Things Unseen..Craig Denison Ministries

 

Things Unseen

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As children of God, we have been given a new home and a new hope. May your heart be set aflame by the joy and purpose of living out God’s command to live for heaven this week: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Scripture:“We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Devotional:

We have been trained through the prideful perspective of many that we are only to look to and believe that which we can see and physically experience here on earth. We’re told that there couldn’t possibly be more to life than what we’ve seen because the unseen can’t be experienced in the physical. What a self-centered perspective! Why do we have to know and be able to presently experience all there is in order for it to be real? Why are we, with our limited capacities, the ultimate judge in the debate of what is real and important? In Ephesians 1:18-20, Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus praying,

Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.

“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened . . . .” What does it mean for our hearts to have eyes? And what does it mean for those eyes to be enlightened? The truth is that all of us are given spiritual eyes. All of us know and experience things that can’t be physically seen. We’ve all received and given some type of love. We’ve all had an intuition or belief that couldn’t be physically proven. And as believers, we’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit who longs to guide us to a perspective that far exceeds the span of this world.

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Our Savior is calling us to a life lived for that which is unseen: the eternal. He is calling us out of the cycle of worldly pursuit into a greater calling of eternal significance. To live for heaven is to cast off that which is fleeting and temporary and seek that which can only be found with our heavenly Father.

Take time in guided prayer to look to that which is unseen. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart. Ask him to give you spiritual insight into your own life and the lives of others that you might call all those around you to live for heaven. Cast off those pursuits which tie you down to this world, and ask the Spirit to guide you into a lifestyle of seeking the kingdom of God above all else. May you discover the abundant life available to you in the Spirit as you worship your Father in both spirit and truth today.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of looking to that which is unseen. Allow Scripture to fill your heart with a longing to live for heaven.

“We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Hebrews 11:7

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any pursuits which are solely fleeting and temporary. Write down any ways in which you have not been looking to the unseen enough.

3. Ask the Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart that you might experience all that God has for you today.

“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:18-20

Looking to that which is unseen is the door through which we experience the fullness of God’s presence available to us on the earth. As Jesus taught us, “God is spirit,” and to truly experience him we must cultivate a lifestyle of opening the eyes of our hearts. Our Father longs to lead us to a lifestyle of continual and transformational encounters with him. He longs to meet us at the doors of our hearts every morning that we might let him in to love us, speak to us, fill us, and transform us. May looking to that which is unseen guide you into deeper and more impactful encounters with the living God.

Extended Reading: 2 Corinthians 4

Trust and Obey..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Trust and Obey

Dr. Charles Stanley

Joshua 6:1-5

One of my favorite songs is "Trust and Obey" because it sums up God's purpose for our lives. When we practice these two commands, a beautiful cycle begins. Trusting the Lord makes obedience easier, and obedience produces ever-increasing trust. Can you recall facing a challenge that was difficult or perplexing? If so, you know how important these two commands are.

When the Lord calls you to a task that seems unreasonable, you have two options. You can obey Him even though you don't understand what will happen, or you can become fearful and attempt to find a way out. Joshua chose the first option. Because he trusted the Lord, he disregarded all his military experience and adopted God's bizarre battle plan. Over the years, he had learned that the Lord is trustworthy.

The way we respond to God's challenging assignments reveals our level of commitment. We may feel as if we're right in step with Him--until He proposes a change of direction. That's when our resistance kicks in, and with it, the realization we aren't as close to Him as we thought. At that point, our decision determines whether the Lord will be able to use us as He desires. Because Joshua never lost his commitment, he continued to serve the Lord for the remainder of his life.

At times obedience is a struggle, as your mind runs through all the reasons God's path is illogical. Fear dominates, and your will battles to comply when everything within is screaming to run the other way. But obedience is always the best choice, because the Lord is trustworthy and wise.

Exposing the Sin of Partiality..Lynette Kittle

 Exposing the Sin of Partiality

By Lynette Kittle

“But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” - James 2:9

Are you showing partiality to people? If so, are you aware you’re sinning? Most of us might be quick to respond with, “No, I don’t show favoritism.” But think about it. when given the opportunity to choose, do we give gifts to people we believe deserve them over others who seem less deserving? Are we more willing to help people who we believe are worthy of being helped over those we deem less worthy?

Digging even deeper, do we give our offerings to those we like better than others rather than asking God where to give and following His leading over our own? Likewise, how do we decide whether to donate to someone’s mission trip or not? What criteria do we base our generosity on? Even deeper, when it comes to prayer, do we pray more for people we believe deserve our prayer time and efforts over those who seem beyond hope?

How Does God Feel about It?
Although many believers may not consider favoritism a serious issue or something to be dealt with, God makes it clear that showing partiality towards people is not okay. It might be a hard concept for us to grasp because, as believers, we may think He does because of various passages in the Bible where God gives favor.  But God distinguishes between His giving favor and His showing favoritism, so setting this misconception aside, His word tells us, “For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11).

It’s challenging, too, trying to convince some Christians it’s not a good thing because some don’t even consider showing partiality sinful or view it as doing anything particularly wrong. There are believers, too, who even think it’s a wise and discerning practice, justifying favoring some individuals over others, seeing certain persons as more deserving and responsible for receiving their kindness, generosity, helpfulness, and more.

Churches Who Play Favorites
Who hasn’t seen favoritism? Sadly, partiality is widespread not only out in the world but in many churches. Yet James 2:1-4 addresses it within the Church, revealing the sinfulness behind it.

