The Joy of a Love-based Life.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

The Joy of a Love-based Life

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” The greatest of all aspects of the Christian life is love. Love is to be at the foundation of all we do, all we are, and all we hold on to. If we focus on love and allow the Holy Spirit to strip everything else away, what will be left is a life of blessed simplicity rooted in face-to-face relationship with our heavenly Father. As we spend time this week looking at the simplicity of love, I pray that all the weighty, frivolous things of the world that rob you of an abundant life fall away in light of the glorious goodness of God’s unconditional and wholly available love for you.

Scripture:“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

Devotional:           

In God we have access to the fullness of joy. In Psalm 16:11 David says to God, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God has set out for us all a path to the fullness of joy found only in his presence, and that path is marked by love. We can have joy in and out of every season because God never stops loving us.

When we base our lives on the love of God rather than the thoughts, perspectives, and pursuits of the world, we position ourselves to live filled with the joy that comes solely through relationship with the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We have been ransomed from the ways of this world and brought into the kingdom of our heavenly Father. And in this kingdom we discover a wealth of joy found in the Spirit of God dwelling with us.

The Holy Spirit longs to make us a joyful people. He longs to lead us away from that which will steal our joy and guide us to green pastures and still waters. But a choice remains constantly before us. Will we choose the stress, burdens, and insecurities of this world or will we follow God into a more abundant life of his joy-filled presence? We have a very real enemy tempting us every day to choose a world that will never fulfill us. While we may not be his any longer, he will do whatever he can to rob us of the abundant life afforded us by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus. But 1 John 4:4 tells us, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

The Holy Spirit dwelling within us is perfectly capable of guiding us away from the temptations of the enemy and toward the joy that can only be found in living for God’s kingdom. If we will choose today to be loved by God and love him in return, we will undoubtedly be filled with joy. Joy is a consistent symptom of seeking first the kingdom of God because his kingdom is marked by joy.

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” I pray that your life will be marked by rejoicing today. I pray that you will so encounter the love of God that you are filled with joy in all you do. Choose today to base your life on the unconditional love of your heavenly Father. Choose to love him and others in all you do in response to the wealth of affections he has for you. Experience his love today and be filled with inexpressible joy.

Take time in guided prayer to encounter God’s presence, commit your day to the wholehearted pursuit of love, and receive the joy available to you in God’s kingdom.

Guided Prayer:

1. Ask God to make you aware of his nearness. Receive his presence into your heart and rest in the joy and that comes with it.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

2. Commit yourself to pursuing love today in all you do. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you love God and people with your thoughts, actions, emotions, and words.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

3. Receive the joy of the Holy Spirit. Ask him to bear the fruit of joy in your heart, work, and relationships. Ask him to transform you into a person marked by joy.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This life is too short to live for anything but the kingdom of God. All other kingdoms fall away. Anything we build up that is of this world will return to dust just like us. Make the choice to live for a greater purpose than worldly acceptance and discover the wellspring of joy available to you in the kingdom of your loving heavenly Father.

Extended Reading: Matthew 6

Looking for Fruit..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Looking for Fruit

Dr. Charles Stanley

Galatians 5:16-26

As believers, we all want the fruit of the Spirit, but how can we know if we truly have it? Even unbelievers can display these qualities when conditions are positive. This nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is not what we do, but who we are, and it is primarily on display in Christians when circumstances are unfavorable. Two characteristics help us recognize these traits in our lives.

Fruitful believers are not controlled by their environment. Everyone experiences trials and pain, but those who are filled with the Spirit do not lose His fruit because of their situations. They keep their joy even when difficulties overwhelm. If someone speaks harshly, they respond with kindness. Because the Holy Spirit is in control, He is free to produce His fruit no matter what the circumstances are. Even though such believers may feel pain, anger, or a desire for revenge, they choose to trust the Lord to protect them and direct the outcome.  

Fruitful Christians recover quickly after a fall. These believers are not perfect, but they are sensitive to the Spirit's conviction and are quick to return to the Lord in repentance. In fact, they are actually grateful for the correction and praise God, not only for revealing their weakness but also for drawing them back to obedience.

No one produces these amazing qualities in himself. Trying harder to be godly will never work. Character transformation occurs when we submit to God, giving Him complete control of our lives. Only then will the Spirit be free to produce fruit that remains even in the deepest, darkest storms.

