In Grace God Teaches Us..Craig Denison Ministries

 In Grace God Teaches Us

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:“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Devotional:    

By God’s grace we have been given an entire book of his teaching. The Bible offers you practical wisdom, insight, and revelation that has the power to transform your life. Its very pages are miraculous, the voice of God breaking supernaturally into the physical world—paper and ink in your own language.

Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” The Bible holds the perfect and eternal words of the Creator of heaven and earth. Even more, as believers we’ve been filled with the very Author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit. We have available to us by God’s grace both the word and its Author, capable together of leading us to the abundant life God desires for us. Today as we look at all that God desires to accomplish in us through his word, may your heart be filled with the longing to engage in the process of transformation that comes through the teaching of Scripture.  Psalm 19:7-11 says:

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

David understood the incredible value of the word he’d been given. God’s word revives the soul, brings wisdom, rejoices the heart, and enlightens those who read it. How greatly do you need what God’s word gives you? Where do you need to be revived? Where do you need wisdom, rejoicing, and enlightenment?

Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Those who make God’s word their foundation and delight are immovable, fruitful, and prosperous. It has the power to lead you away from a life of sin and worldly counsel to a life of abundance and prosperity in the counsel of the Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” The Bible is capable of taking a broken, weak, and useless man and teaching, correcting, and training him in righteousness that he might be equipped for incredible works. God desires to take any area of your life that isn’t yielding the fruit of righteousness or accomplishing good works and revive them through his word into areas of strength and life.

Because your heavenly Father loves you, he will always lead you through the Spirit and his word into better and more fruitful living. God has incredible plans in store for you as you grow in your relationship with him, and he desires to use his word to both equip you for and guide you to the abundant life he has for you. Meditate on his word day and night. Read it with the guidance of the Spirit. Receive the revelation, wisdom, and insight he longs to share with you. And choose to live your life in response to Scripture, living in obedience to all that you read.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on all that God wants to do in you through his word.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” Psalm 37:30-31

2. Reflect on your own life. Where do you need transformation? Where do you need restoration? Where do you need wisdom?

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11

3. Commit to engaging with God’s word. Ask the Spirit to guide you to all that he longs to show you. Receive a greater hunger for God’s teaching. Allow your desires to be stirred toward transformation by hearing and doing the word of God.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23

We’ll spend the next week being taught by the parables of Jesus, so make it your goal to receive a hunger for his word in prayer. Meditate on all that God wants to do in you through his word. Allow desire for his teaching to be stirred as you think about the abundant life he wants to lead you to through Scripture. Think of areas in which you need restoration and wisdom. And commit to engaging in the process of incredible transformation God has in store for you.

Extended Reading: Psalm 1

Finding the Courage to Be Different.. Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 Finding the Courage to Be Different

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18

Against the Grain
My father used to say the times have changed, a sentiment I now echo. The world looked so different during childhood; some resulted from my imaginings, and some from a reality long past. Today, the world, especially my country, looks darker, uncertain, and divided. My faith now shines brighter than ever, and I’ve never felt so alone and out of place. I grew up when being Christian was in fashion, even ubiquitous. Kids pretended to be Christian even when they weren’t. Not anymore. 

Nowadays, many people hide their faith for fear of being offensive. There seem to be fewer open prayers when out in public and less mention of God in school. Abortion. Homosexuality. Race. Transgender. Many other things. Uttering an opinion or a fact that goes against the grain is far more consequential than just taboo. So for those of us seeking to stand firm in the faith, what exactly are we left to do? Finding the courage to be different today comes with consequences like job loss, ostracization, legal repercussions, fines, and maybe at some point, death. It's undoubtedly counter-cultural to be Christian in today’s society. The question is, do we have the courage to be different?

Intersecting Faith and Life:
The world hated Jesus. There should be no surprise when we receive the same treatment. If you are a Christian who finds yourself in harmony with the world, that’s an indication to rethink your faith. We are called live differently, like Christ. He didn’t have an easy life. Why would we? Christ told His disciples there would be suffering in the world. Yet, despite suffering, through Him, they could find peace. Through Him, they found the strength needed to live out their faith. That same peace and strength are available to us today. We’ll need it if we are to be different.

