Truly Converted ~ Raul Ries

“Assuredly, I say to you, you are converted and became as little children,
you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3

When we conduct our Somebody Loves You Crusades, many people go forward to accept the Lord. Some are genuine and some are not. What is the sign of true conversion? Billy Graham says, “No man can be said to be truly converted to Christ who has not bent his will to Christ. He may give intellectual assent to the claims of Christ and may have had emotional religious expressions; however, he is not truly converted until he has surrendered his will to Christ as Lord, Savior, and Master.”

Thought for the Day:

“My most valuable discovery was when I discovered myself A sinner and that Jesus Christ was my Savior.”

--Sir James Simpson 1847

Peter's Unusual Vision~WOW the Bible in 7 minutes a day

Peter's Unusual Vision

Acts 9:20-31; 10:1-33; Psalm 117; Proverbs 20:24

Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?"

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!"

And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."

But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."

And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."

Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?"

And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?"

So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.' So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God."

Acts 9:20-31; 10:1-33

WORSHIP

Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! Psalm 117

WISDOM

A man's steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24

Putting anger in its place ~ Charles Stanley

Colossians 3:8-17

Christians are called to put aside “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech” (Col. 3:8). The command is clear, but the process of achieving and maintaining this goal may seem confusing and overwhelming.

The first step is to recognize anger in our hearts. This may seem unnecessary to those who readily express their feelings, but for those who have buried their anger deep within, an extended time of soul-searching before the Lord will be necessary. Although hidden, the cancer of resentment has been growing and slowly infesting the heart.

The sharp sword of God’s Word needs to be allowed to do some surgery (Heb. 4:12).

The next step is to confess unrighteous anger as sin and then begin to deal with it immediately. Because anger is often a response to hurt, care must be taken not to excuse or defend it in the name of justice. Although someone may have sinned against you, holding onto anger in response is also a sin. Scripture tells us to overcome evil with good, not to repay it (Rom. 12:17, 21).

Management of an irate lifestyle is not optional; anger must be put aside. We can’t expect to live in the new nature Christ has created for us while retaining our “right” to be angry and hold grudges.

God’s solution to an anger problem is a new Christ-like personality which He has created for us. Our responsibility is to put it on. He invites us to cooperate with Him in this process of transformation. With each step of obedience, the peace of Christ will increase and anger will diminish.

Confident heart ~ Joyce Meyer

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident!
— Psalm 57:7

Notice that this passage says that not only must our heart be fixed and steadfast, it must also be confident. I have discovered that staying confident at all times is vital to successful ministry. I have found that even while I am busy ministering, even while I am up in front of an audience teaching, the devil will try to introduce thoughts into my head to make me lose confidence. For example, if two or three people look at their watches, the devil whispers to me, "They're so bored they can't wait to get out of here." If a couple of people get up and leave to go to the restroom, the devil will say, "They're leaving because they don't like your preaching."

Whatever we do for the Lord, the devil will try to do something to cause us to lose confidence. He doesn't want us to have confidence in our prayers. He doesn't want us to believe we can hear from God. He doesn't want us to have any confidence concerning the call on our life. He wants us to go around feeling like a failure.

That is why we need to keep a confident heart within us all the time. We shouldn't drag ourselves out of bed each day in fear or discouragement. Instead, we should get up every morning prepared to keep Satan under our feet.

How do we do that? We do it by confidently declaring what the Word says about us such as: "I am more than a conqueror through Jesus. I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. I am triumphant in every situation because God always causes me to triumph." As we will see, that not only causes the devil to leave us alone, but it also strengthens our confidence.

Do you sacrifice personal gain to make “just and right” decisions? (92-2)~Barry Werner

Do you sacrifice personal gain to make “just and right” decisions? (92-2)

October 20th, 2009 in 2 Samuel, Decision Making, Fairness, Leadership Principles, Old Testament, Power and Influence, Relationships | leave a response

By the very nature of their position, leaders have power and influence. We have all served with leaders that used their power and influence to prosper only themselves, and other leaders who have used their power and influence for the good of the mission and their team. Read 2 Samuel 8 focusing on verse 15.

