Point of View:
So after adding knowledge to goodness, Peter tells us to add self-control to knowledge. What does that mean? Well to start out, Self-Control is defined as: “the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, esp. in difficult situations”. So why would we need to add self control to knowledge? Well, let’s face it, its easy to learn about God when life is going well and we are happy, but what about when life is not going so well? When we are angry and/or upset, it’s often hard to retain that knowledge or have the desire to learn more about God. This is why we need self-control. We need to learn how to control our emotions and desires so that when the difficult situations come, we can express and behave ourselves in an honoring way. So, how do we do that? Well…
The Challenge:
Be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”. (-James 1:19) Now that’s self-control at its finest! If we can learn to not only practice this knowledge when we are angry, but also daily, then we will find ourselves not growing angry as often. This will result in God being given the glory that he both deserves and desires.
So, if you’re ready to glorify God and add self-control to knowledge, be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”!
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving us James 1:19, as it is an awesome display of what self control looks like.
• Ask that you would be able to add self-control to your knowledge. Even when times are tough, control your emotions and desires and God will be glorified.
• Pray that we would be disciplined enough to follow through with being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
The Word:
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control - 2 Peter 1:5-6
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. - James 1:19-20
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Adding Knowledge to Goodness
Point of View:
So after adding goodness to our faith, Peter tells us to add knowledge to goodness. What does that mean? Well to start off, knowledge is defined as: “Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education”. So, if knowledge is learning and experiencing something, if we want to grow in our knowledge of the Bible, what would we have to do? Learn and experience the Bible, right? Well that sounds easy, but if it is so easy, then why don’t too many believers know a lot about the Bible? Well I think that it’s because there is more than just trying to learn about God. We have to be living a glorifying life outside the Church, Bible Study or Classroom. That is hard to do though, right? We all have certain things in our life that hold us back and distract us from pursuing God. Things like worrying what others might think, fearing you might lose your friends, having relationships that don’t glorify God, using drugs and alcohol, and so many more.
The examples listed above are just a couple of the stumbling blocks that could hold you back from pursuing God, but there are many more, So…
The Challenge:
I want to challenge you to identify what specifically, is holding you back from pursuing God. Take a minute to do so. How can you go about cutting free the things that hold you back from learning and experiencing God? In my life, I had to stop hanging out with the crowd I was chilling with, why? Because a lot of them desired to drink, party, smoke weed and curse. I no longer desired that lifestyle. My new desire was to learn more about God and experience what living according to His will looked like. It was a big thing to cut away, but it has been about 3 years now and I don’t regret it one bit! God is worth it. Pursue Him at all cost and don’t let anyone hold you back from that.
Prayer Points:
- Thank God for giving us the strength we need to make the hard moves as we pursue Him.
- Ask for wisdom. The Bible says that if we ask for Wisdom, it will be given to us.
- Pray that nobody would be able to hold you back from what God’s will for your life is.
The Word:
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge - 2 Peter 1: 5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5
So after adding goodness to our faith, Peter tells us to add knowledge to goodness. What does that mean? Well to start off, knowledge is defined as: “Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education”. So, if knowledge is learning and experiencing something, if we want to grow in our knowledge of the Bible, what would we have to do? Learn and experience the Bible, right? Well that sounds easy, but if it is so easy, then why don’t too many believers know a lot about the Bible? Well I think that it’s because there is more than just trying to learn about God. We have to be living a glorifying life outside the Church, Bible Study or Classroom. That is hard to do though, right? We all have certain things in our life that hold us back and distract us from pursuing God. Things like worrying what others might think, fearing you might lose your friends, having relationships that don’t glorify God, using drugs and alcohol, and so many more.