Different in the Way We Talk
Scripture prescribes a certain way to communicate. Our words are supposed to build another up, those in the faith and outside. That doesn’t mean every word spoken from our mouths is soft and gentle, but that also doesn’t mean our words should be harsh. Where the world seeks to offend, we should make peace. Where the world stresses peace, we should boldly speak the truth in love to people who need to hear it.

Different in the Way We Walk
Modern society glorifies the value of an individual's happiness, priorities, needs, and wants. Our faith prioritizes the values of God. We recognize we are not the center of the universe, which causes us to value getting married and starting families. We value serving others as opposed to ourselves. We value children in and outside of the womb.

Different in How We Think
Our primary motivations as Christians should be to love God and, secondly, to love others. These are the greatest commandments. Society commands the love of self. If we aren’t happy, the culture encourages us to change our circumstances through divorce, jobs, etc. Scripture helps us understand happiness is not just transitory but something we aren’t entitled to for simply existing. God blesses us with good, but He also allows for bad - and for very good reasons!

Different in What We Believe
Those in the world reject God when they can’t see the evidence but are quick to believe science without viewing the evidence - the methodology, the variables, the data, etc. Knowing ‘the science’ proves something is enough for some people. As Christians, we believe science helps us understand the natural world, but we also recognize there is also a supernatural one. God allows us to see where conventional insight fails or deceives. Being different is a challenge today, but walking with God was never meant to be easy. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are proof. We must find the courage to be different today and every day, no matter how dark they may be.

A Prayer for Courage
God, I come before you now with a prayer for courage. Please be with me on these dark and challenging days. No matter how alone I may feel, remind me you are my ever-present company. Whatever obstacles I face help me to live out the faith consistently and constantly. When the world seeks to deceive and sell me on falsehoods, direct me again towards truth. Please direct me to you. Being different is hard and scary, and some days God, I wonder what life would be like to be of the world. But I want to remain steadfast. I wish to remain with you. So, Lord, please give me the courage to be different, especially when I need it the most. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Further Reading

• John 16:32-33
• 2 Timothy 3:12
• Romans 12:14
• 1 Peter 4:16
• Matthew 5:10-12

More Than A Sliver of Hope..Rachael Adams

 More Than A Sliver of Hope (John 11:40)

By Rachael Adams

Today’s Bible Verse: Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” - John 11:40 ESV

Though the night was silent, my mind was anything but. Frustrated, I was awake when I should have been asleep, I gazed at the night sky. It was black. There were very few stars and only a sliver of moonlight.

The image before me seemed to accurately depict the past year. The sorrow, fear, and disappointment of the year before felt dark, and I wondered yet again when this difficult season would end.

But I also knew that, though we often don’t understand God’s timing, He always has a plan to work for our good and His glory. Consider the story of Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha.

We enter their story in John 11 when the sisters sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill. Even though Jesus loved the siblings, He didn’t come for two days. Because Jesus didn’t respond immediately, Lazarus died. When Jesus did finally arrive, Mary and Martha were grieving. Their grief deeply moved Jesus and He wept, too.

Approaching the tomb, Jesus commanded the stone to be rolled away. When Martha questioned what He was doing, Jesus responded, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) Then Jesus called for Lazarus to come out, and at His command, Lazarus walked out of the grave.

What a miracle! When all hope seemed lost, Jesus came and resurrected what everyone assumed was dead. And friend, in our hopelessly dark situations we can eagerly expect the same.

From our perspective, we may think Jesus is not answering our prayers or is not answering in the way we want. But as revealed in this story, He will answer according to His perfect schedule and perfect purpose.

This story also shows that, just like Mary and Martha, we should not hesitate to ask God for assistance when we feel hopeless. In the face of trouble and suffering, they reached out to the only One Who could help. God cares for us just as He cared for them, and we can trust He will come at just the right time. His delay had a specific purpose then and it has a specific purpose now.

Have questions and concerns about the future been keeping you awake at night? Do you wonder when your troubles will come to an end?

On that nearly moonless night when I couldn’t sleep, I could see only a sliver of light, but I knew a full moon and all of its brilliance was coming in the future. In the same way, even though we can’t see it yet, we can rest assured that God will be faithful to fulfill His promises and He will provide the relief we long for, all in His perfect time.