David was a warrior. He was a conqueror and extremely powerful in his position. He literally held the power of life and death for his enemies and even his own soldiers. His military exploits made him famous with his own people and the kings and military leaders of the nations surrounding Israel yet verse 15 says, “David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.” Wow! “Just and right” would mean that David did not abuse his power and did not always get his way.

Like King David effective leaders use their power and influence to do “what was just and right for all his people.” Wise leaders realize that God has sovereignly placed them in their position to use their power for the sake of His people not to serve their own interests.

How do you do when given the opportunity to make decisions that are “just and right” for your team when it comes at the sacrifice of personal gain you might have experienced?

• 

Tags: Sacrifice

« What is your normal reaction to success? (92-1)

Maximizing effective ministry ~ Jon Courson

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints. Philemon 4-5

There’s lots of talk today about preventive medicine — keeping people healthy rather than merely taking care of them when they’re sick. Paul here models not preventive medicine, but preventive ministry when he says to Philemon, ‘Hearing that your family’s walking with the Lord and that there’s a church in your house causes me to pray for you constantly.’

We generally only pray for people when we hear they’re sick or struggling, going through tough trials or facing hard times. And pray we must. But in addition to that, I suggest we pray like Paul. I suggest we pray for those who are doing well that they might do even better.

It’s when the enemy sees people doing well that he decides to launch an attack against them. Why? He knows he’s lost their souls, but if he can pull them down in depression or discouragement, he knows they’ll be unable to impact others whose souls he’s not yet lost. Satan doesn’t spend his time on the lost. You will never read in the New Testament where Satan himself is warring against an unbeliever. He saves himself totally and exclusively for those who are in Christ, for those who are walking with God. In every instance where you see Satan in the New Testament, you will always see him coming against believers in order to minimize their effectiveness for the Kingdom.

This makes it all the more important for us to pray for those doing well, for they are sure targets of the enemy.

Take a childlike leap of faith! ~ Jack Graham

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men….
You are serving the Lord Christ.

-- Colossians 3:23-24

Not long ago, I had the chance to watch my little grandson playing in a swimming pool. Over and over again, he jumped in the pool with such enthusiasm and abandon.

That experience got me thinking that there’s really no such thing as a half leap into a swimming pool. Once you’ve started to jump, you have to go the whole way!

That’s the spirit of the apostle Paul’s words in today’s verse. He’s telling you and me, “Don’t you even dare make less than a full leap into your work! Give it your whole heart. Approach your work with intention and passion. Pour your life into it. And do it to God’s glory.”

This is God’s plan to bring meaning and purpose to your daily life, including your life in the workplace. But Satan doesn’t want you happy at work. He’ll distract you and draw your eyes off of Jesus.

So my challenge to you today… whether you work in the home or outside the home… is to heed the words of Paul. Ask Christ Jesus to empower you to serve him no matter what your task may be. And like a child, leap into whatever you do with both feet!

LIKE A CHILD, LEAP INTO WHATEVER YOU DO WITH BOTH FEET!

Investment tools ~ Chuck Swindoll

Maybe it's because I just had another birthday. Maybe it's because I'm a granddad several times over. Or maybe it's because of a struggling young seminarian I met recently who wishes he had been higher on his parents' priority list than, say, fifth or sixth. He was hurried and ignored through childhood, then tolerated and misunderstood through adolescence, and finally expected to "be a man" without having been taught how.

My words are dedicated to all of you who have the opportunity to make an investment in a growing child so that he or she might someday be whole and healthy, secure and mature. Granted, yours is a tough job. Relentless and thankless . . . at least for now. But nobody is better qualified to shape the thinking, to answer the questions, to assist during the struggles, to calm the fears, to administer the discipline, to know the innermost heart, or to love and affirm the life of your offspring than you.

When it comes to "training up the child in the way he should go," you've got the inside lane, Mom and Dad. So---take it easy! Remember (as Anne Ortlund puts it) "children are wet cement." They take the shape of your mold. They're learning even when you don't think they're watching. And those little guys and gals are plenty smart. They hear tone as well as terms. They read looks as well as books. They figure out motives, even those you think you can hide. They are not fooled, not in the long haul.

