They went after things that did not profit ~ Kay Arthur

THURSDAY (9/17/09)

OPEN

I think that one of the saddest verses in the book of Jeremiah is when God says, “„…My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.‟” (Jeremiah 2:11) In our last program we talked about emptiness and feeling empty. That‟s what‟s going to take the life out of life is exchanging the glory of God, the true estimate for who He is, for that which does not profit. Oh, how we need the message of Jeremiah!

PART ONE

God says it twice in Jeremiah chapter 2. They went after things that did not profit, they did not profit. (See Jeremiah 2:8 & 11) You look at America. Where is America? America is going after things that do not profit. America is in trouble. America is suffering. Our society, our relationships with God, and with man, and with our family, and others is rapidly decaying.

It‟s all about moi. It‟s all about me.

We have a society that is so self-centered thatit‟s about the way I look. It‟s about the way my body is constructed. It‟s about my job. It‟s about my glory. We have exchanged the glory of God, the true estimate of God and who He is, for that which does not profit. And the question has to be why? Where did it start? How did it happen?

Well let‟s go to Jeremiah chapter 2.

In Jeremiah chapter 2, and I only covered the first two lines of that verse, but Jeremiah chapter 2, verse 8 says this, “„[The people did not say where is the Lord, uh] the priests did not say, “Where is the LORD…?”‟” (Jeremiah 2:8)

So they don‟t even know where God‟s gone, and they don‟t even care.

They don‟t even miss Him. They don‟t miss Him, and yet there‟s an emptiness in the heart. [They went after emptiness and they found themselves empty.] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 2:5) So it says, “„The priests did not say, “Where is the LORD?” …those who handle the law did not know Me….‟” (Jeremiah 2:8)

 These are the scribes that are making sure that the Bible is translated. That the Torah and that is translated accurately. And they did not know God. It says, “„…The rulers also transgressed against Me….‟” (Jeremiah 2:8) Now the rulers are the shepherds. Now just think shepherd. Think shepherd. Think crook. OK, so the shepherd has the crook, so the sheep are going that way. So the shepherd comes along and gets the sheep by the neck, and brings the sheep to where they‟re supposed to be, and brings the sheep back. But the shepherds don‟t even care.

Now it‟s translated “rulers,” and this is very important especially for the United States of America.

The word “rulers” is really the word “shepherd.”

But they translated it ruler because they want you to understand that when God was talking about shepherds He was talking about rulers, those that watched over the people, those that ruled over the people. And He‟s saying here that the rulers transgressed against Me. You look at our leadership.

 I mean, do you realize, when Governor Palin was running for the vice presidency for the United States of America on the McCain ticket, they were trying to keep her away from the religious right because they didn‟t want to portray her as someone that was, you know, so caring about God, so in love with God, so uh concerned about the Word of God. And they were always nipping at this.

Why? Because they didn‟t want a ruler that loved God, they didn‟t want a ruler that was going to stand for the Word of God.

And this is what we‟re saying, don‟t bring Christianity into politics. Don‟t bring it into government. Well I want you to know, if you don‟t, you can expect the same thing that they got in the days of Jeremiah. It says, “„…the prophets prophesied by Baal….‟” (Jeremiah 2:8)

 It wasn‟t God‟s Word. It was what Baal, this false god, this idol. Remember we‟re marking “idols,” so put a big “I” over it. And it says, “„…And [they] walked after things which did not profit.‟” (Jeremiah 2:8) Now listen to me very, very carefully.

There are people on Christian television, there are people on Christian radio, there are people that are on secular stations and they‟re teaching the Word of God, and there can be tens of thousands there. And they can say that they hold to the Word of God, but the Word of God is not being opened.

The Word of God is not being explained. The Word of God is an entrée to teach them how to be great citizens, how to be happy, how to know their potential, or how to get money from God, how to be prosperous, how to have the things that they want.

 And consequently the people are going after things that do not profit.

What is Jeremiah going to do? Jeremiah is going to point out to them their sin. Because it is their sin that is keeping them from God, it is their sin that is causing them to follow things that do not profit. It is their sin that is bringing emptiness.

 God says, “„Therefore I will…contend with you,‟ declares the LORD, „and with your sons‟ sons I will contend.‟” (Jeremiah 2:9) I‟m going to contend with you. I‟m going to contend with your children. I‟m going to contend with your grandchildren. Those precious grandchildren, if they are precious to you, are going to suffer because of you. He says, “„For cross to the [shores the] coastlands of Kittim and see, and send to Kedar and observe closely….‟”

Go into these foreign lands that don‟t know God “„…and see if there has been [any] such…thing as this!

Has a nation changed gods when they were not gods?‟” (Jeremiah 2:10-11)

These people that are worshiping these false gods have they exchanged one false god for another false god? Oh no, they may add them, but they don‟t get rid of them! Those are heathens. That‟s the way they treat their gods, which are no gods.

But what have My people done?

Listen to what He says. He says, “„…But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.‟” (Jeremiah 2:11) There it is again. They‟ve changed their glory. Now who is their glory?

Well Psalm 106, verse 19 and 20 talks about when they made a golden calf.

Aaron made a golden calf when they got tired of waiting for Moses when he was up on the mountain, and God was giving him the statutes and the commandments. And they made a golden calf. And Aaron says this is your god that brought you out of Egypt.

Blah, makes you want to vomit!

They changed their glory for a cow, an ox! They went from the real living God to this statue of gold that they made out of their earrings, out of their jewelries. (See Psalms 106:19-20)

 He says, “„Be appalled, O heavens, at this, and…,‟” he says, “„…shudder, be very desolate,‟ [says] the LORD.” (Jeremiah 2:12) You know why? “„For My people have committed two evils….‟” (Jeremiah 2:12-13) What are those two evils? One, “„…they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters….‟” (Jeremiah 2:13)

Here I am. I‟m the One that says to you, “Are you thirsty? Are you thirsty? Come to Me! Come to Me and drink.” Jesus said, “He that [believes in] me…out of his belly…,” John 7, “…shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38, KJV) [And this He spoke concerning the Spirit which was to be given.] (PARAPHRASE, John 7:39)

The whole Bible ends in Revelation where He‟s saying, [“Ho everyone that thirsts come to Me to the fountain! Come to Me to the waters of salvation! Drink freely! Drink without cost! You can come, I‟m not going to hold any of you back!”] (PARAPHRASE, Revelation 22:17) So He says, [“Here I am. I‟m the fountain of living waters, living waters.” And He says, “You have forsaken Me. You have turned your back on Me.” That‟s what you‟ve done.

