Don't focus on today's groaning but on tomorrow's glory.~David McGee

Saturday, August 1st 2009

Romans 8:23

"Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
NKJV

Life Lesson

Don't focus on today's groaning but on tomorrow's glory.

In this Christianity thing, what do you bring to the table? There are really only two possibilities - either you are bringing heaven to earth, or you are not. It's so easy to get caught up in today's trials that we forget our Lord is triumphant. When your focus is on the world, you will be entangled in adversity. Focus on Jesus and the tribulations of this earth are ephemeral.

Have you ever spoken with someone who is fixated on trouble? They bear a brand of defeat. Only the conquered should wear this badge of defeat. Christians are anything but conquered. Now, imagine some gentleman - not a believer - observing a Christian enamored with this world. Would he see hope? Would this fellow be inclined to follow?

Romans 8:24-25 "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." NKJV

So, what do you bring to the table? What do you set before others for them to see? Is it heaven or hell? Your faith is their evidence. If non-believers see you living out the substance of your faith they will know that your God is greater than this world's woes.

If you are sitting at the station of this world waiting for your go on the gravy train, you are sitting at the wrong station. That train, while tempting on the outside, has a disappointing destination. Christian, if the substance of your hope is worldly success and not Jesus, then you need to review your faith because others already are.

Dear Father,
Thank You for the hope You have freely given to me through Your Son Jesus. Lord, help my doubt when I cannot see. As I eagerly wait in expectation of Your coming, strengthen me to persevere in the calling You have laid before me. I know that all things work together for good to those who love You Lord. I commit my life to your purposes today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
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Land Squarely In the Boat~Mark Balmer

Land Squarely In the Boat

Posted:

Based on “iServe” by Pastor Dean Corns; 7/25-26/09,

Message #DF141;

Daily Devotional #5 -

“Land Squarely In the Boat”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (Romans 12: 9-11)

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): What beautiful instructions our loving God provides to us in His Word. Our Lord wisely tells us to never lack zeal. Zeal can be defined as an eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something. He also speaks of maintaining our spiritual fervor. Fervor can be defined as an intensity of feeling or expression; a passion. That is exactly how He wants us to live life, with one addition. The most vital aspect of those three verses is contained in the last three words: serving the Lord. Yes, we can have tremendous passion and eagerness in our daily lives. A lawn service owner can strive to be the best in his field. He can focus on being dependable, reliable, friendly, and wise with his money, each and every day. A mother can wake up every day focused on providing her children with a solid education and edifying extracurricular activities and on teaching respect and manners. Yet, if a focus on our Lord and Savior is not at the center of that tremendous amount of zeal and fervor, it is essentially worthless and unfortunately wasted. As Christ followers, we are called to stay focused on Jesus. …If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11) If the Lord is not at the center of what we do, we have basically missed the boat and instead have jumped into a sea of water. This sea may appear to be calm, relaxing, and fulfilling, but in actuality, nothing can be further from the truth. We must aim for and land squarely in the Lord’s boat.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): So how exactly can we apply this to our daily lives? How does all of this work in the real world? First and foremost, be faithful in your daily quiet time, alone with God. Read His Word. Speak to Him and then listen. Ask for His strength. Second, be mindful to keep your eyes focused on glorifying the Lord in all that you do (Colossians 3:17). That is not something that comes from your head, but from your heart. And if that desire is not in your heart, be honest with God, because He already knows, and He wants to help you. He wants to live in your heart. So ask Him into your heart so you may begin a wonderful life, focused on serving Him. Such a life brings true fulfillment. And most importantly, such a life brings honor and glory to our almighty God. That, my friends, is what life is really all about.

Cultivating (Additional Reading): 1 Corinthians 12

More on God's Promises and God's Law~Bob Hoekstra

More on God's Promises and God's Law

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions…Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that thepromise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those whobelieve. (Galatians 3:19, 21-22)

In our previous meditation, we saw that God implements His plan of salvation by making and fulfilling promises. His plan is not contingent upon man's ability to perform acceptably before His holy law. To put it another way, the law of God (given hundreds of years after the promises to Abraham) does not replace those promises.

This raises a very important question: "What purpose then does thelaw serve?" If God's law did not cancel or rearrange His promises to Abraham, then why was it added? "It was added because oftransgressions." God wanted people to know that they had a major problem: sin. Man's sin needed to be clearly defined. "For by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). The extent of sin would never be fully known apart from the law. "I would not have known sin except through the law" (Romans 7:7). Also, God wanted everyone in this world to know that they were accountable to Him for their transgressions. Thus, the law convicts the sinfulness of man, that "all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19).

