Eternal Life: You Can Be Sure

Eternal Life: You Can Be Sure

1 John 5:13

Writing to the early church, the apostle John wanted to make something perfectly clear: God offers His children everlasting life. Men and women in Christ should have no fear of physical death, because their true lives—their eternal lives—are secure in Jesus. Today’s passage is unique because in it, John plainly states his purpose for writing. The point of his ministry was to empower believers with the unshakable faith of eternal life in Christ.

The basis for this truth lies in . . .

1. The unchanging promises of God. Over and over in his gospel and letters, the apostle declares God’s assurance of never-ending life. For example, he quotes Jesus’ promise of eternity in John 3:16, 6:40, and 10:27-30.

2. The unconditional love of God. Our Father loves us so much that He wants an everlasting, intimate relationship with each one of us. To achieve this, He demonstrated His love in a remarkable way: by providing our salvation at a great price (Rom. 5:6-11; 8:33-39).

3. The finished work of Christ on the cross. By offering His life as a substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus provided the means of salvation once and for all. Our part is to accept the gift He so freely gives (Heb. 10:23-28).

4. The witness of God’s Spirit to our heart. Our Father places His Holy Spirit within every believer to testify to the truth of our salvation (Rom. 8:15-17).

Scripture tells us that we can have complete assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Does your day-to-day life reflect this confidence?

If God Does Not Rescue Us-Encouragement for Today

Encouragement for Today
Samantha Evilsizer

"If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods ..." Daniel 3:17-18a (HCSB)

She whisked the tears away fast, like a sailor scooping water from a sinking ship. My friend was trying hard to keep her heart from going under.

She'd been carrying the joy of what she thought was a new life on the way. But this was a hope to be deferred. It wasn't time. She wasn't sure if it'd ever be time.

Desperate aches to hold a baby of her own had begun to dictate her thoughts, emotions and actions. And she recognized she had to face a few big questions before they consumed her.

Would her longing to rest her cheek against a soft head crowd out her praise to God? Might her days be full of trust in Him, even if her womb remained empty? Could she stand in awe of all God had already done ... or would she bow to discontentment and disbelief in His goodness and power?

As she sat with me, my friend knew it was time to stand and face the music. Much like three young Israelite men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, did in the book of Daniel.

These Israelites had been captured by the Babylonians. Many years into their captivity, the fanatical King Nebuchadnezzar held a ceremony. To fulfill his craving to be feared and obeyed, he demanded the people bow and worship a 90-foot golden idol when special music was played. If they didn't, death by a scorching furnace was certain.

Everyone kneeled facedown; everyone but these three men of God. They stood above the crowd and literally faced the music.

Going against the royal edict had sealed their fate, or so the king thought. Scripture tells the rest of their story: "Then in a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ... 'if you don't worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?'" (v. 13a, 15b HCSB).

Little did the king realize the depth of confidence these men had in their God. They knew their fate was held by Him, not determined by the king's whims. Listen to how they responded. "If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king.

But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods ..." (v. 16b-18a HCSB)

Their strong rebuttal threw cold water on the king's burning demands. I love their resolute belief. Especially because the word rescue in this context indicates possibility, not certainty.

They were assured in knowing that God possibly would ... and definitely could ... but He certainly might not save them.

God miraculously rescuing them from the antics of Nebuchadnezzar wasn't their focus. Instead, they fixed their hearts on the fact God is good and wise and can be trusted, no matter the outcome. They stood against the lure to desire anything—even their lives—more than God.

Almost a year after our conversation, I spotted my friend at church. I knew it hadn't been an easy year for her. Though her arms still didn't hold a baby, she was clinging tightly to her God—facing the music, remaining faithful. She was worshiping with all her heart.

God, sometimes I don't understand Your ways. They fly in the face of my desires. Help me recognize doubt, frustration and fear as an indication that I am longing for something more than I long for You. Help me trust and love You. Amen.

Related Resources:
Find lasting encouragement and truth in the Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women.

Sometimes it's not easy to stand alone. We've compiled 100 devotionals in Encouragement for Today from our team's heart to yours, to lift you up with God's hope and truth.

Click here to join Samantha Evilsizer's Facebook page More Than Enough, a growing community of Christ-minded women who encourage one another.