The two most important tools of parenting are time and touch. Believe me, both are essential. If you and I hope to release from our nest fairly capable and relatively stable people who can soar and make it on their own, we'll need to pay the price of saying no to many of our own wants and needs in order to interact with our young . . . and we'll have to keep breaking down the distance that only naturally forms as our little people grow up.

Time and touch. Listen to your boys and girls, look them in the eye, put your arms around them, hug them close, tell them how valuable they are. Don't hold back. Take the time to do it. Reach. Touch.

When you are tempted to get involved in some energy-draining, time-consuming opportunity that will only increase the distance between you and yours, ask yourself hard questions like, "Could my time be better spent at home?" and "Won't there be similar opportunities in the years to come?" Then turn your attention to your boy or girl. Hold nothing back as you renew acquaintances.

Take it easy!

The two most important tools of parenting are time and touch.

Open the eyes of our hearts Lord...~ Mike MacIntosh

Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Mark 10:46-47

Here is a blind man who recognizes Jesus for who He really is. Bartimaeus cannot see, but he cries out to Jesus, "Son of David," which was a figure of speech to mean "Messiah."

We've seen time after time, in chapters 7-10 of the book of Mark, how so many people had physical sight, but were spiritually blind. They could see Jesus face to face, yet were blind to seeing Him as the Messiah, the Savior, the Redeemer of their sins. So, here comes Bartimaeus with spiritual insight that defies his lack of physical sight. And in his blindness, he sees Jesus clearly! No doubt, he had heard of Jesus from others, and was ready to experience spiritual sight.

Are you living in blindness and in darkness today? Do the things of the Lord look blurry and out of focus? Have you blocked your view of Jesus Christ with the things of the world? Your sights shouldn't be on your looks, or your position in your company, or where your next paycheck will come from. Loss of spiritual sight comes in so many forms today because there are so many distractions. Jesus Christ is so close, but for many, He seems so far away.

These are uncertain times we're living in, but one thing is very certain: Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Not only is He the only way to salvation and for eternal life, He is the only way out of your present difficulties and tribulations. He is the only One who can give you clarity and vision. Now is the time to seek the Lord and to ask Him for His healing touch.

The God Hug ~ Mark Balmer

Based on “Under HIS Influence – Mission Possible” by Pastor Mark Balmer;

10/17-18/09, Message # MB393; Daily Devotional #1 - “The God Hug”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction): We are often told of the wonderful benefits of belonging to a small group. One of the benefits is in the sharing that takes place between members. Frequently “God” messages circulate via e-mail from members of our home group. Some give unexpected insight into God’s Word, while others give the “warm fuzzies”. Recently I received an e-mail entitled, “I think you can use a God Hug”. It was a picture of Jesus warmly embracing a woman in blue jeans and a sweatshirt. There was a caption beneath the picture that said “Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor in the morning the devil says, “Oh no, she’s up.”’ This was definitely a message of the “warm fuzzy” persuasion. In our final teaching of the Under HIS Influence series, Pastor Mark reminded us that God delivered a prophecy to Calvary Chapel Melbourne. The “Under HIS Influence” series was preceded and inspired by that prophecy. With a few changes in wording, the caption under the “God Hug” picture could be a mission statement in the work that God has invited us to join Him in.

