The Glory of God in Man..Craig Denison Ministries

 The Glory of God in Man

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

We have a great High Priest who constantly intercedes on our behalf. The Son of God and Man loves you more deeply than you can fathom. He prays for you, that you might walk in the abundant life his death affords you. And in John 17 we get a glimpse into the fullness of his desire for all those who would believe in him. As we dive deeply into the riches of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer this week, may your heart be awakened and your life be transformed by the riches of God’s love.

Scripture:“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”John 17:22-24

Devotional:    

As disciples of Jesus, we are being fashioned into his likeness that we might be reflections of his glory. Jesus prays in John 17:22-24,         

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Through the power of Christ’s death, we are now filled with his very Spirit who is working constantly to fashion us into Christians in the truest sense of the word. To be a Christian is literally to be “a little Christ.” We are meant to be marked by similarity to the one whom we serve and love. Our lives are to be filled with his love. Our minds are to be transformed by his words. And our hearts are to be devoted to serving him alone.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Through the death of Jesus we can come before God with unveiled face. Jesus came to declare the truth about who our Father is and to clear the path to restored intimacy between humanity and our Creator. And as we devote our lives to seeking the face of our heavenly Father, we will naturally become like him.

God’s desire is that we would live with the same freedom, intimacy, power, authority, and good works as Jesus. He sent his Son to die that we might be clothed from the inside out with Christ himself, thereby affording us a new life, nature, and identity. You are not the person you were before salvation. When you were filled with the Spirit of God, you were filled with the very glory of God, the image of Christ engraved upon your heart.

And while this concept of becoming like Christ often sounds heady and theological, it couldn’t be of greater practical importance. It couldn’t be more vital for us to believe and pursue the life given to us by the grace of God. Being transformed into the image of Jesus has powerful and practical implications for you and me. When you spend time with the Father, he desires to love you with the love he has shown Christ, a tangible and transformational love. He longs to set you free from the bonds of worldliness and sin. He longs to empower you and lead you to a life of purpose, miracles, and good works filled with the love of God himself. And he longs to lead you to a destiny laid before you since the foundation of the world.

Take time to seek the face of God today. Come before him with unveiled face and allow him to reveal to you the imprint of Christ upon your heart. Allow the Spirit to show you the purpose for which you were created. And receive the love of God that has the power to transform you into the very image of Jesus Christ, your Lord and example.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s glory given to you at salvation. Reflect on the importance and availability of living like Jesus.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”John 17:22-24

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh. Ask him to engrave upon your heart the love and image of Christ in new ways. Ask him to guide you into a direct encounter with Jesus that you might know him personally.

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

3. Spend time allowing God to transform you, love you, and set you free. Ask him what in your life isn’t like Jesus. As he reveals sin in your life, confess it and turn to Jesus as your model. Seek out a life like his today.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

The death of Christ has more powerful implications than you or I will ever know this side of heaven. God has truly paved the way for us to live a life of incredible abundance. He offers us a life greater than we will find in anything of the world. May you pursue all the wealth of relationship available to you by the blood of Jesus. May you be transformed into his reflection on the earth. And may others come to know him by the depth of his love in you.

Extended Reading: 2 Corinthians 3

Refined by Fire..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Refined by Fire

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Peter 1:6-7

God is always at work in our lives. Even during seasons of adversity, He wants to accomplish something powerful and good. How should this knowledge affect our response? Today's passage teaches us to choose to rejoice during difficult times. This doesn't mean we have to be happy about the hardship itself. Instead, joy comes from drawing close to the Lord and believing steadfastly that through His redemptive power, He is growing and preparing us. If your usual response to trials is anxiety, anger, or depression, the idea of having joy in the midst of a negative situation might not seem logical. However, if you look beneath the surface, you will discover that this biblical directive makes sense for several reasons.

