Neil Anderson Daily in Christ
ONE BASIS FOR TEMPTATION
Titus 3:14 Let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful
We all have basic human needs to feel loved, accepted and worthwhile. When these needs go unmet, it's very important that we express them to our family members and fellow Christians in a positive way and allow others to minister to those needs. I believe that one basis for temptation is unmet legitimate needs. When you are too proud to say, "I don't feel loved." or when you push others away by saying, "You don't love me anymore," your need for love goes unmet. So Satan comes along with a tempting alternative: "Your wife doesn't love you like you deserve. But have you noticed the affectionate gleam in your secretary's eye?"
Other than Himself, God's primary resource for meeting your needs and keeping you pure is other believers. The problem is that many go to Sunday school, church and Bible study wearing a sanctimonious mask. Wanting to appear strong and together, they rob themselves of the opportunity of having their needs met in the warmth and safety of the Christian community. In the process, they rob the community of the opportunity to minister to their needs. By denying the fellowship of believers the privilege of meeting your legitimate needs, you are acting independently of God. You are vulnerable to the temptation of thinking that you can have your needs met in the world, the flesh and the devil.
Instead, follow the guidance of Hebrews 10:24, 25: "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near."
Prayer:
Lord, grant me the humility to confess my needs and hurts to my Christian family in order to allow You to meet my needs in Your way.
Friday, August 31, 2007
God's Word
Excerpt from "5 Minutes with Gracia Burnham" in Discipleship Journal (July-August), p. 20.
(You might recall that Gracia and her husband, Martin, served with New Tribes Missions in the Philippines. In 2001 they were taken hostage. After 376 days of captivity Martin was killed in a gunfight. Marcia was wounded but freed.)
What kept you going during your captivity?
God's Word. Once early in our captivity, Martin and I were very discouraged. We had endured yet another gun battle, some of the group were wounded, and we were starving, stinky, and tired. Martin said, "Gracia, let's remind ourselves of what is true." We began reciting Scripture to one another: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Ro. 8:31). "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jer. 31:3). "God ... has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies" (Eph. 1:3, DBY). We didn't feel loved and blessed, but we reminded each other that these things were true nonetheless.
(You might recall that Gracia and her husband, Martin, served with New Tribes Missions in the Philippines. In 2001 they were taken hostage. After 376 days of captivity Martin was killed in a gunfight. Marcia was wounded but freed.)
What kept you going during your captivity?
God's Word. Once early in our captivity, Martin and I were very discouraged. We had endured yet another gun battle, some of the group were wounded, and we were starving, stinky, and tired. Martin said, "Gracia, let's remind ourselves of what is true." We began reciting Scripture to one another: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Ro. 8:31). "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jer. 31:3). "God ... has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies" (Eph. 1:3, DBY). We didn't feel loved and blessed, but we reminded each other that these things were true nonetheless.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
My Grace Is Sufficient
Elisabeth Elliot Daily Devotional
Title: Immunity--No. Grace--Yes.
Someone asked last week, "When Jim died was your walk with the Lord close enough that His love and comfort and presence were sufficient at all times--or did grief and sorrow at times overtake and overwhelm you?"
My answer is yes to both questions. It is not an either-or matter. The psalmist, overwhelmed, prayed, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I" (Ps 61:2 AV).
Paul, plagued by a thorn, besought the Lord three times to remove it.
Jesus, "horror-stricken and desperately depressed," prayed "O My Father--if it be possible..." (Mk 14:34,36).
Of none of these--the psalmist, the apostle, the Lord--could it be said that his walk with God was not close enough. There was human suffering and divine sufficiency. This is the story of our life. The promise is "My grace is sufficient" (2 Cor 12:9 AV), not "My grace will abolish your thorns."
Title: Immunity--No. Grace--Yes.
Someone asked last week, "When Jim died was your walk with the Lord close enough that His love and comfort and presence were sufficient at all times--or did grief and sorrow at times overtake and overwhelm you?"
My answer is yes to both questions. It is not an either-or matter. The psalmist, overwhelmed, prayed, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I" (Ps 61:2 AV).
Paul, plagued by a thorn, besought the Lord three times to remove it.
