those who are difficult and hurtful. We cannot do this on our own, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can have true strength to pray over those who seem the furthest away from Christ. We can remember the apostle Paul as we pray. He started out as Saul, a persecutor of Christians, and killed them. Then, Jesus pursued him, and he came to faith in Christ, changing his name to Paul. We never know if a person was praying for Saul to know Jesus. A man who appeared to be a great enemy of the church then became one of the greatest evangelists of all time. We have to remember that Jesus is capable of changing any heart.

Let's Pray:

Dear Lord,
I know that ultimately my greatest enemy is the Devil. There is a real spiritual battle going on all around me. The great enemy is using people around me to accomplish his work. Help me to remember this when others hurt or persecute me for my faith in You. Father, would You please give me Your heart of forgiveness and hope for my enemies? Ephesians 6:10-12 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Would You enable me to love them well and live like You in front of them? Even when they try to get me down, help me to be strong in you and have the full armor of God on.

God help me to remember that Paul started off as Saul, and if you could transform the life of a Christian-killer, you can change any heart. Help me not to put those who live against me in a box. Remind me that You say in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God, give me this same heart that desires repentance and transformation. Help me not to lose hope that You are working. Give me the words to pray over them.

Lord, please save the souls of those who are my enemies. Show them Your love and Your salvation. Give them the same joy that I have been given to be Your child. I pray that I would not hinder them from seeing Christ, but I would encourage them and show them true love through You.

God, I pray for those who seem like enemies but claim to be believers in You. Help me to love the body of Christ well, even those with whom I disagree or feel hurt by. We are all broken and I pray that you would bless them and meet them in whatever they are going through and help me to be loving and kind by Your Spirit. I pray against the attacks of the true enemy who wants to divide and ruin the work of believers. I pray that my enemy among the church would see true forgiveness and love in me.

Father, I was once Your enemy. Colossians 1:21-22 says, “Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence.” Thank You for the way that You have reconciled me, a former enemy of You. Help me to extend this opportunity of grace through Jesus to others. Amen.

Why You Need to Hear the Gospel Again..Sarah E Martin

 Why You Need to Hear the Gospel Again

By Sarah E Martin

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” – Deuteronomy 11:18-21

I was again hearing the words spoken to me my whole life. From flannel graphs in Sunday school to today’s sermon preached from Genesis 3. I had heard this story before. I was a guest in my friend’s church which met in an old chapel with all the traditional trimmings—pews, hymnals, and the smell of old wood. The pastor preached on the Fall, the fateful turn of humanity’s tale when man’s faith in God shattered, and so did everything else.

Sin entered the world, and what was formerly home and belonging became unreachable and lost. God’s voice was no longer the only one we listened to. As the pastor told this story, he delivered a powerful presentation of the gospel. He made connections within Scripture that drew out a certain angle of the light of the good news that my heart just happened to need to hear that week.

You would think that after all these years, I would cease to be amazed by the Bible’s message and all the ways we can see it from Genesis to Revelation. You’d think that eventually, I would graduate and perfectly embody all of its truth in each corner of my life and wouldn’t need it poured into my ears over and over again. But, reader, I do. And so do you.

Though the stories never change, the essential message that we are broken and Christ is the answer remains the same, and God continually delivers it anew to us as we walk along the way. He’s made us to need his Word like we need food, to come to life as his Spirit helps us hear what we couldn’t before. Every verse of the Bible tells us that to be alive, to be sustained, to remain vital, with fresh life pouring and flowing through us, we need words.

Though I had heard it countless times, I have a tendency, symptomatic of being human, to let even the most sacred truths sit filed away, archived like a thing I’ve collected rather than the living, breathing thing it is, “dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow” (Heb. 4:12). If this happens to the gospel in your life, you will quickly begin to work and strive for what Jesus has already done for you, placing a yoke that isn’t his, and therefore isn’t freedom, back on your sore shoulders.

But hearing the pastor deliver God’s Word afresh both humbled me and lifted me in the way that only Jesus can do. The truth is that mankind failed, and we continue to fail. But God sent his son, Jesus, to become like us and to do the unthinkable by taking on our curse so we might be free. And looking to him in faith is all it takes to be healed. That’s it. I don’t know about you, but I would be crushed if it wasn’t for this good news sustaining every moment for me.

This is the good news we need to hear and receive every day—that we’re sinners, and Christ is our savior. Whether it’s from a pastor, a minister, a family member or a friend, hearing the gospel spoken out loud, taking shape in another person’s words is life-giving to our faith. When was the last time someone spoke these words out loud to you? When was the last time you spoke them out loud to someone else? Or even to yourself?

When the enemy tempted Jesus with his twisted words, challenging him to use his power to satisfy his hunger, Jesus responded,

“It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4)

It is easy to forget the power of words. In the daily onslaught of messaging and information, words can gradually become common, misused, and drained of their worth. But Christians can’t forget our need for the words that come from the mouth of God.

In the beginning, God spoke, and a cosmos of life and light and earth and stars erupted out of nothing, spread across all existing space, and continues to expand to this day. The words of God began life in the most literal as well as spiritual sense. It shouldn’t surprise us then that it is the Word of God that sustains the life in us. When we believe in Christ, God puts a new spirit in us that is living, active, and sustained by God himself. His words and our abiding in them is what feeds that life.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
When was the last time you were strengthened by someone speaking the gospel to you in their own words? Ask the Lord to bring to mind someone you can encourage with, or perhaps share with for the first time, the simple gospel.

Further Reading:
Deuteronomy 11:1-21
1 Corinthians 15:1-11