Reflect and Respond:
Take a moment to feel the gravity of the declaration Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego made: "But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods ..."

Is there a desire of your heart that God has not granted? What would change if you actively chose to long for God more than that desire?

Power Verse:
Mark 12:30, "And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." (NLT)

Eternal Life: Do You Want It?

Eternal Life: Do You Want It?

1 John 5:3-12

Good health, it seems, is on everyone’s mind these days. Books about the latest, greatest fad diets top the bestseller list. Nutrition stores and health clubs pop up all over town—at times right next door to fast food restaurants. And late-night television is constantly unveiling a flood of gadgets and gizmos, all designed to get you into “the best shape of your life” (and with the promise of minimal effort and commitment).

Why is the health industry such a booming business? It’s because longevity is a major concern: most people have an innate desire to live as long as they can. But in addition to wanting quantity of years, people also want the highest quality life possible. Yet this emotional need for a long, robust life is most frequently centered around the physical world. What about life after death?

Scripture makes it absolutely clear that eternal life is available to every person on earth (Rom. 10:13). Sickness, disease, and death are all bound to life on this planet; however, everyone in Christ has already overcome the worst this world has to offer—namely, death (1 John 5:4-5). Despite their emotional appeal, television infomercials cannot offer anything to compare with the promise of eternal life.

As believers, we should be shouting this message from the rooftops. The people around us are yearning for a word of life, but too many Christians have remained silent. Why? How can we keep secret what God went to such great lengths to reveal? We can live forever! Who in your life needs to hear this amazing truth today?

Responding to Closed Doors

Responding to Closed Doors

Philippians 4:6-7

Disappointments can be hard to bear. One minute life seems to be on track for what we hope and dream. The next moment our way is blocked. How do we respond when facing closed doors?

If our hearts are set on a certain course of action, we may convince ourselves it is God’s will and push ahead regardless. We might send up a quick prayer asking for His help or blessing, but mostly we just move forward. By manipulating people or circumstances, we could get what we want but be outside of God’s plan.

Another response to a blocked path is to become emotionally upset. Then we face the danger of operating out of our feelings and replacing a Christ-centered perspective with a self-centered one. Strong emotions can be a temptation to blame others—including the Lord. Anger toward Him can, in turn, lead us to rebel against Him and His ways.

Godly responses, on the other hand, start with waiting and trusting. When the Lord blocks our way, we are to have faith in Him, taking time to assess the situation, and praying for guidance. By asking the Spirit to increase our sensitivity to the events around us, we will be able to notice any open doors. Even if we find none, we are to live with hope, anticipating other doors of opportunity in His perfect time. Thanking God for His work on our behalf is essential, even at times when we lack understanding. Finally, remaining faithful to what the Lord has called us to do is an important part of our wait.

Wait. Trust. Pray. Obey. This is God’s prescription for handling closed doors.

Behold, bless the Lord- Time with God

  Time with God

Psalm 134

Behold, bless the Lord, all servants of the Lord, who serve by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth.

This is the last in a group of psalms called Psalms of Ascents. These psalms were used in the daily ceremonies of the Temple in Jerusalem. As the final psalm in the group, this would have been sung to the “night shift” Levites, who were coming on duty as the temple was closing down.

God challenges them not to waste their idle moments during the night shift, but to use that time to “bless the Lord!”

What idle moments are there in your life? Those are the times that often lead to real spiritual struggles. Idle moments are when anxiety can fill our minds, when lustful thoughts can invade, when bitterness and anger can rise to the surface, when fear can paralyze us.

Those very moments that lead to the greatest struggles in our spiritual lives can be turned into one of the greatest sources of spiritual growth as we begin to give those idle moments to God.

The time in the car, or lying awake in bed, or in between classes, or waiting in the doctor’s office, or watching TV.

Ask yourself, “How could I bless God with these spare moments?”

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/timewithgod/

by: John North

Confronting Closed Doors

Confronting Closed Doors

Acts 16:6-10

God has the power to open any closed door. And yet He may decide to let things that seem important to us remain blocked. Why does the Lord allow doors to stay shut?

• Protection. He might be trying to keep us from making a mistake. On our own, we may not have adequate knowledge to make right choices.