Jesus, "horror-stricken and desperately depressed," prayed "O My Father--if it be possible..." (Mk 14:34,36).
Of none of these--the psalmist, the apostle, the Lord--could it be said that his walk with God was not close enough. There was human suffering and divine sufficiency. This is the story of our life. The promise is "My grace is sufficient" (2 Cor 12:9 AV), not "My grace will abolish your thorns."
Effects of God's Truth
Two points from a John Piper Article:
These truths help protect me from trifling with divine things.
One of the curses of our culture is banality, cuteness, cleverness. Television is the main sustainer of our addiction to superficiality and triviality.
God is swept into this. Hence the trifling with divine things.
Earnestness is not excessive in our day. It might have been once. And, yes, there are imbalances in certain people today who don't seem to be able to relax and talk about the weather.
Robertson Nicole said of Spurgeon, "Evangelism of the humorous type [we might say, church growth of the marketing type] may attract multitudes, but it lays the soul in ashes and destroys the very germs of religion. Mr. Spurgeon is often thought by those who do not know his sermons to have been a humorous preacher. As a matter of fact there was no preacher whose tone was more uniformly earnest, reverent and solemn" (Quoted in The Supremacy of God in Preaching, p. 57).
These truths make me groan over the indescribable disease of our secular, God-belittling culture.
I can hardly read the newspaper or look at a TV ad or a billboard without feeling the burden that God is missing.
When God is the main reality in the universe and is treated as a non-reality, I tremble at the wrath that is being stored up. I am able to be shocked. So many Christians are sedated with the same drug as the world. But these teachings are a great antidote.
And I pray for awakening and revival.
And I try to preach to create a people that are so God-saturated that they will show and tell God everywhere and all the time.
We exist to reassert the reality of God and the supremacy of God in all of life.
These truths help protect me from trifling with divine things.
One of the curses of our culture is banality, cuteness, cleverness. Television is the main sustainer of our addiction to superficiality and triviality.
God is swept into this. Hence the trifling with divine things.
Earnestness is not excessive in our day. It might have been once. And, yes, there are imbalances in certain people today who don't seem to be able to relax and talk about the weather.
Robertson Nicole said of Spurgeon, "Evangelism of the humorous type [we might say, church growth of the marketing type] may attract multitudes, but it lays the soul in ashes and destroys the very germs of religion. Mr. Spurgeon is often thought by those who do not know his sermons to have been a humorous preacher. As a matter of fact there was no preacher whose tone was more uniformly earnest, reverent and solemn" (Quoted in The Supremacy of God in Preaching, p. 57).
These truths make me groan over the indescribable disease of our secular, God-belittling culture.
I can hardly read the newspaper or look at a TV ad or a billboard without feeling the burden that God is missing.
When God is the main reality in the universe and is treated as a non-reality, I tremble at the wrath that is being stored up. I am able to be shocked. So many Christians are sedated with the same drug as the world. But these teachings are a great antidote.
And I pray for awakening and revival.
And I try to preach to create a people that are so God-saturated that they will show and tell God everywhere and all the time.
We exist to reassert the reality of God and the supremacy of God in all of life.
Awaken Our Awe of God
Excerpt from "The God Who Thunders" by Kimberly Tyree, Discipleship Journal (July-August 2007), p. 30:
"We need to be shaken by God every now and then, to be jostled out of our need for control. We need to be reminded of how powerful and glorious He really is and experience awe in Him. Otherwise, we can get too caught up in our view of reality, forgetting that God is so much more than we can comprehend.
Often, opportunities to be shaken by God are closer than we think. As I write this article on my laptop loaded with all the newest software, connected via the internet to people and information from all over the world, I hear the wind rustling the branches outside my window, and I feel insignificant. All that I do, all that I create, all that I understand is insignificant compared to God. I am reminded that my focus should be God. Only He is worth my time, my effort, my life. Everything I do should be to glorify and praise His awesome name."
"We need to be shaken by God every now and then, to be jostled out of our need for control. We need to be reminded of how powerful and glorious He really is and experience awe in Him. Otherwise, we can get too caught up in our view of reality, forgetting that God is so much more than we can comprehend.
