Confused Living Aug.31

Confused Living

The old preacher Vance Havner said,

“The Devil never had a greater ally than this modern atmosphere of genial, pleasant tolerance in which nothing is bad, everything has some good, and black and white are smeared together to make gray.”

The saying is true today. Mixing of good and evil for partial goodness is not the way of Christ.

Showing God Growth Aug.30

Showing God Growth

“And Jesus took the loaves and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.” [John6:11, NKJV].

This was the picture of feeding thousands from the little boy’s 5 loaves of bread and two small fish.

The story may have many applications but I like to think of one about our Christian growth.

1.   Jesus accepts what is available. He accepts us.

2.   He blesses what He receives.

3.   As He broke the bread, He breaks our sin.

4.   Then He distributes and uses what He receives.

He works through us.

The Little Sin Aug.29

The Little Sin

Dr. Harry Guinness of Derbyshire, England told of how the main water supply for the college was totally shut off one day. It was an old water system so they were not too surprised. But, they checked everything that usually caused that kind of difficulty. They couldn’t find the problem.

Finally, one man went to a main section of pipe that split off to go to the original pipe entrance for an old building. There, tightly lodged in the pipe was a huge toad frog. The experts said it probably came through the water supply as a tad pole and grew, serving like a big cork.

I was reminded of the little sins that can creep in our lives and grow to proportions that block our Christian effectiveness.

Kingdom Not Destroyed Aug.28

Although everything will one day be destroyed, some think even heaven:

“But the day of the lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire; and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” [2Pe.3:10, NIV].

Yet who will we be:

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.” [2Pe3:11, NKJV].

Thank goodness, we have a promise:

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” [Heb.12:28, NKJV].

Live the promise of an indestructible and unchanging Kingdom of God.

Greater Works than Jesus? Aug.27

Greater Works than Jesus

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” [John 14:12, NKJV].

Did Jesus really mean we would do greater works than him?

One answer is No, because nothing could be greater than His bringing us salvation.

But also Yes, because in the scripture above:

1.   We detach Self when we believe.

2.   We work through process of surrender.

3.   We carry out Jesus’ works since He is absent in flesh.

It is only greater because the Holy Spirit is in us to continue the work Jesus started.

We Bow Aug.26

We Bow

“And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” [Phil.1:9, NIV].

Jesus is Lord. And what do we do in a kingdom when approaching a Lord? We bow. It shows respect and honor for the position. Jesus bowed for us on the Cross; we bow to him as well. This pleases the father.

Hidden Truth Aug.25

Hidden Truth

In December 1946, A French maid was cleaning a room. She looked in a partially opened suitcase and on top was an apple. She was hungry and looked around, saw nobody and decided to eat the fruit. She took a bite and discovered hidden in the apple was the Conday diamond, stolen earlier from a French museum. She did not know the apple with diamond was worth one million dollars.

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” [1 John 2:20, NIV].

Hidden within the believer is the Holy Spirit with truth. We must remember where our strength comes from.

Prayer Significance Aug.24

Prayer Significance

Dr. H.C. Waters said,

“When we depend upon money, we get what money can do.

When we depend upon organization, we get what organization can do.

When we depend upon education, we get what education can do.

When we depend upon teaching and preaching, we get what they do.

But when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.”

Pray without ceasing.

Christ as Myth Aug.23

Christ as Myth

One man said:

“We have sent men to the moon, rockets closer to the sun and yet we have not discovered God. We have turned off lights which no man will be able to turn on again; we are breaking the yoke of gospel tyranny, and soon we will relegate Jesus Christ to the realm of mythology.”

Yes, there are still segments of our society that want to debunk the Gospel of Christ. They will use technology, science and even misguided moral beliefs that Jesus is unreal.

Our prayer: Holy Spirit, help us remain faithful.

Special Insight Aug.22

Special Insight

When the Apostle Peter was able to reveal that Jesus was the true Christ in Mt.16:16, he displayed to the world a magnificent insight that had never been exposed before.