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): As we continue to study God’s Word and grow in our faith as Christ followers, we learn to look for where God is working and join Him in that work. When God speaks to us about work He has for us to do, we should consider it an invitation and a privilege rather than an unwelcomed labor of love. We often hear testimonies from people who have been invited by God to do amazing work with Him. This weekend we heard about the invitation one couple had to create a home called “NANA’s House” for 5 children. God invited them to become a part of a work He intended to do. When we respond to God’s invitations with a “yes,” we are on the verge of an experience that will be certain to put us in awe. Rarely do we have the opportunity to see so much accomplished with so little effort on our part. God does not always let us know His entire plan, but He does let us know our part in it. In the overall scheme of things, considering how much child abuse and neglect there is in this world, giving a home to 5 children may not appear to be a monumental accomplishment. When we consider that nothing is impossible for God to accomplish, however, is it a far reach to consider that one of those children could grow up to be a pastor of a church of 8,000 or more people? We have no idea what His plans are when He invites us to work with Him. If we say yes, a seemingly insignificant work performed in a CCM small group could lead to an invitation to participate in something as huge as a worldwide ministry. As in all things, Jesus should be our example. There was no task too menial or too large for our Savior. He washed the feet of the disciples (John 13:5) and brought the dead back to life (John 12:9). We should approach the work God asks us to do for Him joyfully and with a humble heart. We are privileged to have the opportunity to work for Him. We must always remember that it is God’s work, not ours; we are only invited to assist. What is God asking you to do? Does it appear to be too big to accomplish? Trust in the Lord and wait for His instructions. Refer to God’s Word to insure that what you are being invited to do comes from Him. Pray to be filled and refilled with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him be your guide in all that you do. Take every opportunity to give credit to our Lord for what He is doing. Finally, in every work you do, take the opportunity to spread the Word of God.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): If we accept God’s invitation to join Him in His work, we will experience the joy of watching Him turn our world upside down. Through the grace of God, we received a prophecy at Calvary Chapel Melbourne. No matter where we worship, we are called to be disciples and spread the Word of God, both locally and throughout the world. He has promised to continue to “expand our tents.” His message to us is the same as it is to his children all around the world, women or men, young or old, wealthy or poor. No matter what our part is in the Body of Christ, no matter what work He has invited us to do, we should be the kind of Christians that when our feet hit the floor in the morning the devil says, “Oh no, they’re up!

Cultivating (Additional Reading): Matthew 19:26; James 4:2; John 14:12

Jesus is our victory ~ Bob Hoekstra

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5)

The enemy of our souls would love to devour our lives. "Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). We can enjoy protection from the devil through faith. "Resist him, steadfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9). When the enemy cannot devastate us by direct attack, he still desires to pull us down into defeat, using the pitfalls and temptations available to him through the entire world system. "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). All of the unredeemed, as well as all of their cultural networks, are under the influence of the evil one. Nevertheless, for the redeemed, victory over the world through faith is available daily.

The only people who can ever walk in victory over the world are born again believers in Jesus Christ. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world." We desperately need the overcoming grace of God, because of the earthly enticements that the devil can use against us. "For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:16). Through the world around us, our spiritual foe wants to draw us into ungodly areas that our flesh craves, our eyes covet, or our pride wants to feast upon. The path of victory is traveled by faith. "And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." We initially entered into the victory of Christ by placing our faith in Him. "Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" We continue to experience all the manifold ramifications of that victory through day by day dependence upon the Lord.

Jesus taught these truths when He was here upon earth. "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). It is absolutely certain that the world will bring to us all many troubles and trials. Our fully sufficient hope is the Lord Jesus Christ. The world came against Jesus with all of its plots and ploys. Our Lord and Savior never succumbed at any point. He is the one we are to rely upon, in order to walk in victory ourselves. "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Trusting in the victor allows us to walk in His victory.

Lord Jesus, the world has surely brought me many difficulties and temptations. Yet, You are the overcoming victor, so I look to You for personal victory day by day. How blessed I am to have living in me the One who is far greater than the enemy who roams about in the world, Amen.

Obey right away ~ Bob Coy

Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Because you have not heard My words . . . . this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.'"-Jeremiah 25:8-11 (NKJV)

Allow me to set the stage. The year is approximately 600 B.C. The kingdom of Judah is ripe for judgment after having turned its back on God for the past several decades. Spiritually speaking, the temperature is tepid. In the midst of this, a lone prophet speaks out concerning the judgment to come. His name is Jeremiah, and he prophetically proclaims that the people of Judah will be captured by the king of Babylon and exiled to Babylon for 70 years.

