His Grace is Sufficient..Craig Denison Ministries

 His Grace is Sufficient

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Grace is a gift most of us don’t know how to receive. We’ve been so inundated with the earthly systems of give-and-get and work-and-earn that grace is a concept few ever fully grasp. Yet it’s grace alone that has the power to transform lives. Grace alone has the power to bring freedom to the captives. By grace alone we are saved. There could be no better use of our time than consistently and passionately pursuing a greater revelation of God’s grace.

Scripture:“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Devotional:

It seems like every day I discover new ways in which I am weak and in need. Whether it be sin, physical exhaustion, or emotional dependence, I am constantly discovering my need for help. But daily I also discover a God who is wholly sufficient in all the ways I am weak. Daily I receive rejuvenation from my heavenly Father who seems to take these weaknesses of mine and use them for his kingdom.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”What great comfort we can find in the words of Paul here. And what amazing love our heavenly Father has for us that he would bestow his sufficient grace upon us.

We serve a God who turns our greatest weakness into our greatest strength. In his grace, all he asks of us is to have a heart open, willing, and receptive to him. Our God is one who comes down to us and lays down his life that we might live through him. He’s the King of Kings who washes the feet of the very men who would betray him. He’s the God of compassion who heals the sick and spends time with the sinners rather than the pious. He has given up any form of personal gain in order to devote his entire existence to paving the way for us to have restored relationship with our heavenly Father.

We serve a God whose grace is wholly sufficient for us. In fact, it’s only in living by his grace that we are made strong. Your heavenly Father says, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” In Christ we can boast in our need for our need is our greatest asset. Christ demonstrated through his ministry that he works powerfully when people simply acknowledge their need of him. From the woman desperate to touch his garment, to Zacchaeus the tax collector, to the paralyzed man lowered through the ceiling, God works incredible miracles in the lives of those who come before him with all their brokenness and need. His power is made perfect in those who simply cry out to him in desperation.

In contrast, we see those in Scripture who come before God thinking they have it all, and therefore receive nothing from him. Mark 10:17-27 tells us of a rich, young ruler who came to Jesus asking for his help but was unwilling to trade worldly success for eternal relationship. In response to the young man’s unwillingness Jesus says, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). I don’t believe Jesus was just talking about monetary wealth here, although money is most definitely included. I believe Jesus is making a statement about anyone who feels satisfied in themselves and the world apart from God. You can be poor and still receive nothing from God because you live pridefully without acknowledging your need. One of our greatest gifts is weakness because in acknowledging our weakness we make space for God to move and work.Those who are satisfied with worldly success, pleasure, and possession make little room for the incredible wealth of love, peace, passion, and joy God longs to give those who simply acknowledge their need of him.

You see, this life is not about possession, whether it be little or much—it’s about the posture of your heart toward God. The abundant life God longs to give you will only be received in areas where you acknowledge your weakness and need. The thief hanging on the cross who acknowledged his own sin received the gift of eternal life, not the pious and successful high priest who, in his pride, fought to crucify the very Savior he had been asking to come.

Posture your heart today as all those who have received the incredible wealth of the Lord’s love have before you. Ask the Spirit to show you your dependence and need of God if you don’t already know it. Ask God to humble you and make you receptive to all he longs to give. May it be his grace that is sufficient for you today, rather than your own strength. May it be his power that proves strong in your weakness. And may you experience today all the sufficient grace your heavenly Father longs to give.

Guided Prayer:

1. Reflect on your own need of God. Ask the Spirit to reveal to you your weakness. Spend time acknowledging your own sin, selfishness, pride and brokenness.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

2. Receive the grace God longs to give you. Spend time receiving his love and enjoyment over you. Receive the love, forgiveness, joy, and peace your heavenly Father longs to pour out on the broken and needy places of your heart.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

3. Ask God to move in power through your life today. Ask him to guide and help you accomplish what is set before you today through the power of the Spirit.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

No matter how gifted you are, God will always work through you to greater levels than you could  accomplish on your own. Surrender your life to him and allow him to lead you to a lifetime of his unmerited favor. Every day as you wake up, acknowledge your dependence on God that your day may be lived in the abundance available to you. There is no better prayer you could pray in the morning than one asking God for his love, grace, and power in acknowledgement of your need of him. 