The examples listed above are just a couple of the stumbling blocks that could hold you back from pursuing God, but there are many more, So…
The Challenge:
I want to challenge you to identify what specifically, is holding you back from pursuing God. Take a minute to do so. How can you go about cutting free the things that hold you back from learning and experiencing God? In my life, I had to stop hanging out with the crowd I was chilling with, why? Because a lot of them desired to drink, party, smoke weed and curse. I no longer desired that lifestyle. My new desire was to learn more about God and experience what living according to His will looked like. It was a big thing to cut away, but it has been about 3 years now and I don’t regret it one bit! God is worth it. Pursue Him at all cost and don’t let anyone hold you back from that.
Prayer Points:
- Thank God for giving us the strength we need to make the hard moves as we pursue Him.
- Ask for wisdom. The Bible says that if we ask for Wisdom, it will be given to us.
- Pray that nobody would be able to hold you back from what God’s will for your life is.
The Word:
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge - 2 Peter 1: 5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Adding Goodness to Your Faith
Point of View:
So in 2 Peter 1:5, Peter tells us to add goodness to our faith. Reading that, have you ever really asked yourself what exactly goodness is, and how you would add it to your faith? Well, goodness really consists of two things: kindness and generosity. For example, if you do something “out of the goodness of your heart”, you are being generously kind to someone. Let’s break that down a little more. We probably all know that kindness means to be friendly or nice, but what does generosity mean? Well, generosity is defined as: “showing a readiness to give more than what’s necessary or expected”. This reminds me of Jesus, He did not have to die, but died so that we could be viewed as perfect and have a relationship with our Father in Heaven, God. Now that’s doing more than what is necessary! Understanding that, let us move on to the challenge…
The Challenge:
I want to challenge you to add goodness to your faith. How can you do that? Well, there are two steps in this process. First up, you have to have faith in Jesus Christ. If you believe that Jesus took upon your sins, died for them, and three days later rose again, The Bible says that you “should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16) The second part of adding goodness to your faith is; declaring that your ready to give it all for the One (Jesus) who gave it all. I challenge you to give more than what your parents, friends and teachers expect from you. Are you ready to do that? If so, Lets Go! Now is the time to start!
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for sending his Son Jesus to die on the cross for your sins. (We do this a lot, but really… we can not do it enough)
• Ask for endurance. It might be easy to do more than others expect for a while, but I promise you it will get hard.
• Pray that God would be glorified in our actions. May we not “go the extra mile” to look good, but to bring glory to God.
The Word:
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness…
- 2 Peter 1:5
39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
- Mathew 5: 39-42
So in 2 Peter 1:5, Peter tells us to add goodness to our faith. Reading that, have you ever really asked yourself what exactly goodness is, and how you would add it to your faith? Well, goodness really consists of two things: kindness and generosity. For example, if you do something “out of the goodness of your heart”, you are being generously kind to someone. Let’s break that down a little more. We probably all know that kindness means to be friendly or nice, but what does generosity mean? Well, generosity is defined as: “showing a readiness to give more than what’s necessary or expected”. This reminds me of Jesus, He did not have to die, but died so that we could be viewed as perfect and have a relationship with our Father in Heaven, God. Now that’s doing more than what is necessary! Understanding that, let us move on to the challenge…
The Challenge:
I want to challenge you to add goodness to your faith. How can you do that? Well, there are two steps in this process. First up, you have to have faith in Jesus Christ. If you believe that Jesus took upon your sins, died for them, and three days later rose again, The Bible says that you “should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16) The second part of adding goodness to your faith is; declaring that your ready to give it all for the One (Jesus) who gave it all. I challenge you to give more than what your parents, friends and teachers expect from you. Are you ready to do that? If so, Lets Go! Now is the time to start!
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for sending his Son Jesus to die on the cross for your sins. (We do this a lot, but really… we can not do it enough)
• Ask for endurance. It might be easy to do more than others expect for a while, but I promise you it will get hard.
• Pray that God would be glorified in our actions. May we not “go the extra mile” to look good, but to bring glory to God.