• Redirection. God could be sending us on a new path. His plan might include bigger opportunities, deeper satisfaction, more productivity, a season of suffering, or an opportunity to glorify His name. The Lord closed doors in Asia so that the apostle Paul would minister on the continent of Europe. His obedience led to increased fruitfulness—the churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth—and to more knowledge for us through his letters to them. Though Paul experienced much suffering, he also knew the joy of participating in God’s work.

• Testing. When God says “No,” our faith is tested, and we discover what we really believe about Him and His plans.

• Perseverance. When our path is blocked, we have opportunity to develop steadfastness. Romans 5:3-5 tells us that we should actually “exult in our tribulations,” because of the positive results the Lord will cause through them.

• Timing. Sometimes our Father places stop signs in our way to work out the right timing for His will.

• Disobedience. Past waywardness can affect future experiences and blessings.

When your way is stopped, look to God and seek His purpose for the interruption. How do you respond to “no”?

Waiting, Not Running -Faiths Checkbook by C.H. Spurgeon

Faiths Checkbook by C.H. Spurgeon

Waiting, Not Running 
"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation"   (Psalm 62:1).

Blessed posture! Waiting truly and only upon the LORD. Be this our condition all this day and every day. Waiting His leisure, waiting in His service, waiting in joyful expectation, waiting in prayer, and content. When the very soul thus waits, it is in the best and truest condition of a creature before his Creator, a servant before his Master, a child before his Father. We allow no dictation to God, nor complaining of Him; we will permit no petulance and no distrust. At the same time, we practice no running before the cloud and no seeking to others for aid: neither of these would be waiting upon God. God, and God alone, is the expectation of our hearts. Blessed assurance! From Him salvation is coming; it is on the road. It will come from Him and from no one else. He shall have all the glory of it, for He alone can and will perform it. And He will perform it most surely in His own time and manner. He will save from doubt, and suffering, and slander, and distress. Though we see no sign of it as yet, we are satisfied to bide the LORD's will, for we have no suspicion of His love and faithfulness. He will make sure work of it before long, and we will praise Him at once for the coming mercy.

Hindrances to Success

Hindrances to Success

Galatians 6:9-10

No matter how carefully we plan our time, we will now and then run into obstacles. They might be interruptions, miscommunications, cancellations, or delays. We have no control over many of these types of situations, but we are able to change certain kinds of hindrances.

We can, for example, adjust misplaced priorities. Consider how often we allow others to dictate how we spend our time. Instead of maintaining a God-centered schedule, we may be responding to the demands of other people, permitting them to decide our activities without regard for what God has in mind for us.

Circumstances can also determine our schedule, if we permit. But we cannot succeed in life if we let ourselves be drawn away from what God wants. Investing time in the Word and learning God’s ways must be an integral part of our schedule.

Another hindrance to reaching our goal is procrastination. We all experience this on occasion, but for some of us, putting things off has become a habit. When that’s the case, we no doubt have many good intentions but lack follow-through. Success will evade us as long as we dally.

A third hindrance that we can work to overcome is lack of concentration. To be successful, we must focus our minds on a particular task and stay with it until it is finished. Having a strong motivation to achieve the Lord’s plan is helpful, as we work at completing what we value and desire. How important to you is achieving the Lord’s plan? Align your thinking and your time with His ways, and success—in God’s eyes—will follow.

Turning the Other Cheek

Turning the Other Cheek

Luke 6:29-31

Immediately following His arrest, Jesus was interrogated by the high priest. When He provided an “unsatisfactory” answer, one of the officials struck Him in the face. Instead of literally offering His other cheek to be slapped, the Savior calmly challenged the man’s unjust action. The Lord did not defend Himself or retaliate, but He also refused to accept the abuse unquestioningly, despite the fact that He knew He would receive more (John 18:21-23).

The Bible passage telling us to turn the other cheek confuses many Christians. Are we to stand still while someone beats us up physically or emotionally? No. But we are not to retaliate in kind. Pride will certainly trigger a desire to take revenge on the coworker who stole credit for our work or the family member who repeatedly says unkind words. Yet we are not to “repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

In daily practice, the situation will determine what form a godly response will take. We may need to ignore the other person’s actions, walk away from abuse, or confront our enemy—confrontation designed to gain understanding and reconciliation is not inappropriate. In fact, Jesus instructs us to transform rivals into friends by means of respectful discourse (Matt. 18:15). Asking “Why do you feel about me as you do?” can reveal the strength of agape—unconditional love—to minister to a hurting soul despite the potential for injury.