 What‟s the other evil?

Well, you dug out cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water!”] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 2:13) In other words, here I am. I am free. I am available. I satisfy. And you turn around, and you walk after emptiness.

You take out a cistern, the works of your own hands.

You expect to drink there. You expect to be satisfied. And you‟re not satisfied. Those are the two evils that His people have committed.

Now I want to ask you a question. Are you committing the same evil? Is there a thirst within you? Do you remember John chapter 4? Do you remember the Samaritan woman at the well? Do you remember how she went at noon? That‟s not when women usually went, but she was a woman that was tainted because she had had all these husbands and now she was living with a man that was not her husband. She goes to the well. There she meets Jesus.

And Jesus said, [“You know, if you knew who you were talking to, you would ask and I would give you living water. And you would never thirst again!”] (PARAPHRASE, John 4:10 & 14) I promise you that if you drink of that living water and you stay by that well of water, the life spring of water, you won‟t thirst. And you won‟t go after emptiness. You won‟t feel empty. You won‟t be exchanging the glory of an incorruptible God for an image that you made with your own hands.

Oh Beloved, Beloved stop! Stop! Think! Evaluate your life! Are you running here, or running there trying to get satisfied, trying to have this, trying to have that. You‟re worn out. You‟re exhausted. You fall down and you think, “I cannot do it!” You know what? You‟re running away from the fountain of living water.

Oh Precious One, Precious One, God is saying, “Come back. Come back. I‟m the One that satisfies your thirst.” No, life‟s not gonna be easy. It wasn‟t easy for Jeremiah, but there‟s that deep satisfaction that you know that you know that God is God, and you love Him and fear Him above all else. We‟ll talk about it more in just a minute. But I want you to hear this announcement because I want you to grow. I want you to drink deeply of that river of living water.


Have you thought about it, Beloved? Dependence on anything else but God will not satisfy.

Eventually that broken cistern that you dig with your own hands will go and there won‟t be anything in there to satisfy you. And not only that, water is essential to life.

Beloved, do you realize where America is? Do you realize where America is? I cut this out and put it in my Bible.

Now it is an analysis from the year 2003 to the year 2008. USA Today published this on December the 30th in the year 2008. So I put in front of my Bible because what I wanted us to see is what is happening in America, because it‟s happening all over. And this is what they did.

Compared with five years ago, they asked what percentage of Americans believe in God.

And it dropped 10% from 90% to 80%.

When they asked what percentage believe in heaven it when from 82% to 73%.
That‟s down nine points.

When they ask about the devil it went the same proportion from 68 to 59 %.

When they ask about hell it went from 69% to 62%.

Now what do you see? You see a decline, a decline in every single area in a short five years. We‟re going farther and farther away from God. And yet up until God just shook the things that could be shaken and just rattled the economy, I mean we were the nation that everybody wanted to live in. We were the United States of America, on our own continent. But we‟re falling apart.

And we‟re falling apart because we‟ve left the faith of our forefathers. Not all of them believed in Jesus Christ. Not all of them believed in the Word of God. But I will tell you, in our nation at that time, when this nation was founded, there was a fear of God. There was a respect of God. There was a godly dread of God.

But what do you see happening in Jeremiah?

You see them turning away from God. And you see the same thing happening in our nation. God says this. “„Is Israel a slave? [Is Israel] a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey?‟” (Jeremiah 2:14) See are we just slaves? Are we just servants? No! We‟re supposed to be children of God! If we‟re children of God, then why have we become a prey? You understand, don‟t you, that God uses nations to judge other nations.

This is what He‟s going to do with Israel.

He‟s been telling them and telling them and telling them. They have not listened. They‟ve stopped up their ears. [They‟ve preferred false prophets, who prophecy, as we saw, by Baal, who prophecy falsely, who take people after things that do not profit.] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 2:8) We prefer people that tickle our ears.

We don‟t mind Christianity, as long as it doesn‟t get narrow, as long as God is not a righteous God, as long as He‟s not going to hold us accountable, as long as He‟s not going to judge us, as long as He‟s there to be our little servant, then we‟re fine.

 And God says, “Hey, that won‟t be.” And then He‟s talking about Israel. He says, “„The young lions have roared at him…,‟” the other nations, the young nations, “„…they have roared loudly…they have made his land a waste….‟” (Jeremiah 2:15)

God‟s land, Israel is God‟s land. He has given it to Israel; not to the Palestinians.

You say, “That‟s not fair. You‟re being biased.” No I‟m not. I‟m being biblical. I have a biblical worldview. “„…His cities have been destroyed, [and] without inhabitant.‟” This is Israel. “„Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.‟” That‟s Egypt. He says, “„Have you not done this to yourself…?‟” (Jeremiah 2:15-17)

Aren‟t you the one that just sat there and said, “Okay nation, shave me bald. Bring shame upon me.”

See this is what‟s happening in the United States of America. Other nations are shaming us. I mean you have gangs coming into this country. You have all sorts of crime. You have a highway from Mexico to Canada that anybody can travel. I mean, we‟re in trouble. And so He says, “„Have you not done this to yourself…?‟” (Jeremiah 2:17) This is no accident that these things are happening. Why have they happened? He says, “„…By forsaking the LORD your God….‟” (Jeremiah 2:17) He says remember, “„…My people have committed two evils….‟” You need to memorize verse 13. “„…They have forsaken Me…,‟” number one “„…the fountain of living waters….‟” (Jeremiah 2:13) And He defines that. And He says you‟ve done this, in verse 17“„…by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way.‟” (Jeremiah 2:17)

He said, “This is the way and you forsook Him. You just went the wrong way.” He says, “But now what are you doing [what are you doing down] on the road to Egypt… [What are you doing going and getting water out] of the Nile?...What are you doing on the road…,” He says, “…to Assyria….” (Jeremiah 2:18)

Assyria‟s to the north. Why are you going to the north? He says, [“Why are you drinking waters out of the Euphrates?”] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 2:18)