The Word:
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness…
- 2 Peter 1:5
39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
- Mathew 5: 39-42
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wisdom from Peter
Point of View:
As many of you have probably already realized, this world is full of corruption. I mean, there are people asking others to do horrible things all the time. For example, teens and young adults all over the world are being asked to go to school, do their homework and read boring books everyday. Is that not terrible? This world is messed up! Haha! I am just kidding about those examples and hope they do not offend anyone, but on a more serious note, corruption is defiantly present in this world. Noticing this, I want to dig into 2 Peter 1: 5-9 big time over the next couple weeks. Why? Because I believe that a lot of us desire to be useful, glorifying followers of God, but keep getting caught in the evil desires of the flesh. That’s why 2 Peter 1: 5-9 is awesome, because Peter tells us what we have to do in order to escape the corruption of this life. If you live your life as Peter tells us, adding what he says, you will limit the struggles and problems you bring upon yourself, and you will be able to continue to grow deeper and deeper in love with God and learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ.
The Challenge:
Read 2 Peter 1:3-9. We will break it down over the next couple weeks, but to best understand it read it all together.
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for sending Peter and giving him the knowledge we need to escape the corruption of this life.
• Ask that you would be able to understand the scripture and apply it to your life.
• Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ as they do the same.
The Word:
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4 Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. - 2 Peter 1:3-9
As many of you have probably already realized, this world is full of corruption. I mean, there are people asking others to do horrible things all the time. For example, teens and young adults all over the world are being asked to go to school, do their homework and read boring books everyday. Is that not terrible? This world is messed up! Haha! I am just kidding about those examples and hope they do not offend anyone, but on a more serious note, corruption is defiantly present in this world. Noticing this, I want to dig into 2 Peter 1: 5-9 big time over the next couple weeks. Why? Because I believe that a lot of us desire to be useful, glorifying followers of God, but keep getting caught in the evil desires of the flesh. That’s why 2 Peter 1: 5-9 is awesome, because Peter tells us what we have to do in order to escape the corruption of this life. If you live your life as Peter tells us, adding what he says, you will limit the struggles and problems you bring upon yourself, and you will be able to continue to grow deeper and deeper in love with God and learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ.
The Challenge:
Read 2 Peter 1:3-9. We will break it down over the next couple weeks, but to best understand it read it all together.
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for sending Peter and giving him the knowledge we need to escape the corruption of this life.
• Ask that you would be able to understand the scripture and apply it to your life.
• Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ as they do the same.
The Word:
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4 Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. - 2 Peter 1:3-9
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Finish with Prayer
Point of View:
So immediately after Paul lists the Armor of God, he tells us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” He also says; “With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people”. (Ephesians 6:18) Although is was not a part of the armor Paul listed, in verse 18 prayer acts as the thread that ties it altogether. Pursuing God through prayer is what allows us to put on the armor and combine the pieces together. If you are a believer in Christ, prayer is how you can stay in touch with God. Prayer helps us to better understand who God is, what He can do and how gracious and loving He really is. So now that we know what all the pieces are, let us spend some time in prayer today. Let’s fully equip the Armor of God and stand strong.
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for being such a loving and gracious Father who is always willing to listen.
• Strap The Belt of Truth around your waist. Commit yourself to making Jesus alone, the foundation of your life. Stand strong and know that you can resist the foundations of this world.
• Place The Breastplate of Righteousness over your heart. Declare that Jesus is your righteous Savior and through Him you will be able to fight any battle and stand victorious against the enemy. (Satan)
• Slide the Shoes Ready to Preach the Gospel on. Ask God for boldness as we share the gospel with our friends and family. God’s word is “a light unto our path” so ask that you would be able to walk by faith and not question His will.
• Take up The Shield of Faith. Thank God for giving us what we need in order to defend ourselves from the flaming arrows of the Devil. Rely on God’s Power.
• Place The Helmet of Salvation upon your head. Thank God for sending His Son, Jesus to die on the Cross for your sins. For through faith in Him, we can be saved.