Might God be calling you to show agape? Pray for the desire and power to “turn the other cheek” as Christ did.

Blessing Our Enemies

Blessing Our Enemies

Luke 6:27-28

As stories make their way to us from the persecuted church, we hear about Christians who, though beaten, harassed, and jailed, respond with unimaginable grace and dignity. These saints have learned to apply Christ’s command to “love your enemies,” even in the harshest of circumstances.

We may never face a beating for our faith, but we will run across people who hate and mistreat us. The easy and natural response is to dislike them in return, but harboring ill will chokes our witness with resentment. Instead, Jesus instructs us to love our adversaries and to treat them well. The Greek word is agape—it means “unconditional love,” which is not a soft feeling based on the attractive nature or appearance of the other person. Agape forms through an act of our will. When we choose to love, our emotions follow the decision of our mind.

A right response to an enemy will prove beneficial to him. God has a redemptive plan in mind for his life, and we have an opportunity to help show him the way to the Lord. A bitter or angry response on our part will serve only to feed our adversary’s desire to cause harm.

The natural urge to return one wrong for another can be subdued only through prayer, the most powerful weapon in our arsenal. Instead of begging the Father to defeat our enemy, we can ask Him for the opportunity to express genuine Christlike love in the face of opposition. That’s the kind of prayer He delights to answer. And when we are privileged to meet the need of someone who despises us, we might just see an amazing change in his life.

Time for Success

  Time for Success

Ephesians 5:15-17

For Christ-followers, succeeding in God’s eyes is the only kind of achievement that matters. Sometimes, however, success seems to elude us. When it does, examining what we are thinking and how we’re spending our time can help us move forward. There’s a relationship between spiritual success and the way we use our time. To become the person God wants each of us to be and to achieve the tasks He’s given us to do, we must manage our time carefully.

Time is a gift God has given us, and we’re accountable to Him for the way we spend it. We need to recognize that time is not ours to fill as we choose, but rather, it’s a trust from the Lord to be utilized in ways that fulfill His plan. Reviewing our schedule regularly will help ensure that we invest this precious resource His way.

Take a moment right now to review your calendar for the rest of this week, and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does this schedule reveal a wise use of my time, according to God’s principles?

2. Where will I end up if I continue to invest my time in the same activities I’m currently involved in? Will it be where God wants me to be?

3. What will I be accomplishing for the kingdom of God if I continue to use my time in this way?

4. Does the way I spend my time help me move closer to achieving the Lord’s goal for me—namely, ongoing personal transformation into Christlikeness?

Respond to what the Holy Spirit reveals about your schedule, so that you may make wise use of your days. Remember that God wants you to succeed.

God’s Condition for Blessing

  God’s Condition for Blessing

Romans 12:1-2

If people were really honest, many would say their Christianity barely resembles the faith experience God has promised. They struggle repeatedly with the same sins, complain that God rarely answers prayers, and wonder why He hasn’t given them the desires of their heart. However, most believers never stop to ask, Why doesn’t God favor me?

The answer to that question can revolutionize our life if we are willing to meet God’s one condition for full blessing. We are designed with a capacity to experience the Lord’s best in every area of life, but for that to happen, we must offer ourselves as living sacrifices. In other words, we are to be separated from the world and given to God for His purposes.

Don’t be fooled by cultural views on servants. God doesn’t call the weak into bondage to the strong. In fact, believers are the freest people in the world because we can trust our Father to give us the very best in return for our commitment. His best may not always look appealing from the outset, but experience teaches us that He orchestrates all circumstances to our benefit (Rom. 8:28).

We can never be satisfied with less than the Lord’s best. Avoiding submission will result in wasted years of chasing after His blessing through our own cunning. On the other hand, our hearts are saturated with joy and peace when we draw close to Him. The best way to connect with God is to willingly put ourselves in His hand. Allow Him to reveal what great blessings He can send via your surrendered will.

