Listen Carefully to What I Say

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' "(Acts 2:14-21)

Thoughts for Today:

I am teaching my five year old daughter Amanda to read. She is really excited before every lesson, but most times she has far too much physical energy to concentrate effectively. So at the beginning of each lesson we talk about concentrating, sitting still, only discussing our lesson, and ignoring all other distractions. Her attention span is limited (usually about 20 to 30 minutes), so we have to go quickly, and when we come to the end of the time limit, it's usually a waste of energy to go on -- so I've learned to close on time. That's what Peter is offering to us in these verses, instructions on how to teach and how to learn.

The first example Peter gives us is to stand up and raise his voice. He did this to get everyone's attention. Correspondingly the initial step of learning is to set aside time for study of the Bible; then place all of your attention and focus on the Word; while making sure to eliminate distractions.

Next, he focused the crowd on his intent and what their benefit might be (understanding), "let me explain this to you." When you study Scripture, focus on understanding and application, don't read it like a novel. Sure there is a story, but behind the story is depth and richness. Take it in small bites, 2-4 verses at a time. When you read these verses, pray and ask how you might apply them in your life today.

Thirdly, the Bible is the Word of God. Don't take anything lightly and as Peter instructs, "listen carefully to what I say." Pay attention to sentence structure and context -- it was written this way for a reason -- God's reason. Finally, look up the cross references -- get a good Bible concordance. Peter models this concept when he tells us, "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel." If you want to clarify something, find out what the Bible says about itself.

These are the keys to successful Bible study and understanding. I have one last comment I wanted to repeat based on my experience with Amanda: Set a time limit and finish on time. You will not look forward to your study time (nor will your children and spouse) if it is open ended or goes on and on (you will keep putting it off because you don't have the time). If you've set 20 minutes as your time limit, then say to your wife or husband, "I need 20 minutes of quiet time." Provided you finish on time consistently, setting aside 20 minutes will not be a problem even in the busiest of households. You and your family will all be richly blessed by following Peter's simple steps to a successful study.

Questions to Ponder:

What do you need to do to get started on a daily quiet time? What have been some of the obstacles in the past? Will you give this method a try for one week and see how it works for you? When will you start?

 

 

Excerpted from:

The Pocket Testament League

Join the League. Visit their Website

Photo from wordbyword.tumblr.com

Read More

A Seedbed of Faith

In Judges 6:11-15, we read this about Gideon,

Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.”

We often think of Gideon as a great champion for Israel, and he was. But when he was chosen, we found him cowering in the winepress. He was hiding, he was fearful, he was negative, he was doubtful, and he was questioning.

While we might be critical of Gideon, I have found that the only people who never question are those who have been indoctrinated. Sometimes you need to doubt. Sometimes you need to question. In fact, a lot of times uncertainty is the seedbed from which faith grows.

If you are struggling with doubt today, if you have genuine questions, don't panic. If you are sincerely looking for answers, God will meet you, and faith will spring from the answers you find.

From Answers With Bayless Conley

www.answersbc.org

Photo: edea360.wordpress.com

Read More

The True Meaning of Christmas

The True Meaning of Christmas
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price

Christmas is one of the most important days among Christians. This day commemorates and celebrates the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas is more than just a holiday. It is the remembrance of the fact that God so loved the world that He have His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus' birthday - Christmas is about God's love. It is about God's love for you and me. It is God expressing His great love for mankind, through the giving of the greatest gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. He loves us not because of what we are, but He loves us because of what He knows we can become, if we'll allow Him to get involved in our lives.

John 1:1-3, 14:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This passage from the Book of John tells us what Christmas is all about. It is about Jesus coming into the world. It is about the Word of God, the Living Word; Jesus is called the Logos, or the Word of God, and it says, "In the beginning was the Word."

Notice that verse 1 says "the Word was with God." This verse shows Jesus' separate and distinct personality. Then it says "the Word was God." Now, I can't explain this to you. I can't explain it in a rational way so that you can understand it intellectually, but that's what the Bible says, it says that the Word was with God and then it says that the Word was God. Praise God that He doesn't require us to understand it mentally in order to gain the benefits from it; all we have to do is simply believe it.