He says: listen, think about it! Think about it! Who is He? He‟s the fountain of living waters. If you would stick with God you would be satisfied. But now here you‟re trotting down south. And you‟re going down south, and you‟re going down to Egypt. And you‟re getting down to Egypt to do what? To scoop out water out of that filthy Nile, or if you‟re not satisfied, then you‟re going where? You‟re going north to Assyria, and you‟re getting water out of the Euphrates. I‟m here. I‟m here. I satisfy. And so then He goes on to say, “„Your own wickedness will correct you….‟” (Jeremiah 2:19)

Now remember what He said? He said in chapter 1, in verse 16, “„I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me [they‟ve chosen idols] and [they worship] the works of their…hands.‟” (Jeremiah 1:16) So He says, “„Your own wickedness will correct you…your apostasies will reprove you….‟” (Jeremiah 2:19)

 Now, He says, “You‟re just bringing your own judgment. It‟s your own wickedness that‟s gonna correct you. You‟re gonna find yourself with all these problems.” And He talks about the diseases of Egypt. You‟re gonna find yourself suffering all these things because you wanted it your way.

Look at all the venereal diseases. Look at AIDS. Look at all these things. Where did it start? It started in breaking God‟s commandments. And see, we could stop it if we‟d go back to purity. But we won‟t do it! We want our own way. He says, “„…Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God.‟” (Jeremiah 2:19)

 Know this, it is evil. And not only is it evil, it is bitter for you to forsake your God. And you know what? He says, “„…the dread of Me [the fear of Me, the respect of Me] is not in you,‟ declares the Lord…of hosts.‟” (Jeremiah 2:19)

My question to you, Precious One, is do you really fear God?

Do you really have a respect of God, a trust of God that causes you to reign in your emotions, to reign in your desires and to live righteously?
 Or do you just walk off and forsake Him?
If you walk off, you‟re going after emptiness.

Leastmost: "The least likley to be true" ~ Michael James Stone

-Excerpt from "Utmost with the Leastmost"

 "The Least Likely to be True"

Do you have one of those friends who tell you the most impossible stories to be true? You know the ones, they are a little "odd" or "carried away". It seems like every little thing that happens, they see a "sign" or a "wonder".

The only wonder you get when you listen to them is; What were they smoking?     Only they don't smoke.

Sometimes our experiences with God are like that. We have some weird, wonderful, or wacky thing happen to us, then we just have to go and talk about it.

Ok, admit it. Maybe a little "bragging" about it goes on......., maybe a little exaggeration......., some stretching of the facts......, pretty soon you have a Whopper that started off as a Big Mac.

By the time you are done telling it, it's a whale of a tale thats true but a whale of a tale that's truth?

Often people read the bible and say....Wellll, of course that can't be true. It's an exaggeration. The person got carried away and added to the story.  Nobody knows the facts. There are so many bibles. The "Church" edited, added, deleted, interpreted and argues about parts of it.

You Don't believe it do you?

You know;

Like who can believe Jonah got swallowed by a Whale?
How do you know there was a flood? What about Mount Everest?
NO WAY Mary was Virgin.
How do you know there is a God?

The list goes on doesn't it?

Even worse is when people take stories from the bible and say things like:

It really wasn't a miracle. They walked on a lake bed, salt flats, sudden wind storm.
NO WAY you get all those animals on a boat, it's a legend.
Jesus didn't rise from the dead, His disciples smuggled out his body and made up the story.

You know, they have a point, in a way.

When we take a story and embellish it;  like a testimony of what God has done. We may feel very passionate about it and relish in the good old days too much, or make that sin bigger than it was. Perhaps add some juicy nugget that isn't quite the truth, but it isn't really a fact either. We mean well, but if someone else was there, would they see it the same way?

When we exaggerate......... it makes it hard for a person to believe in the Truth.

We all like campfire stories in the woods. When you want to tell a scary tale and you make it sound worse than it is so the imagination of the person listening really gets them to make the story spookier. Then if the circumstances are right, a screech owl lets loose and everyone runs off scared.

God doesn't exaggerate. He doesn't have to.
God doesn't lie. He's not a man that he should.
God is .........well..........., God,and that means what he says goes.

He says what he means, and means what he says.

His Yes is yes and His No is No and he doesn't exaggerate.
He doesn't have to. What He does Himself is pretty incredible.

And I know what you are thinking. Ok, here it comes, God made the Universe and God made you and me, and that is Incredible. Right?

Well, yes it is. And he did do all those things, but I wasn't around for that. But I can tell you I was one of those people, (and in some ways still am), who when you tell me some "weird, wonderful and wacky" story, I think you are exaggerating.

I know people do. So when you tell me something, I probably will smile and wait awhile to check it out later before I go for the gusto and say AMEN or WOO HOO. I mean, people do exaggerate about God.

So for me and now for you, I am going to tell you "The least likely to be true", (laughing) because only God could do this to me and make me as the last person to be telling this personal experience.

I had been attending Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa about 35 years ago and working at a 7-11 not far away. I lived with three Christian Roomates. I went to CC everyday because when it wasn't for a bible study, there were always volunteer opportunities to do things and most of the time I worked at the Tape Lending Library there.

My world was full of Jesus and gifts of the Spirit and you name it. (because of Romaine's study) I figured God and I could do it, so I would try it. I was radical and very very.......lonely.

All my friends were becoming big names, with big dreams and big ministries.  Sometimes I worked beside them helping as I could. They often moved on, I was left behind where God seemingly left me. Two years approx and finally one day I was frustrated:

I left a service mad at God and frankly walking very fast and very determined. I kept venting on the sidewalk:

God everyone has a place. Everyone has a ministry. You made me, Why? You gave me all this study time, What for? Why are you doing all this with everyone else and you leave me alone? OH sure I get blessed, OH sure I have the High and Low times and Yes I know what you might say, Wait, but God, I am tired of this. 

Everywhere I go and everyone I meet is Saved. Lets go home to heaven if this is all there is. I've had it, What about me?  I've denied myself, I am alone. I have given up everything. All this is too good to be true and too much to be real, yes, but so what if you love me....you have to...you're God.

I don't have to exaggerate "my feelings" I am that real, and that passionate. But as most of you know, God just listened till I got to the 7-11.


At the store where I was Asst. Manager, I had been venting the last few weeks on a co-worker gal friend, sister-in the Lord. So, Yep, I gave her what I had been telling God and I know she had heard before. She listened glad for the distraction because most often she sat reading  a magazine, her work done and slow day.

