Encountering God through Others..Craig Denison Ministries

 

Encountering God through Others

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Having consistent and transformational encounters with God while on earth is meant to be foundational to the Christian life. Our God has not left us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we’ve been filled with the very Spirit of God who longs to reveal to us daily the nearness and love of our heavenly Father. We are never alone. There is nowhere we can flee from the presence of our God. May this week be filled with transformational encounters with the living God as we learn what it is to seek the face of the one who has formed us, knows us, and loves us unconditionally.

Scripture:“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Devotional:

One of the most impactful ways God reveals himself is through others. Jesus taught us in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” We can learn aspects of God’s heart through others that we simply can’t learn alone. In relationship with others we learn about God’s heart for unity, grace, humility, and love in new and powerful ways. In fellowship we encounter people with various giftings, perspectives, and past experiences that are different than our own. And in community we discover God’s heart to use others for the building up, healing, and sharpening of ourselves. James 5:13-16 says,

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

God longs for you to give yourself fully to the community around you. He longs to use you for the healing and building up of others. And he longs for you to embrace humility and receive help and sharpening from others around you.

Ephesians 4:16 says, “From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Investing in community gives you the opportunity to be used by God to be built up in love with a group of believers. It positions you to receive help from fellow believers who are pursuing Jesus. And it equips you to pursue freedom and life in areas where you might not have gotten victory without the help of others.

Pursue wholehearted community today, not because fellow believers are perfect, but because you, as an imperfect child of God, need help from fellow imperfect children to encounter the fullness of abundant life God intends for you. Have grace for others. Love when you are unloved. Help when no one else will. Build up the body that Jesus loves that the world might better know the loving and available God we serve.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of investing in, and being invested in, by fellow believers.

“From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:16

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you whom you ought to invest in today and who he wants to use to invest in you. Ask God to help you humble yourself that you might love and show grace regardless of the faults of others.

3. Take some time and encourage a fellow believer. Ask God to show you his heart for that person and send them an encouragement from him. Ask God for a Scripture that he is speaking over that person. May you be used to build up another in love today.

I believe that the Lord has a few people for each of us that we are called to be totally open with. Oftentimes healing for our sin comes through confession and repentance to God and to fellow believers. When our sin is truly brought into the light in front of believers, we can better see it for what it is and gain help and accountability. May Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 encourage you today as you seek to develop much needed community with fellow believers:

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Extended Reading: Ephesians 4

Experiencing God’s Comfort in Chasing Sunsets..DORINA LAZO GILMORE-YOUNG

 Experiencing God’s Comfort in Chasing Sunsets

DORINA LAZO GILMORE-YOUNG

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (ESV) 

My daughters were ages 2, 5 and 8 when their daddy graduated to heaven. We received his cancer diagnosis in May, and he soared to heaven four short months later. As a suddenly single mama, my world felt like it was turned upside down.

My husband and I were directors of a nonprofit organization in Haiti. I made the difficult decision to step back from the ministry so I could make space for grieving with my girls and find a new normal. We moved back to central California so we could be close to family and our community.

During that season, the grief felt hard and heavy, like I was carrying around a boulder on my back. Not only was I grieving the loss of my husband and the loss of our ministry; I was also helping my three daughters navigate their own losses. I knew we couldn’t just pray away our pain or rush through the process of grief.

Every grief journey is unique. Each of my daughters had different needs and different ways of processing. We tried to make our home a safe space for all the feelings and all the questions.

In that season, I started a nightly rhythm of pausing to watch the sunset together. We would sit on our back porch or pull over on the side of the road and savor the sunset colors dancing across the sky.

Our Creator God, the Master Artist, met us in the brushstrokes of sparkling gold and emerald green. The girls would point out the ribbons of ruby red and deep amethyst sashaying across the sapphire-blue sky. We would smile and delight at the jewel-toned colors. Each night the sunset was unique.

This was God’s way of offering us comfort in our grief. It felt like a kiss from Daddy in heaven. God offered us His presence through creation. He felt near. I couldn’t explain it, but my little girls felt it too.

Psalm 34:18 is one of my favorite Bible verses, as David offers up this reminder: “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

David faced much opposition, loss and grief in his life. But this psalm and others remind us that God does not leave us alone. We will experience trials and sorrow, but He is always near.

As the girls and I chased sunsets together night after night, God began to heal our hearts.

I don’t believe we can ever “get over” our grief on this side of heaven, but we can learn to dance with it. We can learn to share tears and embrace the memories when they are fresh and full. We experience God’s glory in the midst of our grief … and He helps us to move forward in big and small ways.

Dear God, when grief threatens to take us out or weigh us down, would You meet us there? Show us Your glory in the sunrises and the sunsets. Remind us we are never alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Building Bridges to the Kingdom..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Building Bridges to the Kingdom

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 25:31-34

Scripture refers to "the kingdom of God" frequently, but many people are unclear as to its meaning. Let's look at the past, present, and future reality of this concept.

The first thing we must realize is that the heavenly kingdom refers to everything under Christ's control. At the moment of salvation, we are transferred from the reign of darkness to the bright authority of Jesus. And we are eternally secure in Him.

