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I wanna know more

23 Sep

I wanna know more

2 Peter 1:2-4  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Has your life changed since you came to know Christ? Has their been a desire to know more, to seek Him out in prayer and His Word? Are you hungry for the wisdom that you hear so much about? It is all available to you, and it all began with your faith. The faith that you had in the saving power of Christ is the same faith that begins your walk into the pursuit and understanding of the things about Him. The first step of faith began your walk, and the next steps are leading you away from sin and down the path to eternal paradise.

Wisdom is the understanding of the things God reveals to you; knowledge is the application of that wisdom. Peter lays out the steps of your path in these next scriptures. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. Giving God our best (all diligence); is a desire to lead a better life; to take into application the wisdom that we are gaining in our prayer time and His Word. This knowledge leads you closer to Christ every day and He begins to reveal Himself to you more and more. Look at the promise of verse 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The growth of your faith and wisdom is directly related to your pursuit of God. This world will provide you every distraction imaginable to keep you from dedicating your life to God. Satan will entice you with an ulterior motive in those distractions, but recognize that The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (John 10:10). Satan is only out to rob you of what God has promised you, and the more time you spend seeking God and the things of God, the more clearly you can discern Satan’s tactics. That knowledge will provide you a peace in an out of control world, and a light unto your path to eternal paradise.

 
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Posted by on September 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Get up and get God

22 Sep

Get up and get God

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Here where I live it used to be in the country. Our family farm was very large and the area was very rural. The only consistent noise was the low drone of air compressors in the milking barns. At night and early morning it was peaceful and still. Progress caught us the last 15 years and finding a quiet time is next to impossible. As I sit hear early each morn I get only rare moments when cars are not speeding down the road to destinations unknown. I am up early each day for my alone time with God; to seek that peace only early morning time brings; and with it intimacy.

1 Kings 19:11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. The great prophet Elijah was fleeing for his life, running from the pressures of life, desperate to hear God. He got alone and God came to encourage him. God is not in the static of the world, but in the peace of it. He demands a heart that seeks Him wholly, not a heart of flippant prayer and petition. He demands your undivided attention and He is most likely using circumstances in your life to get your attention. They are not by chance, but by His allowance or design.

Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. All that noise and distractions in your life is like the speeding cars down the highway to nowhere. Satan provides all the daily distractions to keep your heart focus away from God. Do you rise late when all the distractions already have begun? Do you seek to find God in five minutes with the TV on; with the kids awake; with the cell phone at your side, etc? How can you hear the still small voice in the midst of all the winds, earthquakes, and fires? Be like Elijah and get alone and seek God. When you find Him, your ability to rise early will never be a problem again; but a expectant passion for your Creator to speak to you.

 
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Posted by on September 22, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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I am…….

21 Sep

I am…….

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The apostle Paul had spent the chapters leading up to this addressing the differences in Israel and the Gentiles, and the lack of difference. God had allowed much of Israel to fall away and presented the Gospel to the Gentiles whom where beginning to believe. Many wandered if God had forgotten Israel. He has not, and His plans for Israel are to be fulfilled in eternity. Romans 10: 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Paul is trying to explain how we must be moved to a place of worship and reverent fear for God’s grace and mercy. In the middle of this writing he is moved to praise. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

The next verse is Romans 12 above. When the Bible was written, there were no chapters, or breaks in chapters. Paul has been building to show God’s glory on all mankind and how that realization should move you to a place of humble, sacrificial worship. That work you feel inside of you once you realize your spiritual state of sin, will knock your knees out from under you with that realization.  The mystery is revealed and you realize you are nothing without the One who created you, and the One who saved you. 1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. If you have not come to the understanding of sin, and the need for a Savior from that sin, the Gospel of Christ has not done its work in your heart.

A religion that does not give you the bad news is not a religion that saves. It is a religion that “tickles your ears” and feels good, which results in the leading away. Broad is the path that leads to destruction, but narrow is the gate that finds paradise.  Once God opens your heart through the realization of Him; the realization of you in sin without Him; you will be truly transformed. Becoming a Romans 12 Christian will be the sacrificial acts you naturally desire to be for eternity.

 
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Posted by on September 21, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Preach the Word…..today

20 Sep

Preach the Word…..today

2 Timothy 4:1-5  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The apostle Paul was in prison again and he seemed to know he was nearing his execution. There is urgency in his letters to Timothy whom he is investing so much in. He knew the society that Timothy was preaching the gospel to was a society that followed any wind that may blow. They were not strong in their faith, but followed whatever sounded good, or better yet was something that felt good. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (ESV) A religion that does not point out the bad news has no good news to deliver. We must humbly realize we will all die in sin without God’s saving grace through Christ.