As I talked the phone rang. It was around the corner in the back and she went to answer it. She came back  right away and said it was for me. Since I was Asst. Manager I figured it was my boss Amad Reyad asking me to work or cover a shift.

I picked up the phone:

"Michael" the voice on the line said.

"Yes"

"This is Jesus."

"Do you believe me? "

My stomach feel to the floor and my defense mechanisms went into overdrive. Time slowed down as I had been till this moment able to pray inside myself when some 'strange' thing was occurring. Sometimes in tongues and sometimes in my mind calling on scriptures, or the Lord, or just saying help Lord. I could always depend on God in me.

Not this time.I went numb. I couldn't  " feel" that familiar 'discernment'. I didn't have the comforting 'presence' I so counted on everyday since I got saved. There was nothing inside me, I felt, hollow.I felt empty of all and I wanted to say NO as my mind screamed this is a crank phone call.

My mouth said,

"...ahhh yes." Weakly.

"There is a place for you in my Kingdom"

I nearly fainted, I don't know anything else, I know something was and I have no recollection of it no matter how hard I try. I only know when the voice was done speaking. The phone line went dead.
The person hung up.

No crank request or anything else. There is a place for you in my Kingdom

I walked back out and my fellow worker looked horrified as she told me later I was ashen faced and a look she had never seen me have. "WHAT HAPPENED?"

I told here, and when I got to There is a place for you in my Kingdom.


She cried.
She knew.
 So did I.

It was the least likely to be true but since it happened to me, I can't deny it.


Today God wants to meet with you, 
somehow, someway, someday.
And when you least expect it,


The least likely to be true,
will happen to you...Jesus is like that.

God gave us the gift of sexual intimacy. ~ Raul Ries

God’s Gift of Sex

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.”
Proverbs 5:18 

God gave us the gift of sexual intimacy.

He intends for us to enjoy it, but only within the boundaries for us to enjoy it, but only within the boundaries of marriage, between one husband and one wife, committed exclusively to each other for the rest of their lives. Only within this context is sex as beautiful as God intended it to be.

Reporting on sexual relations in out country, an article in Newsweek stated: “In fact, it’s in marriage, the only coupling in which sex is fully sanctioned by society, where the highest rates of physical satisfaction were reported (88%).”

Thought for the Day:

As a husband, you are always to be enraptured
By your wife’s love. And, you need to
Continually kindle the fire.

Leadership: Are you tempted to make bad decisions in order to succeed? (86-2) ~ Barry Werner

Are you tempted to make bad decisions in order to succeed? (86-2)

September 8th, 2009 in 1 Samuel, Humility, Leadership Principles, Old Testament, Personal Development | leave a response

Every leader will make mistakes.

The effects of those mistakes can be minimized by a humble spirit that allows acknowledgement of the mistake and that allows forward progress to be restarted or it can be compounded by pride that demands to hold on to bad decisions and continues to put actions to the original error in judgment.

Read 1 Samuel 14:24-46.
Jonathan and his armor bearer had separated themselves from the rest of Israel’s army and had attacked a Philistine outpost. God used Jonathan’s victory over this small contingent of Philistine soldiers to create confusion among the rest of the Philistine troops and put the entire Philistine army into turmoil. The confusion was so wide spread that when “Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords” (v 20).

Just before Saul threw his forces into the battle to take the total victory, thinking he was serving God by calling for a fast, Saul ordered his men not to eat anything the entire day. Think about it, on a day when their bodies would burn tremendous amounts of energy, the leader tells them not to eat and cuts off their source of energy. Even worse than the original foolhardy command, Saul bound himself by an oath before God that gave no room for error.

As if a leader’s bad decision needs more compounding, Saul didn’t consider all the potential ramifications of this order. His son Jonathan wasn’t in the camp to know of Saul’s order and surely would use common sense concerning the need for food that gave quick energy during the battle. Jonathan’s comment to the men who saw him eat some wild honey and informed him of Saul’s orders was that “My father has made trouble for the country…How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today…Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater” (vv 29-30).

Because of his proud refusal to acknowledge an error of judgment, Saul lost credibility in the eyes of his people. Instead of humbly acknowledging his impulsive oath, Saul obstinately pursued a course that would have led to the absurdity of executing his own son for eating honey. The men rescued Jonathan, and their respect for their king was diminished.

Saul’s orders sound totally out of line when we view them in the abstract but put into our leadership world, the demands of leadership can be so great that any of us can be tempted to make promises to God when seeking His help with a critical project.

Where are the areas you are tempted to make bad decisions because of pressure to succeed?

Godly leaders will seek God before making decisions all the time but especially in times of crisis or pressure. If after seeking God a leader still makes a mistake, effective leaders allow humility to rule rather than pride so the mistake isn’t compounded.

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Tags: Mistakes, Pride

« Do you have the courage to take risks? (86-1)      What would it take for you to disobey God? (86-3)

Godly choices ~ Bob Coy

A Lot of Trouble

Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. -Genesis 13:12 (NKJV)

An interesting discovery is made when we trace Lot's footprints. They start in the land of Ur when he leaves his homeland with his uncle, Abraham. They journeyed together to the edge of Canaan where they decided that it was best for them to part ways. As the verse above shows us, Lot chose to head toward the heavily populated plain, under the shadow of Sodom. His tracks then take him directly into Sodom where he makes his home (Genesis 14:12). He is then described as sitting in the gate of Sodom, showing that he had become a representative of the city (Genesis 19:1)



Why was Lot pulled toward the city of Sodom?

We know that he was not drawn to the sinful lifestyle in Sodom because the New Testament tells us that he was tormented by the sinfulness that existed there (2 Peter 2:7-8). Scripture seems to suggest that the buzz and excitement of society had gotten hold of Lot's heart. His love for the social life of the city became an idol that made him insensitive to the things of God. This idol was firmly embedded in Lot, even to the point that God's angels had to take him by the hand and lead him out of Sodom before its destruction. Even after all of this, Lot's tracks take him right back to his idol as he begs to be allowed to go and live in another city (Genesis 19:20).


It isn't a sin to live in a city or to appreciate the fast-paced excitement of society.

Paul predominately ministered in the cities of his day, and Jesus spent much of His ministry in Jerusalem. However, when we neglect God and allow a love for society to become a driving desire in our lives, we are foolishly following in Lot's footsteps.