• Take up The Sword of The Spirit. Thank God for writing His 66 book love letter (the Bible) to us. Pray for wisdom as you apply God’s Word to your life’s situations and daily temptations.
• Pray for all the Lord’s People. Ask that God would bless us with a never ceasing passion to read His word.
The Word:
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ephesians 6:18
So immediately after Paul lists the Armor of God, he tells us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” He also says; “With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people”. (Ephesians 6:18) Although is was not a part of the armor Paul listed, in verse 18 prayer acts as the thread that ties it altogether. Pursuing God through prayer is what allows us to put on the armor and combine the pieces together. If you are a believer in Christ, prayer is how you can stay in touch with God. Prayer helps us to better understand who God is, what He can do and how gracious and loving He really is. So now that we know what all the pieces are, let us spend some time in prayer today. Let’s fully equip the Armor of God and stand strong.
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for being such a loving and gracious Father who is always willing to listen.
• Strap The Belt of Truth around your waist. Commit yourself to making Jesus alone, the foundation of your life. Stand strong and know that you can resist the foundations of this world.
• Place The Breastplate of Righteousness over your heart. Declare that Jesus is your righteous Savior and through Him you will be able to fight any battle and stand victorious against the enemy. (Satan)
• Slide the Shoes Ready to Preach the Gospel on. Ask God for boldness as we share the gospel with our friends and family. God’s word is “a light unto our path” so ask that you would be able to walk by faith and not question His will.
• Take up The Shield of Faith. Thank God for giving us what we need in order to defend ourselves from the flaming arrows of the Devil. Rely on God’s Power.
• Place The Helmet of Salvation upon your head. Thank God for sending His Son, Jesus to die on the Cross for your sins. For through faith in Him, we can be saved.
• Take up The Sword of The Spirit. Thank God for writing His 66 book love letter (the Bible) to us. Pray for wisdom as you apply God’s Word to your life’s situations and daily temptations.
• Pray for all the Lord’s People. Ask that God would bless us with a never ceasing passion to read His word.
The Word:
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ephesians 6:18
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Sword of the Spirit
Point of View:
So the sword was the last piece of armor Paul listed. It was viewed as a very deadly and powerful weapon and had a two-edged blade that inflicted way more damage then any other sword from that time. That alone gave them an offensive advantage over all the army’s of that day and made them very hard to defend against. As soldiers of Christ fighting in life’s spiritual battle, we have a weapon far more effective than any piece of steel could ever be. What is this weapon? It’s the sword of the spirit, God’s Word aka the Bible. Did you know Jesus Himself used God’s Word to defend Himself against the devil? Satan tempted Jesus three times in the wilderness (Mathew 4:1-11) and all three times Jesus quoted scripture and stood strong against Satan’s schemes. How awesome is that?! God’s Word is such a powerful weapon and I want to challenge you to arm yourself with it.
The Challenge:
God gave us His Word aka the Sword of the Spirit because as believers, we are His soldiers, fighting against the schemes of the devil. I want to challenge you to equip this precious and unique weapon. If we speak God's word according to His plan, there is no power in the universe that can withstand it! That is because God has ultimate authority in this universe. Which makes sense right? After all, God spoke the universe into existence and is the creator of all things. There is power in God’s Word! It’s time to commit yourself to knowing, understanding and applying God’s Word to your life. Now the only question is... are you willing?
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving us the Sword of the Spirit. (Bible)
• Ask for wisdom in applying Gods Word to your life.
• Pray that you would grow a never-ending passion for reading His Word.
The Word:
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Ephesians 6: 17
So the sword was the last piece of armor Paul listed. It was viewed as a very deadly and powerful weapon and had a two-edged blade that inflicted way more damage then any other sword from that time. That alone gave them an offensive advantage over all the army’s of that day and made them very hard to defend against. As soldiers of Christ fighting in life’s spiritual battle, we have a weapon far more effective than any piece of steel could ever be. What is this weapon? It’s the sword of the spirit, God’s Word aka the Bible. Did you know Jesus Himself used God’s Word to defend Himself against the devil? Satan tempted Jesus three times in the wilderness (Mathew 4:1-11) and all three times Jesus quoted scripture and stood strong against Satan’s schemes. How awesome is that?! God’s Word is such a powerful weapon and I want to challenge you to arm yourself with it.