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet.’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

Christians in Authority Who Play Favorites
God emphasizes in Ephesians 6:7-9 how He looks at showing partiality between people, especially in situations where some may believe they’re justified in treating individuals differently because of their various positions in life. Sadly there are Christian leaders, bosses, and parents who leave their Christianity at the door, believing they are in the right to play favorites at home or work. But God calls us all to serve one another, regardless of rank or position in life. 

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him” (Ephesians 6:7-9).

Unfortunately, many humans, including Christians, struggle with wanting to feel more important than others. Rooted in sin, Philippians 2:3 urges us to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

Overcoming Partiality
So how do we live a life free from partiality? Scripture provides direction on how to overcome the tendency to play favorites.

Ask God for direction. When tempted, look to God for help. Proverbs 3:5,6 urges, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Freely give. Freely give because God has freely given us all things (Romans 8:32), not based on who someone is or isn’t, but because it pleases God. Proverbs 3:27 encourages, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
Ask God to show you how to be impartial and to reveal any ways you’ve been practicing it. When confronting a situation where you can choose how you respond to people, ask God to lead you and lean on His understanding over your own.

Further Reading:
Proverbs 3, Romans 8, Ephesians 6, Romans 2, James 2

Finding Peace in the Midst of Pain..John D. Barry

 Finding Peace in the Midst of Pain

By John D. Barry

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you” (NIV) - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

There are moments in life that seem to lack all peace. Instead, they are only full of pain. How can we find peace in times such as these? Paul the apostle, who was deeply familiar with pain, had some thoughts on that.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18. Reflect on  2 Thessalonians 3:16.

The church at Thessalonica had endured incredible pain, as had Paul. From those who didn’t believe in Jesus, they had experienced persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:4; 3:1–2). Thus, Paul does not tritely offer these words about peace.

For Paul, peace was a real and enduring reality in his life, despite the pain. If only such was the case for all of us.Paul achieved this sense of peace from a deep understanding that Jesus would work through all things—no matter how dire they seemed (compare Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:28). Paul believed in a resurrected Lord who could bring resurrected life to even the most painful moments of death and despair.

I remember an intense moment of despair in my life, when I felt like I could no longer see the beauty of the moon or the stars. When I looked up and out, I felt nothing but pain. I questioned everything and was left paralyzed by indecision—despairing. I found my way out by praying through my pain. And when I couldn’t find words to pray, I prayed through the Psalms and the Book of Common Prayer.

And this was Paul’s solution. He went to prayer:

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 NRSV).

“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18 NRSV).

It wasn’t that Paul didn’t feel pain or experience movements of anxiety or despair. It’s what Paul did with those moments. He prayed. He prayed. He prayed.

What is God asking you to bring to him in prayer today? How can peace in Jesus be your answer to even the most painful of moments? 

A Prayer Against Discouragement ..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer Against Discouragement 

By Emma Danzey

John 16:33 says, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

The last thing that we feel like we can do in times of discouragement is to take heart. That task seems far too daunting for us. We know we are weak and the thought of overcoming and claiming victory feels distant. However, this Scripture reminds us that it is not by what we do, but what Jesus has already done that we can walk out of discouragement and into the peace of God. 

Have you had a disappointment lately? Has there been a failure in your life that you cannot seem to get past? Have you been hurt or let down by others? The Lord knows your heart. He does not want us to stay in pits of despair, but to walk with Him even down unknown paths. He is trustworthy and we can praise Him today for carrying the weight of our burdens for us.

Let's Pray:

Dear Lord,
Thank You for claiming victory over sin and eternal death. Thank You that we can have peace today because of the security that we have in You and Your sacrifice. We share that we have many burden and trials, but You have told us to take heart because You have overcome this world. We lay down our discouragements before You today. We ask that we would take every thought captive to You and that we would stand against the attacks of the Devil and our flesh. You are sovereign and we can trust Your perfect plan. Help us not to walk defeated, but to walk confidently with hope and encouragement that You love us and go before us. You are our hope.

God, You say in Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Would you renew lost hope in us today. Would you please renew our strength. We are weary without Your help. God help us to soar, run and walk without getting tired because our energy and our foundation is in You our Great God. When we are tempted to look at temporary ways to ease our discouragement, help us to look to You for eternal help. When we are struggling with physical, emotional, or spiritual weariness, renew our souls and bodies. When we need Christian community to lift us up, Lord, please come alongside us and send Your children to help us and send us to look out for the needs of others

In Philippians 4:19, You say that You will supply every need of ours according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Help us not to doubt Your ability to care and provide for us. God we are Your children and You love us. Help us not to be discouraged about our present difficulties or worries of the future. Help us to think back on all of the many times when You have been faithful. Give us endurance through the discouragement to remember that You provide a way out. Guide us with You Word and enable us to be confident in Your promise to supply our every need because of Jesus. We confess that we have not trusted You and fully relied on You as our God. We confess that we try to do things on our own, but that we need You to be Lord over our lives in every area. Lead us out of the temptation to be discouraged and help us to move forward trustingly to Your joy and peace.

God our Rock, we glorify You as our steady. Thank You for Your consistency and faithfulness to us. We pray that You would purify our hearts and minds to be steadfast on You. We pray that we would look to You and not to mankind for approval. God, You are our hope and our great reward. We love you and celebrate You today. Amen.