Romans 8:1-3:

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

This is the purpose of Jesus' coming. His purpose was to come and take away our sin. To come and pay the penalty that all of us should have rightfully paid as a result of Adam's sin in the garden of Eden. Jesus came to do it for us; that's what this season is all about. That's the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus came to do what the flesh could not do and that is to bring us back into fellowship and communion with the Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 2:10-15:

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."

13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus came to set us free from the ravages of death. Praise the Lord! The real meaning of Christmas is Jesus Christ: crucified, dead, risen, ascended, and coming again!

Dr. Frederick K.C. Price is the founder and pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center West in Los Angeles and CCC East in Manhattan. To obtain more information about his ministry, please call (800) 927-3436 or visit www.faithdome.org.
© Dr. Frederick K.C. Price all rights reserved

Read More

A Parable: Saving Lives

Colossians 4:2-6; Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 5:1-33

On a dangerous seacoast notorious for shipwrecks, there was a crude little lifesaving station. Actually, the station was merely a hut with only one boat . . . but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the turbulent sea. With little thought for themselves, they would go out day and night tirelessly searching for those in danger as well as the lost. Many, many lives were saved by this brave band of men who faithfully worked as a team in and out of the lifesaving station. By and by, it became a famous place.

Some of those who had been saved as well as others along the seacoast wanted to become associated with this little station. They were willing to give their time and energy and money in support of its objectives. New boats were purchased. New crews were trained. The station that was once obscure and crude and virtually insignificant began to grow. Some of its members were unhappy that the hut was so unattractive and poorly equipped. They felt a more comfortable place should be provided. Emergency cots were replaced with lovely furniture. Rough, hand-made equipment was discarded and sophisticated, classy systems were installed. The hut, of course, had to be torn down to make room for all the additional equipment, furniture, systems, and appointments. By its completion, the life-saving station had become a popular gathering place, and its objectives had begun to shift. It was now used as sort of a clubhouse, an attractive building for public gatherings. Saving lives, feeding the hungry, strengthening the fearful, and calming the disturbed rarely occurred by now.

Fewer members were now interested in braving the sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired professional lifeboat crews to do this work. The original goal of the station wasn't altogether forgotten, however. The lifesaving motifs still prevailed in the club's decorations. In fact, there was a liturgical lifeboat preserved in the Room of Sweet Memories with soft, indirect lighting, which helped hide the layer of dust upon the once-used vessel.

About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast and the boat crews brought in loads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty, some terribly sick and lonely. Others were black and "different" from the majority of the club members. The beautiful new club suddenly became messy and cluttered. A special committee saw to it that a shower house was immediately built outside and away from the club so victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside.

At the next meeting there were strong words and angry feelings, which resulted in a division among the members. Most of the people wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities and all involvements with shipwreck victims . . . ("it's too unpleasant, it's a hindrance to our social life, it's opening the door to folks who are not our kind"). As you'd expect, some still insisted upon saving lives, that this was their primary objective---that their only reason for existence was ministering to anyone needing help regardless of their club's beauty or size or decorations. They were voted down and told if they wanted to save the lives of various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast! They did.

As years passed, the new station experienced the same old changes. It evolved into another club . . . and yet another lifesaving station was begun. History continued to repeat itself . . . and if you visit that coast today you'll find a large number of exclusive, impressive clubs along the shoreline owned and operated by slick professionals who have lost all involvement with the saving of lives.

Shipwrecks still occur in those waters, but now most of the victims are not saved. Every day they drown at sea, and so few seem to care . . . so very few.

Do you?

Excerpted from Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life,

Copyright © 1983 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc.

Photo credit: Sydney Morning Herald

Read More

Almost Christians

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." —Acts 26:28

Almost is an interesting word, one that we sometimes use when we are delaying something, when we are not quite ready to commit. Maybe you've been in a restaurant where the menu is the size of a small phone book. When the server arrived at your table and asked if you were ready to order, you said, "Well, almost." We will use this word when are not sure about something.

We also use "almost" when we're procrastinating. For example, if a husband and wife are going out to dinner and he asks her if she is ready to go, she will say, "Well, almost."