This raises another important question. "Is the law then against thepromises of God?" The law does not replace God's promises, but does it work against His promises? "Certainly not!" The law of God and thepromises of God simply have different purposes (just as it is with law and grace). The law of God reveals the holiness that is inherent to the very character of God. At the same time, it describes the holy life that God wants His people to live. "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). The promises of God become the means by which man deals with his unholiness and accesses God's holiness. This is what true spiritual life is about: forgiveness of sinand a life of righteousness in Christ. This cannot come by law performance. "For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law." Rather, the promise of life is entered into only by faith. "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."

O Holy Lord, I confess that in my own natural resources there is no innate holiness. I can find forgiveness of sin and true righteousness from You alone. Help me to understand the difference between Your law which convicts and Your promises which bring life, through Christ my Lord, Amen.

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . faithfulness.~Daily Light

August 1
MORNING

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . faithfulness.

By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.--Without faith it is impossible to please him.--"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."--"I believe; help my unbelief!"

Whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him.--Faith working through love.--Faith apart from works is useless.--We walk by faith, not by sight.--I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.--Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:8; Heb. 11:6; John 3:18; Mark 9:24; 1 John 2:5; Gal. 5:6; Jas. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 2:20; 1 Pet. 1:8, 9

EVENING

The Lord is compassionate and merciful.

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.--The Lord is gracious and merciful. . . . He remembers his covenant forever.

He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.--Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him, no foreign god was with him.

His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.--[Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.--Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

"Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. . . . Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. . . . Fear not, therefore."

James 5:11; Ps. 103:13; Ps. 111:4, 5; Ps. 121:3, 4; Deut. 32:11, 12; Lam. 3:22, 23; Matt. 14:14; Heb. 13:8; Matt. 10:30, 29, 31

Leadership: Are you a servant leader? (77-5)~Barry Werner

Are you a servant leader? (77-5)

July 10th, 2009 in Leadership Principles, Matthew, New Testament, Personal Development, Servant Leadership| leave a response

Throughout the book of Judges, during the 200 years when Israel was without a central leader, God raised up a leader during their most intense moments of need. During the next days as we study the leadership traits of these leaders (Judges), there is one trait that each of them had in common. God always uses individuals who are servant leaders. Read Matthew 20:25-28.

A leader must never forget that God calls them to serve. If it is true that “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” then every leader should see themselves as a servant leader.

The Old Testament uses several terms that we translate as servant. An effective leader can learn plenty from these descriptions of a servant:

• Ebed: a love-slave or servant. This term describes someone who is at the complete disposal of another. Likewise, leaders must be at the disposal of the Lord and their people.
• Abad: one who gives up personal rights in order to work in the fields or tabernacle. In a similar way, leaders must sacrifice their rights and stay surrendered to the cause.
• Sakyir: a hired servant who works for pay, by day or by year. A leader must avoid the attitude of a “paid professional.” Right after a verse that tells of a hired shepherd running away when he saw a wolf coming, Jesus said in John 10:14-15, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – I lay down my life for the sheep.” Never fall into the trap of being a paid professional leader that forgets their role as a servant.
• Sharath: someone who will perform menial tasks to accomplish an overall goal. If Jesus could wash the feet of His disciples to get a point across, surely we don’t want to miss the point in our leadership. Leaders must do whatever it takes to serve the mission.

Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Simple, Believing Prayer~Joyce Meyer

Simple, Believing Prayer

August 1

And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.
—Matthew 6:7

We must develop confidence in simple, believing prayer. We need the confidence that even if we simply say, "God, help me," He hears and will answer. We can depend on God to be faithful to do what we have asked Him to do, as long as our request is in accordance with His will. Too often we get caught up in our own works concerning prayer.

Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that prayer is simply conversation with God. The length or volume or eloquence of our prayer is not the issue; it is the sincerity of our heart and the confidence we have that God hears and will answer us that is important. Sometimes we try to sound so devout and elegant that we get lost. If we could ever get delivered from trying to impress God, we would be a lot better off.

First Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Be unceasing in prayer [praying persever-ingly]" or as the King James Version puts it, "Pray without ceasing." If we don't understand simple, believing prayer, that instruction can come down upon us like a very heavy burden. We may feel that we are doing well to pray thirty minutes a day, so how can we possibly pray without ever stopping? We need to have such confidence about our prayer life that prayer becomes just like breathing, an effortless thing that we do every moment we are alive.

We don't work and struggle at breathing, unless we have a lung disorder, and neither should we work and struggle at praying. I don't believe we will struggle in this area if we really understand the power of simple, believing prayer. We should remember that prayer is made powerful by the sincerity of it and the faith behind it.

God's Will, God's Way~Greg Laurie

Many great men of God stand out to us as we read the Bible.