Discuss, Dig, Decide

Discuss with your group the city or town you grew up in. What words would you use to describe the culture of that area? How did that influence you?

Dig into Genesis Chapter 19. How does Lot’s life remind you of the importance of making godly choices? How did Lot’s environment influence him? How is the culture you live in impacting your decisions? What will you do to ensure you don’t follow in Lot’s footsteps?

Decide as a group to live out Proverbs 3:5–6 in your decision making this week. Be ready to share next week just how you applied these verses to the choices you made, and what the results were of those godly choices.

I will wait on the LORD…and I will hope in Him ~ Bob Hoekstra

Waiting on the Lord, Hoping in the Lord

I will wait on the LORD…and I will hope in Him…strong>Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!…Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.(Isaiah 8:17; Psalm 27:14; and 31:24)

 

Living by waiting on the Lord offers a helpful perspective on living by grace. Waiting on the Lord is the same spiritual reality as hoping in the Lord. "I will wait on the LORD…and I will hope in Him." Waiting on the Lord is not merely about waiting (that is, allowing time to pass). Rather, it is about humbly placing our hope and expectations in the Lord God as time is passing. This is what living by grace comprises (looking to the Lord to work on our behalf and within our hearts).

Waiting on the Lord (hoping in the Lord) is appropriate for every areaof our lives. Furthermore, wondrous consequences result from hoping in our God. "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!…Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD."When we place our hope in the Lord (waiting for Him to work in our lives and circumstances), He brings us spiritual courage and spiritualstrength within our inner man.

Those who wait on the Lord have a distinctively different destiny than the wicked, than the evildoers. "For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth…Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it" (Psalm 37:9, 34). Evildoers (the wicked, who have no interest in the way of salvation) end up "cut off." In attempting to develop their personal earthly kingdoms, they lose everything. They think they can take over a portion of this world, which belongs to our Creator God. Instead, they lose it all. They are cut off forever from their achievements, as well as from the God who made them. On the other hand, those who hope in the Lord inherit all of creation, as well as an eternal relationship with their Creator Redeemer.

Truly, "The LORD is good to those who wait for Him" (Lamentations 3:25). Therefore, let us "hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there ismercy, and with Him is abundant redemption" (Psalm 130:7). Yes, let us "hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever" (Psalm 131:3).

My Creator Redeemer, I want to live all my days waiting on You, hoping in You. What growing expectations You give me as I hope in You. I anticipate courage, inner strength, Your abundant goodness, an eternal inheritance, and (above all) an everlasting relationship with You. Praise Your name!

Introducing to Last Call: Raul Reis ~ Testimony

I’ve been thinking a lot lately. And I was thinking how God is so gracious, loving and kind: how He gets a hold of our lives. Before I came to the Lord, my wife’s family, Naomi and Grandma Kopp had been praying for me.   

Believe it or not, since I was a little kid, I had never been witnessed to by anybody.  I was raised Catholic in Mexico and my grandmother lived in Mexico City, she was an opera singer.  She met and married my Grandfather who was German.  My father was born in Mexico City, and by the age of 9, his father had left the family.  My grandmother stayed in Mexico and this is where we grew up.  My mother was visiting from New York City, met my dad, and never went back to New York.  She is originally from New York, but her parents were from Spain.

Even as my parents loved each other, my father had a very bad habit; he had a drinking problem.  He had started drinking when he was nine years old.  Because of his drinking, our home was not a normal home.  As far back as I can remember, there was yelling and cursing in our home.  I can remember my father physically abusing my mother and my grandmother, his mother.  As little kids we would scream and yell because we were so scared.

I can also remember my father taking me, at the age of 5 because I was the eldest son, to the nightclubs and the bars. My father was a brawler; he liked fighting.  He had a good job with the Bank of Mexico, but the drinking led him to violence.  I remember sitting outside at the newsstand where he left me, waiting for him to come out.  He would be so drunk.  He had a little scooter, and every night, we would get home by the grace of God. I remember this whole experience, him hitting me and beating me when I was growing up.  I was so rebellious.  By the time I was 8 or 9 years old, my goal was to kill my dad.  That was my life.

In 1957, my mother was invited to come to LA, leave my father, and go to live with my grandparents and my mom’s sister.  One night my father came home totally drunk, and passed out.  My mother woke us up early and we went to the international airport in Mexico City.  I remember going to the airport, getting on a plane, and leaving Mexico at the age of 10.  I remember how happy I was because we were rid of my dad.

In 1958, my father began writing to my mother about how unhappy he was and how much he missed us.  He promised my mother that he had changed.  So, in 1959, my mother allowed him to come to America and live with us.  I remember hating my mother because she brought him back into our lives.  I didn’t want him to live with us.  I didn’t have any feelings for him, I was so bitter towards him.  And again, he began to drink and abuse my mom.

In 1960 or ‘61, we moved to Montebello, but soon after, my father decided to buy a house in Baldwin Park.  I started, as a freshman, at Baldwin Park High School in 1962.  My mom had a very good job working for the Union Bank in Los Angeles. She thought that by moving and having a new house, everything would be better; but every time dinner came, there would be arguing, fighting and screaming.  My father would get so drunk, that he would get violent and hit everybody.  I remember at the age of 15 having a lot of confrontations with him, and I began to get violent.  I began to take my frustrations and anger out on people.  At parties or on the streets, I would start beating up people.  It became a consuming fire in my heart.  By grace, I didn’t kill anyone on the streets.   There were times when we left people lying there and we thought they were dead.  This went on for the four years I was in high school.

By the time I was a senior in high school, I had already been in and out of jail, but never once booked. We had a club called the Hession Car Club, and our advisor was a cop named Al.  Because of our relationship with him, they would let us go.  Then one night I was at a party in West Covina, and I saw a guy there with my girlfriend.  I left and got all of my friends.  We went back to the party and ripped people apart.  The guy almost died.  The next day, the police came to the high school, took me in and booked me.  Eventually, I had to go to court.  At the time I was eighteen and just about to graduate.  I was given a choice, either go to prison or go into the military.  Well, at that time, Vietnam was going on, I said, “I’ll just go to Vietnam. It’s a license to kill and I can do whatever I want.”

