Monday, June 30, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 30, 2008

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" Genesis 3:1

When the serpent came to Eve in the Garden of Eden to tempt her, did Eve have any options. Was she completely outclassed by the devil, and unable to do anything but fall into his temptation? If we think that is true for her, we may think it is true for us too. God tells us in His word to flee from the devil and resist the devil in time of temptation. Eve did not flee from the temptation. She did not fight for the truth that God had instructed her, and as a result she fell into temptation. We need to be ready to flee from temptation all the time. We need to be prepared to fight for the truth we have from God at every turn. When we cannot flee or fight, we will most certainly fall. Let’s take our Bibles and running shoes with us today, and every day.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, June 27, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 27, 2008

At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us. Nehemiah 4:20

In order to get the wall of Jerusalem rebuilt, Nehemiah taught his workers to be multi-taskers. They worked with one hand, and held their weapons with the other. Their spears were at their side and the trumpeters near by. When the enemy approached, the trumpet sounded, and they gathered together with the Lord. The key to their success was preparedness and the awareness that their fight would be futile without the Lord’s presence and help. All of us have a great job to do, and enemies that wish to prevent the work from being done. If we will give our effort to the Lord, be diligent in our work, and be careful watchmen, He will give us a great victory too.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 26, 2008

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. I Peter 2:1-2

When we are born again into the kingdom of God, our happiness should be pleasing our Lord, not stepping on others. We should desire to grow in our salvation and be more like Christ every day. If our happiness still depends on putting others down, and poisoning their lives, have we been truly born again? If stepping on others is our key to happiness, can we ever achieve it? Malice, deceit, envy, and slander are tools of the devil. They are instruments that bring about misery in the lives of enemies. Remember, when we poison the lives of others, we poison our lives as well. Let’s put those things aside, and drink the pure milk of the word.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 25, 2008

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone." I Peter 2:7

In the past, when buildings were erected, the cornerstone was the first stone set. All the building developed for that point. Today in the building trades, with the new technology and computer design, the cornerstone is mostly an afterthought of tradition and ceremony. What an interesting comparison to our Christian world. God presented Jesus to be the chief cornerstone of the church and the kingdom. Everything was set to be built on Him, and it was. As the generations have passed, our churches have become more intelligent and sophisticated, and now in many churches Jesus is a ceremonial afterthought, and tradition. Be careful. The Bible says we will either build on the Rock, or stumble over it. Which will it be for us?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 24, 2008

So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. Matt 27:17-18

Even Pilate recognized the problems between Jesus and His people. The masses were following Jesus instead of their religious leaders. Jesus seemed to have the words of life. Jesus offered the people new hope and new joy. If they didn’t get rid Him, their based of support would soon be gone. Besides, Jesus lived the perfect life, claimed to be the Son of God, and threatened to change everything they counted as holy. It was a family problem that could not be solved without surrender. Most of the time, envy prevents surrender. Most families are torn apart by jealousy, and envy that turns to hatred. Everyone else can see it. Can we see it can happen to us as well?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, June 23, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 23, 2008

All you beasts of the field, all you beasts in the forest, come to eat. His watchmen are blind, all of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber; Isaiah 56:9-10

God’s children in Judah, had a big problem. The forces of evil in the world were gathering about them to devour them. The prophets and priests that were appointed to be watchmen for them were failing in their duties. Isaiah called them blind, ignorant, dogs that couldn’t bark, and sleeping dreamers. Not exactly the qualities that we look for in a watchmen. Isaiah proclaimed that they might as well invite the beasts to come and devour them, because of they were so unprepared. How do our enemies see us? Are we unprepared? Are our watchmen like the watchmen of Judah? Are we inviting spiritual disaster with naïve living? Let’s follow good watchmen and listen to their warnings.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, June 20, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 20, 2008

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; I Peter 2:9

Peter’s epistle is a manual of how to overcome persecution and live faithfully for Jesus is a troubled world. Here he proclaims that the best defense is a good offense. Go and proclaim Christ who called you out of darkness and into light. What qualification does the Christian have for this mission? Christians have become the chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, and the people who really belong to God. In the Old Covenant, it was the Jews, Israel, and the Levites. In Christ, Christians fill those roles in His kingdom. All disciples are equipped to fulfill this mission. Go ye.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 19, 2008