There was Moses, the great lawgiver who received the Ten Commandments from God on Mt. Sinai. There was Joshua, the powerful military leader who led the Israelites into the Promised Land. There was David, who was the greatest king Israel had ever known. Elijah was one of the great prophets. Peter and Paul were mightily used of God.

Yet all of these looked to Abraham as a man of faith.

So what lessons can we learn from this man who was called God's friend? When we are first introduced to Abraham, God has told him, "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1 NKJV).

Abraham was raised in a pagan culture that believed in many gods. God knew that for Abraham to stay in his country with his family would be detrimental to his spiritual growth. In fact, his family and friends would not help, but hinder, him.

Jesus said to the man who wanted to delay following Him because of his family, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62 NKJV). In the same way, God was essentially saying to Abraham, "You have to make a clean break. You have to leave now if you are going to move forward spiritually."

The timing of Abraham's call by God was significant. It occurred shortly after the destruction of Babylon and the dispersion of the nations. Humanity had done its best, and God brought its plans for the future to nothing.

Yet God's plan for Abraham was, "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2 NKJV).

The Lord's commands are rarely accompanied by reasons, but they are always accompanied by promises.

There are times when God will speak to you and tell you to do or not do something, and it may not make complete sense at the moment. When the Lord initially told Noah to build the ark, it didn't make sense at the time. But it made perfect sense later.

And when the Lord told Abraham to leave his family and country, it didn't make sense at the moment. But he would later understand the plan and purpose of God.

The Lord was essentially asking Abraham to trade in one thing, and He would give him something else in its place. But God's trade-in deals are not the same as what we would expect from our local car dealer.

It would be like approaching a Ferrari dealer, wanting to trade in your Pinto with 200,000 miles on it. As you're admiring the red convertible, the dealer says, "Take it—straight trade." That is a good deal.

God was saying, "Abraham, you leave these things for Me, and I will give these things to you. It is a straight trade, but you must keep up your end of the deal."

Yet many times we don't want to do that. God tells us to turn our back on sin and to turn away from people who could drag us down spiritually. If we do, He will bless us.

Unfortunately, this is not what Abraham did. He sort of obeyed, but not completely. God told Him to leave his country, separate himself from his relatives, and go to a land that God would show him. Abraham did leave his country, but he did not separate himself from his family. Nor did he go where God told him to go.

We read that he took his father Terah and his nephew Lot. The name Terah means "delay" and it was a delay for Abraham. Bringing Terah along resulted in a delay of at least five years in a place called Haran, which means "parched."

Until Abraham obeyed God in what he previously had been told, we read of no further command from God.

Has God told you to do something? Have you been dragging your feet? Have you been partially obeying?

Partial obedience is actually disobedience. God is a stickler for details, and if He tells you to do something, then you need to do all of it—not just what you personally agree with or are comfortable with.

We need to do God's will in God's way and in God's time.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ~Jon Courson

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
	Ephesians 1:3
‘We’re blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places,’ Paul writes jubilantly from his prison cell, ‘and they’re all in Christ’ — not from Christ, but in Christ. The blessings we crave are not promises we pray for, but a Person we walk with. ‘Oh, Lord,’ we say, ‘I need some bread.’ ‘I am the Bread,’ Jesus answers (John 6:35) ‘Show me the way,’ we cry. ‘I am the Way,’ Jesus declares (John 14:6). ‘Tell me the truth,’ we pray. ‘I am the Truth,’ Jesus proclaims (John 14:6). We think we need help in this area or deliverance from that thing. We think we need satisfaction in a profession or blessing in a relationship, little knowing that our heart’s desire will only be truly fulfilled in Jesus. How do I know? Because II Corinthians 1 ends by saying, ‘Yea, all the promises of God are in Him yea and amen.’ All the promises of God are fulfilled in Him, in Jesus. Two nights ago, with Tammy away at a pastors’ wives conference and the kids tucked in, I grabbed my Bible and had the best time reading Isaiah 54 as I walked the streets of Jacksonville. God spoke to me through each phrase as I stopped under the streetlights to read another verse and marvel how it related to me. I returned home awed at how the Lord walked with me in the evening hour. Do I tell you this to impress you? No. I say it because you can find the same thing tonight. Turn off the TV. Put down the Time magazine. Grab your Bible, go for a walk, and I promise you God will meet you.