We find ourselves surrounded by a world far from God with countless religions and even the great heresy (false teaching) that they all point to God. We have a world in escalating wars in the heart of all these religions. We have here at home a heresy called prosperity preaching that says if you don’t have enough blessings in your life, you don’t have enough faith for God to bless you. God is never about materials possessions but about the heart. Once God truly comes into your life, and your humble heart begins to hear from Him, the “stuff” of this world will seem to matter now more. Your focus instead of possessions becomes accomplishing God’s will for your life.

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. There will come a time when you feel the need to share your testimony, to share your faith, to share the difference that Christ can make with someone. The time that you spend with God every day prepares you for these times; prepares you to preach. You do not have to go to seminary to be Christ’s disciple. You are the church; and you are his preacher. You take Him everywhere you go every day, and He places before you those you can preach to. Do not be scared, but be obedient. Do not be scared to let God use you to draw others to Himself. Preach the Word to a world that desperately needs it…….today.

 
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Posted by on September 20, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Take a deep breath

19 Sep

Take a deep breath

Colossians 4:5-6  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Wack! Or maybe Thump, Thump, Thump would be a better description. Any ideas? We can offend and drive away those we are trying to draw near by our approach. We can come across too strong in our condemnation of sin, and become judgmental and self righteous to those who are lost. And probably even hypocritical in many ways. We can never argue a person to Christ, but we can argue a person away from Christ by hardening their hearts against Christians by our actions.  We must walk in wisdom prayerfully by protecting ourselves to not be drug down their paths of disbelief.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. Adrian Rogers said we must preach in anguish and not anger. There is a BIG difference. A heart that pains for the lost soul before you pleads with them rather than screaming at them. Our speech is to point to sin, but it should be with the love and grace that Christ provides. Matthew Henry put it, “ Though it be not always of grace, it must be always with grace; and, though the matter of our discourse be that which is common, yet there must be an air of piety upon it and it must be in a Christian manner seasoned with salt. Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse.”

I lived a life so far from God for so long, it pains me to see those I know still far from God. The realization of my sins past, present, and future humbles me.  It pains me to the point of anger, but it hurts me to the point of anguish. Do you see that we are living in the last days? Do you know we must answer for our lives to a righteous judge for an eternal sentence? Do you know you may stand before that judge as white as snow, washed by the blood of Christ’s sacrifice for you? It is never too late; until it is.

He came. He died. He arose. He ascended. He is coming back

 
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Posted by on September 19, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Where was I going?

18 Sep

Where was I going?

James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

What were we talking about? Who, where, what was I supposed to remember? If I were to be open with my struggles with memory this would be a five page paper instead of a OneMinuteMinistry. My problems with memory terrify me from a genetic standpoint, and it is truly becoming a challenge almost daily. I believe stress is the nutrient that feeds the disease. I am under a huge strain like many of you, and my escape is the Word of God. It is where I find comfort and peace in an out of control world. What is your crutch?

The book of James is one of the oldest books in the New Testament, and one of the most practical books on how to live your life as a Christian. James puts much of this epistle bluntly and as a “how to” book. When you need answers for real problems we all face; the book of James is a great place to go. The scriptures above speak to me with weight as the planner and over-thinker I am. I think things to death, and always looking into causes, solutions, and outcomes. Trying to plan and see 10 steps ahead. James puts it bluntly in closing; James 4:16 :But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

James 4:1-6 speaks directly to pride, and even as a planner pride is woven deep into that fabric. Trying to plan our daily destinies leaves God out of the picture. Trying to plan without seeking God is prideful and evil. James 1:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” A prideful heart thinks it directs its own steps and futures through its own abilities. A prideful heart is a heart far from God, but a heart that can be cleansed. James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. The next time you can’t remember where to go, remember to go to the book of James.

 
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Posted by on September 18, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Can’t you see?

17 Sep

Can’t you see?

Matthew 12:46-50   While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

My heart hurts when I hear and experience these things. Of how the stories become too common to those who draw near to the Lord and their lives are changed. They desperately want to share with those closest to them the love of Christ. But many times a deaf ear is turned to Christ’s saving grace through the testimonies of those sharing it. It can be those closest to us that see the change in us; yet deny the possibility of the change in them. It hurts us deeply when those closest to us live for this world and not for Christ.

When Christ really grabs ahold of you to the point that nothing else matters, there is no turning back to the world. The world behind you wants to remind you of where you came from; the life of sin; the life before Christ. Even Christ as God living sinless in the flesh was unaccepted before those closet to Him. Luke 4:22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” It hurts when those closest to us cannot forget the past, or worse yet cannot see the gospel we are trying to share with them. The stories I hear of those close to God seem to all have family members that either deny Christ, or simply have a facade for their faith. These stories all are extremely painful, and graduate level discipleship. Christ is asking us to keep our eyes on Him, even when those closest to us are falling away.