Often, opportunities to be shaken by God are closer than we think. As I write this article on my laptop loaded with all the newest software, connected via the internet to people and information from all over the world, I hear the wind rustling the branches outside my window, and I feel insignificant. All that I do, all that I create, all that I understand is insignificant compared to God. I am reminded that my focus should be God. Only He is worth my time, my effort, my life. Everything I do should be to glorify and praise His awesome name."
Christ Everywhere
Excerpt from John Piper -- Christ: The Ground and Goal of the Old Testament
... Should we really think of the purpose of these ancient sins having anything to do with Christ who came so much later? The answer is yes. The link between Christ and the Old Testament is more amazing than any of us realizes. Here are a couple general statements about that link. First, Luke said, in Luke 24:27, “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” And in John 5:39, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”
What follows is a sampling of how Christ is the ground and goal of everything in the Old Testament. ...
... Should we really think of the purpose of these ancient sins having anything to do with Christ who came so much later? The answer is yes. The link between Christ and the Old Testament is more amazing than any of us realizes. Here are a couple general statements about that link. First, Luke said, in Luke 24:27, “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” And in John 5:39, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”
What follows is a sampling of how Christ is the ground and goal of everything in the Old Testament. ...
- Christ upholds all things (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3). Therefore, all Old Testament events are possible because of Christ.
Christ created all things (John 1:3, 10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). Therefore, all that exists in the Old Testament is because of Christ.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Fear
The parents (in John 9) responding to the Pharisees after their son received his sight:
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20His parents answered, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." 22(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
I never cease to be amazed at this, but fear will do strange things to us. The Bible says a lot about fear, but always about fearing God, not man.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10: 28)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1: 7)
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20His parents answered, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." 22(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
I never cease to be amazed at this, but fear will do strange things to us. The Bible says a lot about fear, but always about fearing God, not man.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10: 28)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1: 7)
Little is Much
I like the lyrics from Downhere "Little is Much"
Little is much when God's in it
And no one can fathom the plans He holds
Little is much when God's in it
He changes the world with the seeds we sow
Little is much, little is much
Little is much when God's in it
And no one can fathom the plans He holds
Little is much when God's in it
He changes the world with the seeds we sow
Little is much, little is much
The Lust for Security
Elisabeth Elliot Daily Devotional
Title: The Lust for Security
Once we have set ourselves to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth, which is what Christians are meant to be, it is incongruous for us to continue to insist upon the sort of security the world tries to guarantee. Our security lies not in protecting ourselves from suffering, but in putting ourselves fully into the hands of God. The desire for physical and material security makes us sly and hard. No. We must be like little children. The child in its father's arms is not worried. It lies quietly at rest because it trusts its father.
We disobey sometimes because we say it is impossible to do what God asks. Impossible? Perhaps what we mean is impossible to do that and keep our security, impossible to obey without tremendous cost, or at least tremendous risk. Where, then, will we find safety? Is it likely that we will find it elsewhere than in the arms of the Father?
Teach me to rest in your everlasting arms. Make me know that all other security is illusion.
Title: The Lust for Security
Once we have set ourselves to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth, which is what Christians are meant to be, it is incongruous for us to continue to insist upon the sort of security the world tries to guarantee. Our security lies not in protecting ourselves from suffering, but in putting ourselves fully into the hands of God. The desire for physical and material security makes us sly and hard. No. We must be like little children. The child in its father's arms is not worried. It lies quietly at rest because it trusts its father.
We disobey sometimes because we say it is impossible to do what God asks. Impossible? Perhaps what we mean is impossible to do that and keep our security, impossible to obey without tremendous cost, or at least tremendous risk. Where, then, will we find safety? Is it likely that we will find it elsewhere than in the arms of the Father?
Teach me to rest in your everlasting arms. Make me know that all other security is illusion.
Seeking God's Kingdom
Christian Working Woman Transcript
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - The Superwoman Complex
Some years ago a major news magazine ran a cover feature that said, Women Face the Future: They Tried to Have It All. Now They've Just Plain Had It. One of the misconceptions resulting from the Superwoman Complex is that we can have it all.
But my message to you is that you can't have it all. You can have a lot, your life can be full and meaningful, but you can't have it all, at least not all at the same time! As Maxine Hancock puts it: "The bad news is nobody can have it all at once. The good news is that you can have a lot of what really matters to you."
