Giving Jesus First Place

Giving Jesus First Place

By Dr. Charles Stanley

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When Christ has first place in our lives, we will experience many blessings. These include . . .

A quiet spirit. As we turn our attention to the Lord and meditate on His Word, He “leads [us] beside quiet waters,” where we find rest for our souls (Ps. 23:2). The Holy Spirit will help us shut out the noise of worldly distractions so He can provide assurance of our Father’s love and support. With a quieted heart and mind, we will be able to discern what God is saying to us.

A stronger faith.Studying Scripture will enlarge our view of God and give us insight and direction. Reading how the Lord has helped others, we will gain confidence that He is at our side, enabling us to meet life’s demands. Our faith will grow as we follow His direction and watch how He works on our behalf.

A purified heart. Like a mirror, the Bible reflects back to us who we truly are and reveals where we need to change. When we confess our sin, God promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

A prepared mind. We don't know what’s in our tomorrows, but God does. He wants to prepare us for the future—both the joyous times and the hard ones. Through the Holy Spirit’s ministry, we will be equipped for whatever life brings (2 Peter 1:3).

Paul’s life demonstrates what it means to give Jesus first place. Because the apostle made Christ the Lord of his life (Gal. 2:20), he knew joy amid trials and received the strength to face turmoil and difficulty. These blessings will also be ours when we give highest priority to our relationship with Jesus.

How would you like to have a quiet spirit, a strong faith, a purified heart and a prepared mind?  Then give first place to Jesus.  Just like Paul as he placed Jesus in first place in his life, he knew joy amid trials and received the strength to face turmoil and difficulty.  Is knowing Jesus a priority in your life?  Would you like all these blessings to be yours or would you rather have the passing pleasure this world offers?

Bible in One Year: Luke 17-19

Daily Devotion for October 16 - The Battle is the Lord's

The Battle Is the Lord's

"Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands."
—1 Samuel 17:47

The giants of life defeat us again and again because we face them in our own strength. The battle belongs to the Lord. That is why David said to Goliath, "Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47).

Ephesians 6 tells about the various pieces of armor that believers are to wear. But before a single piece of armor is applied, Paul gives us these words: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).

I recognize I am weak, but at the same time, I acknowledge that God is great and powerful. I need to know that I cannot win the spiritual battle in my own strength. Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

We need to know about the incredible resources God has made available to us as Christians. Paul prayed that the believers at Ephesus would discover what God had done for them. He said, "Therefore I . . . do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:15–18).

You don't fight for victory. You fight from it. Start living in that power.

Living Through Restlessness

Listening Through Restlessness

Esther 6:1-11

     "That night the king could not sleep.  So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of chronicles and they read before the king.  And it was found written that Mordecai had told of the Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.  Then the King said, ‘What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
     So the king said, “Who is in the court?”  Now Haman who just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.  The king’s servants said to him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” and the king said, “let him come in.” 

      So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?”  Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?”

     And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head.  Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor.  Then parade him on horseback through the city square and proclaim before him:  “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”

     Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai, the Jew who sits within the king’s gate!  Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”

     So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”'

When we’re too preoccupied to hear God’s voice, He will often get our attention by giving us a restless spirit. The book of Esther gives us a wonderful example of this. In the sixth chapter, we see that King Ahasuerus “could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king” (v. 1). As a result, the king became aware of an assassination plot against him that had been foiled by a man named Mordecai. Filled with gratitude for this act of service and loyalty, the ruler made plans to honor him.

What the king could not have known, though, is that Haman, one of his royal advisors, had targeted the hero Ahasuerus wanted to celebrate. Not only had Haman plotted to hang Mordecai the Jew (5:14); he was also planning to exterminate the entire Jewish population. As a result of Esther’s request, the king intervened, and Mordecai and all the other Jews were saved.

Now, what started this process? It was a restless night. The king did not know why he couldn’t sleep, but we know—he had insomnia because God was trying to get his attention. The Lord had something important to say to Ahasuerus, and His way of getting through to him was an unpleasant night of sleeplessness.

