God’s Heart to Meet with Man: John on Patmos.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

God’s Heart to Meet with Man: John on Patmos

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Throughout Scripture we see countless examples of God meeting with man and countless lives being transformed as the result. These examples are in Scripture to stir our faith and fill us with a desire to meet with our Creator. When we read about the life of David, we should be filled with a longing to live as he did, centered around meeting with our heavenly Father. When we read about Gideon or Moses, we should long to know our God as they did. When we read about Jesus coming down to us or his heart for the woman caught in adultery, we should respond by pursuing encounters with our Savior. And when we read of Pentecost and Jesus’ second coming, we should seek out the fullness of God’s presence available to us on this earth in preparation for the age that is to come. May your heart be filled with a wholehearted desire to pursue meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.”  Revelation 1:17-19

Devotional:

The story of John receiving the book of Revelation from Jesus brings tears to my eyes. I imagine an isolated, weary, and lonely John on Patmos spending his days waiting until he gets to be with his beloved Jesus again. I imagine his heart yearning just to see his friend and Savior. And suddenly, after years of serving Jesus, he appears to John once again, his Lord and King standing before him, speaking to him that which will be the final words of Scripture. In Revelation 1:12-20, John records Jesus coming to meet with him, saying:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

Imagine the joy and awe in John’s heart as his Rabbi Jesus reveals himself in glory to once again share with him history-altering revelation. Imagine the passion John would feel as his last days, which he thought he would spend alone in exile, are interrupted by a final chapter of kingdom work delivered straight from the mouth of his Savior.

God loves to interrupt the seasons of our lives in which we feel most lost with glorious encounters with him. He loves to repurpose us for incredible kingdom work just where we thought we were most useless. He longs to meet with us and envision us for his plans to bring his kingdom to earth. No matter where you are or how old you are, God has tremendous plans in store for all those who will serve him. There is no work he gives us too small. There is no time in our lives that we are unusable. There is no age in which we are to stop being used by our Savior. Jesus longs to meet with you today and tell you of his plans for salvation. He longs to empower you to do a mighty work for his kingdom. He longs for you to see his kingdom come to earth all the days of your life until you take your final breath here and wake up with him. May you receive and share the revelation Jesus gives you today with a world that desperately needs to know him.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s heart to meet with you in every season of your life. Allow Scripture to fill you with faith and desire to meet with your King today.

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh today. Open your heart and receive him that you might live empowered to see the kingdom of God come to earth.

3. Ask God what it is he would have you do today. How does he want to use you to advance his kingdom on earth?

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:10

What an incredible gift that God would choose to use us for his kingdom purposes. You and I can have a real, eternal impact on the earth. No matter what our age or past failures, God longs to use us. And through the coming of the Holy Spirit, we have God dwelling within us. The same God who raised Christ Jesus from the grave, empowered the disciples for miraculous works, and has been at the root of every great spiritual awakening dwells within us. May you allow God to use you in mighty and powerful ways today to spread the gospel of love everywhere you go.

Extended Reading: Matthew 6

Prayer in Times of Inadequacy..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Prayer in Times of Inadequacy

Dr. Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 2:1-10

After Nehemiah heard about the desperate condition of the Jews who had returned from exile to Jerusalem, his heart was burdened (Neh. 1:3-4). By getting his attention in this way, the Lord could reveal what He wanted Nehemiah to do. Scripture doesn't spell out the man's reaction on realizing that he was to be a part of the solution, but we can imagine a sense of inadequacy probably engulfed him. How could he possibly help? He wasn't even near Jerusalem, and as a servant of the king, he didn't have the freedom to pack up and leave.

But whenever God puts a burden on our hearts, He will open a door to accomplish His will. In this case, the Lord used Nehemiah's sad expression and desperate prayer to prepare a pagan king to send him on his mission.