Extended Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

Extending the Compassion and Comfort We Have Received...Emily Rose Massey

 Extending the Compassion and Comfort We Have Received. 

By Emily Rose Massey

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB

“There is no heartbeat. I’m so sorry.” I sat up, let the tears stream down my face, and a big sigh escaped. The doctor asked if I was going to be okay. With a shaky voice, I pointed her to the One that has always been near to me during times like these. “I have been through a lot in my short life. I have had some serious valley experiences …but my faith in God has always gotten me through it. This will be no different. Jesus is faithful.” She sat still across from me, nodded her head, and said “I’m glad you have that kind of faith. I will give you some time alone …come out whenever you are ready, and we will talk about our options.”

I was alone in that room, yet I knew I would not be alone in my sorrow. God saw me in my pain and did not overlook it. He was faithful to my husband and me, and we now have three sons. Although God answered our prayers to have children, He still saw all the tears and was near me as my heart and body healed. I looked to the only One who could keep me from being crushed under the weight of grief. He comforted me when I so desperately needed it and brought me His peace in the midst of that storm. Paul shared this kind of comfort with the church at Corinth in his second letter to them. Comfort which flows from our compassionate Heavenly Father:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 1 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB

The mighty, all-powerful God who created the entire universe is the same God who draws oh so close to us in our brokenness and pain. He uses these times of pain to teach us how to comfort others when they are walking through a valley. We can see the way He makes beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3) as we extend the same comfort we have received from the Father. Because of the difficult experience of losing our first baby many years ago, by God’s grace, I have been able to comfort many other women who have walked the same painful path.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Having eternal perspective lifts our eyes from the cares of this life and helps us move forward when we are going through a storm. We are reminded that ultimately, this place is not our home. Being heavenly-minded during earthly trials fuels our hope in God and brings comfort to our weary souls. We can lift our eyes heavenward as we eagerly wait for the return of Christ, and that glorious day we will abide with God forever in heaven. No matter how dark things may become around us, we can ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with enduring hope. 

Renewing our minds in God’s Word enables us to seek and understand His perfect will for our lives with increased clarity, especially when our minds are full of unanswerable questions. Trouble and anxiety minimize, and our minds strengthen and renew when we lift our gaze upon the Lord and meditate on the Scriptures about who He is. He has a purpose for us to fulfill here on earth, to share His glorious Gospel and the truth found in His Word. Comfort and peace are available to all of God’s children. 

The trial you are facing will be used for a purpose far beyond yourself as you become a vessel for God’s comfort to reach the hurting and broken all for His glory. You may be disappointed, grieving, and hurting, but don’t stay in the pain and discouragement permanently. Your Father is near, let us praise His Holy name! And remember, there is someone around you who needs to know about His compassionate comfort. Let us run into the arms of our Father and find great comfort in Him together!

Further Reading:

• Deuteronomy 31:8-9
• Psalm 23
• Psalm 145:18-19

The Danger of Legalism..Joe McKeever

 The Danger of Legalism

By Joe McKeever

“Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem saying, ‘Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?’ …And He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?'” (Matthew 15:1-3).

Historians tell us the Pharisees started off well, as revivalists in a way, calling the nation back to faithfulness. Eventually, however, their insistence on righteousness settled down into a code of laws and rules. They went from being encouragers to harassers, from lovers of God to bullies and legalists.

The legalist is someone who says, “I know the Lord didn’t say this, but He would have if He’d thought of it!”

The legalist is smarter than God. He helps the Lord by completing His Word, by filling in the gaps where the Lord clearly forgot to say something, explain something, or require a thing.

The legalist drives the rest of God’s people nuts. He is forever finding rules we overlooked, requirements we clearly missed on purpose, and laws the rest of us should be keeping. He insists his way is the only one and can play the more-righteous-than-thou card when we do not agree with him.

The legalist claims to love the Word more than you. Typically, he takes a single saying of Scripture and builds an entire system around it, then demands that everyone else obey it. If you refuse, you don’t love the Lord, are in rebellion against God, and unworthy to be a leader or teacher of this church.

There is something about legalism that is attractive to a lot of people. It reduces the Christian faith to a list of rules. No more of this “search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24). No more of this “The sacrifices of the Lord are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17). It’s rules. Laws. Regulations. Requirements. Demands

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were the gold standard of legalists. But their descendants are many, vocal, and ever-present.

