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.