You and I must continually make choices between the many options and opportunities that are presented to us, and we have more of those today than ever before. We have to be very good at setting our priorities and sticking to them. And as Christians, our priorities are governed by God's eternal principles.
Our Lord said, Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). All what things? All of what you need to have a good and full life. Not everything you think you need; not everything you want. But all you need will be added provided you first seek God's kingdom and His righteousness. That's how you can have all that matters.
Have you relinquished the controls of your life to the Lord lately? Quite frequently I repeat this prayer: "Lord, I give you permission to control my life. I acknowledge your right to change my plans, to re-direct my path, to give me new marching orders. Here's a blank piece of paper; I ask you to dictate my to-do list."
You see, it's real easy for us to show God our plans and ask Him to bless them. "Dear Lord, here's what I plan to do; here's what I want to be; here's how I want to do it. Please come along with me and help me and bless me." Oh, we may not use words quite so obvious, but far too often that is our attitude. Seeking God's kingdom means giving Him a blank piece of paper and asking Him to write the program for us.
I would encourage you to make sure you keep going back to that basic commitment–giving the controls to the Lord. That is the beginning of the cure for the Superwoman Complex, and the way to truly gain control of your tendency to want it all at one time.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - The Superwoman Complex
Some years ago a major news magazine ran a cover feature that said, Women Face the Future: They Tried to Have It All. Now They've Just Plain Had It. One of the misconceptions resulting from the Superwoman Complex is that we can have it all.
But my message to you is that you can't have it all. You can have a lot, your life can be full and meaningful, but you can't have it all, at least not all at the same time! As Maxine Hancock puts it: "The bad news is nobody can have it all at once. The good news is that you can have a lot of what really matters to you."
You and I must continually make choices between the many options and opportunities that are presented to us, and we have more of those today than ever before. We have to be very good at setting our priorities and sticking to them. And as Christians, our priorities are governed by God's eternal principles.
Our Lord said, Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). All what things? All of what you need to have a good and full life. Not everything you think you need; not everything you want. But all you need will be added provided you first seek God's kingdom and His righteousness. That's how you can have all that matters.
Have you relinquished the controls of your life to the Lord lately? Quite frequently I repeat this prayer: "Lord, I give you permission to control my life. I acknowledge your right to change my plans, to re-direct my path, to give me new marching orders. Here's a blank piece of paper; I ask you to dictate my to-do list."
You see, it's real easy for us to show God our plans and ask Him to bless them. "Dear Lord, here's what I plan to do; here's what I want to be; here's how I want to do it. Please come along with me and help me and bless me." Oh, we may not use words quite so obvious, but far too often that is our attitude. Seeking God's kingdom means giving Him a blank piece of paper and asking Him to write the program for us.
I would encourage you to make sure you keep going back to that basic commitment–giving the controls to the Lord. That is the beginning of the cure for the Superwoman Complex, and the way to truly gain control of your tendency to want it all at one time.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Hope -- What, Why and How?
Excerpt from Our Hope: The Appearing of Jesus Christ by John Piper
We began this series by asking, "What is the special character of biblical hope?" And we answered: Biblical hope is not finger-crossing. It is a confident expectation of good things to come. Hebrews calls it the "full assurance of hope" (6:11).
Then we asked, "Why can sinners like us be confident that a holy God will work for us and make our future bright?" And we answered with two words: grace and gospel. Paul says that "God our Father loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). And he urges us not to shift from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23). So the grace of God and the good news of Christ crucified for sins and raised from the dead are the reasons that sinners like you and me can hope in God and have a confident expectation that the future will be good for us.
Then after the questions, "What?" and "Why?" we asked the question, "How?" First, "How can I hope in God when by nature I do not trust God or love God or want to obey God?" And we answered: "New birth." "By God's great mercy we have been born anew unto a living hope" (1 Peter 1:3, 23). God overcomes our rebellion and gives us a new heart—a heart that by its very nature loves to hope in God.
Then, the second "How-question" was, "How are we to hope in God if we don't know his promises?" The answer is Romans 15:4, "Whatever was written in former times was written for our instruction that by the endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." We do know the promises of God—the whole Bible—the Scripture—was written to give us hope. Take up and read!