How do you respond when you sense the Lord is calling you to a task that seems beyond your abilities? Do you list all the reasons you can't possibly do it? God already knows everything about you and the situation. He's not asking your permission to proceed; rather, He is calling you to move forward with faith and obedience. He didn't make an error in choosing you for the task, but you will make a huge mistake if you refuse to do it.

God will equip you for whatever He calls you to do. Because the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer, we have all we need to fulfill the Lord's mission. Instead of letting inadequacy hinder you from obeying, let it drive you to your knees so you can arise with renewed insight and power.

It Is Designed to Kill You .. Clarence L. Haynes, Jr...

 It Is Designed to Kill You

By Clarence L. Haynes, Jr.

“…but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” – Genesis 2:17

After Adam was created, God gave him this one command to follow. It was the only thing he had to obey. Unfortunately, we all know how this turned out. When God gave Adam this command, he was attempting to protect Adam from something he was unaware of, which is sin. God knew the moment Adam ate the fruit, sin would enter the world, and nothing would ever be the same again. For this reason, it is crucial to understand the impact of sin and how it can impact your walk with the Lord.

Sin That Kills
There is one phrase I want you to pay attention to because this underscores the impact of sin as succinctly as possible…you will certainly die. We know from the story that after eating the fruit, Adam didn’t just drop dead yet something died. In the Bible, when they talk about death, it means separation. Physical death is when your spirit is separated from your body, but this didn’t happen when Adam ate, there was a different kind of separation, a spiritual one. The moment Adam ate the fruit, his relationship and fellowship with God were separated. That’s why before he ate the fruit, he could stand in God’s presence but afterward, he had to hide. His decision to sin had killed his intimacy with God. This is the reality of sin in your life now and why it must be avoided at all costs.

If you continue in sin, it is going to kill something in your life. It may not cost you your life immediately, though it could, it will cost something. Sin can kill families, it can kill relationships, it can kill visions, it can kill dreams, it can kill reputations, it can kill ministries, and it can kill careers. There is nothing positive that will ever result from indulging in sin because that is not the nature of sin.

Recently in my house, we had an ant problem. Somehow, they had gotten to the second floor and were in my son’s room. To remedy this situation, I purchased a liquid ant bait. The way the bait works is it attracts the ants with a sweet liquid that causes the ants to eat it. The ants believe they are getting a sweet treat, but the liquid is laced with a slow-acting poison. It doesn’t kill the ants right away it takes about forty-eight hours for the poison to kick in. The goal is for the ants to take some back to their colony, share it with the other ants and hopefully the queen, and by doing this, eliminate the colony. What was sweet to the taste will ultimately be their destruction (at least I hope so because I am not a fan of having ants in my house).

This is exactly how sin works. It presents itself as something sweet and pleasing to the eye, so it entices you to indulge in it. However, it is really a slow-acting poison that is designed to bring destruction to your life. It desires to destroy you and everything you are associated with, and it plays no favorites or spares no one. This is the danger of sin. 

“…but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” – James 1:14-15

Intersecting Faith and Life:
For all of us, certain sins are more tempting than others. For some of us, we have even been overcome by them. When tempted, you may even wonder if it is worth resisting because the experience may look and feel so good. My friends don’t fall for the trap. Sin is a sweet-smelling and even sweet-tasting bait that is looking to take you down. Sin is designed to kill you. Regardless of how difficult it may be to resist, do it. Even if you have failed before, that does not mean you have to fail again. The reason you can resist is that you have the Holy Spirit living inside you. This is your power source which gives you the ability to say no.

To resist, you may have to run or look foolish in some way because you are going against the motivations of the world and the impulses of your flesh. Do it anyway. The momentary pleasure is not worth the pain and destruction sin will bring. Whatever sin is calling you or tempting you to do, let today be the day you take a stand against it by the power of the Holy Spirit. You can do it. You should do it. You must do it. You better do it. The seeds of sin, when planted, can feel good; however, the harvest they reap is often painful. God, who wanted to protect Adam wants to do the same for you. After all, if it did not work out so well for Adam, it won’t work out well for you either.