A Prayer for Church Unity..Jessica Van Roekel

 A Prayer for Church Unity

By Jessica Van Roekel

“I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-6

Unity is worth guarding. Once disunity happens, it can be challenging to regain harmony. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians from a Roman prison. In Rome, he was not free to visit or leave the house. He reminded them of Jesus Christ’s provision and challenged them to live their daily lives in keeping with spiritual realities. Paul stated that the Church and the lives of the believers fully reflect Christ. I love a good “how-to” list because it helps focus my mind and actions to live with intention. Our world distracts us from living Christ-centered, our hearts oriented towards Christ and his ways. God desires for us to experience transformation from the inside out, giving us a set of virtues to live worthy of the calling we’ve already received.

Humility is sacrifice and service to others without thought to our reputation. It is the awareness of our weaknesses and dependence on the Lord for strength. Paul wrote, “When I am weak, he is strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Humility keeps us aware of our weaknesses. Failure is not a sign of defeat. Instead, it propels us to rely on and aim for the standard of humility Jesus demonstrated. We can display gentleness through three avenues: our attitude toward the Word of God, our attitude toward people, and our attitude toward submissiveness. God’s word is our standard, and he is kind toward people. Too often, when we are at odds with someone, gentleness disappears. Imagine what would happen if we submitted to the power of a gentle heart toward them. We could disrupt disunity and gain a step toward unity.

Patience is the steadfast endurance of suffering, whether from an external source like relationship difficulties or internal. God demonstrates patience toward us, and we can learn from him. Forbearance is the bearing with someone’s burdens. Patience is an inward attitude, and forbearance is the outward expression of it. It is bearing someone’s burdens and refusing to cease loving someone because of their offenses against us.

The four qualities of humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance are possible through God’s love for us expressed to others. They are the outpouring of being filled with the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. Those are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Believers in Christ belong to the same family, so our attitudes toward one another must reflect Christ’s attitude as in Philippians 2:1-11. When we surrender to God, he works in us and enables us to develop these virtues. Yet, we, the Church, struggle with unity and peace amongst one another. We fight, point fingers, call names, argue, and fuss. We separate ourselves into groups based on location, ethnicity, and age rather than focusing on our common bond: our shared identity in Christ and our need to depend on the Holy Spirit.

When our focus is on commonalities, our differences don’t divide. What is our commonality? It is the fact that we are wretched sinners who deserved God’s wrath, yet he loved us and saved us through Jesus and made us one. We don’t deserve forgiveness, but we have it. We don’t deserve the riches of his glorious power, but we have it. These two truths need to impact our interactions with each other. Our responsibility is to keep, protect, guard, and maintain the unity of Spirit by the bond of peace. If we submit ourselves to the Lord, we can live lives worthy of his calling by cultivating humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance.

Let’s pray:
Holy God,

Thank you for giving us everything we need to live a Christian life in your word. Your word is life and light to me, and I’m so grateful for it. Forgive me for contributing to disunity, and help me grow in humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance. I want to live a life worthy of your call and surrender to your ways. Help me keep the bond of peace with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Knit us together in our common bonds of sinners needing a Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Choosing to Believe..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Choosing to Believe

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 3:1-21

Faith isn't something we can lay claim to because we were born to believing parents or have citizenship in a Christian country. Nor can we attain it by attending or even teaching Sunday school, though I've often heard such incorrect assertions. Instead, the following should be true of genuine believers.

A clear understanding of the gospel is essential for a person to believe and receive the good news of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was the only sacrifice required to remove our sins. God offers His grace as a gift to anyone who will receive it.

A definite decision at a particular point in time serves as a sort of landmark of the heart and mind. People do not just slip into Christianity; faith in Jesus must be chosen. Believers are those who have made a deliberate decision to trust the Lord and follow in His ways.

A blessed assurance follows the clear-cut decision so that believers can be certain of their salvation. God wants confident, assured children (1 John 5:13).

A visible symbol of what happens when someone receives the Savior--namely, baptism--illustrates dying to one's old ways and rising to new life in Christ Jesus. Believers are to take this step as a public way of identifying with Him (Matt. 28:19).

A man or woman of faith chooses to surrender to Christ, embraces the Word of God, and lives fully for the Lord. True believers no longer muddle through the practices of religion out of habit, but instead worship and rejoice in a vibrant personal relationship with the Lord.