The Challenge:
God gave us His Word aka the Sword of the Spirit because as believers, we are His soldiers, fighting against the schemes of the devil. I want to challenge you to equip this precious and unique weapon. If we speak God's word according to His plan, there is no power in the universe that can withstand it! That is because God has ultimate authority in this universe. Which makes sense right? After all, God spoke the universe into existence and is the creator of all things. There is power in God’s Word! It’s time to commit yourself to knowing, understanding and applying God’s Word to your life. Now the only question is... are you willing?
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving us the Sword of the Spirit. (Bible)
• Ask for wisdom in applying Gods Word to your life.
• Pray that you would grow a never-ending passion for reading His Word.
The Word:
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Ephesians 6: 17
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Helmet of Salvation
Point of View:
The Roman soldiers had some of the best gear in the ancient world, especially their helmets. Most helmets of that time where made of cloth wrappings, animal hide and bone. However, the Roman soldiers wore a bronze helmet that was cast to their troops. It was lined with leather for comfort and also had a visor, chinstrap and a piece of bronze that came down over the backside of their neck. A great helmet protects the wearer from all different directions of blows and attacks. To put it simply: if you protect the brain, you protect the mind, and the greatest battlefield is our mind. The Devil wants to attack this area the most and wants to damage our assurance in salvation. He will do whatever it takes to try to deceive you into glorifying him and to not trust in God.
The Challenge:
Put on the “Helmet of Salvation”! How do you do that? Well to start, Paul gives us some great advice in Philippians 4: 8, It is listed below and I encourage you to read it right now as it tells us what we should be thinking about. (Read verse 4: 8) We must be mindful of our thoughts, because as Casting Crowns says, “it’s a slow fade”. The Devil is subtle in his attacks and can easily blind us if we are careless. Lastly, I challenge you to flood yourself in God’s Word and constantly talk with your Father, God through prayer. He blesses us with wisdom so let us apply this as we think about praiseworthy things.
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving you this helmet, as it is what you need to defend yourselves from the Devils attacks.
• Ask for wisdom; for knowledge is knowing the truth, but wisdom is applying it.
• Pray that you would be able to recall Paul’s wisdom and think about praiseworthy things.
The Word:
Take the helmet of salvation… - Ephesians 6: 17
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8
The Roman soldiers had some of the best gear in the ancient world, especially their helmets. Most helmets of that time where made of cloth wrappings, animal hide and bone. However, the Roman soldiers wore a bronze helmet that was cast to their troops. It was lined with leather for comfort and also had a visor, chinstrap and a piece of bronze that came down over the backside of their neck. A great helmet protects the wearer from all different directions of blows and attacks. To put it simply: if you protect the brain, you protect the mind, and the greatest battlefield is our mind. The Devil wants to attack this area the most and wants to damage our assurance in salvation. He will do whatever it takes to try to deceive you into glorifying him and to not trust in God.
The Challenge:
Put on the “Helmet of Salvation”! How do you do that? Well to start, Paul gives us some great advice in Philippians 4: 8, It is listed below and I encourage you to read it right now as it tells us what we should be thinking about. (Read verse 4: 8) We must be mindful of our thoughts, because as Casting Crowns says, “it’s a slow fade”. The Devil is subtle in his attacks and can easily blind us if we are careless. Lastly, I challenge you to flood yourself in God’s Word and constantly talk with your Father, God through prayer. He blesses us with wisdom so let us apply this as we think about praiseworthy things.
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving you this helmet, as it is what you need to defend yourselves from the Devils attacks.