As today's verses explain, Jesus' kingdom and reign have been planned since the foundation of the world. From the beginning, God has been preparing mankind for what is to come. One way was by using prophets to foretell how He would redeem humanity and sovereignly rule over heaven and earth.

Once Jesus came and gave His life, He established the "present" kingdom. This isn't a geographical locale; it's a term describing the heart, where God's Holy Spirit indwells believers to guide, counsel, and empower.

But there is also a future aspect of the kingdom, which we can anticipate with excitement. You are probably familiar with the words "Thy kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2 kjv). This speaks of the new heaven and new earth, where we will enjoy freedom from pain and sin. There, we will worship Jesus with gladness and joy for all eternity.

As God's kingdom ambassadors, we who are His children have the responsibility and privilege of sharing the good news: Through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, all who trust in Him are forgiven of sin and assured of eternal life with God. Whom can you tell about this amazing gift?

When the Lord Calls, He Equips..Jennifer Waddle

 When the Lord Calls, He Equips

by Jennifer Waddle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” - Exodus 4:10-11, NKJV

When God called Moses to approach Pharaoh and insist that he set the nation of Israel free from slavery, Moses was full of arguments. His questions were, Who am I? What shall I say? What if they do not believe me? But Moses wasn’t the only one who doubted God’s call. Many who were chosen to do hard things questioned the Lord, argued with Him, and even ran away.

Gideon doubted God’s call to deliver Israel from the Midianites, insisting he was the least of the least.

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:14-15

Jonah ran from God when he was commanded to warn Nineveh of impending judgment.

But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1: 3

Jeremiah argued with God’s direction, stating he was only a youth and could not speak to the rebellious nation of Israel.

Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6

Most of us are happy to step up to the plate when the task is easy. But when the Lord draws us out of our comfort zones and into the unknown, that is when we wrestle with His assignment.

We may not feel worthy of God’s call, but nevertheless, He makes us complete in every good work that aligns with His will and equips us with whatever is needed to carry out His divine purpose.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 (emphasis mine)

Moses argued with the Lord, to the point of provoking Him to anger. In the end, Moses’ brother Aaron ended up being God’s mouthpiece.(Exodus 4:14-16) How might it have been different if Moses had yielded to God and trusted that He would equip him to speak?

We, too, might doubt God’s abilities, but by His Spirit, we will be given exactly what we need at the exact time we need it.

“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11-12

Just as the Lord assured Gideon, Jonah and Jeremiah, He assures us that He will put the words in our mouths and the tools in our hands to accomplish the work He has begun in us.

Identifying Fruit..Lynette Kittle

 Identifying Fruit

By Lynette Kittle

“Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit”—Matthew 7:17,18

We have fruit trees growing in our yard. Our orange tree produces oranges, and our lemon tree grows lemons, it’s how we can tell which one is an orange tree and which one is a lemon tree. Only through a tree’s produce are we able to accurately identify the true core that produces the seeds and fruit. 

What Does Fruit Have to Do With Us?
Interestingly, Jesus explains how what people produce in their lives also reveals who they are on the inside. “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles” (Matthew 7:16).

In a nutshell, whatever is within a person will eventually be evident, revealing what’s truly hidden inside. Still, individuals like to argue that there is no way to tell if someone is a sincere believer or not to know if they’ve, in fact, been transformed. But Jesus explains how it’s really pretty easy and obvious to spot the difference between true believers and unbelievers.

What’s the Difference Between Judging and Identifying Fruit?
Interestingly, Matthew 7 begins by warning us about judging others, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). As the chapter continues, it instructs us to examine someone’s fruit to determine who they are, especially when it comes to Christian leadership. Matthew 7:15 strongly cautions, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

Summing it up, here’s where the Bible cautions, “Looks can be deceiving.” But some Christians are confused by this, not understanding the difference between judging an individual and identifying their true identity. In Matthew 7:17,18, Jesus clarifies by explaining how good fruit can only come from a good tree and bad fruit from a bad tree. Fruit is an accurate indicator of what kind of tree it is because it just isn’t possible to get good fruit from a bad tree or vice versa.

So what's the difference between judging a person and looking at their fruit? Judging is condemning one's attitudes or actions while examining someone’s fruit is identifying true believers from imposters.

How to Tell the Difference
Although true believers still sin, they don’t live in ongoing sinful lifestyles. The presence of continuing sin reveals hearts that love the world more than loving God.

1 John 2:15,16 explains, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”

If individuals claim to be Christians but continue to live, support, and facilitate actions that clearly go against God’s word, they are producing rotten fruit.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 explains, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

 Although a Christian’s words may seem biblical and “good” in hearing, what is his or her life producing? A person’s fruit doesn’t lie but identifies the core of who they really are, whether a true believer in Jesus Christ or a counterfeit Christian who loves the world. Galatians 5:22,23 describes, “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.”

Intersecting Faith and Life:
What kind of fruit are you producing in your life? If you’re not seeing the kind that comes from loving God more than the world, ask God to examine your heart. Ask Him to reveal the truth to you.