We began this series by asking, "What is the special character of biblical hope?" And we answered: Biblical hope is not finger-crossing. It is a confident expectation of good things to come. Hebrews calls it the "full assurance of hope" (6:11).
Then we asked, "Why can sinners like us be confident that a holy God will work for us and make our future bright?" And we answered with two words: grace and gospel. Paul says that "God our Father loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). And he urges us not to shift from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23). So the grace of God and the good news of Christ crucified for sins and raised from the dead are the reasons that sinners like you and me can hope in God and have a confident expectation that the future will be good for us.
Then after the questions, "What?" and "Why?" we asked the question, "How?" First, "How can I hope in God when by nature I do not trust God or love God or want to obey God?" And we answered: "New birth." "By God's great mercy we have been born anew unto a living hope" (1 Peter 1:3, 23). God overcomes our rebellion and gives us a new heart—a heart that by its very nature loves to hope in God.
Then, the second "How-question" was, "How are we to hope in God if we don't know his promises?" The answer is Romans 15:4, "Whatever was written in former times was written for our instruction that by the endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." We do know the promises of God—the whole Bible—the Scripture—was written to give us hope. Take up and read!
The Value of Counsel
Neil Anderson Daily in Christ
Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory
No one person has complete knowledge, and everyone has a limited perspective on the truth. God has structured the church in such a way that we need each other. I have made some dumb decisions that would never have been made if I had consulted someone. However, some people will only consult those who agree with them. That's a sign of immaturity.
At the same time, the counsel of others does have to be weighed. There is a fascinating account in Acts 21 where the Holy Spirit seemed to be warning Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Disciples in Tyre "kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem" (21:4). Then a prophet named Agabus gave a visual demonstration by binding himself and saying, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt [Paul] and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles'" (21:11).
Everyone began begging him not to go. "Then Paul answered, '. . . I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, 'The will of the Lord be done!'" (21:13, 14).
Was the Holy Spirit guiding the disciples and Agabus? The information was mostly true, but the conclusion of the disciples wasn't. The Holy Spirit wasn't trying to prevent Paul from going; He was preparing Paul for the coming persecution. Paul was right in not wanting to take the easy way out.
The missionary Hudson Taylor went against advice, and circumstances nearly destroyed him. But he, more than anyone, opened up China to the gospel. Sometimes people can tell you the truth, but they draw selfish conclusions. Sometimes we need to ascertain our own motives as well as those of the people we seek counsel from, for our motives can be in error as well. The value of counsel is to get an unbiased opinion from a spiritually sensitive person which you can add to the recipe of ingredients God is giving to guide you.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me the patience to gather information and seek godly counsel for my decisions.
Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory
No one person has complete knowledge, and everyone has a limited perspective on the truth. God has structured the church in such a way that we need each other. I have made some dumb decisions that would never have been made if I had consulted someone. However, some people will only consult those who agree with them. That's a sign of immaturity.
At the same time, the counsel of others does have to be weighed. There is a fascinating account in Acts 21 where the Holy Spirit seemed to be warning Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Disciples in Tyre "kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem" (21:4). Then a prophet named Agabus gave a visual demonstration by binding himself and saying, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt [Paul] and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles'" (21:11).
Everyone began begging him not to go. "Then Paul answered, '. . . I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, 'The will of the Lord be done!'" (21:13, 14).
Was the Holy Spirit guiding the disciples and Agabus? The information was mostly true, but the conclusion of the disciples wasn't. The Holy Spirit wasn't trying to prevent Paul from going; He was preparing Paul for the coming persecution. Paul was right in not wanting to take the easy way out.
The missionary Hudson Taylor went against advice, and circumstances nearly destroyed him. But he, more than anyone, opened up China to the gospel. Sometimes people can tell you the truth, but they draw selfish conclusions. Sometimes we need to ascertain our own motives as well as those of the people we seek counsel from, for our motives can be in error as well. The value of counsel is to get an unbiased opinion from a spiritually sensitive person which you can add to the recipe of ingredients God is giving to guide you.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me the patience to gather information and seek godly counsel for my decisions.