2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21 ~ Romans 15:1-22 ~ Psalm 25:1-15 ~ Proverbs 20:13-15

2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21 ~ Romans 15:1-22 ~ Psalm 25:1-15 ~ Proverbs 20:13-15
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - We have great readings today in Second Chronicles chapter 30 about King Hezekiah inviting all of Israel and Judah to celebrate the Passover of the Lord! Yeah, sure, they ended up celebrating it a month later than normal because not enough priests had been purified, nor enough folks gathered in Jerusalem at the original time. But, in light of the Passover not being widely celebrated in many years, this was huge. I love Hezekiah's letter that he wrote - and verse 9 in particular: "For if you return to the LORD, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you." Think these words of Hezekiah's could apply to us in our lives today as well? Do you need to return to the Lord in any area of your life? Is there a sin that you are still indulging in that is hampering your relationship with God? Will you confess and repent of that sin? Will you return to the Lord? For the Lord your God is indeed gracious and merciful...

New Testament - Romans 15 verses 2 and 3 definitely give us much to think about: "We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn't please himself." That's a bit of a counter-intuitive statement compared to what our culture preaches. We should please others? I think our culture would say instead, "We should please ourselves! It's all about you! You are #1!" and so on. This is the beauty of the Gospel. It is counter-cultural in so many beautiful ways. It's the great revolution. It turns the world upside down. The last shall be first. Blessed are the peacemakers. Rejoice when you are persecuted. We should please others. So, are you living your life to please others? Are you doing what helps them? Are you building them up in the Lord?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Romans titled "Pleasing Others and Praising God" is at this link. Below is a great image for Romans 15:5 -

Psalms - Psalm 25 has some amazing verses today! I think I could write some reflections and questions on each of the verses today... Maybe a good thing for each of us to do is to re-read this Psalm today and really reflect on what the verses are saying to our hearts. David wrote this Psalm as a prayer for God's mercies when he was suffering affliction for his sins and when enemies were seizing this occasion to attack him. It's a very penitential Psalm. One that we might need to pray to God from time to time as David did. I do like verse 5 a lot and I believe it will speak to each of you going through the One Year Bible this year - "Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you." Do you believe that reading God's Word each day is allowing you to be led by God's truth? Are you being taught each day? Then - that last sentence in verse 5 is amazing. I cannot honestly say that all day long I put my hope in God. I pray that I do... but I think sometimes I drift away from putting my hope in God and I put my hope in myself - or maybe even sometimes I lose hope! I get discouraged about a situation. I get stressed. I worry. If we put our hope all day long in God, do you think we would get discouraged, stressed, or worried? I don't think we would...

Psalm 25 verse 15 really stood out to me today - "My eyes are always looking to the LORD for help, for he alone can rescue me from the traps of my enemies." I have come to realize more and more lately that the Enemy is indeed constantly setting traps for us. I don't mean to scare anyone here - but I think this is something very important for us to realize. It has been said that the greatest trick the Devil can play on us is to make us think that he does not exist. If we don't think the Devil exists, then we logically won't think that he's setting any traps for us. Let me assure you - this is clearly Biblical - the Devil exists. Evil exists in this world. Temptation exists. And evil does not rest. However - the good news - God is so much bigger and stronger and brighter (and this list can go on) than the Devil - the Enemy. David says in this Psalm that his eyes are ALWAYS looking to the Lord for help. Why? Because God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit alone can rescue us from the traps of the Enemy. Again, the traps are out there for us in this modern world. The temptations and dark alleys and wrong turns call to us unceasingly. But - again, great news here - we can be saved from all of that nonsense; all of that darkness; indeed all of that death, through a relationship with Jesus. Jesus saves. Jesus saves us from ourselves. From our sin. And from the Enemy that sets traps for us. Like David in this Psalm, are your eyes always looking to the Lord for help? Please don't ever take your eyes off God and His mercies, power, and strength.

Proverbs - Proverbs 20 verse 15 is so true for our modern world: "Wise speech is rarer and more valuable than gold and rubies." I hope I don't come off sounding too critical or judgmental here, but I seem to notice that people today talk more and more about "nothing." I mean, I guess it just seems to me that so many of us - myself included - major in minor things. Meaning, we will know every single statistic about our local sports team and talk about these stats all the time. Which then makes me wonder - do we invest as much time into know God's Word, knowing God's Will, as we do in knowing stats? Or knowing gossip on celebrities? Or knowing what's going on with the latest TV reality show? I guess this Proverb today just rings so true for me - Wise speech is rarer and more valuable than gold and rubies. It is rare. And it is valuable. What type of words are coming out of your mouth these days? Is it wise speech? Or is it perhaps on occasion a whole lot of nothing? Let us invest our words thoughtfully each day in wise speech. Let us share with others that which is more valuable than gold and rubies.

YouTube: Psalm 25 reminded me of MercyMe's "Word of God Speak", which is overlayed with great images and Scripture verses in this video:

Do you know the Word of God? Click here to meet the Word made Flesh!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

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