Preparation for Greater Service~Charles Stanley

Preparation for Greater Service

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READ | 1 Kings 17:17-24

In Luke 17:5, the apostles asked Christ to increase their faith. The Lord told them that if they had faith as small as a mustard seed, they could do great things. God does not enlarge our faith instantly. He begins with what little we have and proceeds to grow it.

Elijah was in a faith-building program. The Lord gave him increasingly difficult challenges of reliance and obedience. Back at the brook, the prophet had to depend on the Lord for his own survival. But at Zarephath, he trusted God to provide for both himself and a widow. And in today’s passage, he served her in an even larger way by raising her son to life.

Each act of believing God and the ensuing step of obedience resulted in increased opportunities for Elijah to serve the Lord and others. Raising the dead may seem like the height of his ministry, but it was to be followed by an even greater opportunity to influence an entire nation for God. Elijah was about to face the biggest spiritual battle of his life (1 Kings 18)—all his previous demonstrations of faith and obedience were the Lord’s way of preparing him.

God wants each of us to be influential in His kingdom. He knows which faith challenges to present so that we can be entrusted with even greater tasks.

The Lord will provide occasions for you to believe Him and respond in obedience. These situations are what we call “problems.” Begin to look at each difficulty as an opportunity designed by God specifically for the purpose of increasing your faith so He can do great things in and through you.

CHARACTER PROFILE: YOUR WORK ETHIC, PART 2~Bob Coy

CHARACTER PROFILE: YOUR WORK ETHIC, PART 2

Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life."-Genesis 3:17 (NKJV)

We may call it a lot of things-business, occupation, career, calling, vocation, livelihood, practice, or profession-but in the end, it's all the same thing . . . work. Something often happens in our hearts when the word work is mentioned, a heaviness that makes our shoulders slump.

The average person doesn't enjoy working. Many refer to the start of the work week as Monday moanin'. Why is that? How is it that the human race has come to have such resentment for something that's such an integral part of life?

The answer is given to us in the first few chapters of Genesis. God created man and gave him the responsibility to tend, serve, and care for the rest of His creation (Genesis 1:15). This was intended to give man a sense of purpose and fulfillment. However, when man sinned, it altered his environment. The world became a hostile place-tending turned into toiling; serving, into sweating; and caring for God's creation, into a curse. This is the world's outlook on work. It's a depressing drudgery, a life sentence that we must serve.

Not so for the believer in Christ! Christians still live in a fallen world that requires them to work, but because they have a connection with the Creator, their work is transformed into worship. They understand that true fulfillment and purpose come from doing God's will, and that His will is for work to serve as a platform for glorifying Him. The result? The effects of the curse are reversed, and work is once again something to enjoy.

Discuss with your group how your work can be an act of worship (Romans 12:1). Share an example of how God has used you or a situation in your workplace to bring glory to Himself. What happened?

Dig into Genesis 3:17–24. What does this passage teach us about our responsibility to work? What other Scriptures can you find that speak to our calling and commissioning to work? How can your attitude at work glorify God and bless others? Who in your workplace is watching your witness?

Decide as a group to pray for those who are in a position of authority in the workplace. Take time to lift them up to the Lord and pray that your service to them would draw them to a greater faith in Jesus Christ.

By means of promise, the Lord has made it possible for us to share in His life~Bob Hoekstra

The Most Precious Promise of Shared Life

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law…that we might receive the promise of the Spiritthrough faith. (2 Peter 1:4 and Galatians 3:13-14)

Here, we get at the heart of God's "exceedingly great and precious promises." By means of promise, the Lord has made it possible for us to share in His life: "that through these [God's promises] you may bepartakers of the divine nature."

What a remarkable prospect this is—that man could participate in the divine nature. Yet, the promises of God make this available to man. Of course, this does not mean that man becomes divine (as many false religions and some aberrant theologies espouse). God alone is, and will ever be, divine. "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me" (Isaiah 46:9). Nonetheless, man can share in the life of God, even though he will never become "a god" himself. This is accomplished by Jesus Christ coming to dwell within the lives of those who believe in Him. The Lord Jesus died for us that He might give lifeto us. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me haseverlasting life" (John 6:47). This life that Jesus wants to share with us is His own life. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life'…Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life'" (John 11:25 and 14:6).