Often, our natural reaction to pain is to run in the opposite direction, and as fast as possible. However, God wants to teach us endurance--much like a long-distance runner builds up strength in training--so that we can fully benefit from what He is doing in our hearts. He uses trials as a refining fire to purify us like gold and bring us to greater spiritual maturity. As we realize that we are actually being made more complete through our adversities, we'll begin to face challenging times with confidence that He always has our best interest in mind.

While a worldly viewpoint sees hope and joy in the midst of dark times as naïve, a spiritual perspective discerns that we're really progressing on a journey toward life at its fullest. We can be filled with supernatural joy, knowing that the Lord is making us into world-changing spiritual warriors.

The Connection Between Your Tongue and Your Faith in Christ.. Emily Rose Massey

 The Connection Between Your Tongue and Your Faith in Christ

By Emily Rose Massey

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26, ESV).

In college, although I was a professing Christian, out of curiosity to learn more about my own spirituality, I began to study things that I now know were a part of New Age teaching. Some of the books that I was reading did mention God and even quoted the Bible, so I believed this new information on how to live out my faith to see progress and success in my life would strengthen my Christianity. One of the major teachings, called The Law of Attraction, centered around my thought-life, making sure to focus on positive things versus negative things. These positive thoughts would act like a magnet to draw to myself positive outcomes and results regarding my dreams, aspirations, and even material possessions that I desired. 

A step further would be to speak out loud positive declarations and affirmations about myself and what I would like to see happen to shape my future for the better. After I graduated college, when I met my husband at the church he grew up at, there was a lot of emphasis on this very same teaching (although they never called it The Law of Attraction) as well as being very cautious on what words you spoke. We were told that we needed to pay attention to our tongue- our words needed to be “in faith” and “in line with God’s Word.” 

We now know that these teachings are rooted in what is called the ‘Word of Faith’ movement, which was influenced by a metaphysical movement called ‘New Thought.’ Thus, Word of Faith doctrine essentially embraces New Age’s Law of Attraction and is contrary to sound Christian doctrine. Sadly, scriptures on the tongue were taken out of context to promote the idea that you can attract what you say and declare. God alone, not man, is the One who calls things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17). The Bible does have much to say about the power of our words, but it has a lot more to do with reflecting Christ in our speech, words filled with the fruit of the Spirit, than attracting things or situations to you or “manifesting” the things you are declaring “in Jesus’ name.” Let us be wise to know the difference and understand these verses in their proper context.

James offers us a sobering statement about our speech:

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26, ESV).

A religion is simply a particular system of faith and worship. If you are a believer in Christ, your religion is Christianity. James equates your profession of faith in Christ to how you choose to use your tongue. Our words point to what we truly believe and live by.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Are your words pointing others to God and His truth, always giving Him glory, or do your words always seem to point to yourself and the things and systems of this world? Do you control your tongue, or do you let your mouth rule you or cause you to puff yourself up in pride or get you into trouble with others? Our speech should reflect Christ and be seasoned with grace, humility, and love. If we confess our faith in Christ, there should be evidence of our changed speech as well as our changed life and behavior. When people meet us, they should hear and see something different than the rest of the world who does not follow the Lord. 

Even in disagreements, we should continue to speak with a heart of love for others and not use profanity or offensive remarks that would hurt or cause pain. We should also be careful not to grumble or complain but to use our tongue to proclaim our thankfulness unto the Lord. Taming the tongue is something we must grow in each day as the Lord sanctifies us. The good news is that we are never left on our own to walk in that type of self-control regarding our words. It is not something we can do apart from the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. The temptation to use our tongue for our own benefit and reputation is strong but let us be quick to ask the Lord for His help daily as we continue to grow in the likeness of Him, especially in our speech.

Further Reading:

• Proverbs 18:21
• Ephesians 4:29
• Romans 10:14-15

Sailing through the Storm..Greg Laurie

Sailing through the Storm

By Greg Laurie

 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:8

One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side.” So they boarded their boat and were cruising across the Sea of Galilee, a large freshwater lake known for its unexpected storms. And sure enough, a storm came. This one was a doozy, because even the seasoned sailors were despairing of life.