In all its manifestations, legalism violates a dozen principles of righteous discipleship: the sovereignty of Almighty God, the proper interpretation of Scripture, obedience to the Holy Spirit, love for people, the prominence of the gospel message, and many others.

A Prayer for the Grace We Need to Sustain Suffering..Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for the Grace We Need to Sustain Suffering

By Emily Rose Massey

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (James 4:6, ESV).

One of my closest friends has been walking through a very heavy time regarding her husband’s diagnosis of MS. There are times when she opens up to me about her struggles with how it has impacted her marriage, and all I want to do is encourage and help her carry the burden. The other day, I listened as she sobbed, and tried my best to acknowledge the difficulty and pain, even if I couldn’t fully relate to her situation. To encourage her, I told her that in her repentance of complaining and discontentment in the midst of her suffering, I see so much beautiful humility and a greater trust being formed in her. Because of that humility, we can rejoice in knowing God has promised to give grace to the humble.

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (James 4:6 ESV).

Some of us have been called to a greater measure of suffering than others, and instead of allowing the trial to embitter us or cause us to be anxious, we can be thankful that we will be recipients of God’s great sustaining grace in a greater measure. To receive sustaining grace, we must remember to come to God humbly as we learn to lean upon Him for strength and trust that He is using suffering for a purpose. Pain and suffering are not something any of us look forward to, but while we live here in this fallen and broken world, it is inevitable. It is so easy to get caught up in the storms of our life and lose sight of the hope available to us through Jesus Christ. The Lord works in our trials to bring us closer and conform us to His image. The Apostle Paul calls this “the fellowship of His suffering” (Philippians 3:10). Not only do our trials bring us closer to Christ, but they also remind us heaven is our true home and that one day, our suffering will cease.

Suffering may not disappear in this life, but the good news is Jesus walks through it with us, promising to empower us with His grace. Amid the pain, the temptation is to fix our focus on the battle we face and attempt to figure out how to escape or fix it. The Lord is calling us to run to Him in our weakness. Let us run to Him and fall at His feet in humility, knowing that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. 

Let’s pray:
Dear Lord,
I know Your grace is sufficient and that You are my ever-present help in times of need, but sometimes my actions do not reflect these truths. It’s much easier for me to complain about my stressful, painful, and difficult circumstances or try to fix or change what seems to be causing me to feel overwhelmed. I need to come to You and ask for grace when I have reached my limit, or I feel like I am being crushed under the weight of my suffering. You are faithful to provide all I need because You are a gracious Father who cares deeply for Your children. I come to You as Your child today, boldly asking for Your sustaining and powerful grace to carry me through each challenging moment. You are faithful in every season, even if this season of suffering doesn’t have an expiration date on this side of eternity. Thank You for reminding me to come to You first. I pray, today, for Your sustaining grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living Courageously..Craig Denison Ministries

 Living Courageously

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

In response to knowing the heart of God we are called to share the wonders of his invisible nature with a world in desperate need of him. God has chosen to use us to reveal himself. He’s filled us with the Spirit and empowered us to proclaim the good news of salvation and restored relationship with our Creator. May you discover this week that you were made to share God’s heart. And may you find joy and passion in God’s longing to use you in powerful and unique ways.

Scripture:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Devotional:    

To live as an authentic disciple of Jesus is to live courageously. Jesus didn’t call us to a life of shrinking back. We’re not commanded to sit on the sidelines. He didn’t call us to to pursue comfort, stability, approval with man, or societal status. He’s called us to love unconditionally, give sacrificially, obey him unreservedly, and to live courageously.

In John 15:19 Jesus clearly says, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” To be of God and practice the things of God is in powerful, direct opposition to the things of the world and its ruler, our enemy. For this reason God offers encouragement to those who face trial—to those who live courageously. 1 Peter 4:12-14 says:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

God is calling you to a life far greater and more important than comfort and worldly pleasure. He’s calling you to live by faith, believing that true blessing and true pleasure is found in him alone. He’s calling you to step out of your former ways and live in accordance with his will that you might experience fullness of life in him.

For this reason Scripture says in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” In the midst of any trial you can have transcendent, tangible comfort in God. In this midst of any suffering or pain you can find rest in the loving arms of your heavenly Father. And in the face of great opposition you can choose to live courageously. Your God is with you. He will never leave you. Courage comes from acknowledging the reality and power of God’s nearness.