I went into the Marine Corps Boot Camp, and had twelve weeks of hard training.  Because I scored highly in physical fitness, 478 points out of 500, I received the rank of PFC, and I was made platoon leader.  I went from MCRD, to Camp Pendleton, and began to train for Vietnam as a 0311 Grunt.  I remember so clearly: 1966, on December the 8th, I got my orders.  I remember my father and brother taking my best friend, Champ, and me down to San Diego and getting on a ship, the U.S.S. Gaffey, as I was going to Vietnam.

I remember leaving San Diego and starting the trip to Vietnam.  I was wondering if I would ever return, especially when I looked out and saw 5000 marines on the ship.  I wondered how many would not be returning.

It took about 15 days at sea but we finally arrived on the USS Gaffey navel ship into Da Nang, Vietnam.  I could not believe the humidity and the smell and all the green jungle.  We were separated and sent to our different units.  I was sent to Alpha Company 1/7 up into Chu Li, Phu-Bi and ended up on the outskirts of Da Nang.  We were participating in operations and patrols.

As time moved forward, watching some of my friends become casualties or being wounded in combat, I became angry within. This anger toward the enemy consumed me to the point of hating my enemy.  By this time, I had already been wounded twice and my time of service was almost completed so I started to think crazy things in my mind.  My commanding officer sent me to see the hospital shrink and he recommended that I be sent to Oakland Naval Hospital, Project 49A, for further observation and treatment.

I spent the next six months of my life under psychiatric care, group therapy counseling, because I was so violent.  Satan had taken possession of my life.  After six months of rebelling against the help offered to me, Dr. Wilson recommended a discharge for me.  I was then sent to Camp Pendleton for my discharge to become a civilian again.

I remember when I was at Camp Pendleton my girlfriend, Sharon, got pregnant.  She had been in high school with me, but we had actually fallen in love through letters, while I was in Vietnam.  They allowed me to have time off so I could go and see my family.  That’s the time when Sharon and I got together and she got pregnant.  So, the Marine Corps gave me time off to get married.  My discharge hadn’t come back yet.  Finally, it came back, on September 15, 1967.  I’ll never forget that day, when they called me in and said, "Hey, your discharge is back and it’s an honorable discharge."

I got out and found a job in LA working for the Union Bank. I also decided to continue my studies in Kung Fu San Soo, at Jimmy H. Woo’s Studio. The moment I got out, immediately, I started going back, not only to my old friends, but I started going back to my old life.  But this time I was a little bit older, I was 20 or 21 years old at that time. It’s amazing how the war had matured me, tremendously.  I wasn’t afraid to kill now, I wasn’t afraid to do anything.  When we would go to parties or whatever we would do, we would cause chaos.  I remember all the opportunities that God gave me.  My wife would never preach to me, she would share the gospel with me, by sharing her love with me.  She showed me God’s love through her life, living it.

One thing I never wanted to do, I never wanted to be like my dad, and become a physical abuser. Well, I did.  The first thing I did was start pushing Sharon around, kicking her and punching her.  Pretty soon, I was choking her but by the grace of God, the angels protected her.  It went on for about 4 ½ years until finally, she decided to leave me. When I realized she was going to leave me, I decided that nobody would ever have her or my kids.  The best way to do that was to execute her and my kids, and kill myself.  As the police would come, I would just shoot it out with them and that would be the end of everything.  And then nobody wins.

When I got home, she had already gone to church.  As a matter of fact, it was Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972, and I had already made up my mind to kill her.  So I got home, and I saw her packed bags on the side.  I walked into the house, went to the closet, got my rifle and loaded it with eighteen rounds.  I started walking around the house; I began to destroy my whole house, just knocking down everything.  I went next to the TV and I was just standing there. I was so angry and so mad inside; I took the butt of the rifle and hit the TV.  When I hit it, it came on.  And when the TV came on, there was this bald headed guy talking about Jesus, it was Chuck Smith.

He was with Katherine Kuhlman, on one of those programs with “The Jesus People”.  I was listening and I wanted to shoot him with my gun, but I couldn’t pull the trigger.  It seemed as he was talking on the TV; he was talking directly to me.  You know how that is?  It was like a bow was being pulled back, the arrows were letting go and they were stabbing me in the heart.  And I kept saying, “Man, why don’t you shut up?  What are you trying to say?”  All of a sudden, I found myself on my knees, listening to him. And for the first time in my life, I began to cry like a baby.  You know it’s not too cool to cry when you’re hardened.  I just began to cry out to God, “God if you’re really real, and you are a God that can save people, as you saved my wife, I want you tonight, right know, to come into my life.”  And you know what blew me away?  I didn’t see lightening or hear a voice, I just, by faith, prayed a prayer.  And I felt a complete change in my life.  As I got up from my knees, I wiped off my tears and put away my rifle.  I got in my car and went looking for my wife, to tell her what had happened to me.  I couldn’t find her.  As I entered the church that she attended, they were giving the altar call.  So I just went up to the altar, and when they got done counseling me, I went home.

When I got home, I knocked on the door.  The light was already on, my wife was at home, and I heard her weeping and crying inside.  I knocked on the door and said, “Sharon open the door, it’s me.”   She was just crying and the whole thing.  What she did was put the latch on the door, then opened it, and said, “What do you want?”   I said, “I’m born again!  I accepted Christ.”  She shut the door in my face.  She didn’t really believe it.  So I knocked again and I said, “Sharon honest, I’m born again.”  She finally opened the door.  It took probably about a year and a half to two years for her to believe, as she watched my life change.  But what blew her away was that immediately, I got saved, man, I got saved.

The next day, I went to a Christian bookstore, and I bought a Bible. Now, I didn’t know anything about Bibles. There were little Bibles, big Bibles, you know, huge Bibles.  So I got the biggest Bible I could, cause I wanted to be a Christian.  I got this big family Bible.  At that time, the hippies had these fishes that had the Greek writing: Jesus Christ, God, Son and Savior. They had little ones, medium ones and then they had these big sharks.  I got the biggest one I could find, with a leather cord, and I put it on.  I didn’t even care; I just wanted everyone to know I was a Christian.  Can you imagine a big Bible and a big fish walking around?