Christ even spoke directly to this struggle in Luke 4:24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. We must continue to share our faith with those closest to us, but yet we must also understand we are not in control and cannot argue them into Christ. We are told we must put Christ before ANY thing else in our lives if we are to be His disciples. Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. Only He can do the work He must in their heart; and they must respond to that call. We are only called to be a living example and testimony to His saving grace, unending love, and hope He has placed within us.

 
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Posted by on September 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Broom

16 Sep

The Broom

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

1st Timothy is believed to be the Apostle Paul’s last letter when he was in prison about to be executed for his faith. His letter to Timothy is to encourage him and speak to him regarding how to lead the church. Paul had lived an incredible life; a life transformed from murdering Christians to leading them. He had an incredible testimony of the saving grace of God. He realized his depravity before Christ, and his struggle to pursue Godliness after Christ. There comes a day in your growth as a follower of Christ you come to realize the weight of your sin. That conviction you feel tugs a heart to repent, and ultimately leads to worship in thanksgiving.

16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Paul realized how long Christ had put up with his persecution of Christians, but he also realized the example of grace that his salvation showed. There is nothing that you have ever done that you cannot be forgiven for. Paul realized the reason God showed him grace as that example. Satan will be in your ear telling you that your sin was too great, but Christ is tugging at your heart telling you He will forgive. Whom will you listen to?

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. There is a great work of worship in a heart that realizes the life before and the life after Christ. Of how we did not deserve what we were freely given (Grace). Of how we were not given what we truly deserved (Mercy). A heart that sees these things is a humble heart that is moves to thanksgiving and praise. A heart that sees a life everlasting with it’s Savior is a heart that is swept into worship? Do you see the before and after in your life? Do you feel that need to give thanks? If not; prayerfully examine your relationship with your Savior. He will open your heart to that realization painfully, and you will come away with an inexpressible joy swept by His grace.

 
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Posted by on September 16, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Fasting?

15 Sep

Fasting?

Matthew 6:17-18  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Have you ever fasted? Have you heard the term, but yet not understood it’s meaning? Fasting is simply denying yourself the pleasure of food as a means to consecrate your body and focus on God. You replace that physical hunger with His Word and prayer. I know from personal experience the rewards of extended fasting. You will gain a closeness to God you have never experienced before, and when the fast is over you will desire that closeness again. Fasting was prevalent throughout the Bible, but our self indulgent society hasn’t the mindset for it today.

Fasting is not a diet, but it is meant to be only between you and God. The scripture above is speaking of that relationship and the sanctity of it. God knows your heart, and why you are doing this to honor Him. If the heart of the fast is a true pursuit of Him, He will reward you with a spiritual awareness and eyes that see Him more clearly. This passage falls right on the heels of how Christ taught us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer. Matthew 6 is a powerful chapter speaking of the relationship you were created for. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I confided with someone about a fast once and they asked me how it was going. I replied, “I am missing the food, but loving the fellowship.” The more your body craves food, the more your heart craves God. Many of us have heard the scripture of “enough faith to move a mountain.” Do you know the verse following? Matthew 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” God sees and will honor that sacrifice you are making for Him. The time and depth of your fast depends on the desire of your heart for God. If you truly want to have your mind and heart opened to a closeness with God, try a fast. Spend time preparing for it in prayer and see where God leads you. Your spiritual walk will forever change. You cannot do an extended fast and see God on the same plain as you did before it. Your relationship with Him will never be the same, for you honored Him with a sacrifice of yourself.

 
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Posted by on September 15, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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14 Sep

Discipleship 101

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

There is a revival happening at our church right now. They Holy Spirit is stirring in people’s hearts and the outpouring of love and good works is picking up steam. Many people are wanting to know how to serve God in their communities; to share their love for Him and the good news He brings to a dying world. To know how to be more than a spectator in the stands, but to be a player on the team. They want to get in the game of becoming disciples of Christ. It is exciting to witness and be a part of what is going to become a great move of God I believe.

Are you living a life of a disciple? Do you possess that desire to show what Christ has done for you and how your life has changed? We all have a testimony of our lives before and after Christ. This sin filled world has it’s grip tightly on the lost right now. Satan has deceived many through his evil ways; and even those that may feel good about themselves stuck in religions that preach tolerance and that all ways lead to God. They need to hear the truth, and they can hear the truth when you reach out into those you see every day. Your circle of influence is where God can use you today. When God places someone before you, and you feel that need to share, move forward with it. Don’t be scared; He will guide you along the way. When you don’t, you grieve Christ’s Spirit living in you. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 2: 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. There is an outline from God in scripture of your testimony. God loved you so much that He pursued you while you were a sinner just like everybody else. We all have lived for the lusts of this world, but now we can share how we were saved from them. Our good works can be that co-worker who we can’t stand; but we now swallow our pride and share Christ with them. They can see the change in you, that they want to know what makes you different. That simple step in your growth as a disciple will draw you closer to God and He will give you more opportunities to become a light in a dark world.

 
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Posted by on September 14, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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