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Paul’s Jewish countrymen boasted in their standing by the Law. They felt their circumcision and godly lives were sufficient for them to live above the world. They were offended that someone would die on the cross for their sins. They were repulsed that the one called the King of the Jews would claim to be their Savior. The apostle wasn’t offended by the cross, he boasted in it. He was dead to the world, and the world was dead to him. Many religious people today still glory in their own righteous and never boast in the cross and Jesus their Savior. When we are alive to the world, we are dead to Christ. Which life will we select? Pick Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 18, 2008

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

As Christ’s disciples, we are created to serve, saved to serve. called to serve, and directed to serve. Jesus came and lived a life of service and sacrifice to make an impression on us, putting is to work When we think we were created, saved, called, and directed to Jesus just to make us happy, we have certainly missed the point. Our lives should be a constant expression of what we have seen in Jesus. If we are walking through this life without following Jesus, we are just taking a walk. If no one is following us as we follow Christ, our walk is not for Jesus. You see people walking every day. Some are walking with a purpose, while some are just strolling along. Which describes our walk?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 17, 2008

But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42

Jesus visited the house of Martha and Mary one day. Martha was urgently trying to make a good impression on the Master preparing things for Him. Her sister Mary, sat at the feet of Jesus listening. Martha was irritated and asked Jesus to tell Mary to quit shirking and start working. Jesus told here that there were many things to worry about, but really only one thing was necessary. The words of eternal life outdo the kitchen duties. In our Christian walk we will come to things that are urgent, and those that are truly important. Earthly duties will come and go, but the eternal things abide forever. Let’s be sure and keep our priorities right.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, June 16, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 16, 2008

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left." Matthew 20:20-21

Mama Zebedee wanted the best for her boys just like many mothers. She pictured Jesus as the earthly king with important people around Him at the throne. Jesus knew that being on His left and right would mean a cross, not a crown. They wanted to be celebrities, He wanted servants. Often in our zeal to make our children successful, we pray for things that are not profitable. The best house, the best job, the most money, and the most power, often take us farther from eternal things. Let’s be careful when we push our family, that we are pushing them toward the cause of Christ, instead of our cause.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with our spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, June 13, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 13, 2008

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, Philippians 1:12

Philippians is often called the epistle of joy. It is Paul’s view of the kingdom’s condition. He was very upbeat and positive. He was leading his captors to Christ, and people throughout the world were getting more confident in the teaching. His supporter were reassured that His mission was right on track. It might surprise us to remember that all this joy and confidence was coming a person who was a prisoner of Caesar in Rome. If we were in jail unjustly, and had the opportunity to write a letter to the church, would it be an epistle of joy or complaint? The great John the Baptist found himself in jail and asked Jesus if He was the expected one or should he look for someone else. Our faith is reflected in every word. Let it be a reflection of joy to the world.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 12, 2008

If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26

A young lady was stepping onto an airplane to start her mission work.. Her lifelong dream was almost derailed by a marriage proposal from a loving boyfriend, an offer of a lucrative job, and insistence of her parents and friends not to go. As she waved to her grieving family, somebody was heard to say, "So, is this what Christianity is all about?" The answer is YES. Often we have made Christianity, "churchianity". We want it all, and we want it now. Good mate, good family, good job, good bank account, and good church. The concept of mission and sacrifice has escaped us, and the principle of true discipleship is often shaped by us. Let’s put Jesus first, and watch how He blesses our mission and our lives

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 11, 2008

And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. I Corinthians 2:4-5

Why don’t we fulfill the commission of Christ to disciple the world to Him? Is it because we aren’t great teachers? Is our Bible knowledge and wisdom limited? Are we just afraid? We are just exactly the people God is looking for to lead others. When we overcome all those barriers, people will be able to see the power of God working. We also join a large fraternity of people like the apostle Paul, who didn’t have be afraid of their limited power, because they had God’s power. Sometimes great people can be a stumbling block to faith, because people are converted to them, instead of Jesus. Let’s go teach. We can do it.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 11, 2008

Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers…..David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." And David took them off. I Samuel 17:22 +39

Young David came to Israel’s war camp with baggage for his brothers. Eager to get to the battle line, he dropped his excess baggage to run. Later, he would drop Saul’s armor and run toward Goliath and find victory. He had to lay aside his encumbrances to find victory for the Lord. The same is true with us. When we enlist in the Lord’s army, we cannot take all our baggage with us. At some point we must sacrifice the baggage, or abandon our mission. Let’s drop it whatever is not necessary to fulfill our commission for Him.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, June 9, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 9, 2008

The king sat on his seat as usual, the seat by the wall; then Jonathan rose up and Abner sat down by Saul's side, but David's place was empty. I Samuel 20:25

Jonathan knew David wouldn’t be there that day. He knew King Saul was going to kill David, and told him to stay away. There were really no empty seats there. The devil was in the house of Saul filling that empty seat. When we gather around the Lord’s table at worship, many are not present. The devil gives us a good excuse, but he can always make it, and he fills our empty seat for us. The next time someone tells us that they missed us at worship, and our seat was empty, remember, our seat is never really empty. The devil takes our place. Don’t let him have it.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:;23

Friday, June 6, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 6, 2008

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15

Christ is our great high priest. He knows every temptation the world can possibly offer, and understands every weakness. Since Jesus never sinned, he had to suffer every temptation to the very end. That never happens to us. We don’t suffer every temptation, because we sin long before every one comes our way. I have never been infinitely tempted to eat a chocolate sundae. I eat it long before every temptation is presented to me. Jesus is present, sympathetic, and ready to help us all the way to the end of every temptation. May we draw near to Him for grace and help in our time of need.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 5, 2008

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. I Corinthians 10:13

Are we in danger of in dying the wilderness of life? Are our temptations greater than anyone has ever experienced? Is God not faithful? Is God not able? Is there no way of escape? Will we be able to endure? Is it because we can’t get away from our temptations, or is it because we won’t get away from them. When we chose to resist the devil, he will leave us. When we choose to flee from him, we can get away. God gives us the way of salvation in Christ Jesus. Our High Priest is faithful, and ready to help. Let’s quit blaming God for our falls. When we want to turn, He is ready and we are able

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 4, 2008

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God"….....Matthew 4:1-3

The ministry of Jesus began with His baptism, and the Spirit descending on Him. Right after that, He was led into the wilderness, fasted forty days, and the devil came after Him. Jesus overcame the temptations by the devil with the living word of God, saying, "It is written." As we make our decision to walk in the steps of Jesus, are baptized into Him, and receive the Spirit, we will surely have the same temptations that Jesus had. Our Christian walk won’t always be in a "rose garden". At our times of weakness and wandering, the devil will always be ready to attack. As we have followed Jesus, remember to follow Him with the words, "It is written." Use His word, and the devil will leave us.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 3, 2008

It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. Deuteronomy 1:2

Directions to a destination mean very little to children in the back seat. They only know one question, which is "Are we there yet?" The Children of Israel didn’t know the way to the promised land either. Little did they know that God planned to have them there eleven days after they got the Ten Commandments. As soon as they crossed the Red Sea, they started complaining and asking, "Are we there yet?" If God didn’t have to stop and discipline them so much, they all would have made it. Ultimately, their eleven day trip, grew to forty years in the wilderness. All the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb. Are we making our trip to the promised land trip hard and fatal? God has a plan for our success. Let Him drive and be quiet.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, June 2, 2008

Grace for your spirit June 2, 2008

For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them. Matthew 13:15

Before an airplane takes off, the flight attendant stands in front of the people explaining all the safety and emergency procedures we need to know. Most of the people on the plane who have flown before, totally ignore the presentation. They think they’ve heard it enough, and they don’t need to hear it again. God’s people are often like those "frequent flyers." We feel we’ve heard it enough and there probably won’t be a problem anyway. As on the plane, so also in the church, when trouble comes, every wishes they had been paying attention. Pay attention. God’s message is needed.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23