As we finish this week on sharing God’s heart, find courage today to boldly love others. Take time to receive God’s unconditional love and grace that you might share him with a world who desperately needs transcendent comfort and peace. Live courageously today and see heaven come to earth around you. Seek life and love in God alone. May your time of guided prayer be filled with encouragement from the Holy Spirit and the word of God.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the call of God to live courageously. Reflect on his promise to be with you always.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." Hebrews 10:39

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

2. Assess your own life. In what ways are you seeking worldly comfort over living courageously in God? What fears do you have about sharing God’s heart that are winning out over courage from God?

“And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” Luke 8:14

3. Go to God with your fears and receive encouragement in him. Take time to rest in God’s presence. Ask him for his perspective on that which hinders you from sharing his heart and living courageously. Journal his response.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

When you choose to respond to God’s call in faith, know that he will fill you with courage and boldness. The disciples were not naturally courageous people. Prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit they were weak, selfish, and cowardly. But in God, they were made strong. In God, they accomplished the impossible. In God, they were used for eternal purposes that bore fruit you and I are still experiencing. Decide today to partner with God in seeing his kingdom come to earth through your life. Decide to jump in and be an active part of the spiritual awakening happening all around us. Decide to get off the sidelines of the Christian life and share God’s heart with all those he leads you to. May your day be filled with boldness and courage in the Holy Spirit.

Extended Reading: Luke 8

Finding Purpose in the Waiting..Christine Perry

 Finding Purpose in the Waiting 

By Christine Perry

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” - Psalm 37:3 NKJV

Have you ever been disappointed in life? Has God's timing not lined up with your timing? You're not alone. In Psalm 13, David cried out in desperation, asking God how long He would forget him. He also asked God how long he must wrestle with his thoughts day after day. Waiting is not for the faint of heart. It takes faith and trust in God. Yet, waiting can save you a lifetime of regrets. Elisabeth Elliot said, "Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts."

Much of our lives involve waiting. When we are children, we wait until we can have more responsibility to drive, buy fast food, and make money. Some of us go to college, anxiously awaiting graduation. We work and wait to find our dream job. As singles, we often wait for marriage. If we marry, we often anticipate having children. And then, anticipate those children growing up. Life is a series of endless waiting. But waiting for our waiting isn’t wasted. 

The enemy wants us to grow discouraged. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10, NKJV). He wants to steal our joy, kill our hope, and destroy our anticipation of a full life. Although waiting may feel mundane, our waiting seasons are vital. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us to wait on the Lord, not on another season of life, spouse, child, ideal job, or anything else. If we wait on the Lord, our strength will be renewed! Waiting on the Lord and putting our hope in Him will cause us to mount up with wings like eagles, to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint. Where is our hope, and what/who are we waiting on? 

Our attitude and outlook reveal our focus. If we are miserable because we don't have what we’re waiting on, our hope is in people or things. If we’re content, our hope is in God. Satan's oldest trick is to convince us God is holding out on us. Look at Eve. She wanted more despite being with a sinless husband and living in paradise. Psalm 84:11 reminds us that God isn't withholding anything from us. Our greatest need, the forgiveness of our sins, has been covered! 

In Psalm 37:3, David said to trust God and do good. No matter what we may be waiting for, we can all trust God and do good. There is no shortage of things we can trust God for. To help us trust God, it’s important to look back on what He has done. We are human, which means we are prone to forget. But God never fails. David says, "Feed on His faithfulness." Why not take a sheet of paper and write down the ways God has shown up for us in the past, and how He has led us? He is for us. Because of Him, we are more than conquerors. Additionally, there is no limit to the good you can do and the people you can serve. If you don't know who to do good for, why not pray for others? Ask God for things on your friend's behalf as if you were asking for yourself (John 13:34).  

Intersecting Life and Faith 
There is no doubt waiting is hard to endure. But, God, in His mercy, will keep us busy in our waiting. One woman asked her pastor if she could visit sick church members in the hospital. After a few months, the pastor realized this woman was better suited to pray for those in the hospital. So, she ceased her visits and began praying. As this woman began to pray, the pastor realized the Lord was using her prayers mightily. He would then call this woman to pray, whether for someone's salvation, a need for the church, direction for members, etc. She would pray, and things would happen. Never underestimate the magnitude of what God can do with our willingness in waiting seasons.