The Pain of Bitterness

The Pain of Bitterness

1 Samuel 13:5-14

Bitterness is never a proper response for a child of God. It poisons the mind, emotions, and spirit. When did this resentful attitude take root in Saul? Let’s look at two events in his life for clues.

Saul couldn’t go to battle until Samuel arrived to offer the burnt sacrifice as God had commanded. Before the prophet arrived, though, Saul’s men became scared of the enemy and started to leave, so the king took action and made the sacred offering himself. He may have thought, This has to be done right away. Why shouldn’t I do it? He failed to see the necessity of obeying divine commands to the letter. God saw this as a serious act of rebellion, which brought judgment: Saul’s kingdom wouldn’t endure. God would one day appoint someone else to take over as ruler instead of Saul’s descendants. Imagine Saul’s reaction to hearing the kingdom would not belong to his family.

During the war against the Amalekites, King Saul once again failed to follow the Lord’s instructions fully. When Samuel confronted him about his misdeed, he lied and claimed that he had obeyed. Later, however, Saul attempted to justify his disobedience. His unrepentant heart grieved the Lord and resulted in further judgment: he, the king, was now rejected by God (1 Sam. 15:10-11, 26).

I believe Saul’s descent into bitterness began with the news that his disobedience would cost him the kingdom. Be sure to take your disappointments and anger immediately to the Lord. Pour them out before Him, and ask that He help you let them go. Your spiritual health depends on it.

Results of Uncontrolled Weakness

Results of Uncontrolled Weakness

Romans 6:17-23

It is normal for children, at some point, to become aware of growing stronger. “Let’s see your muscles,” a parent will say. The child bends an arm, makes a fist, and proudly displays the evidence. Parents often encourage their children to increase strength and overcome any weakness. Some youngsters cooperate, but others act indifferent or feel defeated even before they start.

We all have weak areas in our lives. How do we respond to them? Do we make a plan to overcome them? Do we pretend they are unimportant or surrender to them without much effort? None of these responses is what God desires for us. He wants our weaknesses to remind us how totally dependent we are upon His strength and how great our need is for Him. His plan is for our frailties to be a powerful motivator to deepen our relationship with Him.

Handled improperly, those areas in which we lack ability can become stumbling blocks that hurt us and those around us. A proper response—namely, turning to God—means He will take charge of our weaknesses and no longer allow them to dominate our lives.

Samson was a man whom God set apart and equipped for divine purposes. But he had an uncontrollable weakness, which he allowed to run unchecked until it destroyed his work for the Lord (Judg. 13-16). We, as Christ-followers, have also been set apart for God’s work and equipped by Him. We should heed the warning of Samson’s life and turn quickly to God every time our weakness surfaces. Delay could mean disaster.

The Offer of a Second Chance

  The Offer of a Second Chance

John 8:1-11

I’ve never met a person who didn’t have a past. Never have I spoken with a man or a woman whose life didn’t include a “yesterday”, a “last week,” or a “last year.” And if someone has a past, you can be sure he or she has some mistakes scattered throughout it.

If every one of us has a past, then why do we so often feel isolated, alone, and ashamed of what was done “once upon a time”? Why do we allow the shadows of our long-ago to darken our today?

The answer is a matter of perspective. When we look back at our lives, we usually see mistakes through the lens of guilt, remorse, or fear of judgment. The old axiom says that hindsight is 20/20—what we once accepted as permissible behavior may now shock us as we realize the gravity of those actions.

But how does our heavenly Father perceive us? Is He hampered or even influenced by the same dirty lenses through which we tend to look? No, He sees us with crystal clarity. That means He sees us completely, but He is free of the guilt and remorse that tend to color our perceptions.

More than that, our loving Father looks upon us with the perfect grace and forgiveness that only He can offer. Though our mistakes may hurt Him, the Lord regards us in love. If you have faced your sin problem and accepted the forgiveness that is available in Jesus Christ, then you can be certain you are now living a life of second chances. For the rest of your days on earth, you can have the joy of knowing that you are forgiven.

http://www.intouch.org
http://www.thepassionofchrist.com

Suffering a Faith Failure

Suffering a Faith Failure

Numbers 13-14

When you hear the term “faith failure,” what comes to mind? If you’re like most people, the expression immediately drums up uncomfortable thoughts of a spiritual stain on your Christian walk. Try as we might, however, we simply cannot or will not go through this life without failing from time to time.