Meanwhile, what was Jesus doing? He was asleep in the boat. The disciples woke Him up and said, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38 nkjv). In other words, “Hey, Lord, are You paying attention? Don’t you care that we are going through this? Wake up and do something.”

So Jesus rebuked both the storm and the disciples. He turned to the storm and said, “Peace, be still!” (verse 39 nkjv), and it stopped. But then He turned to His own disciples and said, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (nkjv). Jesus was saying, in effect, “Boys, you haven’t learned anything. I said, ‘Let’s cross over to the other side.’ I didn’t say, ‘Let’s go to the middle of the Sea of Galilee and drown.’ ” Jesus didn’t promise smooth sailing, but He did promise a safe passage.

It’s better to be in a storm with Jesus than anywhere else without Him. I would rather be in a fiery furnace with Jesus than in a palace without Him—or in a lion’s den with Jesus, or in a prison, or even shipwrecked. As long as I know the Lord is there, then I can get through it.

Remember, God is with you, regardless of what storm, regardless of what shipwreck you are going through right now. You are not alone. He cares. And He will never leave you or forsake you.

Heavenly Father, whatever storm life may bring our way, remind us to cling to you. For you are the one who calmed the seas with a single word. Amen.

A Prayer of Salvation from My Enemies..Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer of Salvation from My Enemies

By Tiffany Thibault

“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” - Psalm 18:1-3 (ESV)

History books are filled with examples of countries fighting their enemies to protect their land, regain lost ground, and stand up for what they believe in. Sometimes in our personal lives, we, too, are fighting enemies. These enemies I am talking about are not who you must stand guard against with a weapon to defend yourself and your home. These enemies are ones who might be subtly affecting your life, slowly sabotaging your sense of peace, or perhaps were once close friends who turned their backs on you. 

One of the definitions of an enemy is someone who is antagonistic against you. An antagonistic person is one who expresses opposition or unfriendliness to another. Does this sound like someone that you might know in your life? 

Our verse gives us images to cling to, truth to place our hope in as we come to terms with these enemies in our lives. The most important thing that we can do to be able to stand firm against our enemies is to fall in love more with Jesus. Our verse says: “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” As we learn more about the Lord, we will learn to love Him more, and we will find that He is our strength as we face those antagonistic people and situations we face. So today, grab your Bible, read it, and begin to discover how very much the Lord loves you.

This Bible verse gives us some truths that we can absolutely stand firm on as we face our enemies today. 

He is our rock. He is solid and unmoving. He will not change who He is. 

He is our fortress, our protection against the words and pain that others inflict on us. 

He is our deliverer. As we cling to Him, He will make a way through this battle for us. 

He is our refuge. We can find our emotional and spiritual safety in Him. 

He is our shield. We can stand firm on the truths about us from the Bible and use those truths as a shield against the lies of your enemy. 

He is the horn of our salvation. In ancient days a person could run to the altar and grab one of the four corners of it. As they clung to it, the king would offer them sanctuary, salvation from their enemy. As we cling to God, as we seek Him for a place of safety, He will absolutely guide us to safety. 

The Lord is our stronghold. He is absolutely the person we can turn to for safety and survival. 

The Lord loves you so much, and He is standing with open arms to welcome you, to shield you, to protect you, to provide for you. Today, run to Him, love Him. He is the salvation you are looking for from your enemies. 

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord, 
Thank you for the truths from this verse that you are my rock, my fortress, my deliver, my salvation. Protect me, guide me, and make a way for me through this difficult time with my enemy. Show me the paths, calm my anxious heart, and protect my dreams and my life so that I can glorify you and worship you the rest of the days you have for me to live on this earth. 
In your precious name, I pray, Amen.