He Is Our Treasure
Elisabeth Elliot Daily Devotional
Title: Nothing is Lost
Paul was a man who suffered the loss of everything, according to his own claim. Yet any loss he counted pure gain. The key to this transforming of earthly losses into heavenly gains is love. What do we love? If our hearts are set on people and possessions and position, the loss of those will indeed be irreparable. To the man or woman whose heart is set on Christ no loss on earth can be irreparable.
It may shock us for the moment. We may feel hurt, outraged, desolate, helpless. That is our humanity. But the Lord can show us the "long view," the incalculable gain in spiritual and eternal terms, if we love Him above all. Everything that belongs to us belongs also to Him. Everything that belongs to Him belongs also to us. What, then, can we finally lose? If we lose not Christ Himself, we have finally lost nothing, for He is our treasure and He has our hearts.
Title: Nothing is Lost
Paul was a man who suffered the loss of everything, according to his own claim. Yet any loss he counted pure gain. The key to this transforming of earthly losses into heavenly gains is love. What do we love? If our hearts are set on people and possessions and position, the loss of those will indeed be irreparable. To the man or woman whose heart is set on Christ no loss on earth can be irreparable.
It may shock us for the moment. We may feel hurt, outraged, desolate, helpless. That is our humanity. But the Lord can show us the "long view," the incalculable gain in spiritual and eternal terms, if we love Him above all. Everything that belongs to us belongs also to Him. Everything that belongs to Him belongs also to us. What, then, can we finally lose? If we lose not Christ Himself, we have finally lost nothing, for He is our treasure and He has our hearts.
Prayer Verse for This Week
Our prayer verse for this week is from 1 Peter 4:12-13
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Monday, August 27, 2007
He Is All We Need
Come, let us sing a song
A song declaring that we belong to Jesus
He is all we need
Lift up a heart of praise
Sing now with voices raised to Jesus
Sing to the King
(A portion of the lyrics from "Sing to the King")
A song declaring that we belong to Jesus
He is all we need
Lift up a heart of praise
Sing now with voices raised to Jesus
Sing to the King
(A portion of the lyrics from "Sing to the King")
City of God
The City of God is where people walk on gold and love others; the city of man is where people walk on others and love gold.
St. Augustine
(Seen on New City Church web site)
St. Augustine
(Seen on New City Church web site)
Sermon: What If Path Isn't Clear?
Yesterday Aaron spoke about what to do when the path isn't clear. Our "this world" response is to want the numbers and statistics and make decisions based on "the odds". God's advice to us is found in Proverbs 3:5-7 (which was also last week's prayer verse!):
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Righteous are Bold as a Lion
Neil Anderson Daily in Christ
THE DEATH OF FEAR
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion
How do you respond to fear situations in your life? The following steps will help you identify and hopefully eliminate any irrational fears.
First, analyze your fear. Most people aren't aware of what is controlling their lives. If you are struggling with anxiety attacks, determine when they first occurred. What experience preceded the first attack? People struggling with agoraphobia can usually identify one precipitating event. It is often associated with some tragedy or failure in their lives, such as a marital affair or an abortion. Satan takes advantage of victimized people if they don't seek a scriptural solution to their crisis (Psalm 38:18).
Second, determine where God's place in your life has been usurped. In what way does any fear prevent you from responsible behavior or compel you toward irresponsible behavior? You may need to confess any situations where you've allowed your actions to be controlled by fear (Psalm 28:1). We will always live less than a responsible life if we fear anything other than God.
Third, work out a plan of responsible behavior. A college student shared with me that she was living in terror of her father. They hadn't spoken to each other in six months. Obviously there was irresponsible behavior on both their parts. I suggested that she take the initiative that evening and say, "Hi, Dad!" We reasoned that there were three possible responses he could give. First, he could get mad. Second, he could respond with a greeting. Third, he could remain silent. It was the possibility of the third response that created the most fear.
We then discussed the fourth point: Determine in advance what your response will be to any fear-object. The young woman and I talked about what her response would be in each of those three cases we had mentioned. I then asked her if she would be willing to carry out our plan. She agreed to do it. I got a call that evening from a happy daughter who exclaimed, "He said 'Hi' back!"
Do the thing you fear the most, and the death of fear is certain.