Further Reading:
Genesis 2
James 1 

God’s Abounding Love..Alistair Begg

 God’s Abounding Love

By Alistair Begg

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. - Zephaniah 3:17

“Heavenly Father, you have called the Church be your hands and feet on Earth. Though we may stumble, let us always strive to emulate the love you have showed us. Amen” 

God loves the church with a love too deep for human imagination: He loves her with all His infinite heart. Therefore let her sons be of good courage; she cannot be far from prosperity to whom God speaks "gracious and comforting words." The prophet goes on to tell us: "I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion." The Lord loves His church so much that He cannot bear that she should go astray to others; and when she has done so, He cannot endure that she should suffer too much or too heavily.

He will not have his enemies afflict her: He is displeased with them because they increase her misery. When God seems most to leave His church, His heart is warm toward her.

History shows that whenever God uses a rod to chasten His servants, He always breaks it afterwards, as if He loathed the rod that gave his children pain. "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him."

God has not forgotten us because He strikes--His blows are no evidences of absence of love. If this is true of His church collectively, it is also necessarily true of each individual member. You may fear that the Lord has passed you by, but it is not so: He who counts the stars and calls them by their names is in no danger of forgetting His own children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made or the only saint He ever loved. Approach Him and be at peace.

    

A Prayer for Loss of Spouse(Pet)..Heidi Vegh

 A Prayer for Loss of Spouse(Pet)

By Heidi Vegh

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalm 73:26

If you are a widow or widower, welcome to the club. A club I certainly never signed up for but was forced into, nonetheless. Losing a spouse is undeniably heart-wrenching. The sting of loss penetrates every core of our lives and every hidden corner of our hearts. We are forced to navigate life solo, without the one person who promised to be there with us.

Everything in our life is flipped upside down, from how we budget, do laundry and shop to how we dream about the future and spend our weekends. It all comes to a screeching halt. Many will not understand this type of loss which increases loneliness. We may desire to be isolated as we may feel disconnected from the outside world. We feel uncomfortable around other couples and families, as it only exaggerates our loss. We are left to pick up the pieces of a life destroyed in hopes that one day the pieces may begin to fall back into place, creating a new life and new existence. 

But even in all this heartache, we have a loving God that intimately knows our loss and the inevitable sorrow that follows. He loves us, cares for us, and experiences heartbreak right along with us. We live in a fallen world full of pain and heartache, but God is bigger than all we experience, and we can trust that He will sit with us in our pain and give us the strength we need to heal. 

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,
The loss I feel is overwhelming. It is sucking the life right out of my lungs, leaving me gasping for relief. I feel distant, alone, and forgotten. I didn’t know pain like this could penetrate a human being, even as they still live and breathe. 

Sit with me in my pain, Jesus. Help me to see that I am not alone. Comfort me as only you can. I am unable to see a future for myself. I can’t comprehend a life without my spouse. I am facing feelings of anger, anxiety, and depression. I don’t understand why I must go through this, but I trust that you are bigger than what I am experiencing. 

Your word promises comfort in times of sorrow. When you walked on the earth you experienced grief and loss. You suffered on the cross and are no stranger to pain. Help me to feel your presence. Help me to see past the daunting loneliness and begin to imagine a new life. Comfort me, Lord. Give me peace as I lay to rest and help me not to relive the trauma that has me bound in fear. Help me to see past this pain and put a smile on my face once more. Lead me to new life, new love, new experiences, and a new existence as a survivor of life-changing loss. 

I believe that the earthly pain that I am suffering is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed when I too am with you in heaven. (Romans 8:18) You are my sole source of strength. Help me to not rely on early things to numb the pain or prolong my suffering. Help me to face all the hard milestones head-on, in hopes that there will be joy on the other side. 

