Encountering God through Others..Craig Denison Ministries

 Encountering God through Others

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Having consistent and transformational encounters with God while on earth is meant to be foundational to the Christian life. Our God has not left us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we’ve been filled with the very Spirit of God who longs to reveal to us daily the nearness and love of our heavenly Father. We are never alone. There is nowhere we can flee from the presence of our God. May this week be filled with transformational encounters with the living God as we learn what it is to seek the face of the one who has formed us, knows us, and loves us unconditionally.

Scripture:“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Devotional:

One of the most impactful ways God reveals himself is through others. Jesus taught us in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” We can learn aspects of God’s heart through others that we simply can’t learn alone. In relationship with others we learn about God’s heart for unity, grace, humility, and love in new and powerful ways. In fellowship we encounter people with various giftings, perspectives, and past experiences that are different than our own. And in community we discover God’s heart to use others for the building up, healing, and sharpening of ourselves. James 5:13-16 says,

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

God longs for you to give yourself fully to the community around you. He longs to use you for the healing and building up of others. And he longs for you to embrace humility and receive help and sharpening from others around you.

Ephesians 4:16 says, “From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Investing in community gives you the opportunity to be used by God to be built up in love with a group of believers. It positions you to receive help from fellow believers who are pursuing Jesus. And it equips you to pursue freedom and life in areas where you might not have gotten victory without the help of others.

Pursue wholehearted community today, not because fellow believers are perfect, but because you, as an imperfect child of God, need help from fellow imperfect children to encounter the fullness of abundant life God intends for you. Have grace for others. Love when you are unloved. Help when no one else will. Build up the body that Jesus loves that the world might better know the loving and available God we serve.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of investing in, and being invested in, by fellow believers.

“From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:16

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you whom you ought to invest in today and who he wants to use to invest in you. Ask God to help you humble yourself that you might love and show grace regardless of the faults of others.

3. Take some time and encourage a fellow believer. Ask God to show you his heart for that person and send them an encouragement from him. Ask God for a Scripture that he is speaking over that person. May you be used to build up another in love today.

I believe that the Lord has a few people for each of us that we are called to be totally open with. Oftentimes healing for our sin comes through confession and repentance to God and to fellow believers. When our sin is truly brought into the light in front of believers, we can better see it for what it is and gain help and accountability. May Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 encourage you today as you seek to develop much needed community with fellow believers:

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Extended Reading: Ephesians 4

Building Bridges to the Kingdom..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Building Bridges to the Kingdom

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 25:31-34

Scripture refers to "the kingdom of God" frequently, but many people are unclear as to its meaning. Let's look at the past, present, and future reality of this concept.

The first thing we must realize is that the heavenly kingdom refers to everything under Christ's control. At the moment of salvation, we are transferred from the reign of darkness to the bright authority of Jesus. And we are eternally secure in Him.

As today's verses explain, Jesus' kingdom and reign have been planned since the foundation of the world. From the beginning, God has been preparing mankind for what is to come. One way was by using prophets to foretell how He would redeem humanity and sovereignly rule over heaven and earth.

Once Jesus came and gave His life, He established the "present" kingdom. This isn't a geographical locale; it's a term describing the heart, where God's Holy Spirit indwells believers to guide, counsel, and empower.

But there is also a future aspect of the kingdom, which we can anticipate with excitement. You are probably familiar with the words "Thy kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2 kjv). This speaks of the new heaven and new earth, where we will enjoy freedom from pain and sin. There, we will worship Jesus with gladness and joy for all eternity.

As God's kingdom ambassadors, we who are His children have the responsibility and privilege of sharing the good news: Through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, all who trust in Him are forgiven of sin and assured of eternal life with God. Whom can you tell about this amazing gift?

Identifying Fruit..Lynette Kittle

 Identifying Fruit

By Lynette Kittle

“Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit”—Matthew 7:17,18

We have fruit trees growing in our yard. Our orange tree produces oranges, and our lemon tree grows lemons, it’s how we can tell which one is an orange tree and which one is a lemon tree. Only through a tree’s produce are we able to accurately identify the true core that produces the seeds and fruit. 

What Does Fruit Have to Do With Us?
Interestingly, Jesus explains how what people produce in their lives also reveals who they are on the inside. “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles” (Matthew 7:16).

In a nutshell, whatever is within a person will eventually be evident, revealing what’s truly hidden inside. Still, individuals like to argue that there is no way to tell if someone is a sincere believer or not to know if they’ve, in fact, been transformed. But Jesus explains how it’s really pretty easy and obvious to spot the difference between true believers and unbelievers.

What’s the Difference Between Judging and Identifying Fruit?
Interestingly, Matthew 7 begins by warning us about judging others, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). As the chapter continues, it instructs us to examine someone’s fruit to determine who they are, especially when it comes to Christian leadership. Matthew 7:15 strongly cautions, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

Summing it up, here’s where the Bible cautions, “Looks can be deceiving.” But some Christians are confused by this, not understanding the difference between judging an individual and identifying their true identity. In Matthew 7:17,18, Jesus clarifies by explaining how good fruit can only come from a good tree and bad fruit from a bad tree. Fruit is an accurate indicator of what kind of tree it is because it just isn’t possible to get good fruit from a bad tree or vice versa.

So what's the difference between judging a person and looking at their fruit? Judging is condemning one's attitudes or actions while examining someone’s fruit is identifying true believers from imposters.