Most troubling to Christians are those instances when we allow other factors to get in the way of what we know God is telling us. Can you remember a time when you knew the Lord wanted you to do something, but for some reason, you decided upon a different course of action? When we allow anything to short-circuit our obedience to the heavenly Father, we can be certain that we have just had a faith failure.

One of the key reasons for spiritual missteps is the simple issue of fear. Now, we never have to be afraid of losing our salvation once we are secure in Christ; instead, what I’m talking about here is the fear of failure. We simply do not want to fall on our face in the challenge God sets before us. So, rather than meet the call head-on, we run and hide. In our minds, it is better not even to bother trying than to try and fail.

Is that the attitude God desires? Of course not. Our heavenly Father hasn’t given us a spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7 nlt); He desires boldness and veracity in our faith. Don’t bow down to the idol of apprehension. The God who calls you is strong enough to keep you. Whenever He assigns you to a task, you can be sure He’ll empower you to achieve it.

The Cost of Compromise

The Cost of Compromise

1 Kings 11:1-8

Our society nurtures a popular misconception that tolerance is the only reasonable worldview to have. But when it comes to the law of God, King Solomon’s life shows that compromise is a destructive choice.

In the early years of Solomon’s reign, he was committed to doing right. But later, when he saw the opportunity to promote himself politically, he ignored Scripture’s command forbidding marriage to pagans (Deut. 7:1-3; 1 Kings 3:1). Though he may have viewed the union as an insignificant deviation, Satan’s strategy is to convince us to compromise small portions of God’s Word, one at a time.

Solomon admired beautiful women of other nationalities, but instead of finding ways to avoid temptation, he permitted himself one relationship and then sought more and more. Surrounded by foreigners, he inevitably became involved in their religions. Eventually he was ensnared by sin, and his heart turned from God.

Solomon’s temptations may differ from ours, but accepting compromise can trap us as well. Unchecked admiration for something beyond God’s will for our life can convince us to pursue it. Though we intellectually know this choice is wrong, it’s easy to harden our heart against the Spirit’s warnings. A preoccupation can deepen until the desired object, person, or activity holds a place of greater priority than our Father. If we allow that to happen, we lose our freedom in Jesus Christ and become caught in a prison of sin. In other words, the cost of compromise is the corruption of our soul.

God’s Grace and Our Finances

God’s Grace and Our Finances

Ephesians 2:1-10

Ice cream is popular in the summer. But not all stores serve portions of the same size. Some establishments are generous with their scoops, others are fair, and one or two seem stingy with the frozen treat. It doesn’t take long for customers to learn the “standard” that is used by a particular store.

God uses a very generous measure with us, making His grace abound to us so we have all we need to serve and obey Him (2 Cor. 9:8). And He ensures that His grace—in other words, His unmerited favor and goodness—will affect all areas of life, including our finances. He does this so we can generously invest in His kingdom with our resources and our lives.

But the definition of generosity varies greatly. Some Christians understand God’s principles and give willingly and liberally. These believers have learned that God applies grace to our finances so we can be generous toward others rather than concerned simply about our own prosperity. For others, giving is “fair”—they faithfully give an “adequate amount.” But sadly, too many of God’s children appear stingy toward Him: they either refuse to share much of what they have or spend most of it on themselves.

Generosity is a matter of the heart and a way of life. With a focus on others, giving is to be done freely and cheerfully. People with this attitude trust God to meet their needs and are set free to give away even what they long to keep. No matter how little we have, the Lord wants us to be magnanimous people. Do you know someone who is considered generous? Is it you?

Promises to Heal

Promises to Heal

James 5:13-18

Have you ever wondered why we see far fewer miracles today than what the Bible reports? God has not changed, nor has His power. And our needs are no fewer than those of that day. Why, then, do we witness less of His powerful healing in modern society?

James 4:2-3 lists two reasons: “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

God’s power may also be hindered by a lack of faith. In fact, because the people in Jesus’ own hometown rejected Him, He did few miracles there (Matt. 13:57-58).