So, I began to read the bible.  I started going to Chuck Smith’s church, Calvary Chapel.  I went down there and I began to get rooted and grounded in the Word.  I would go down there on Thursday nights and Saturdays with a van full of people to hear the Word of God.  And then the Lord called me, it was weird, I didn’t hear His voice, but I was sitting there reading my Bible and praying and I had a vision.  I had never had a vision in my life.  I don’t even know what it was, but I saw myself awake and half-asleep, and I saw my old high school.  I saw my principal and my vice-principal and I saw all these hundreds of kids.  The Lord told me, “I want you to go back to your old high school.”  I said, “Okay!”  So I waited and I prayed.  Then I went to Baldwin Park High School, I remember, it was 1972.

I walked on the campus, Dr. Hollenbeck and Barnholdt, the Assistant Principal, were there.  Mr. Barnholdt had been my baseball coach.  I remember walking up; I had my fish, “the tuna”, and my Bible.  The next thing I knew, the police were escorting me off campus because they thought I was nuts.  They didn’t want me on campus.  So, I went home totally bummed out, thinking, “ Aw, man, what’s going to happen now?”  I went home, and God spoke to me again, “Go back to Baldwin Park High School.”  I said, “ Oh Lord, they just kicked me out.  They called the police, and the police told me if I come back again, they’re going to put me in jail.”  Once more, God said, “Go back to Baldwin Park High School.”  So I said, “Okay, I’m gonna go back.”  I went back the following week, and Mr. Barnholt and Mr. Hollenbeck took me into their office and they talked to me.  They gave me permission to be on campus, check this out, to be on campus, and to go into the classrooms and in the mall area, and I could talk to people about Jesus Christ.

So I started at lunchtime.  I would sit out on the grass area and all these kids would look at me, with my fish and my Bible, and they hated me.  I would just sit there.  I didn’t go up to them or talk to them.  I was waiting for the right time, because I didn’t know anything about the Lord, I was just learning myself.  I mean, what could I give them that I didn’t even have. I just knew Jesus loved me and he cared about them, and all of a sudden man, in coming missiles; cake, milk, they were bombarding me with stuff.  I just said, “Lord give me five minutes and I’ll kill everyone of these kids.  Believe me God.”  I was so mad.  I said, “Lord I don’t need this stuff.  I don’t even want to be here.”  But the Lord told me to stay there.

So, a couple of weeks went by, and a couple of months went by, and I stood there faithfully every day.  All of a sudden, the Lord began to open the doors.  Kids began to come and talk to me, and I talked to them.  Then one day, in the mall area at Baldwin Park High School, the Lord spoke to me at lunch-time: “Get up on this picnic bench, I want you to talk to them about me.”  You know how lunch times are at a high school, everybody is doing their own thing: we had no PA and I’m not a screamer.  So I got up there and started, “Hey, for God so loved the world man, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whosoever would give…” this whole thing.  And as I was talking, making a fool of myself, I thought, the Holy Spirit was zapping people.  The Holy Spirit fell on that school so heavily, all of a sudden, as I looked out, there were about 1800 kids sitting on the grass listening.

And what blew me away, is I didn’t expect God to use my life: cause who was I?  I mean, I barely graduated from high school and I could hardly read.  I was asking the Lord, “ Lord, what am I going to do now?”    As I began to just share God’s love with them, I said, “Anyone here want to accept Jesus Christ?”  Five hundred kids came up and got on their knees, and gave their lives to Jesus Christ.  The school was totally blown away. Then Gladstone High School opened up, Azusa High School opened up, Charter Oak High School opened up, Glendora High School opened up, Bassett High School opened up, and soon, I was visiting eight high schools a week.  I was just going out on the streets; that’s how my ministry started.  I had a bible fellowship in my Kung Fu Studio at night, but during the day I would go to the schools and work with the kids.  That was my heart, my life: that kids would come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I never thought, I never expected that God would do such a tremendous work as He has done over the last 28 years.  I never dreamed that God would do such a thing. .  He has not only blessed my life personally, but the ministry he has given me.  He took me from my Kung Fu Studio, to pastoring a church of over 12,000 people on 28 acres.  Along with teaching, He has opened up the doors for us to have a Bible School and Pastoral Program.  With these programs, we have been able to spread the Word to Central and South America.

Our Missions Ministry has exploded with several churches throughout South America. We have established churches in Chile, from top to bottom, and are starting a Bible School to train the Nationals.  We also have churches and Bible Schools in Columbia.  In Villevicenzio, in the heart of guerilla activity, we have one school, and the other Bible School, El Secreto, is in the jungle.  These schools are turning out dozens of pastors and leaders every year.

My vision is to reach all of Central and South America with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Through the work being done at these schools and a team of pastors from the United States, our goal is to take the Word of God and establish churches in every major city in South America.

In the early 80’s, I began broadcasting on the radio.  Today, our Somebody Loves You Radio program, which is nationally syndicated, is heard daily on stations in the United States and Central America.

Soon after we started the radio program, we began the Exit Festivals, which gave birth to the Somebody Loves You Crusades.  God has used the crusades tremendously, with thousands of people coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  From the beginning of my ministry, at the high schools, God put a burden on my heart for the youth, and I have been able to reach the kids, still today, through the crusades.

Looking back on all the things God has allowed me to do, I am still amazed that God chose to use me.  My desire, my heart, is to finish the race and to do it well.  It is important that we not only run the race, but we finish well.

Share what works in your life ~ Jon Courson

Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
	Colossians 1:29
Mom and dad, that which you will most effectively communicate to your kids is that which works in you. Sunday School teacher, youth worker, home group leader — what will ultimately be fruitful in your ministry is that which has personally been worked through and lived out by you. So many ministries lack power because they are based on sharing concepts which are true but which lack impact because they haven’t been worked out in the life of the teacher. Gang, I’ll tell you what to share with your kids, neighbors, friends, or third-grade Sunday school class: share what works in your life because it’s not how much you know, it’s how well you know what you know.  Has what you’re teaching been worked out through your life? Has it become a part of you? If you share only what you’ve heard from others, your teaching will be dry. However, if, like Paul, you share that which ‘worketh in you mightily’, your teaching will be anointed because it will truly be Christ in you ministering the hope of glory.

Life is full of troubles ~ Greg Laurie

Don’t worry, pray!