This prophecy concerning Judah's captivity is actually the fulfillment of another prophecy. Nearly 900 years ago, as the children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt, God gave them specific instructions on how they were to cultivate the land they would inherit. They were to work the land for six years and allow it to rest every seventh year (Leviticus 25:7). If they failed to observe this commandment, God prophesied that they would be scattered among other nations until the land had sufficient time to rest (Leviticus 26:34).

The Israelites neglected this commandment for several centuries, and 2 Chronicles 36:21 indicates that their 70-year captivity was God' s way of setting things straight. As the people waited in Babylon, their land finally received the rest it had been robbed of. When the full 70-year term expired, God moved in the heart of the king of Medo-Persia (who had defeated the king of Babylon) to allow the Israelites to return to their homeland.

There's an important lesson in all of this: God means what He says. He told the Israelites to let the land rest every seventh year, and He made sure they did, even if it meant forcing them out of the land. Let's learn from their mistake by obeying God the first time He tells us to do something.

Discuss with your group the importance of obedience. Share with the group how God has recently reminded you of how obedience brings blessing. What has God taught you about obeying Him?

Dig into Jeremiah 25:8–11. Why does God declare this judgment? What does this prophecy reveal to you about the heart of God? Is your life characterized by first-time obedience?

Decide as a group to commit to obedience. Determine what obstacles you face as you strive to follow hard after God. Define some practical ways you can encourage each other to overcome these challenges and walk in obedience. Take time to pray together about obeying God’s calling in your life.

Words that don't go together ~ Greg Laurie

"No, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean." But the voice spoke again: "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean."

— Acts 10:14–15

There are certain words that don't go together and certain words that do. "Yes, Lord"—that works nicely. "How, Lord?"—that is fine. "When, Lord?" or even "Why, Lord?" work too. But if you are a Christian, you should never say, "No, Lord" or "Never, Lord."

It was time for the apostle Peter to leave his comfort zone and go to certain people who needed to hear the gospel. So one day as Peter was praying at about noon, he saw the sky open and a sheet being lowered down with all kinds of animals on it—basically, all the animals that were unclean according to Jewish law. God told him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them."

But Peter responded, "No, Lord." Now Peter was in Joppa, the same place where Jonah caught a ship going in the opposite direction of where God told him to go. Jonah didn't want to preach in Ninevah, which was the enemy of Israel, so he tried to get as far away from God as he could. But the Lord has a way of getting things the way He wants them, and Jonah eventually said, "Yes, Lord."

Sometimes we don't want to reach out to the enemy with the gospel because, if we were really honest, we are kind of glad they eventually will get theirs. But we need to share the Good News with everyone, even our enemies.

Peter had a choice. Either he could run from God or he could obey God. And he did the latter. When the Lord said go, he went. Peter shared the gospel with Cornelius, who came to faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit was poured out on Cornelius' home, and the gospel was brought to the Gentile world. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Twitter Proverbs from Rick Warren

• Last wkend:1,400 Junior High kids at church. Kay taught on mercy & Senior High kids led worship-all 6 services. Powerful!about 7 hours ago from web

• The myth "I cant say I'm humble" misunderstands humility.Humility is admitting I'm helpless without God. It's dependence!about 17 hours ago from web

• Jesus died for people,not principles. Pharisees care about keeping rules. Jesus cares about healing hurts.Luke 13:14-15about 18 hours ago from web

• Our DCguy @markbatterson lost his bldg.Pray! http://bit.ly/1xgDBB SaddleB used 79 differnt bldgs in our1st 13yrs.Ifeel it!about 20 hours ago from web

• Oct is Pastor Appreciation month. Cheer YOUR pastor for me. "They deserve double honor,esp.those who preach&teach” 1Tim5:17about 20 hours ago from web

• You measure success by how much others benefit from your work,not by how much you benefit. Selfishness isnt success.8:38 PM Oct 18th from web

• Why i believe in & assist young pastors:"One generation will commend your works to another" Ps145:4 RADI'CALIS IS FEB 9-11!3:55 PM Oct 18th from web

• God specializes in bringing good out of bad He uses problems to inspect us,direct us,correct us,perfect us&even protect us.3:46 PM Oct 18th from web