There’s another reason, and it may be the most difficult to comprehend and accept: Sometimes the Lord’s perfect and loving will is not for our health to be restored immediately—or ever. He might have a lesson for us to learn that requires suffering so we can listen and understand. Because our Father knows the big picture that we are unable to see, He may allow the difficulty to remain.

Paul accepted this. He asked God three times to remove what he called his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7). But he finally understood that it would continue and the Lord’s power would be made perfect through his weakness.

God desires that you turn to Him as Lord and Healer. Pray with faith in Jesus’ name, bringing your requests but also surrendering to His will. Trust that He can do anything—and that what He does will be in your best interest and for His glory. Our heavenly Father still does miracles today.

Jesus, the Healer

  Jesus, the Healer

Matthew 14:14

When I was 11 years old, I found my mother on her bed, struggling to breathe. My first reaction was to fall on my knees and pray for her healing. By the next day, she was better, and she never again experienced that same symptom.

CPR trainers teach that the first step in an emergency is to call for help. That’s good medical advice. But we should also develop a reflex of crying “Help!” to God.

The Great Physician is able to heal. He created us and knows every mechanism in our bodies, down to the most minute detail. Sometimes He chooses to take away the problem immediately when we ask, and other times, in His love and omniscience, He allows the ailment to remain. Seeking a doctor’s help is often His plan for us—but He also wants us to come before Him with our need, acknowledging His ultimate power and ability.

Scripture is full of stories about the Lord healing physical, emotional, and spiritual sicknesses. For example, Old Testament accounts tell of divine healing for barrenness (Gen. 17:18-19; 21:2) and leprosy (Ex. 4:6-7). And then in the New Testament, all it took was a touch from Jesus and wholeness was restored for people with all kinds of infirmities. Jesus also gave His disciples authority to heal in His name (Matt. 10:1).

As you read Scripture, notice how often God healed people—and how He valued their faith. When in need, ask for His help. He may grant your request immediately, or His plan might be to bring greater good down the road. Either way, walking closely with Him is always the healthiest and wisest choice.

Pray to the God of the Impossible - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Pray to the God of the Impossible - Christ’s Commission Fellowship


Jeremiah 32:17, 27
17“Ah, Sovereign LORD, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You… 27 “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?”
The one thing that would greatly impact our prayer life is how much we personally know who God is – His Word, deeds and character.
It will take us eternity to know God but the more we decide to get to know God day by day, the more we will trust Him completely and obey whatever He tells us to do and not do. The closer our relationship with Him, the more we know that He is the God of the impossible.

God Created the Heavens and Earth
God amazingly created the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm. He set the sun, moon, and stars in place with exact specifications and functions (Psalm 8:3). If anything He created is more or less than what it is, it could damage and destroy all of His creations. Our God intricately created everything with order and precision. This amazing display of God’s handiwork is a solid testament of how awesome He is.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. – Psalm 19:1
God is too marvelous for us to comprehend, too wonderful for us to understand. He is the God of the impossible in more ways than we realize.
We stand in awe when we think about the glory of God in His majestic creation of heaven and earth. Our God created this vast expanse out of nothing. He is the God of the impossible; nothing is too difficult for Him.

The God of all Mankind and History
Who are we that God is mindful of us? He marked each one of us for His specific recognition. He is constantly engaged in our lives. In fact, He knew everything about us even before we were born.
God saw our unformed body when we were inside our mother’s womb. He knitted and made all the inner delicate parts of our body (Psalm 139:13-15). God made each one of us unique.
God is the God of world history. He is the God of the past, present, and future. When we read history, we see God’s Hand was there the whole time. History is His story.
God is the God of our personal history. God knows our story. He saw us before we were born and sees all the days of our life. God is constantly watching over us, day in and day out (Psalm 139:16-17).
When we begin to doubt our God, we can be encouraged by this quotation from Jose Navajo’s Mondays with my Old Pastor:
“My responsibility is to think about God. It’s God’s responsibility to think about me.”