5 Lessons on Sexual Temptation from Proverbs 5..Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 5 Lessons on Sexual Temptation from Proverbs 5*****

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

“Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her words are smoother than oil, in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a double-edged sword.” (Proverbs 5:3-4)

The Forbidden Woman

“Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?” asks one of the proverbs (Proverbs 6:27). The answer to this rhetorical question is obvious, as is our innate desire for sin, especially the sexual kind. God intended for sex to be an act that honors spouses, and honors Him, but much like other sins, mankind’s creativity for wrongdoing knows no bounds.

From billboards to social media, to movies on the big screen, or the device we keep in our pockets, if you want to find sex, you don’t have to look far. Young children access porn on a moment’s notice online, while some adults form groups with the sole purpose of fornicating.

Our fleshly weakness may explain why there are various passages in Scripture that warn us about uncontrolled desire. One such place is Proverbs 5, where a father cautions his son about the “forbidden woman.” Today, his wise words can serve to enlighten and strengthen us as well.

Whether we are nearing temptation, have already given in, or are seeking to remain strong, there is something each of us can learn from these five lessons on sexual temptation from Proverbs 5.

1. Establish Boundaries (Proverbs 5:1-2)
Living in a world of sin, something we all need is boundaries. Unfortunately, many of us learn this after answering the call of temptation. Too many parents give their children unmitigated access to the internet. And too many adults refuse to limit their own access for fear of missing out. No boundaries is like a wide-open door, an invitation for anything outside to come in.

Know your limits, and don’t test them. Approaching your boundary is a sign that you’re nearing a bad choice.

2. Humanize the Person (Proverbs 5:5-6)
The forbidden woman is a person, just like you, just like me. And just like us, no one chooses to sell their body when they think there is a better way to make money. Only people who have been abused, molested, and broken from early childhood pursue prostitution as a legitimate way to work. The same goes for the woman on the corner of a busy city and for the woman appearing in a late-night movie.

When we humanize people, we stop treating them as tools for our pleasure. They are people with emotions, goals, thoughts, and struggles exactly like us. They have family, friends, and more. If we knew them, whether as a relative, friend, or acquaintance, would we want them to engage in such behavior?

3. Flee (Proverbs 5:8)
Possibly the most underrated advice when facing temptation is to run. Flee. Escape the fire before you get burned. Saying no to sin early on is like pulling out a seed from the ground. Uprooting a tree is a much more difficult task.

4. Know the Consequences (Proverbs 5:9-14)
One reason we succumb to lust is that we either don’t know, or we ignore the consequences. The easiest way to resolve this issue is by ensuring that we not only know the consequences of our actions, but that we meditate on them. This is especially true if we are in seasons or places in life where temptation is higher.

Knowing what possible bad outcomes await can be sure motivation to walk the straight path.

5. Enjoy Marriage (Proverbs 5:15-19)
If marriage is a part of your life, then enjoy the blessing that God has given you. Realize that your spouse will never match up to lust. They will never look, act, or talk like those people we lust after. That’s because your spouse is real. Honor and appreciate that realness.

If you’re single, pray to God for strength to remain chaste and for discernment as to where you can put your sexual energies. Sex is a want, not a need, but no one denies that libido exists. Find a way to put that energy toward serving the community, a hobby, or anything positive that gets your mind off of sex.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
There is a reason lust makes the list as one of the seven deadly sins. Much of humanity has succumbed to the forbidden woman at one time or another, and just about all of us have heard her call. Whether we are talking about sirens from Greek mythology or Instagram models today, lust is always looming on the corner, beckoning whoever will listen. Those who answer waste time, and themselves, chasing after an ever-fleeting high.

Let us as a church choose to be different today. May we each stand firmly, soberly, and righteously against temptation.

Further Reading (and Listening):

• Proverbs 6:20-35
• 2 Timothy 2:22
• 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

A New Way to Walk in the World..Scott Patty

 A New Way to Walk in the World

By Scott Patty

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. —1 Corinthians 10:31

We need wisdom to walk this way. There are many issues and opportunities in life that require us to think about the best way to glorify God. At times the questions of life have a simple, straightforward answer. Don’t steal, murder, or commit adultery. Do honor your parents, love your neighbor, and tell the truth. At other times, things are not quite so clear. But that doesn’t mean we have no guidance for a way forward that brings glory to God.

First Corinthians 8, 9, and 10 give us wisdom. I encourage you today, or this week, to read all three of these chapters.

From 1 Corinthians 8, consider what builds up the faith of other Christians. Thinking about how to serve the spiritual growth of your fellow church members can help you make good decisions about how to live in the world.