When Jesus proclaimed He would give the keys of the kingdom in Mt16:19, he revealed a truth to individuals about a heaven principle that is influenced by an activity on earth.

The keys of the kingdom are to become a special insight, a witness to persons about how important it is to help others.

There is the hint that we will maintain a special relationship with those of earth who we had a part in their being forgiven of sin. Part of this is so because the undergirding quality of heaven vibrates forgiveness.

Forgotten Blessing Aug.21

Forgotten Blessing

The scripture reveals a list to add to our faith: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” [2Pe.1:5-9, NIV].

One problem today is some Christians have forgotten what happened to them at conversion with a new birth of personhood.

God's Question Aug.20

God’s Question

“Then the Lord called to Adam and said to him, Where are you?” [Gen.3:9, NKJV].

I don’t think God wondered where Adam’s position was.

God was not wanting information.

God was reaching out to a person who had separated from God’s presence.

In Genesis 3:10 Adam becomes afraid. Sin builds fear in the heart.

So, daily, God asks the believer: “Where are you?”

Disturbing Growth Aug.19

Disturbing Growth

When a little child learns to walk, he or she has to fight gravity. Children have to work hard at balance because they are actually going against their own steadiness. Each movement is awkward and struggle. It is a kind of pain that leads to better growth. Walking is better than non-walking.

“My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways. You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance. Endure until your testing is over, then you will be mature and complete, and you won’t need anything.” [James 1:2-4, God’s Word Translation, GWT].

When believers experience upset and lack of life balance, growth is happening. Trust God and endure.

Faith without Christ Aug.18

Faith without Christ

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe . . .” [Ro.3:22, NIV].

A partial faith will lead to a spiritual downfall. For faith without divine grace through His Son is only as strong as the strongest human effort.

Danger of Boredom Aug.17

Danger of Boredom

Boredom becomes an enemy and leads to destructive decisions.

“And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” [Luke 15:13, NKJV].

Here was a young man who appeared to get bored, took his inheritance from his father and wasted all of it.

1.   His freedom at home must have become tiresome.

2.   Self-will led him into a different world.

3.   Money became an extension of the self.

4.   He hit the law of diminishing returns.

5.   After scattering what he gathered, he returned home broken.

That thing that keeps us slaves to our own desires, whether boredom or money, always ends in prideful result.

Thank goodness, Heavenly Father gives us do overs.

Just for a Laugh Aug.16

Just for a Laugh

Someone asked: “Did you know baseball was in the Bible?”

“No, I did not,” said another.

Well think about it:

Eve stole first.

Adam stole second.

Lot’s wife fouled out.
Judas struck out.

Prodigal son ran home.

[I don’t recall who said this but I give them full credit].

Things to Forget Aug.15

Things to Forget

There are some things we really should forget.

1.   Our successes.

2.   Our Failures.

3.   Wrongs done to us by others.

God cannot honor a life with any kind of pride or vengeance in the heart.

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses.” [Mark 11:25, NKJV].

Shallow Roots Aug.14

Shallow Roots

There are some plants that have very shallow roots. The wind and weather can destroy them.

When Jesus began His sayings in Mt.5, he started with “Blessed are you, spiritual prosperous are you" for a definite reason.

Too many try to live quality of life on the circumference of life with lesser values. Entertainment, money, leisure spin on the edges of life, often blocking God-centered quality.

Jesus insisted that believers should maintain quality in the center of life and not just out on the edges. Therefore the attitudes of Mt 5 are not just ideas but quality values for action.

Flavor and Insight Aug.13

Flavor and Insight

“You are the salt of the earth . . .”

“You are the light of the world.” [Mt.5:13-14, NKJV].

Jesus said the believer becomes salt, a hidden flavoring ingredient that changes any stale taste.

But then He moves to the open, obvious element of light, that penetrating quality of insight and hope because others can begin to see.

In Christ, we have hidden truths that lead to open light for a dying world. 

Secret of Two Combined Aug.12

Secret of Two Combined

Doctors will tell you that if the heart beats in only one direction, it will burn out. But if it beats in both directions, in and out, it will pour blood throughout to make a healthy body.