• Ask for wisdom; for knowledge is knowing the truth, but wisdom is applying it.
• Pray that you would be able to recall Paul’s wisdom and think about praiseworthy things.
The Word:
Take the helmet of salvation… - Ephesians 6: 17
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8
Stepping Stones: Life Abundant: Pain Relief and Healing
Transformational Thought
I cut my finger the other day, but I didn’t give it the care it needed at the time. Just threw a bandage on it to stop the bleeding so it wouldn’t mess up anything. A couple days later, an infection set in and the injury got my attention. I went to buy an antibiotic ointment to aid the healing and found a leading brand ointment that had an interesting claim; “Healing and pain relief.” The cut was creating some discomfort for me, so I chose the product that offered more than just healing. I wanted pain relief as well.
Holy Scripture tells us that Christ’s mission in coming to earth was to forgive and to save … to provide “eternity” for us. He came to deliver oh so much more than just our redemption. He brought us eternal freedom, fulfillment, peace and joy. Healing is now available for us.
You see, often times, we have a hard time believing the healing He brings is actually available for us here on earth. I know that not all our physical and psychological illnesses will be made whole now. But even though we struggle, His peace and comfort can melt away pain and renew our mind in powerful ways. Our biggest illness is spiritual, so connecting with Him and maximally absorbing Him will have a powerful impact on our other ills.
The prophet Isaiah tells us the Messiah will come to bind up and heal, to release and set free (while we are here on earth). Jesus Himself referenced this passage as captured in Luke 4:17. Think about this: Christ came not only to forgive you, but to restore and release you. This is the central passage in the entire Bible about Jesus. He fulfilled every prophesy, testifying to the truth and then dying for us, bringing ultimate healing and shalom to our lives and His relationship with us.
Today, take Jesus Christ at his word … as the healer of all the broken pieces within you … Who unites them into one whole and healed heart. Think what life would be like if you believed that promise. What keeps you from believing His promise? What do you believe in more strongly than His promise and the incredible body of evidence He has compiled? Why do you believe something else? It’s your decision regarding what you will believe: Jesus’ promises and teachings, or your own theory. Choose well. Your life depends on it.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I pray and ask You to release me from all bondage and captivity, as You promised to do. Take all my broken pieces and give me an all-receiving heart … make me whole. I know, Father, that You will not do this at a distance, so I desire to be as close to You as I possibly can be … show me the way to You, my Lord, and Savior. I pray in the name of the one You sent to forgive me, save me, and heal me, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Isaiah 61:1
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
I cut my finger the other day, but I didn’t give it the care it needed at the time. Just threw a bandage on it to stop the bleeding so it wouldn’t mess up anything. A couple days later, an infection set in and the injury got my attention. I went to buy an antibiotic ointment to aid the healing and found a leading brand ointment that had an interesting claim; “Healing and pain relief.” The cut was creating some discomfort for me, so I chose the product that offered more than just healing. I wanted pain relief as well.
Holy Scripture tells us that Christ’s mission in coming to earth was to forgive and to save … to provide “eternity” for us. He came to deliver oh so much more than just our redemption. He brought us eternal freedom, fulfillment, peace and joy. Healing is now available for us.
You see, often times, we have a hard time believing the healing He brings is actually available for us here on earth. I know that not all our physical and psychological illnesses will be made whole now. But even though we struggle, His peace and comfort can melt away pain and renew our mind in powerful ways. Our biggest illness is spiritual, so connecting with Him and maximally absorbing Him will have a powerful impact on our other ills.
The prophet Isaiah tells us the Messiah will come to bind up and heal, to release and set free (while we are here on earth). Jesus Himself referenced this passage as captured in Luke 4:17. Think about this: Christ came not only to forgive you, but to restore and release you. This is the central passage in the entire Bible about Jesus. He fulfilled every prophesy, testifying to the truth and then dying for us, bringing ultimate healing and shalom to our lives and His relationship with us.