 

September 16th, 2009 Posted in Pastor's corner, encouragement, essentials, sermons, travel | 1 Comment »
 Why should we pray? There are many things I could say in response, but here is another reason why.
Prayer is the way by which God helps us to overcome our anxiety and worry.
We all know that life is full of troubles. We all struggle with concerns about our health, safety, family, finances, etc.
In light of that, what should we do? Answer: Pray!

It’s been said, “If your knees are shaking, kneel on them!”

God’s cure for worry

So, the next time you are suddenly gripped with worry, turn it into a prayer.

The apostle Paul reminds us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Peace guaranteed

Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “Pray about everything . . . if you do this, your problems will go away.” 

Rather, it says, “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.”
Now that is not to say that God cannot or will not remove your problem (or problems) because He sometimes does just that. But often, He will give us His strength and peace in the midst of the problem. In other words, we are able to put things into the proper perspective.

If you have a “Big God”–by which I mean that you see God for who He really is–you will have “small problems.”
It comes down to this:

• Big God/small problems
• Big problems/small God

Nothing too little and nothing too big to take to Him. ~ Joyce Meyer

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
—Matthew 11:28
 
The longer we know the Lord, the more relaxed we should become when we face situations that try to steal our peace. Previous experience with God is valuable because we learn that somehow He always comes through. Each time we face a new crisis, we can remember that even though He may not have done exactly what we wanted Him to do, He always did something that worked out. Relaxing in the face of trials helps us to maintain our peace with God.

New believers who do not have personal examples on which to build their confidence in God must be more dependent on examples in the Bible of God's faithfulness. The testimonies of other believers can also greatly encourage them. Remember, Jesus said that we are to come to Him when we have problems, and He will give us rest.

Jesus wants us to live in a relaxed state, not tense, uptight, worried, or anxious about yesterday, today, or tomorrow. We can stop reasoning and trying to figure out what we need to do. And the Lord doesn't want us to be upset with other people who aren't doing what we want them to either.

Jesus wants us to trust Him and relax. I call this being supernaturally relaxed, because in the natural we may have difficulty learning how or finding time to relax. But when God adds His super to our natural, we end up with supernatural. We can have supernatural relaxation! Jesus was saying, "Come to Me about anything, because I always want to help you with everything." There's nothing too little and nothing too big to take to Him. You can't take too much. You can't have too many requests.  

Our ability to hear the Lord ~ Charles Stanley

 

Our ability to hear the Lord is directly related to our relationship with Him. For example, an unbeliever can hear only one message from God?the call to repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ. If this vital step has not been taken, nothing else God does or says to that person will make a difference.

But what about believers? How does a Christian's closeness with God impact his or her listening? This is primarily an issue of identification. Once we receive Christ as Savior, then we certainly have salvation and are eternally secure in Him. But beyond that, God wants us to grow and mature in our faith
.
We grow in Christ by identifying ourselves more and more with Jesus. That continual identification brings us closer to God. And so, when we pray, we are not praying to some cold and distant god "out there somewhere."

Instead, we are praying to a God who loves us, sustains us, and molds us into His own image.

That changes how we approach Him, doesn't it? Instead of crawling face down before Him, mourning and wailing because of our sin and pleading for His mercies, we can come to Him boldly and joyfully, assured that He loves us, forgives us, and rejoices in our prayers.

When we have unimpeded fellowship with the Father, we definitely hear Him better. As we grow closer to Him, our spiritual hearing continues to improve. Through Jesus, we can have unimaginable intimacy and clear two-way communication with almighty God. Let the Lord know that is your desire.

Do you always put your trust in God’s Word? ~ Mark Balmer

Based on “The Precious Promise” by Pastor Norm Holm; 

9/9/09,

Message #NH102;

Daily Devotional #3 -

“Words of Life” 

Preparing the Soil (Introduction):  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s Word is powerful. God's character is contained in His Word. The Bible is the guide to living right for Christ followers.  It touches on all aspects of life. Thank God for the gift of His Word to us.

 

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). The Lord’s faithfulness to all generations is evident in His Word. The fact is that what God speaks, He brings to pass.  He also gives us the boldness to approach the throne of grace confidently.  God’s Word that comes out of His mouth will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purposes for which it was sent (Isaiah 55:11).

This principle is illustrated very well in the story of the centurion (a soldier in charge of hundreds). As Jesus entered into Capernaum one time, He was approached by the centurion (Matthew 8:5). The soldier’s servant lay at home, very sick, and suffering terribly. Jesus immediately offered to go with the man to heal the servant. The centurion did not want Jesus to go with him as he felt unworthy to have Jesus under his roof.

The centurion said:  For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come’ and he comes. I say to my servant ‘Do this,’ and He does it. (Matthew 8:9).

The centurion knew Jesus only had to speak the Word, and his servant would be healed. Jesus marveled at the centurion’s faith. Jesus told the centurion to go and assured him it would be done just as he had believed. The servant was healed that very hour. The Word of God is loaded with power; we can release our faith, confident that every Word will come to pass.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response):  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).

  

Do you always put your trust in God’s Word? His promises are true, and He esteems His Word even above His name. Every Word God has spoken concerning your life is to achieve a purpose. If God has said it, you can believe it, and that settles it!

Cultivating (Additional Reading):  Romans 12:2; Joshua 1:8-9

The power of the Holy Spirit ~ David McGee

Acts 8:18-19

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
NKJV

Life Lesson

God has given us power and resources to reach others.

In this passage, Simon thought he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit. Simon wanted this power so that he might impress others with it. That is not what the power of God is for. The power of God is given to us to live for Him. We now have the power of God to live a life that shows others that we have been changed. We should be using our power and resources to reach people. 

Calvary Chapel wants to spend our God-given resources to reach people with the good news about Jesus.

We want to encourage the people in their faith. Throughout the bible, we see Jesus using His power to touch lives, and did so without some weird display. I believe this gives us our model of what using that power looks like. Why do you desire supernatural power? Hopefully it is to bless others. How do you use your God given resources? Is it to bless and reach others? I hope that it is. With what we have been given, we can make a difference in the hereafter, by making a difference in the here and now.

Lord,
All the good things in my life have come from you. My life, my strength, my wisdom, and all that I am or hope to be is a gift from you. I want to use my power, strength, and resources to reach a lost and dying world. We know from your life, Jesus that you cared about people. As I follow you, help me to care for others. Help me to use what you have given me wisely as a good steward to reach others. In the name of Yeshua, Jesus, Amen.