If you just tear down your spirit, you will be bankrupt. Self-image is destroyed.

But if you remove the self and care about others as you mourn for them, then your surrendered heart as a sensitive heart enriches the Kingdom.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” [Mt.5:3-4, NIV].

 The two link together.

Quit Fighting Yourself Aug.11

Quit Fighting Yourself

“. . . spiritually prosperous are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Mt.5:3, AMPT].

We have a nervous cat that goes to the back door with glass panes in it. He will look at himself in the glass, put his nose against it, and paw at it for a while. Finally, he turns around, lies down, cleans his face and takes a nap.

He’s much more contented when he quits fighting his own reflection.

More blessed is the person who can renounce the self in Christ.

Remarkable Unselfishness Aug.10

Remarkable Unselfishness

“. . . No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” [Acts 4:32, NIV].

Those first century Christians experienced remarkable unity in Christ. Out of a spiritual relationship from Christ came a social relationship to one another.

As cause was to effect, so unity was to unselfishness.

Real Christian Community Aug.9

Real Christian Community

What should characterize the local church today?

Best technology? Numbers? Money? Buildings? Programs?

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul . . .” [Acts 4:32, NKJV].

Rework Critical View Aug.8

Rework Critical View

Jesus must have had some kind of humor when He said,

”And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your eye?” [Mt.7:3, NKJV].

Can you just imagine a person walking around with a 2x4 sticking out of an eye and every time that person turned to look, the individual would knock someone down? What a picture and what a sight.

We need to rethink our critical views.

Secret Deeds Aug.7

Secret Deeds

For truly working in the kingdom of God:

Begin a secret mission.

“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”[Mt.6:3-4, NKJV]. 

Moral Truth for Today Aug.6

Moral Truth for Today

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” [Prov.29:2, NKJV]. 

Action Christianity Aug.5

Action Christianity

Someone said,

“The chicken hen is the only one of God’s creatures who can sit still and produce dividends.”

“You therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,

And things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” [2Tim.2:1-2, NKJV].

Faith Beyond Belief Aug.4

Faith Beyond Belief

Before Christ, we could believe in many things, some based on experience, but some based on a pure faith energy.

When receiving Christ, the Holy Spirit does something to our belief system.

When the Holy Spirit enters us, faith stretches beyond belief because we have received the plus of the Spirit.

With Holy Spirit guidance, we act upon what we have faith in as if it were accepted fact. If we are in error, we have not let the H.S. be our guide.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” [Mt.6:33, NKJV].

True Love Aug.3

True Love

The story goes there was a man whose wife died. He had a three year old son who shortly after died also. It was all the family he ever had. The man never got over his double heart ache.

When the man died, no one could find a will so all his possessions went for an estate sell.

One of his neighbors bid on and got a picture of the man’s little boy that died. Attached to the back of the picture frame was a will that said, “Whoever gets this picture gets all the cash I leave.”

The departed father loved the person who loved his son.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” [Jn.3:16, NKJV].

What Agreement? Aug.2

What Agreement?

“Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. [Mt.18:19, NKJV].

You mean to tell me, that if two people just agree on something in prayer, God will answer?

The key to the understanding of this verse is in the hidden meaning of the word agree. The Greek word is actually sumphoneo which means harmony like a symphony. The prayer of two or more must synchronize, vibrate in such a way that they harmonize like the last notes of a band when all instruments blend together to sound as one note.

The prayer must also be orchestrated along with God’s intentions for people.

Why Live for Others? Aug.1

Why Live for Others?

“For the love of Christ constrains us . . . “[2Cor.5:14, NKJV].

The love of Christ remains our motivation.

“And He died for all,

that those who live should live no longer for themselves . . .” [2Cor.5:15].

At least once a day, we should behave with other-centered motives.

Why Wisdom? July31

Why Wisdom?

“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament. And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” [Daniel 12:3, NKJV].

Don’t you want to shine like the stars?

Christ makes us more than conquerors.