The Apostle Paul taught this great truth extensively. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of lifewhich is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:1). He understood that his apostolic ministry was not only anchored in God's will, but it also depended upon the spiritual life that God promised. Thus, he confessed Christ as his very own life: "Christ who is our life"(Colossians 3:4). Paul was not the source of the daily Christian life that he lived. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). The Lord Jesus was Paul's life source.

This is what the promise of the Spirit is about. "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law…that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." At new birth, the Holy Spirit also comes to indwell those who believe. The Spirit reveals these truths to us through the word of God. Then the Spirit pours forth the life of Christ through every humble, dependent child of God. "It is the Spirit who gives life"(John 6:63).

Lord Jesus, thank You for making Your life available to me. What a precious promise that is! Teach me to walk according to Your Spirit, that Your life might be expressed through my life day by day, Amen.

Is your strength your weakness? (81-2)~Barry Werner

Is your strength your weakness? (81-2)

August 4th, 2009 in Character, Dependence on God, Gifts, Judges, Learn from Mistakes, Old Testament,Personal Development, Self-Discipline | leave a response

Every leader needs to “self-evaluate” leadership strengths and weaknesses on a regular basis. A single unguarded weakness can destroy everything that a leader has built. Read Judges 13:3-5, 14:2, 14:6 & 19, and chapter 16.

Samson was special. Before he was even conceived, an angel of the Lord set the stage for his life. Samson was a Nazirite, one set apart for God. God had selected Samson to lead Israel against the Philistines, and his valiant, single-handed battles with Philistine troops attested to his personal bravery and the presence of God’s blessing on his life.

But Samson’s superhuman strength wasn’t an inherited trait. It was a gift from God. “The spirit of the Lord came upon him in power.” Just as with everyone reading this material, Samson may have worked to maintain his strength but the original gift came from God.

In spite of all that Samson had going for him, he had a fatal flaw. The first words we see recorded from Samson, spoken to his parents reveal his problem: “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife” (14:2).

Samson’s parents responded with shock and disapproval. Samson refused their efforts to persuade him to reconsider his choice. This episode and several other recorded liaisons reveal Samson’s problem with lust. Samson’s weakness eventually prompted Samson to compromise his commitment to God. Without the presence of God’s spirit and power, the Philistines easily overpowered Samson. Not only Samson but Samson’s God became a laughingstock to the enemy.

Leaders can learn from Samson’s example the importance of identifying personal weaknesses. Effective godly leaders go back to the basics and focus on the truth that their personal talents and their strategic opportunities all come from the blessing of God. They take focus off self and utilize the gifts and power they have received to glorify God.

Every leader has many weaknesses but if you had to choose just one that seems most likely to damage your ability and right to lead, what would that weakness be? Write a short prayer, that you will pray all this week, asking God to reveal when you are being tempted in this area so you don’t just react, to give you the power to stand against the temptation to give in against this weakness.

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Tags: Gift, Strength, Weakness

« Are there challenges in your leadership that indicate an unteachable spirit? (81-1)

Are you losing your right to lead? (81-3)

‘Why does Christ have to be magnified?’ you ask. ~Jon Courson

	For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be life, or by death.
	Philippians 1:19-20
Christ was magnified through Paul’s difficulty. ‘Why does Christ have to be magnified?’ you ask. ‘Isn’t He big enough already?’ Think with me ... Our sun is so big that, if hollowed out, it could hold 1.3 million earths. The sun, however, is dwarfed by the star Antares, which could hold 64 suns. But Antares is a pipsqueak compared to Hercules, which could hold 110 million Antares. Yet Hercules is a speck compared to Epsilon, the largest known star, which could hold 3 million Hercules. These objects are huge, folks! Why then do they seem so small when we look at them in the night sky? Because we are so far away. Therefore we use a telescope to magnify them and bring them closer to us. People are far away from Jesus. What will make Him clear to them? Seeing Him walk with us and provide for us through the telescope of our difficulties. If this be true — if Christ is magnified in our hard times — the most logical thing for us to do in such times is to do what Paul did: rejoice.