Today, take Jesus Christ at his word … as the healer of all the broken pieces within you … Who unites them into one whole and healed heart. Think what life would be like if you believed that promise. What keeps you from believing His promise? What do you believe in more strongly than His promise and the incredible body of evidence He has compiled? Why do you believe something else? It’s your decision regarding what you will believe: Jesus’ promises and teachings, or your own theory. Choose well. Your life depends on it.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I pray and ask You to release me from all bondage and captivity, as You promised to do. Take all my broken pieces and give me an all-receiving heart … make me whole. I know, Father, that You will not do this at a distance, so I desire to be as close to You as I possibly can be … show me the way to You, my Lord, and Savior. I pray in the name of the one You sent to forgive me, save me, and heal me, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Isaiah 61:1
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Shield of Faith
Point of View:
So the Roman Soldiers had many pieces of armor, but the biggest piece of armor that they carried was their shield. They would carry it with them almost all times and would use it to defend themselves from airborne attacks, which included flaming arrows and spears. Many times a group of soldiers would draw close together and hold their shields over their heads and circle around so that other soldiers could run underneath and be shielded from the deadly attacks of their opponents. It is easy to see how if the shield is used correctly it can be a trustworthy piece of equipment that can keep you from the “flaming arrows” of your opponent. How does this relate to your life? Let me tell you, the Devil is constantly launching “flaming arrows” your way. Those “flaming arrows” come in all forms; friends, money, drugs, relationships, there are so many different “flaming arrows” that the Devil can use to keep you occupied. The Devil tries to keep you feeling as though you do not need a Savior, but if you have your shield (Faith in Jesus Christ) equipped, you can defend yourself from the attacks of the Devil and continue to press on.
The Challenge:
Trust in Jesus alone as your shield. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, believing that he took your sins upon himself, dying for them on the cross and has risen from the dead, then as Acts 31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved”. Relying on your own abilities will get you nowhere in this battle against the Devil. Equip the shield if you have not already, or learn how to hold it above your head and defend against the Devil's “flaming arrows”. Continue to defend yourself and remain faithful to Christ. Do not let the little things distract you from God's will for your life. Hold your shield up high and continue pressing on and standing strong.
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving us Jesus, His Son because through Him we can equip the “Shield of Faith”.
• Ask for knowledge, as it is easy to get wrapped up in life’s different schemes. Remain faithful to God.
• Pray that those who do not have faith in Christ will be able to have that opportunity before it is to late. Be bold and share the Word.
The Word:
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. - Ephesians 6:16
30…what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved… - Acts 16:30-31
So the Roman Soldiers had many pieces of armor, but the biggest piece of armor that they carried was their shield. They would carry it with them almost all times and would use it to defend themselves from airborne attacks, which included flaming arrows and spears. Many times a group of soldiers would draw close together and hold their shields over their heads and circle around so that other soldiers could run underneath and be shielded from the deadly attacks of their opponents. It is easy to see how if the shield is used correctly it can be a trustworthy piece of equipment that can keep you from the “flaming arrows” of your opponent. How does this relate to your life? Let me tell you, the Devil is constantly launching “flaming arrows” your way. Those “flaming arrows” come in all forms; friends, money, drugs, relationships, there are so many different “flaming arrows” that the Devil can use to keep you occupied. The Devil tries to keep you feeling as though you do not need a Savior, but if you have your shield (Faith in Jesus Christ) equipped, you can defend yourself from the attacks of the Devil and continue to press on.
The Challenge:
Trust in Jesus alone as your shield. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, believing that he took your sins upon himself, dying for them on the cross and has risen from the dead, then as Acts 31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved”. Relying on your own abilities will get you nowhere in this battle against the Devil. Equip the shield if you have not already, or learn how to hold it above your head and defend against the Devil's “flaming arrows”. Continue to defend yourself and remain faithful to Christ. Do not let the little things distract you from God's will for your life. Hold your shield up high and continue pressing on and standing strong.