The God of the Impossible (Jeremiah 32)
During the time of Babylon’s rule over Jerusalem, God told Jeremiah to buy the field at Anathoth from his cousin Hanamel. Jeremiah obeyed even though it seemed unwise because the land was being overtaken by the Babylonians. But Jeremiah knew God. He trusted and obeyed because he knew that God is the God of the impossible. God told him that houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in that land. This would happen past Jeremiah’s lifetime but he obeyed for the sake of future generations.
The most impossible situation any human being can face is his eternal separation from God because of sin (Isaiah 59:2). Human intervention, religion, resolution, good works, rituals, and sincere efforts cannot solve this problem. But the God of the impossible made a solution to this impossible situation. God gave His one and only Son, Jesus, for all our iniquities - His life for our life.
Knowing the God of the impossible begins with a personal relationship with Jesus when we surrender our lives to Him as our personal Lord and Savior. It is the beginning of experiencing the God who can make all things possible according to His great plan and high purpose.
Because God is the God of the impossible, therefore we should pray, we should trust and we should obey God regardless of our situation. Many times, God will not change our situation according to what we are praying for but He will change our hearts, perspectives, and desires so that we will be completely surrendered to Him whether the circumstance changes or not.

Speaker: Ricky Sarthou
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Holding Fast to the Faithful Word

Holding Fast to the Faithful Word

Titus 1:5-9

In today’s passage, Paul gives Titus guidelines for selecting church elders. At the end of a list of desirable conduct and character traits is an essential qualification that applies to every believer: holding fast to Scripture. It is necessary that we, like the first-century elders, demonstrate an unwavering commitment to God’s Word in order to nurture and guard the church.

We can’t use the Bible to defend our faith and assist others unless we study. And knowing its truths isn’t enough; for them to be effective, we must apply them.

Christians appreciate Scripture’s power to encourage, comfort, and heal, but too often we keep our knowledge to ourselves. We may feel uncertain about sharing, but God provides courage and brings to mind pertinent verses when we’re willing to speak. As we practice His ways, our wisdom will increase. We’ll begin to recognize hurting people and will learn how to exhort them in sound doctrine, as Paul suggests. The apostle also bids believers to confront those who contradict true faith—this requires courage and discernment. When we study and live out sound biblical principles, we will quickly recognize false doctrine. And the better we know God’s Word, the more readily we will be able to find passages that challenge counterfeit teachings and support our own beliefs.

We can’t all be elders in the local congregation. But each Christian is a member of God’s church and responsible to gain biblical knowledge. In that way, we can discern correct doctrine, defend our faith, and encourage the downhearted.

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Love at Its Best - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Love at Its Best - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

The church that pleases God is a loving church.

A man asked Jesus what is the greatest commandment. Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” Everything that we do must be motivated by our love for the Lord. This love will naturally overflow toward loving others.

Let all that you do be done in love. – 1 Corinthians 16:14

But to do this, you must first know God in a personal way. Everything you do for the Lord will feel like a chore unless you have a personal loving relationship with Jesus.

LET LOVE BE YOUR HIGHEST GOAL

What is your number one goal in life? If comfort, affirmation or having fun matters most to you, then your decisions and priorities will naturally follow. According to the Scripture, love should be your greatest aim (1 Corinthians 14:1). Your number one goal must be love because God is love.

HOW CAN YOU LOVE AT ITS BEST?

1.         Accept God’s Love – 1 John 4:7-8

You love God because He first loved you (1 John 4:19). You cannot love people without God’s love in you. You rely on God’s love (1 John 4:16a) when you find it difficult to love the people around you. We may be tempted to find excuses not to share Jesus with others.

2.         Choose and Commit to Love – Deuteronomy 30:20

You cannot force anyone to love because love is a choice and a commitment. You cannot just fall out of love; you either choose to love or not to love.

3.         Don’t Fall in love but act in love 1 John 3:18

You love God because He first loved you (1 John 4:19). You cannot love people without God’s love in you. You rely on God’s love (1 John 4:16a) when you find it difficult to love the people around you. We may be tempted to find excuses not to share Jesus with others.

4.         Love at all times – Hebrews 13:1

Your character is the sum of your habits. If loving is something you can turn on and off, then you are not loving at all.

The most loving act you can do is share the love of God with others. God loves them and He doesn’t want them to perish. Because you love God, you will love whom He loves. You will obey Him to love others as you love yourself, not out of duty but with delight in action.

Speaker: Bong Saquing

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