I know you have a plan for me in my pain. I believe that you will be with me as I stand up from this grief and begin a new journey in healing. You will use this pain for your glory and use me to comfort others who experience this horrendous loss. Help me to connect with others with a similar loss. Lead me to a community in which I can rely on and confide. 

When the time has passed, help me to look back and see your hand in the building of my new life. Help me to heal well and be filled with hope only found in you. I can do all things through you, Jesus who gives me strength. (Phil 4:13) Amen.

God’s Heart to Meet with Man at Pentecost ..Craig Denison Ministries

 

God’s Heart to Meet with Man at Pentecost

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Throughout Scripture we see countless examples of God meeting with man and countless lives being transformed as the result. These examples are in Scripture to stir our faith and fill us with a desire to meet with our Creator. When we read about the life of David, we should be filled with a longing to live as he did, centered around meeting with our heavenly Father. When we read about Gideon or Moses, we should long to know our God as they did. When we read about Jesus coming down to us or his heart for the woman caught in adultery, we should respond by pursuing encounters with our Savior. And when we read of Pentecost and Jesus’ second coming, we should seek out the fullness of God’s presence available to us on this earth in preparation for the age that is to come. May your heart be filled with a wholehearted desire to pursue meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4

Devotional:

In the miraculous and powerful event of Pentecost, we see God’s heart to not only dwell among us, but within us. We’ve been afforded more intimacy with God than we have fully grasped. The God of Pentecost dwells within us right now as believers, ready to equip us and empower us for a life of powerful impact and restored relationship. Acts 2:1-4 says,

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Scripture tells us that although those in attendance spoke many different languages, all heard those filled with the Holy Spirit declaring “in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11).And upon being filled with the Holy Spirit afresh, Peter begins to share the gospel with those present. Acts 2:41 tells us, “Those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Peter, who denied Jesus, begins his powerful, courageous ministry of sharing the gospel with all those who would listen after being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 tells us, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” This passage is better translated, “Be being filled with the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is our gateway into the fullness of life available to us in Christ. He’s the one who reveals to us the truth of Scripture. He’s the one who speaks to our hearts from the mouth of God. He’s the one who makes us aware of God’s presence. And he’s the one who empowers us to do the good works set before us before the foundation of the earth. Without relationship with the Holy Spirit, we will miss out on the incredible life afforded to us by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

God wants to empower you to impact the earth the way the disciples did. His plan for you doesn’t involve that which is fleeting and temporal. At the end of your life, will you look back and be thankful for the way you said yes to walking with the Holy Spirit, or will your life be filled with works that won’t outlive you? Don’t waste this life being satisfied with less than what is available to you. Choose today to be filled with the Holy Spirit again. Choose to pursue wholehearted relationship with him. And say yes to him at every decision that you might reveal to the world the wealth of relationship available to you in the Holy Spirit.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of being filled with the Spirit. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to grow in your relationship with the God who dwells within you.

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 12:13

“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

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh today. Ask him to reveal his nearness to you that you might grow in your knowledge of him. Tell him that you want greater relationship with him.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to live today free from sin and in total pursuit of God’s will being done on the earth through your life. Ask him to give you a clear witness about what it is you should and shouldn’t do. Commit yourself to follow his perfect guidance today.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”  Romans 8:14

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

No matter where you work, where you live, or what your past is, you can live in total communion with the Holy Spirit. His plans extend far beyond what your job is or which family you’re in. He longs to bring the kingdom to earth everywhere you go. He longs to fill you with love and grace for all those around you that you might carry the atmosphere of the kingdom. And he longs to lead you into a continually greater awareness of his love and presence in your life. May your day be marked by joy and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Extended Reading: Acts 2

Standing Strong and Tall through Prayer..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Standing Strong and Tall through Prayer

Dr. Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah was a man who lived on his knees. Whenever he needed guidance, strength, provision, or protection, his first response was prayer. Because of Nehemiah’s humble dependence, God was able to use him greatly to achieve His purposes.