• "ARTis the gift of God and must be used for his glory, That art is highest which aims at this." - Michaelangelo3:38 PM Oct 18th from web

• A tip from Jesus: You find ME in "the least of these." Matthew 25:40 http://bit.ly/rciDf7:08 PM Oct 17th from web

• Guys I was hacked. I never recommend "get follower"tweets.5:05 PM Oct 17th from web

• Please tell me about any pastor who is seriously ill, As a pastor to pastors my privelege is 2pray 4them.1 Sam12:23 Thanks5:01 PM Oct 17th from web

• You love Jesus as much as the person you love the least. Go read 1 John 4:20-224:55 PM Oct 17th from web

• Whenever God shows up with a miracle is's because somebody chose to believe. What are you expecting God to do in your life?12:30 PM Oct 17th from web

• You haven't really trusted God until you've attempted something that you cannot do in your own strength.10:34 PM Oct 16th from web

• Jesus won’t turn water to wine in your life,until you run out of your own. He doesn't do miracles for the self-sufficient.1:27 PM Oct 16th from web

• "The alternatives today are either Biblical theology or naturalistic nihilism."- Carl Henry, The Drift of Western Thought1:04 PM Oct 16th from web

• Ur responsibleTO others,not FOR others.A child doesnt share a parent’s guilt,nor does aparent share achild’s guilt.Ezek18:2010:17 AM Oct 16th from web

• Hypercritical are always hypocritical.“Woe to u experts in the law” Lk11:46 “They dont practice what they preach.”Mt 23:310:02 AM Oct 16th from web

• Love enemies,visit prisons,sacrifice income, help orphans&widows,witness to all. lay down yr life DAILY.Then we'll listen.9:39 AM Oct 16th from web

Sinners salvation simplified ~ Jesus ~ David McGee

Acts 15:5

"But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
NKJV

Life Lesson

Being forgiven is very simple and clear.

In the book of Galatians, Paul had to deal with legalists who were trying to add their own rules to the plan of salvation. Paul said, "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV.

Be careful of those who try to add more to the plan of salvation or make it complicated. If it is not simple and clear, then it is not Biblical. God created the plan; the plan is perfect. Should we try to persuade God to add to His plan? Certainly not! Should we add to the gospel in order to please people? Never! Paul said, "For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 NKJV

Romans 10:9-10 is very clear. "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved." In addition, verse 13 states, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Have you asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?
It's real simple.

Dear Lord Jesus, I believe in You. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins. I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sins. Thank You for forgiving me. Please give me the power to turn from sin and to live for You all the days of my life. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Results Reveal Our Folly or Our Wisdom ~ Bob Caldwell