While we like to use "almost" for a number of situations, there are certain words that don't work with almost, as in "almost pregnant." A woman is either pregnant or she is not. Another word that doesn't work with almost is "won." You either won or you didn't. The winner is the winner, so you can't almost win.

Another word that doesn't fit with the word almost is "Christian." Either you are a Christian or you are not. You may be well on your way to becoming a Christian. You may be looking into the claims of Christ and investigating them. But you cannot be an almost Christian.

When the apostle Paul presented the gospel to Herod Agrippa, he said, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian" (Acts 26:28). Almost. He was close, but not close enough. Apparently Herod Agrippa was moved by Paul's powerful and persuasive presentation of the gospel, but then he turned and walked away from it. He was the almost Christian.

I think there are a lot of people like Herod Agrippa in our world today: almost Christians who think they are Christians when they really are not.

Copyright © 2009 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org

Read More

Confounding the Wise

In 1 Corinthians 1:20, 27-29, the apostle Paul provides a very powerful word, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."

We are often enamored with what the world considers wise and mighty, but
God isn't. In fact, He chooses things that are foolish and weak, things the world considers insignificant, and things the world even despises, to put to shame the things that people consider wise.

I really like the King James Version when it states that God does these things to confound the wise.

We need to understand that sometimes God turns human conventional wisdom on its head. And I believe Scripture shows us three ways in which He does that.

First, there are times that God turns conventional wisdom on its head with the people He chooses for His purposes. Second, He will confound human

wisdom with the plans He unfolds. Whether they are for your deliverance, or plans to further His kingdom and expand His work.

And then, third, God will truly confound the wise of this world with the pardon that He provides.

Through people, plans, and pardon, God does confound the wise!

Source:

Answers Weekly Devotional
"Answers with Bayless Conley" <answersweekly@answersbc.org>
Photo: source

Read More

Don't Drop The Ball

He who lacks these things is shortsighted... 2 Peter 1:9 NKJV

Brian Dyson, former Vice Chairman of Coca Cola, delivered the commencement address at Georgia Tech in 1996. In it he said, 'Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them; work, family, health, friends and spirit. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls; family, health, friends and spirit, are made of glass. If you drop any of these they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.'

Many of the people we admire are out of balance; they can build great churches and companies, but not great relationships. Solomon wrote: 'They made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept' (Song of Songs 1:6 NKJV). Pastors who teach the importance of building strong families, sometimes raise children who turn out resentful because they got none of Dad's time and attention and were told 'We have to make these sacrifices for God and the ministry.' In what areas are you out of balance? In your quest not to drop the ball in your public performance, make sure you don't drop it in your personal life; where it counts most. The Bible underlines it: 'add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love… he who lacks these things is short-sighted… ' (2 Peter 1:5-9 NKJV).

Devotionals from TheVine
Subscribe at http://www.thevine.co.nz/member/join
The Word for Today

with Bob Gass - Wednesday, 9th December 2009

Read More

Thinking Right

by Charles R. Swindoll

So then,[a] my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:19-25

Wouldn't you love to live courageously in spite of the odds? Doesn't it sound exciting to be divinely powerful in day-to-day living? Aren't you anxious to become authentic in a day of copy-cat styles and horrendous peer pressure? Of course!

It all begins in the mind. Thinking right always precedes acting right. That is why I emphasize the importance of the renewed mind. It is really impossible to grasp the concept of serving others---or to carry it out with joy, without fear---until our minds are freed from the world's mold and transformed by the Lord's power.

Now some so-called religious leaders and gurus exploit others by calling them to "servanthood" in order to control them and use them for their own purposes. I feel the need to warn you against becoming a victim of some strong personality who wishes to "use" you. How easy it is to encourage servanthood so others might serve us. That is not the way our Master walked and neither should we.

Servanthood starts in the mind. With a simple prayer of three words:

"Change me, Lord."

Lord, make me a servant who asks of you and of others, what can I do for you?


Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide

Read More

The Ultimate Guarantee

Having believed, you were marked... with a seal... Ephesians 1:13 NIV

Jesus said, 'I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it… ' (John 10:28 AMP). As parents we understand this. When our children fall we pick them up. We correct them, but we don't disown them. They were born with our DNA and will die with it. And God has the same relationship with us. When we believe and become 'children of God' He alters our lineage, redefines our spiritual parenthood, and in doing so secures our salvation. To accomplish this, He seals us with His Spirit. 'Having believed, you were marked… with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.' (Ephesians 1:13 NIV)

Max Lucado writes: 'For a short time in college I worked in a vacuum-cleaner plant. We assembled the appliance from plug to hose. The last step on the assembly line was 'sealing and shipping.' By this point the company had invested hours and dollars in the machine. So they took extra care to protect it. They mummified it in bubble wrap, secured it with Styrofoam, wrapped the box with tough-to-tear tape, stamped the destination on the box, and belted it inside the truck. That machine was secure. But compared to God's care for His saints, the machine [might as well have been] dumped into the back of a pick-up truck. God vacuum-seals us with His strongest force: His Spirit. He sheathes His children in a suit of spiritual armour, encircles us with angels, and indwells us Himself. The Queen of England should enjoy such security.' Good news; God has 'identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption' (Ephesians 4:30 NLT).

from: Daily Devotional
The Word for Today

with Bob Gass - Friday, 4th December 2009


Photo credit: www.imeem.com/d2cfufu

Read More

Obey and Get Unstuck

"Jesus said to him, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'" (John 5:8).

These words were spoken to a man who had been sick for 38 years! His bed had been carrying him, and now Jesus was telling him to carry his bed!

We have discussed several keys to getting unstuck from your problems in our last devotions. First, we must genuinely want to be free, and second, we must stop shifting the blame for our problems to others.

The final key I want to share with you is found in the above verse. It is to obey what the Lord tells you. Whether it makes sense or not—obey!

To a man who had been carried by his bed for 38 years, rising up and carrying his bed must have seemed crazy! But the moment he began to obey, new life and strength began to flow into his previously paralyzed limbs.

Listen for the Lord's instructions in your heart. Search for them in His Word. There is no faith without action. There will be something that God will require you to do in order to release or express your faith.

It may make sense to you—or it may not. But to quote Mary, the mother of Jesus, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5).

After pastoring the same church for several decades, I have observed that many people remain stuck in their problems. Not because the Lord hasn't spoken to them, but because He has and they haven't obeyed.

If there is any unfilled obedience in your life, get busy and do what the Lord has told you to do. It is the only way to get unstuck.

From: "Answers with Bayless Conley"
Wed, December 2, 2009
Photo credit: Source

Read More

Take a Step of Faith

I have a friend who had both of his knees crushed in an accident. The doctors told him he would be fortunate if he ever walk again, but he would certainly never be able to run or play sports. He was so disappointed by the news. But when he got out of the hospital after being there for over three months, the first thing he did was join a health club. He took a step of faith. For the first year, he was too weak to even go, but he had made up his mind that he was not going to just sit back and stay in that wheelchair; he was making plans to be active again, to be up and walking.

That was over five years ago, and over the course of time he got stronger and stronger. Today, that young man can outrun me! He defied the odds. What happened? He made a decision to rise above his circumstances. He took a step of faith even when the odds were against him. He could have easily believed the negative words and just given up. He could have settled for mediocrity; but he didn't. He put his faith into action…and his faith put him into action.

Maybe you've had some negative things spoken over you. Don't let those negative words take root. Keep believing. Take a step of faith. God has you in the palm of His hand.

Remember, faith is always in the now. Don't have the attitude that says, "Well, I know one day God's going to work. One day God's going to turn this around." No, have the attitude that says, "Father, I thank You that right now You are working in my life. I thank You that right now I'm getting better. Right now things are changing in my favor." Every time you declare something according to the will of God, you are taking a step of faith and moving forward into the victory God has in store for you!

Written by:
Joel Osteen
Take a Step of Faith
Devotional dated November 30th, 2009
Recommended readings written by Joel Osteen here


Photo credit: http://heartreflections.wordpress.com

Read More