How to Tell the Difference
Although true believers still sin, they don’t live in ongoing sinful lifestyles. The presence of continuing sin reveals hearts that love the world more than loving God.

1 John 2:15,16 explains, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”

If individuals claim to be Christians but continue to live, support, and facilitate actions that clearly go against God’s word, they are producing rotten fruit.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 explains, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

 Although a Christian’s words may seem biblical and “good” in hearing, what is his or her life producing? A person’s fruit doesn’t lie but identifies the core of who they really are, whether a true believer in Jesus Christ or a counterfeit Christian who loves the world. Galatians 5:22,23 describes, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Intersecting Faith and Life:
What kind of fruit are you producing in your life? If you’re not seeing the kind that comes from loving God more than the world, ask God to examine your heart. Ask Him to reveal the truth to you.

When the Lord Calls, He Equips..Jennifer Waddle

 When the Lord Calls, He Equips

by Jennifer Waddle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” - Exodus 4:10-11, NKJV

When God called Moses to approach Pharaoh and insist that he set the nation of Israel free from slavery, Moses was full of arguments. His questions were, Who am I? What shall I say? What if they do not believe me? But Moses wasn’t the only one who doubted God’s call. Many who were chosen to do hard things questioned the Lord, argued with Him, and even ran away.

Gideon doubted God’s call to deliver Israel from the Midianites, insisting he was the least of the least.

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:14-15

Jonah ran from God when he was commanded to warn Nineveh of impending judgment.

But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1: 3

Jeremiah argued with God’s direction, stating he was only a youth and could not speak to the rebellious nation of Israel.

Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6

Most of us are happy to step up to the plate when the task is easy. But when the Lord draws us out of our comfort zones and into the unknown, that is when we wrestle with His assignment.

We may not feel worthy of God’s call, but nevertheless, He makes us complete in every good work that aligns with His will and equips us with whatever is needed to carry out His divine purpose.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 (emphasis mine)

Moses argued with the Lord, to the point of provoking Him to anger. In the end, Moses’ brother Aaron ended up being God’s mouthpiece.(Exodus 4:14-16) How might it have been different if Moses had yielded to God and trusted that He would equip him to speak?

We, too, might doubt God’s abilities, but by His Spirit, we will be given exactly what we need at the exact time we need it.

“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11-12

Just as the Lord assured Gideon, Jonah and Jeremiah, He assures us that He will put the words in our mouths and the tools in our hands to accomplish the work He has begun in us.

A Prayer for When You Feel Restless..Molly Law

 A Prayer for When You Feel Restless

By Molly Law

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28, ESV

The holiday weekend specifically created for rest has come and gone, but how many of us can say we took Labor Day weekend to actually rest? Most of us probably wanted to maximize a free day off and took our families on vacation, finished household chores, or ran errands around town.

This is not surprising — for we live in a culture that values productivity and instills in us that to “rise and grind” will make us worthy and successful. So, on days that are given to us as rest, we are then forced to use for activities that could not be met during the work week. 

God foresaw humanity’s need for rest. It was God who modeled for us what healthy, creative, and productive work looked like. After six days of creation, he gave us rest. Genesis 2:2-3 tells us, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

However, with the Fall of Man, even sin tried to destroy the fabric of God’s created work and rest. The world tries to tell us that unless we are producing, we are worthless. This can be seen not only through our daily jobs but through social media — where even in our free time, trying to become an influencer to be seen has become work. 

This, in turn, causes restlessness. And this is something I personally struggle with, and I imagine so many others do as well. In moments when I have the time and space to rest, I find myself becoming very anxious. I am unable or unwilling to rest. Feelings of guilt, shame, or even boredom over not doing something overcome me, and I often choose to be productive when I honestly need to rest. 

Not surprisingly, when I do not take those opportunities to rest and push myself beyond what is healthy, my body will force me to rest — through illness or depression. Even though I get rest this way, it is far from enjoyable. Just as God delighted in his work, and his purpose for us was to find our work gratifying, I believe he also created rest to be enjoyable. 

When the feelings of guilt or shame start to creep from the edges of my times of rest, I breathe in and out: I grab my Bible and allow myself to enter God’s rest; I grab a book and sit in a comfy chair to read; I pick up the remote and turn on a movie that I enjoy and relaxes my entire being. Sometimes, I curl up on the couch and take a well-earned nap. 

Let’s Pray:

Lord, I pray we can give ourselves permission to rest. And when we do, I pray it is with you whom we choose to rest. I pray that we find peace in your words and voice as we enter into a state of rest that only you can provide.

Thank you for creating a time for work and productivity, and thank you for creating a holy time for rest so that we can be refreshed and start anew. Thank you for giving us passion, drive, and purpose. Thank you for the promise of one day being in your presence and feeling that sense of rest for all time.

Father, I pray for those who cannot find time for rest. For those whose economic and social situation has them working two or more jobs, night shifts, 80-hour weeks just to stay above water. I pray that you’ll give them relief — that the community around them will step in and help. I pray we, as Christians, remember our charitable spirits and lend a hand to those in need. 

Thank you for your marvelous gift of rest, my God. Let us not listen to the world and its definition of value, remembering full well our identity is in Christ alone. As the world spreads its message of worth, let us spread the gospel message — a message full of hope, peace, and the greatest love the world has ever known.

In Our Savior’s holy name, Amen.