Proverbs 19:1-20:30 20:15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Sometimes the best way to be convinced to do what is the wisdom and will of God is to come face to face with the inevitable result of what is wrong. Chapters 19 and 20 do just that for us. When we have rejected the knowledge and wisdom of God, a dysfunctional life will be the natural by-product. When sin reigns, our lives inevitably become twisted. What could have been a life beautifully shaped by the wisdom of God will become a perverted, warped version of life (19:1-3). The perceived gain of falsehood and deception will be short lived. As an example, we will be trapped by our own lies, and destruction will one day fall upon our carefully crafted deceptions (19:5, 9). The same is true when the good we are to bring to our families is exchanged for foolishness and contention. This, too, will warp what could have been the most pleasant of all relationships (19:13, 18). The lazy person will think he is the wiser man because, in the short term, he is “enjoying” his life. But this, too, is a short-lived pleasure, once his stomach is empty and his bed a park bench. Yet for some, even when surrounded by opportunities to work and better themselves, they are like a hungry man with his hand in a bowl of food who will not even exert the energy to bring his hand to his mouth (19:24). We also are introduced to the man whose anger has no self-restraint. Anger will ultimately be his undoing. It takes no skill to be angry or to start a quarrel (19:19). To be slow to wrath and skilled to properly confront conflicts gives us great success in navigating the troubled waters of human relationships.Disregarding this skill will create greater loss than anyone can imagine. Included in this summary of what brings inevitable sorrow is alcohol. Wine and strong drink will make fools of all who seek the escape from life that it temporarily provides. The abuse of alcohol and drugs has done more than any one thing to make fools of even the wisest among us once they are under its control (20:1). This brief example of the end result of wisdom and folly should be ample evidence. For us to avoid God’s knowledge and wisdom will make us our own worst enemies. It is a delusion at the highest level to think that we can disregard God’s wisdom and not suffer tragic consequences. To do so when faced with the facts to the contrary makes us the greatest fool of all (19:8, 20:15).
Proverbs 19:1-20:30 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. 3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD. 4 Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape. 6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. 7 All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. 9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish. 10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. 12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. 14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. 18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. 19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. 21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand. 22 What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. 24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. 26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. 29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools. Proverbs 20 1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. 4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? 7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. 8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? 10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. 11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. 13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. 14 “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. 15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. 17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. 19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. 21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. 22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. 24 A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? 25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. 26 A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. 27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. 28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. 29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. 30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.
Proverbs 19:1-20:30 v. 1 one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool – What comes out of one’s mouth is a reflection of what is inside their heart. In God’s eyes, it is better to be poor with integrity then rich and perverse. v. 13 the ruin of his father – The ingredients for a miserable home are a foolish son and a nagging wife. v. 14 prudent wife – Though some may inherit houses and riches from their father, a prudent wife does not come by matter of chance or descent, but from the Lord. The word “prudent” in this verse describes her wisdom in governing the household and her godly wisdom. A prudent wife possesses good judgment and discretion. v. 18 Chasten your son while there is hope – The word chasten means to inflict punishment as a form of discipline. Discipline is an important aspect of parenting. v. 20 That you may be wise in your latter days – A youth who gathers and learns wisdom as a youth will produce fruit of understanding and prudence in old age. v. 24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl – The picture here is of a man who ceases to do the things in life that are necessary and that should be enjoyed. The man in this verse is so lazy that he chooses to sleep rather then eat the food that has been provided for him. v. 25 scoffer – A scoffer is one who shows their disapproval by mocking, sneering, or scorning. Proverbs 20 v. 1 Wine is a mocker – The term “mocker” in this verse suggests the character of the drink itself. It promises pleasure but produces intoxication by dulling the senses. v. 16 Take the garment of one who is surety – A surety was a pledge to secure a debt against default by the one who was in debt. It would be similar to a down payment for a car or house. Garments were often used as a pledge in Old Testament times. The law for taking a garment as surety is found in Exodus 22:26-27 and Deuteronomy 24:10-13. v. 20 Whoever curses his father or mother – This is a violation of the fifth commandment (Ex. 21:17) and one who was found guilty of this violation was to be condemned to death. v. 21 An inheritance gained hastily – This may be referring to a child who demands his inheritance prematurely. It may also denounce those who rush to become rich by dishonest means. v. 27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD – The “spirit of man” refers to the part of a person’s being that allows them to commune with God. The conscience resides in the spirit of man. v. 30 Blows that hurt – This is referring to stern, physical discipline that is necessary to break the strong self-will of those who refuse to listen by other means. This discipline is not given in anger, but in love. Its purpose is to heal a person of evil and lead them to maturity.
"There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." –Proverbs 20:15 All of the very best things in Your Kingdom, Jesus, are not “things” at all. You have given us what is more precious than any precious metal or rare jewel. Thank You, Lord.

Hearts delight ~ Daily Light

MORNING

I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. - Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart. - I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. - I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. - My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. - Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.

ROM. 7:22. Psa. 119:97. Jer. 15:16. -Song 2:3. Job 23:12. Psa. 40:8. -John 4:34. Psa. 19:8,10. Jas. 1:22,23.

EVENING

The Lord thy God accept thee.

Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. - There is none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. To declare ... at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Accepted in the Beloved. - Ye are complete in him.

II SAM. 24:23. Mic. 6:6 8. Isa. 64:6. -Rom. 3:10,23 26. Eph. 1:6. Col. 2:10.