Prayer:
Lord, give me the courage to meet my fears head-on and the persistence to overcome them in Your strength.
THE DEATH OF FEAR
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion
How do you respond to fear situations in your life? The following steps will help you identify and hopefully eliminate any irrational fears.
First, analyze your fear. Most people aren't aware of what is controlling their lives. If you are struggling with anxiety attacks, determine when they first occurred. What experience preceded the first attack? People struggling with agoraphobia can usually identify one precipitating event. It is often associated with some tragedy or failure in their lives, such as a marital affair or an abortion. Satan takes advantage of victimized people if they don't seek a scriptural solution to their crisis (Psalm 38:18).
Second, determine where God's place in your life has been usurped. In what way does any fear prevent you from responsible behavior or compel you toward irresponsible behavior? You may need to confess any situations where you've allowed your actions to be controlled by fear (Psalm 28:1). We will always live less than a responsible life if we fear anything other than God.
Third, work out a plan of responsible behavior. A college student shared with me that she was living in terror of her father. They hadn't spoken to each other in six months. Obviously there was irresponsible behavior on both their parts. I suggested that she take the initiative that evening and say, "Hi, Dad!" We reasoned that there were three possible responses he could give. First, he could get mad. Second, he could respond with a greeting. Third, he could remain silent. It was the possibility of the third response that created the most fear.
We then discussed the fourth point: Determine in advance what your response will be to any fear-object. The young woman and I talked about what her response would be in each of those three cases we had mentioned. I then asked her if she would be willing to carry out our plan. She agreed to do it. I got a call that evening from a happy daughter who exclaimed, "He said 'Hi' back!"
Do the thing you fear the most, and the death of fear is certain.
Prayer:
Lord, give me the courage to meet my fears head-on and the persistence to overcome them in Your strength.
The Superwoman Complex
Christian Working Woman Transcript
Monday, August 27, 2007 - The Superwoman Complex
I remember a plaque that used to be on the desk of a young woman who worked with me, which said, "Women today have to do twice as much as men and be twice as good to get half as far. Fortunately for us it isn't difficult." Well, that sounds good, but guess what–it's not true. It's very difficult to be superwoman; in fact, it's impossible.
There are various aspects to our superwoman complexes, and no overnight cure. I find it a continuing battle to keep learning and understanding that God has not called me to be superwoman. I do not have to jump through everyone else's hoops, nor be all things to all people.
Certainly God wants to use women in remarkable ways, and He is doing that all over the world today. We need more Christian women who are available to do great things for God. But we'll never do great things for God if we're victims of the superwoman complex.
Let's first think about our hectic schedules, find out where we're over-extending, and ask ourselves how by God's grace we can start to put an end to this exhausting attempt to be superwomen.
One thing that is helpful is just to take each day and each duty one at a time and not try to figure out right now how you're going to make it through the next five days with all you have to do. Believe me, this is one area I have not conquered. I tend to wake up in the morning and lie in bed thinking of the upcoming schedule, and then go into panic mode before the day even begins.
That's unproductive and wrong thinking. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow because you're going to worry about tomorrow tomorrow, so why worry about it today! Just take today–it's enough. (Matthew 6:34) I talk to myself a lot to remind myself that I will do today what I can do, I will be as productive as possible today, and I will not keep thinking about the upcoming schedule. Just take it one day, one hour at a time. I encourage you to do that, too. We waste a lot of emotional energy in thinking and worrying about all we have to do instead of just taking the job at hand, giving it our whole heart, and doing it.
So, start fighting back at that Superwoman Complex by living one day, one hour at a time. Purpose in your heart today that by God's grace, you will not borrow from tomorrow. I believe you'll start to see a difference in your schedule and your attitude when you determine to live one day at a time.
Monday, August 27, 2007 - The Superwoman Complex
I remember a plaque that used to be on the desk of a young woman who worked with me, which said, "Women today have to do twice as much as men and be twice as good to get half as far. Fortunately for us it isn't difficult." Well, that sounds good, but guess what–it's not true. It's very difficult to be superwoman; in fact, it's impossible.