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving us Jesus, His Son because through Him we can equip the “Shield of Faith”.
• Ask for knowledge, as it is easy to get wrapped up in life’s different schemes. Remain faithful to God.
• Pray that those who do not have faith in Christ will be able to have that opportunity before it is to late. Be bold and share the Word.
The Word:
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. - Ephesians 6:16
30…what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved… - Acts 16:30-31
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Shoes Ready to Preach the Gospel of Peace
Point of View:
So the Roman soldiers where very effective for many reasons. They were extremely well trained, given some of the best equipment know to man (at the time) and had leaders that where top notch! One way the Roman soldiers had an advantage on the battlefield was because they were equipped with spiked footwear. Having these spikes on the soul of their shoes provided them with a strong stance and great balance on all terrains. They also allowed them to go toe to toe with any opponent on almost any terrain. Spiritually, the “Shoes of Preparation of the Gospel of Peace” do the same for us in defending ourselves from our opponent, the devil. Often, the devil will try to lure you onto the uneven, rocky terrain of life and attack us when we are unstable and vulnerable to stumble. That’s why I want to challenge you to put on the “Shoes of Preparation”.
The Challenge:
Often, the devil will try to lure you onto the uneven, rocky terrain of life and attack us when we are unstable and vulnerable to stumble. That’s why I want to challenge you to put on the “Shoes of Preparation”! How do you put them on? By knowing and believing the Gospel is true! ”6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:6” If you believe that Jesus took your sins upon the cross, died for them, and three days later rose again, then take a knee and strap the “Shoes of Preparation” up my friend because truth in the Gospel is what allows us to equip this useful piece. Are you still Hesitant to put them on? Know that if you do, you are eternally God’s through your faith in Christ as your savior. Therefore, the war is won. Remember that preparation gives confidence to be bold and attack by witnessing the gospel to others. Lace up!
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving us the gift of the ‘Shoes of Preparation’ because through them, we can stand strong!
• Ask for boldness as you witness to others and share the good news of the gospel.
• Knowing it and applying it are two different things so pray for wisdom in applying the parts of the armor of God.
The Word:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. - Ephesians 6:14-15
So the Roman soldiers where very effective for many reasons. They were extremely well trained, given some of the best equipment know to man (at the time) and had leaders that where top notch! One way the Roman soldiers had an advantage on the battlefield was because they were equipped with spiked footwear. Having these spikes on the soul of their shoes provided them with a strong stance and great balance on all terrains. They also allowed them to go toe to toe with any opponent on almost any terrain. Spiritually, the “Shoes of Preparation of the Gospel of Peace” do the same for us in defending ourselves from our opponent, the devil. Often, the devil will try to lure you onto the uneven, rocky terrain of life and attack us when we are unstable and vulnerable to stumble. That’s why I want to challenge you to put on the “Shoes of Preparation”.
The Challenge:
Often, the devil will try to lure you onto the uneven, rocky terrain of life and attack us when we are unstable and vulnerable to stumble. That’s why I want to challenge you to put on the “Shoes of Preparation”! How do you put them on? By knowing and believing the Gospel is true! ”6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:6” If you believe that Jesus took your sins upon the cross, died for them, and three days later rose again, then take a knee and strap the “Shoes of Preparation” up my friend because truth in the Gospel is what allows us to equip this useful piece. Are you still Hesitant to put them on? Know that if you do, you are eternally God’s through your faith in Christ as your savior. Therefore, the war is won. Remember that preparation gives confidence to be bold and attack by witnessing the gospel to others. Lace up!
Prayer Points:
• Thank God for giving us the gift of the ‘Shoes of Preparation’ because through them, we can stand strong!
• Ask for boldness as you witness to others and share the good news of the gospel.
• Knowing it and applying it are two different things so pray for wisdom in applying the parts of the armor of God.
The Word:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. - Ephesians 6:14-15
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