Jeremiah 35:1-36:32 ~ 1 Timothy 5:1-25 ~ Psalm 89:14-37 ~ Proverbs 25:25-27~One Year Bible Blog

Jeremiah 35:1-36:32 ~ 1 Timothy 5:1-25 ~ Psalm 89:14-37 ~ Proverbs 25:25-27
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - Jeremiah chapter 35 today is a fantastic example of obedience from the Recabites! Interestingly, the Recabites are being obedient to a human's word... This stands in stark contrast to the Israelites disobedience to God's Word... Do we do this sometimes in our lives? Obey human words and disobey God's Word?

Jeremiah 36 is a great chapter. It is awesome to read about the writing down of God's words to Jeremiah on a scroll by Baruch! Unfortunately, that first scroll gets burned. Pretty crazy to think about King Jehoiakim listening to God's words in the scroll and then burning it as he listens... I love how today's readings end in verse 32: "Then Jeremiah took another scroll and dictated again to his secretary Baruch. He wrote everything that had been on the scroll King Jehoiakim had burned in the fire. Only this time, he added much more!" You better believe God had Jeremiah add much more to the 2nd scroll after King Jehoiakim cut up and burned the first scroll!

New Testament - First Timothy 5:8 is a powerful teaching from Paul today: "But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers." This is such a great reminder to care for our parents as they get older! I have seen some family members and friends do this for their parents - and uncles and other relatives - and it is such a blessing to see in action. This reminds me of the commandment of "Honor your father & mother." What a blessed way to honor your father and mother by caring for them when they are older!

First Timothy 5:24 is so important: "Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later." There is so much I could say about this verse. First and foremost, I think each of us needs to consider this verse in our own lives. Are there sins in our life that no one else knows about? Do you think that God knows about these secret sins? Do you think those secret sins will indeed eventually be revealed? I recently heard Dennis Prager (radio talk show host) talking about secrets. And basically he made the point that none of us should have secrets in our life because if we do those secrets will not "keep" - they'll spoil us inside and, worst case, someday they could explode in horrendous ways. Prager made the comment that someone in our life needs to know absolutely everything in our life. (not that everyone in our life needs to know everything - but at least one person does) He ranked this in order of who he thought should know everything about us: 1. your spouse 2. a good trusted friend. 3. a clergy or professional counselor. It was interesting that Prager did make the point that he didn't think that your child(ren) need to know absolutely everything - but someone does... Obviously, we all know that God knows everything about us. But, I think there is so much truth in that one of the key ways to rid ourselves of a secret sin is to bring it out of the dark and into the Light by sharing that secret with someone else. And if it's a continuing sin, ask that person for help and accountability. Let us not wait until we meet the Lord face to face for us to rid ourselves of the rotten burden of secrets! Let us shine a Light on the secrets now for healing & peace!

Psalms - I love Psalm 89:15 today! "Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord." Do you hear the joyful call to worship in your life? Do you worship God with a community of believers each week? (i.e. at a church... be it a house church or regular church or some church...) Will you choose to walk in the light of God's presence each week?

Proverbs - Proverbs 25:6 today is strong: "If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring." Is there an area in your life where you might be compromising? Will you return to the pure spring water of life? Where can you find the pure spring water of life? Will you stop polluting in your own life?

Proverbs 25:7 is strong too - "Just as it is not good to eat too much honey, it is not good for people to think about all the honors they deserve." Do you think we sometimes focus too much on honors and recognition? Can this cloud our sight of God? Why are we sometimes so attracted to all the honors "we deserve..."? What do these honors gain us in the end? Can these honors even become idols in our lives?

YouTube - Proverbs 25:7 in today's readings reminds me of a sermon about pursuing humility that I recently listened to from Pastor Mark Driscoll with Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Who, by the way just embarked on a 3-year journey through the book of Luke! Are there any other Mark Driscoll fans out there? I listen to his podcasts frequently. Here's a brief snippet of the pursuing humility sermon (don't let the skull & bones / graveyard intro to this video scare you off from watching it...):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHRMFsOUYBY

Are you pursuing humility in your life? Click here to receive true humility!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture this week: "Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." First Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

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

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike