Friday, February 29, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 29. 2008

Grace for your spirit
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. . But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. II Cor 11:2-3

Why was Paul such a great missionary for Christ? Paul didn’t just follow the rules, but he was so completely converted to Christ, that he shared the values God had instilled in him. He lived the life of purity, and his desire for everyone was to live that same purity. To be a pure bride for Christ. He was afraid that any of us might be deceived, and be led astray, and his mission was relentless. Do we share God’s values? Do we live God’s values, and teach them to others? May we never be found just going through the motions, but truly living for Him.

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

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 28, 2008

Grace for your spirit
In no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign for destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. Phil 1:28

The Apostle Paul wrote to us as a prisoner in Rome. His message was to be faithful in the face of adversity. To stand firm in one spirit, and strive together for the faith of the gospel. When we live the victorious life in difficult times, is makes quite an impression on our opponents, and encourage us. It cements our faith and draws others to the victory of the cross. In the kingdom of Persia, when the world saw that the God’s people were going to be victorious over their enemies, many converted. What is true for them can be true for us as well. Live the victorious life and spread the good news. I’ve read the last page of the Bible, and Christians win. Spread the good news

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

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 27, 2008

Grace for your spirit
But I want you to free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. I Cor 7:32-33

Many times in our churches, the ones who are single feel like a fifth wheel. They don’t feel a apart of the activities of the church that center around families and children. Often their only goal is to get married and have children, so they can feel part of the church. The Apostle Paul has a message for the single Christian. You are in a particularly advantageous position to serve the Lord and do His will. With our primary mission to save and serve, the single man and woman can devote single minded effort to His will. Go ye and thank the Lord for the opportunities to serve

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

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 26, 2008

Grace for your spirit
For how can I endure to see the calamity which shall befall my people, and how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? Esther 8:6

Esther and Mordecai had won their personal battles. They won the favor of the king, their adversary Haman had been executed, they moved into his house, and life was sweet. Escaping their own calamity would not be enough for them. They knew the edict to kill all the Jews in the world was still out there. They turned their efforts to reverse the command to exterminate all their people, and saved them. Our situation is similar. We have all the spiritual blessings in Christ, but that should not be enough. Our efforts should turn to the lost and dying world without Jesus. May we not live in our luxury while others are lost. Let’s go to work to save the world.

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

Monday, February 25, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 25, 2008

Grace for your spirit
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus I Thes 5:18

How can we stay on course when God seems so far away? Has He forgotten about us? Have we forgotten about Him? God knows that thankfulness is the key to staying connected to Him. His will for us is that in every situation we find a way to give thanks. That when we focus on Him, trust His promises, and trust in His future, we will stay close. There’s a song we sing that says it well. "For all that You’ve done I will thank you. For all that You’re going to do. For all that You’ve promised and all that You are, is all that has carried me through. Jesus I thank you." When a song like that is in our hearts, we will never feel far from God.

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

Friday, February 22, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 22, 2008

Grace for your spirit
However, the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing." II Sam 24:24

King David knew that the key to acceptable worship to God was true sacrifice. He knew that sacrifices that cost him nothing would be empty. Many would have given King David things to sacrifice in order to have his favor. David was more interested in God’s favor. We may think we are doing children a favor when we slip them a coin to put in the collection basket, and then shake it out of their hand. Our hope is to teach them to participate in giving in worship. Perhaps their participation would be better if they gave from what they had earned with their service to the family and church. Ultimately we must be teaching a personal commitment, and living a life of personal sacrifice.

