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

The Judge..Dr. Charles Stanley

The Judge

Dr. Charles Stanley

Acts 10:42-48

During our life on earth, Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. However, as our days here draw to a close, and especially at the end of time, He takes His seat as Judge and prepares to reward believers for the good things they did in His name.

I think there is a widespread misconception that God the Father will be our judge. But it is Christ who gave us, His followers, the charge to go into the world and make disciples (Matt. 28:19). Therefore, He has been given the right to determine which of our actions and thoughts furthered His goal (John 5:22).

Christ is an impartial judge. He is not influenced by what others think or say, but rather, He determines what is right and good based on His honorable, just standard. We'll be stripped of our worthless works--in other words, the actions and words we used for selfish ambition or vain conceit. All that will remain are the worthwhile things we thought, said, and did to honor God. These are the valuable parts of our lives for which we will be rewarded.

Reward is the whole point of placing believers before the judgment seat of Christ. Shame and guilt over past sin and mistaken motivation have no place there (Rom. 8:1). Our loving Savior is eager to show us our heavenly treasure.

Christ will expose the real you at the judgment seat by casting away the worthless things you've done. What remains will be the man or woman who endeavored to please the Lord. Let us determine to be powerful reflections of our Savior, both on earth and in heaven.

How to Embrace a New Day..Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 How to Embrace a New Day

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Attitude Begins in the Morning
On certain days, waking up in the morning feels like one of two things - a blessing or a curse. Some of us see a blessing in living another day, while others aren’t quite satisfied with the life they’re living. What’s true in both scenarios is that the morning often sets the tone for the entire day. A grumpy mood can sit with you for hours to come, while a cheerful smile could infect everyone you come across.

As Christians, the mindset we should strive for is obvious. Without question, this pivotal point of the day doesn’t always come about ideally. Some mornings feel dreary, others pointless. Then there are mornings when stress makes you want to stay in bed and hit snooze forever. If we are to embrace each new day, we can’t get stuck on the troubles of yesterday or any worries about the future. Instead, we should use these practical steps to wake up in the morning and embrace what’s to come.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

Give Thanks
One way to embrace the new day is to say, “Thank you.” Thank you to God for your continued breath in your lungs and for the sun rising above your head again. Thank you because a new morning means His mercies are renewed. Thank you because a new day is another step toward whatever God has planned for you.

We should extend a similar courtesy to our loved ones, thanking them for being in our lives and for what they do. Gratitude has a way of uplifting those being thanked while also raising our spirits too. See how long that morning frown lasts when you keep uttering the words, thank you.

Make a Plan
If you have trouble embracing a new day because of future fears or past troubles, then make a plan. Taking a strategic approach to the day will help you make the most of the new while minimizing the old. If you’ve ever been kicked out of the home or lost a job, the impact of sudden change can be monumental. Yet, even if the day isn’t ideal, you can make the most of what you do have by setting a plan in place. Spend time with God. Connect with others. Figure out what would be both holy and beneficial to your Christian walk.

Let Go
One bad habit that gets us into trouble is trying to enter a new day while still clinging to the past. God’s mercies are new every morning, yet our mercies are often not. We bring into the new day bitterness and unforgiveness from the day before. If we cling to the past, then the past will follow us. Only by letting go will we be able to embrace a new day wholeheartedly.

Connect with Someone
Since the very first human He created, God already determined that man being alone is not a good thing (Genesis 2:18). This doesn’t mean alone time or solitude are bad - Jesus sought solitude - however, we should still find time to connect with other people, including fellow believers. Connecting with others allows us to help them remain strong in the faith and reminds us of truth as well. Sometimes we get to share the Gospel with nonbelievers, and sometimes we simply get to enjoy the company of another human being.

Serve
Altruism has a way of making those we serve feel good, and us too. Moreover, when we place our focus on serving someone, we take the focus off ourselves. This is especially helpful if you wake up in the morning tempted by thoughts of anxiety, doubt, and addiction. By thinking less of ourselves and more about God and others, our perspective changes. The troubles we experience begin to have less weight.

Pray
If you want to experience God’s presence in your day, there’s no way you can avoid praying. Prayer is our way of talking to God, bringing to the throne all the things big and all the things small that are on our hearts. God is able and willing to listen, we simply have to be willing to share.

Trust
No one denies that a new day can be intimidating. An impending presentation, childbirth, and confrontation are all natural reasons to not exactly feel at ease. However, we can find perfect peace when we place our full trust in God. He’s given us the new day. He’s willing to help us tackle it.

Further Reading:

• Psalm 143:8
• Isaiah 26:3
• Psalm 13
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Genesis 2:18

With Us in The Wilderness..Jennifer Waddle

 With Us in The Wilderness

by Jennifer Waddle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.”’ Deuteronomy 2:7

When we find ourselves walking through a season of testing, most of us want to get through it as quickly as possible. The refining of our faith is never a pleasant experience. The Israelites knew all too well what if felt like to trudge through hard times. For forty long years, they traveled and camped and wandered, not knowing when they would reach the promised land. Perhaps, that is the most painful part about the testing of our faith. We don’t know how long it’s going to last or how painful it’s going to be.