This principle is still true for believers today. God can use us in the most awesome fashion if we'll seek Him and make ourselves available. He has a calling for each of us and doesn't want us wasting the opportunities He provides.

To follow Nehemiah's example of dependent prayer, we must first recognize God as the sovereign Ruler of the universe (v. 5). Although He's our loving Father and loyal Friend, we must never forget that He is also our high and exalted Creator whose holiness is beyond our comprehension. Never think of the Lord as "the man upstairs" or come into His presence in a frivolous manner.

Because Nehemiah respected the awesome holiness of God, he approached Him with confession, admitting not only his sin, but his father's and Israel's as well (vv. 6-7). We cannot hide, deny, or cherish sin and expect the Lord to hear and answer our prayers. Purity of heart and the power of God are linked. We need the sensitivity to instantly recognize when we've strayed, and the willingness to deal with sin immediately.

The reason Nehemiah stood so tall and strong was not due to his natural abilities, but because he developed a relationship of dependency on the Lord through prayer. The same can be true for you. Don't rush into your day without taking time to enter God's throne room to seek His guidance.

Trading Comparison for Gratitude..Laura Bailey

 Trading Comparison for Gratitude

 By Laura Bailey

“Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” - Genesis 29:16-18, NIV

Anxiously sitting in the salon chair, feet hanging inches from the floor, my oldest daughter eagerly waits while a “fairy godmother” transforms her into a princess. Spinning her around, my husband and I exclaimed, “Oh! How beautiful you look!” My daughter’s smile quickly dissolved as she whispered, “but am I more beautiful than my sister?”

My husband was gob-smacked that amid such a glamorous experience, she would ask about her sister. I shrugged it off, “that’s just girls.” Though I tried to excuse away my daughter’s comments, deep down, it bothered me that at such a young age, she was dealing with comparison. But, honestly, even in my late thirties, I still struggle with the same feelings. 

One of the most harrowing stories for me to read is about Leah and Rachel, both women’s lives plagued by comparison and envy ( Genesis 6: 16-30). On the surface, it’s easy to commiserate with Leah. Who wouldn’t be a little upset if your husband announced that it was actually your sister he wanted to marry? And if it wasn’t bad enough to share a husband, there was a race to see who could bare the first child ( Genesis 29:31). 

Rachel was barren, so she decided she would start her family by giving her female slave to her husband ( Genesis 30:1-6).  In today’s culture, that seems a little extreme, but don’t we do the same thing? When we focus on what others have, instead of being grateful for what God has done in our life, we often take matters into our own hands– typically making a mess of the situation.

Leah and Rachel’s sisterly rivalry was the cause of much pain, strife, and discord, but God still used these two women to build the house of Isreal. It is from these sisters that the 12 Tribes of Israel are formed, with Jesus descending from the tribe of Judah. 

Comparison leads to feelings of jealousy, discontentment, and ungratefulness. It can hold such a tight grip on our hearts that it ultimately shapes everything we do. We doubt ourselves, and our thoughts are plagued with questions of accusation and entitlement.

Why did they get that job and I didn’t?
Why do they look like that, and I look this?
“Why do things seem so easy for them while I feel life is a struggle?” 

Everything about you, God created purposefully. Nothing is by chance: your hair color, eye color, race, and where you live. He has a plan designed specifically for YOU, not the woman next to you, YOU! 

I readily admit that it can be challenging to be genuinely happy for others, especially during a difficult season. Resist the urge to compare circumstances, ask the Lord to fill your thoughts with gratitude, and provide you with peace and contentment.

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
Do you find yourself stuck in a comparison trap? Take a minute today and ask the Lord to help release you from feelings of discontentment or jealousy. Make it a daily habit to write down the many ways God has blessed you, thanking Him for all He has done in your life.