From 1 Corinthians 9, consider what commends the gospel to people in the world. Making decisions about your interactions in the world based on how people need to hear the gospel is a great way to glorify God.

From 1 Corinthians 10, consider what promotes devotion to Christ in your own life. Every day we make big and small decisions that can either harm or enhance our obedience to God.

This is a big chunk of the Bible, written by the apostle Paul almost two thousand years ago. This wisdom still applies to us. My prayer is that as you think on these things, the Lord will give you understanding for how to glorify him as you walk in the world.

A Prayer to Embrace God’s Grace and Mercy..Tiffany Robbins

 A Prayer to Embrace God’s Grace and Mercy

By Tiffany Robbins

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” - Hebrews 4:15-16

Overall, I was a pretty good kid growing up (and yes, my parents would actually attest to that!). But on the occasions where I found myself in the wrong – whether on accident or not – my first instinct was to hide. 

A vivid memory remains in my mind of the time my sister went to see The Nutcracker ballet, and proudly brought home a large, fully wax, nutcracker candle souvenir. One night, as I sat at the foot of her bed admiring the nutcracker candle, I picked a little piece of wax away with my tiny fingernail. Before I knew it, I was sitting with a pile of wax shavings in front of me, and a very sad, very unrecognizable nutcracker in my hands. I was caught in the act, and there was no hiding what I had done.

There was no ill will in me destroying this treasured souvenir, and my parents knew this. But when it came time for me to take accountability for what I had done, that’s when I tried to hide. The evidence was, literally, all over my hands as I looked my parents in the eyes and told them it “wasn’t me” who did it. Oh, and by the way, my sister and I are their only children. You can imagine the smirks as my parents undoubtedly thought to themselves… “who else would have done it?” My shame overtook me and caused me to hide from my problems rather than confess and be free of them. Desperately trying to cover up and refuse to admit to it only made my shame, and the situation itself, so much worse.

We may blame Adam and Eve for disobeying God and allowing sin to enter the world, but I don’t think any of us blame them for hiding from Him afterward. They knew what they had done, and they knew that God knew. But their shame forced them to hide from Him. We’ve all felt that awful feeling of shame - knowing what’s done is done, and we cannot take it back no matter how remorseful we may be. We see our weaknesses as just that – weaknesses. And we hate to admit it when we give in to them.

Hebrews 15 tells us that Christ empathizes with our weaknesses. He gets it. He walked through the same temptations that we face, but our hope is found in this: He did not sin. And this was not done so that he could sit back and say, “Shame on you - if I can do it, anyone can!” No – He lived the perfect life so that His mercy and grace could be freely extended to us when we falter.

It is our job, then, to approach God’s throne with confidence. This isn’t always easy when we’re natural hiders! But God assures us that in our time of need, He is more than ready to help us. So, boldly embrace God’s grace and mercy today. Humbly accept His help. Rest in His empathy – He loves us and truly desires for us to let go of shame and live in His presence.

Let’s Pray:

Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the grace and mercy you extend to us. Our sinful nature tells us to sit in our shame and to hide from your light. But you came to this earth and lived the perfect life so that we no longer need to be shackled by our sins. True freedom is found when we lay down our pride and bring our weaknesses to you.

We may blame Adam and Eve for disobeying God and allowing sin to enter the world, but I don’t think any of us blame them for hiding from Him afterward. They knew what they had done, and they knew that God knew. But their shame forced them to hide from Him. We’ve all felt that awful feeling of shame - knowing what’s done is done, and we cannot take it back no matter how remorseful we may be. We see our weaknesses as just that – weaknesses. And we hate to admit it when we give in to them.

Hebrews 15 tells us that Christ empathizes with our weaknesses. He gets it. He walked through the same temptations that we face, but our hope is found in this: He did not sin. And this was not done so that he could sit back and say, “Shame on you - if I can do it, anyone can!” No – He lived the perfect life so that His mercy and grace could be freely extended to us when we falter.

It is our job, then, to approach God’s throne with confidence. This isn’t always easy when we’re natural hiders! But God assures us that in our time of need, He is more than ready to help us. So, boldly embrace God’s grace and mercy today. Humbly accept His help. Rest in His empathy – He loves us and truly desires for us to let go of shame and live in His presence.

Let’s Pray:

Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the grace and mercy you extend to us. Our sinful nature tells us to sit in our shame and to hide from your light. But you came to this earth and lived the perfect life so that we no longer need to be shackled by our sins. True freedom is found when we lay down our pride and bring our weaknesses to you.