But God…

God, in His faithfulness, walks through the wilderness with us. He provides what we need to make it through. Even though it is painful, it is crucial for the purifying of our faith. Just as the refining of silver involves extreme heat that allows impurities to rise to the surface, so the testing of our hearts involves uncomfortable pressure that urges us to surrender our thoughts, motives, and actions to the perfect will of the Father.

Though painful, we are never left alone in the process. The Refiner doesn’t put us through the fire just to stand by and watch. He stays with us, while lovingly turning up the heat until we release our impurities to Him. God knows our “trudging” through this life. He sees the trials and the hardships that come. But He doesn't stand by at a There is no doubt that the Israelites suffered greatly in the wilderness. What could have been a direct route, ended up being a very long road to the promised land. But if the Lord would have ignored their rebellion and skipped the refining process, the impurities of their hearts would have defiled His blessing.

The big question for us, is will we allow God to refine us, or will we continue to wander in the wilderness of rebellion?

Let’s willingly yield every impurity to Him. Let’s be open to the refining process, knowing that it is strengthening us and preparing us to cross over to the promised land.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9distance. He is with us, and in us, providing the strength we need to endure.

There is no doubt that the Israelites suffered greatly in the wilderness. What could have been a direct route, ended up being a very long road to the promised land. But if the Lord would have ignored their rebellion and skipped the refining process, the impurities of their hearts would have defiled His blessing.

The big question for us, is will we allow God to refine us, or will we continue to wander in the wilderness of rebellion?

Let’s willingly yield every impurity to Him. Let’s be open to the refining process, knowing that it is strengthening us and preparing us to cross over to the promised land.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9

A Prayer for Those Who Are Grieving..Laura Bailey

 A Prayer for Those Who Are Grieving

By Laura Bailey

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” - Philippians 1:21, NIV

I’ve read Philippians 1:21 countless times, plastered on coffee mugs, scribbled on t-shirts, and scrolled on decorative notebooks and cards. And yet, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I truly began to understand the verse.

A close friend, mentor, and pillar in our church and community passed away unexpectedly. Even those with the strongest of faith couldn’t help but ask why? Why did God take someone so full of life, so on fire for Him, who lived and breathed the gospel message? For many, the sudden loss, myself included, was just too much to bear; we knew what the Scriptures said, fully believing she was in the presence of our Savior, yet, we still found it difficult to understand why the Lord would allow her passing. 

To encourage others and help me better process her death, I began reading through my Bible, lingering on highlighted and underlined verses. That’s when I landed on Philippians 1:21; the familiar words immediately touched my heart. Curious about other translations, I read the NLT version, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” Like many things in the Bible, this verse is a paradox, the words counter-cultural. How could dying be better than living?

These verses are a part of the letter Paul wrote to the church of Philippi. Paul was currently in prison, he knows that many are distressed by his current circumstance, but in a hope to put their minds at ease, he shares that his suffering is not in vain but for the advancement of the gospel!  Paul was well acquainted with suffering; he’d been beaten numerous times, imprisoned on more than one occasion, and mocked, yet, all these things allowed him to proclaim the name of Christ further. Paul lived out his faith at all costs, even willing to give his life for the gospel if others would come to know Christ. 

As believers, our responsibility is to bring glory and honor to the Lord. We can “count it all joy” (James 1:2-4) because we know that we have eternal hope (1 Peter 1:3-9) and will one day be in the presence of our Savior (1 Peter 5:10). Paul was willing to sacrifice all for the Lord and desired that both his life and death would bring glory and honor to God. Paul knew that his earthly death would mean he would finally be in the presence of His Savior. He could live without fear and encourage others because he knew no matter what happened to him, life or death, he would be with the Lord forever (Philippians 1:23). 

While we are still on earth, Christians will always feel the tension between living in the present and spending eternity with their Savior. The Lord put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:14), but He also desires that while we are still here, we continue to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and be a light in this dark world (Matthew 5:16).

It doesn’t take away the pain of losing a brother or sister in Christ; these verses aren’t meant to be a magic wand that takes away the sadness and hurt. But, we can find comfort, a peace in knowing that for those who are God’s children, even if they had a terrific life on earth, it pales in comparison with being in the presence of our Lord. Let us cling to the promises that one day, every tear will be wiped away, and we will be reunited with other believers and, above all, our Lord and Savior for all eternity (Revelation 21:4)!

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, please be with all those grieving the loss of someone they loved and cherished. We know that earthly death is a part of life, but it is still hard to process. Lord, we ask that you give us peace that passes all understanding, that we will be comforted and experience hope that only can be found in you. May we live as sacrifices for You, bringing You glory in both our life and death. 

Lord, give us strength as we go about our daily tasks; when the grief is too much to bear, help us to move forward. As we mourn, we call on our friends and church family to offer support and prayers. We love you, Lord, and are so thankful that this is not our home, this world is not our final resting place, and once we live here, we are going to a better place, Heaven, for all eternity. We love you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.