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

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 21, 2008

Grace for your spirit
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. Js. 1:22


Faith that does not work, is no faith at all. Thinking we are doers of the His word just because we heard it, is delusion. Job’s friends represented God, but they were not truthful about God. The Pharisees felt they were representatives for God, but it was only in their own minds. They told everyone they were God’s people, when in fact they were hypocrites. Jesus condemned them. He said they heard the word, they spoke the word, but they do not live the word. Do we appear to be representatives of God in this world? Then we need to live the word, not just hear it and talk about it. Don’t just talk it, walk it. Be doers

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

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 20, 2008

Grace for your spirit
As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; I Chron 28:9

If we stand by a barrel of water, stick our finger the water and remove it, it makes very little difference either way. If we climb into that barrel of water, the water rises significantly and it is obvious when we step out of it. When we only make a superficial commitment to the Lord, it makes very little difference in our lives and the lives of others. When we leave it, the memory of our discipleship is forgotten by all. When we commit to the Lord with our whole heart and a willing mind, our discipleship has meaning. We will seek for the Lord and find Him. Solomon sure found out the difference. Let’s make the Lord the center of our lives, and not just dabble around the edges.

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

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 19,2008

Grace for your spirit
With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee. Ps 119:10-11

People often ask me why people who study the Bible don’t live by His word. I took a class in geometry when I was fourteen. I learned a few things and passed the class. I haven’t had a desire for geometric instruction since. Could that be the answer to the question? Have many studied the Bible once a long time ago, passed the tests for church membership, and then haven’t thought about it since? Are we continuing to seek for truth and guidance? Do we treasure it in our hearts? That may be the main reasons we are sinning against Him.

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

Monday, February 18, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 18, 2008

Grace for your spirit
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe. Heb 12:28

God has delivered us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light. In the kingdom of His dear son, we have everything that pertains to life and godliness. His promises are faithful and true, and His kingdom cannot be shaken nor destroyed. What is our response to that kind of glory? Is our gratitude, service, reverence, and awe, appropriate to the great gifts we have received? Too often we take all our blessings for granted and then our service slows down to a stop. We used to appear before the Lord daily in study, prayer, fellowship, and worship. How are we doing now? Let’s pray for a revival in gratitude today.

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

Friday, February 15, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 15, 2008

Grace for your spirit
The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from, and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit Jn 3:8

Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus the transformation that takes place in our lives in the kingdom of God. When we are born again of the water and the Spirit, our lives change. God’s presence in our lives can be compared to the wind. We don’t know where the change comes from and where it will lead, but it is there. We may not hear from God everyday, we may not speak His name in all our conversations, but His presence should be constant in our lives. When we are born again, and surrender our lives to His Spirit, we will feel His breeze in everything we do and say.

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

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 14, 2008

Grace for your spirit
And from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done." Jn 4:39

One day at a well in Samaria, Jesus stopped to talk to the most unlikely personal evangelist in the world. This despised Samaritan woman was a complete outcast, and she knew it. She was separated from the Jews by religion, and separated from her community be the shame of adultery. That day Jesus revealed the eternal living water, and it changed her life. She overcame her separations and inhibitions, and brought many in the city to Jesus. First they believed what the woman testified, and they came to Jesus and believed in Him. Do we think we can’t bring people to Jesus? Overcome. There is always room in the kingdom.

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

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 13, 2008

Grace for your spirit
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken ; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. II Cor 4:8-10

As disciples of Christ, we have a great value that is not diminished by difficult circumstances. We are children of the King, and are blessed with all riches. We are kind of like a $100 bill. You can take that bill, crumple it, write on it, tear it, tape it, step on it, drop it in the mud, and it is still worth $100. Like the apostle Paul, don’t despair when crushed, persecuted, and struck down. With Jesus in our life we hold our value, no matter what.

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

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 12, 2008

Grace for your spirit
Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. Hebrews 4:1

I watched a football game recently played in weather that had a wind chill factor of 24 below zero. They asked a player for a comment about the cold game and he replied, "If we’re in it, we might as well win it." They did. The Bible compares our Christian walk to the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness. They suffered for forty years and fell short of the promise because of unbelief. They were in it, but did not win it. God doesn’t want us to repeat that disaster. Why should we suffer playing church through the trials and tribulations of this world, and lose it. Let’s mix His word with faith, and make it all the way to our promised land. If we’re in it, we might as well win it.

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

Monday, February 11, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 11, 2008

Grace for your spirit
A certain man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; but they all alike began to make excuses. Lk 14:16+18

It this parable Jesus shows how people present excuses that will cause them to miss the marriage supper in heaven. For them it was oxen to try, land to see, and a wife to please. As disciples of Christ, we are to be inviting souls to worship, obey Christ, and be in their seat at the Lord’s marriage supper some day. We may expect excuses and need to be ready to try harder. Our modern day parable excuses might be; "I have to work overtime because I need the money, and then I’m sleepy. Or, it’s the only day I have to shop. Or, there’s sports on TV. I can’t come." When that happens, do what Jesus did. Don’t water down the cost of discipleship. Continue to appeal for them to sacrifice.

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

Friday, February 8, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 8, 2008

Grace for your spirit
Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. I Cor 1:10

As the apostle Paul reflected on his work in the sin city or Corinth, and it was pretty overwhelming. He wrote to spiritual babies in the middle of worldliness, immorality, abuse of Christian liberty, misuse of the Holy Spirit, misunderstandings about the resurrection, and worship corruption. They needed to be unified under Christ alone. Many were chasing after the teachings of men, and the fractures between doctrine and opinion was crippling the church. They thought their commitment to their group was worth it, but it wasn’t. The church in our "sin cities", faces the same challenges today. I hope those commitments to the doctrines of men is worth it for us, because we are certainly loosing the battle against sin in and out of the church.

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

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 7, 2008

Grace for your spirit
Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Eph 6:2-3

The primary reason for keeping the commandments of God is because we love Him with all our heart, but there are other reasons. When we trust God, we will know that all His commands are for our good, and that He will reward us with good things. It is the devil who makes us believe that following God is not for our good. He will make us believe we should suffer all the time, and that the good life is in following the ways of the world. Don’t believe it. God wants it all to be well with us, and He gives us the right way.

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

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 6, 2008

Grace for your spirit
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ. Phil 3:8

We all have possessions of this world, our family, our heritage and background, our jobs, and our hobbies. We also have the spiritual riches given to us by our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. How would we rate the value of all things that are available to us? Would we be willing to count them all as rubbish, and give them up, in order to be a friend of Jesus? Jesus died on the cross so we could be His friend. What are we willing to sacrifice for Him? God’s word insists that Christ have first place in all things. Do we have Him there?

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

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 5, 2008

Grace for your spirit
But when Jesus heard it, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it. John 11:4

When Jesus received word that His friend Lazarus was sick, He waited several days before He went to see Him. Jesus had a reason. During that time Lazarus died. Jesus had a reason. Jesus could have healed from anywhere like He did for the centurion’s servant, but He didn’t. Jesus had a reason. His disciples didn’t understand it, Lazarus’ family didn’t understand it, and most certainly Lazarus didn’t. Days later, when Jesus called Lazarus from the grave, His reason was finally evident. Many times people doubt the ways of God when they are in distress. May we be able to trust that Jesus has a reason, and a way to give us all ultimate victory. Wait on the Lord.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, February 4, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb 4, 2008

Grace for your spirit
And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good from evil." Gen 3:4-5

When we start listening to the devil, we will soon forget what God has said to us. Then we will start wanting what the devil wants us to have, instead of what God has directed for our good. You can see the devil enticing her. "Don’t you want to be like God?" "When you are like God, you will know good from evil and you won’t need His direction anymore." When we become the center of all things, then we see everything we do as just right. This was the downfall for Eve, and the devil is still deceiving us with the same words. Let’s get back into God’s word quickly before the devil’s words find root in us.

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

Friday, February 1, 2008

Grace for your spirit Feb. 1, 2008

Grace for your spirit
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. Ps 32:3


At one time David was called a man after God’s own heart. David’s kingdom was honoring to God. When David got in trouble, his sins kept piling up. He tried to keep those sins secret, but it wasn’t working for him. His sins and his guilt was eating him up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he reached out for God’s forgiveness. His secrets were destroyed, but his life was saved. Now about us? Secrets will destroy our Christianity unless we let Christianity destroy our secrets. How blessed is the man who is forgiven.

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