There are various aspects to our superwoman complexes, and no overnight cure. I find it a continuing battle to keep learning and understanding that God has not called me to be superwoman. I do not have to jump through everyone else's hoops, nor be all things to all people.
Certainly God wants to use women in remarkable ways, and He is doing that all over the world today. We need more Christian women who are available to do great things for God. But we'll never do great things for God if we're victims of the superwoman complex.
Let's first think about our hectic schedules, find out where we're over-extending, and ask ourselves how by God's grace we can start to put an end to this exhausting attempt to be superwomen.
One thing that is helpful is just to take each day and each duty one at a time and not try to figure out right now how you're going to make it through the next five days with all you have to do. Believe me, this is one area I have not conquered. I tend to wake up in the morning and lie in bed thinking of the upcoming schedule, and then go into panic mode before the day even begins.
That's unproductive and wrong thinking. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow because you're going to worry about tomorrow tomorrow, so why worry about it today! Just take today–it's enough. (Matthew 6:34) I talk to myself a lot to remind myself that I will do today what I can do, I will be as productive as possible today, and I will not keep thinking about the upcoming schedule. Just take it one day, one hour at a time. I encourage you to do that, too. We waste a lot of emotional energy in thinking and worrying about all we have to do instead of just taking the job at hand, giving it our whole heart, and doing it.
So, start fighting back at that Superwoman Complex by living one day, one hour at a time. Purpose in your heart today that by God's grace, you will not borrow from tomorrow. I believe you'll start to see a difference in your schedule and your attitude when you determine to live one day at a time.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Power of the Word
Neil Anderson Daily in Christ
THE GENUINE PROPHET
Jeremiah 23:22 If they [the prophets] had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds
Every true prophet of God in the Old Testament was an evangelist. His ministry drew people back to God and His Word. The call to righteousness was the standard which separated the genuine prophet from the imitation, as the prophet Jeremiah wrote. If you come across someone who claims to be a prophet, but who is not involved in calling people to a righteous walk with God, you may be dealing with a counterfeit.
In the New Testament, the gift of prophecy has one primary purpose: to reveal unrighteousness and bring conviction. Paul wrote that, as a result of prophecy, "The secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you" (1 Corinthians 14:25).
The Lord revealed through Jeremiah another criterion for distinguishing a true prophet from a false prophet: "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, 'I had a dream, I had a dream!' . . . The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?" (23:25, 28). God is warning His people against prophets who value their dreams above His Word.
God is not saying that dreams are unimportant. Indeed, He often spoke to people in the Bible through dreams before the full revelation of Scripture was complete. But in comparison to the nutritious grain of His Word, dreams are mere straw. If you feed straw to cattle, they'll die. They will sleep on it, but they won't eat it because it has no nutrients. Similarly, dreams may be of some value, but they are never to be equated with God's Word as the basis for our faith or our walk.
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, for the power of Your Word, which cuts through falsehood and brings to light everything hidden in darkness.
THE GENUINE PROPHET
Jeremiah 23:22 If they [the prophets] had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds
Every true prophet of God in the Old Testament was an evangelist. His ministry drew people back to God and His Word. The call to righteousness was the standard which separated the genuine prophet from the imitation, as the prophet Jeremiah wrote. If you come across someone who claims to be a prophet, but who is not involved in calling people to a righteous walk with God, you may be dealing with a counterfeit.
In the New Testament, the gift of prophecy has one primary purpose: to reveal unrighteousness and bring conviction. Paul wrote that, as a result of prophecy, "The secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you" (1 Corinthians 14:25).
The Lord revealed through Jeremiah another criterion for distinguishing a true prophet from a false prophet: "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, 'I had a dream, I had a dream!' . . . The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?" (23:25, 28). God is warning His people against prophets who value their dreams above His Word.
God is not saying that dreams are unimportant. Indeed, He often spoke to people in the Bible through dreams before the full revelation of Scripture was complete. But in comparison to the nutritious grain of His Word, dreams are mere straw. If you feed straw to cattle, they'll die. They will sleep on it, but they won't eat it because it has no nutrients. Similarly, dreams may be of some value, but they are never to be equated with God's Word as the basis for our faith or our walk.
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, for the power of Your Word, which cuts through falsehood and brings to light everything hidden in darkness.
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