Meditating on the Right Things~Joyce Meyer

Meditating on the Right Things

I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.
—Psalm 77:12

The psalmist David spoke frequently about meditating on God, His goodness, His works, and His ways. It is tremendously uplifting to think on the goodness of God and all the marvelous works of His hands. I enjoy watching television shows about nature, animals, ocean life, etc., because they depict the greatness, the awesomeness of God, His infinite creativity and how He is upholding all things by the might of His power (See Hebrews 1:3). Meditating on God and His ways and works will need to become a regular part of your thought life if you want to experience victory.

One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Psalm 17:15 in which the psalmist says of the Lord, "I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You]." I spent a lot of unhappy days because I started thinking about all the wrong things the minute I awoke each morning. In contrast, I've found that choosing to think about the Lord and fellowshiping with Him early in the morning is one sure way to start my day right and enjoy my life. I can truly say that I have been fully satisfied since the Holy Spirit has helped me operate out of the mind of Christ (the mind of the Spirit) that is within me.


From the book New Day, New You: 365 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.



Order your copy of New Day, New You devotional.

Proverbial Tweets from Rick Warren

1. Luther fought Indulgences sold 4 salvation.Today we oppose those selling them 4 HEALING."Send money&be healed!" Acts8:18-21about 19 hours ago from web
2. RevJ Asks how u keep the IT factor? Ans:Love!Humility!Integrity!Generosity!Authenticity!Faith!Flexible!5ETERNAL Purposes!Service!Risk!Learn!about 24 hours ago from web
3. The purpose of influence is2 speakup 4those who have no influence. Poor,sick,aged,unborn,mistreated.NOT 4 ur ego.Pr31:8-99:43 AM Aug 24th from web
4. @Rockdawg24 I love that u praise your pastor to me! And thanks for sending me his twitter address so I can follow him too. Anybody else?9:18 AM Aug 24th from web in reply to Rockdawg24
5. Manage ur ENERGY,not time.Time is fixed.Energy varies.Sleep,rest,exercise,food,confession,time w God r ur choice.Rom12:119:14 AM Aug 24th from web
6. If -tough time today:No 1service makesorbreaks a church.U dont have tohit homeruns evry wk-just consistent singles!2Tim4:26:54 PM Aug 23rd from web
7. What recharges me? Hrs Sun afternoon reading tweet reports of ur services from ch planters,pastors&missionaries.Tell me about ur church!6:14 PM Aug 23rd from web
8. Others explained God/Jesus embodied him,Others pointed to God/Jesus personified.Others instructed/Jesus incarnated.Jn14:95:36 PM Aug 23rd from web
9. Emotional letdown after teaching is part of the cost.Ur normal!Trust God,not ur emotions.Ps 42:11.U cant see all He's doing2:39 PM Aug 23rd from web
10. In 30yrs travel&training leaders-164 nations-Ive never met anyone who didnt need massive doses of love.Hosea14:4 LOVE HEALS10:09 AM Aug 23rd from web
11. Wicked people r wounded people.Job15:20.Sin in our nature&nuture causes deep pain&hurt people hurt people.StillJesuslovesus10:02 AM Aug 23rd from web
12. Dont just tell it like IT IS.It changes no one.Tell it like it CAN BE!That changes everything! Preach in FAITH! 2 Cor4:134:46 PM Aug 22nd from web
13. Guilt by association is the tactic of Pharisees.So I defend pastors maligned by it even if disagree w them.Mk 2:16, Lk7:348:33 AM Aug 22nd from web
14. Everytime u hold ur tongue when attacked or misrepresented your spiritual power grows.Humility gives u authority.Mt.27:126:27 AM Aug 22nd from web
15. When morality is determined by popularity,depravity becomes normality & the death of that culture becomes an inevitability.11:03 PM Aug 21st from web
16. Pride is the antithesis of grace."Grace humbles a man without degrading him and exalts him without inflating him." Charles Hodge6:46 PM Aug 21st from web
17. Feeling superior to other believers shows u dont really understand the Cross & Grace no matter how much you've read.Ph 2:36:42 PM Aug 21st from web
18. Identity theft is as old as Eden.Beware of comparing(2 Cor10:12) &conforming (Rom12:2)which rob your God-shaped uniqueness.11:21 PM Aug 20th from web
19. If God asks u to give something away & u can't, u don't really own it; IT OWNS U. Never let a possession possess u. Lk12:156:17 PM Aug 20th from web