How often has this happened to you? You go about your career and activities, but restlessness seems to hang over you, often causing sleepless nights. In such moments, dare to bow and pray, “Lord, what is it that You want to tell me?” You’ll discover that God can and will speak in your unrest.

God always has a way of getting our attention.  One of them is in the life of King Ahasuerus who had a sleepless night and out of that Mordecai received the honor that he deserved, saving the king from the people who sought to slay him.  Haman who had every intention of killing Mordecai and all the Jews, ended up as the man sent by the king to give honor to Mordecai.  God can thwart the evil intentions of evil men and turn it into one that brings honor to one who is deserving.

We all have had sleepless nights, tossing and turning and hoping daylight would come so the misery can end.  Do we take these moments as an undue aggravation, or do we ask God what He wants us to know? Let us not waste anymore of these sleepless nights hoping for daylight, but instead go to His word..He has a message for us.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 25-26

What is the Church?

What is the Church?

Colossians 1:18

"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."

      When most people hear the word “church,” the first thing they think of is a certain type of building. But let’s see what Christ said about the church so we can more fully understand its biblical meaning.

     In Matthew 16:18, Jesus proclaimed, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (KJV). He obviously had in mind something much greater than a mere architectural structure. In fact, He was referring to the whole body of Christ, which is comprised of all believers worldwide—everyone who has trusted Jesus as personal Savior and is a child of the heavenly Father. The church began on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came and anointed a group of Jesus’ followers (Acts 2). It will continue until an event referred to as the rapture of the church, when every believer in Christ will be caught up to meet Him in the sky (1 Thess. 4:17).

    The church is not merely a place for social action or fellowship, though these are important aspects of its ministry. Rather, the church is the entire body of Christ, both corporately and individually filled and enabled by the Holy Spirit to carry out the task designated by Jesus Himself. In other words, the purpose of the church is to bring people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to make disciples, instructing them and growing them up in the things of God (Matt. 28:19-20).

     Our responsibility is to obey. Have you asked yourself what role you should be playing in the ministry of the church?

     The church is not merely a building where we worship, but rather is the entire body of Christ, both as individuals and a group filled by the Holy Spirit to do the work of Christ.  The church is there to bring people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus and to make disciples, teaching them to grow in the knowledge and obedience to the One who is all in all. If we then being part of the body, we are to use the gift God has given us to abide and to be fruitful in our personal ministry.

     Have you discovered your own ministry yet?

Bible in One Year: Matthew 8-10

One Step at a Time by Greg Laurie

Monday, October 5, 2015

One Step at a Time

"Now the Lord said to Samuel, 'You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.'"—1 Samuel 16:1

     I wish I could say that throughout my life, I have always had a detailed blueprint of everything I should do. But it hasn't been like that at all. I have never started a day with the theme from Mission Impossible playing in the background and a voice saying, "Good morning, Greg. This is God. Here is your mission for today."

     For the most part, it has been a matter of taking steps of faith based on what I've read in the Scriptures. God has led me one step at a time.

     Interestingly, when God told Samuel that He had chosen a new king to reign over Israel, the Lord had not revealed to Samuel exactly whom it was. God basically said to him, "Go to Bethlehem. I will tell you what to do after that." And that is exactly what Samuel did.

     When the Lord told Philip to go to the desert, he had been preaching the gospel in Samaria. People were coming to faith. Revival was breaking out. Yet God told him to go to the desert, and He didn't tell him anything else. How easily Philip could have asked why: And preach to whom? Camels? Lizards? But Philip did exactly what the Lord told him to do. Philip shared the gospel with the man he found there, and he came to the Lord.

     God led Samuel and Philip one step at a time, and that is typical of how God leads us. God's way becomes plain when we start walking in it. If God already has shown you to do something and you haven't done it, then don't ask Him to show you something new to do. Go back and do what you were already supposed to do.

     Obedience to revealed truth guarantees guidance in matters unrevealed.

Building Lasting Friendships by Dr. Charles Stanley

Oct 02, 2015

Building Lasting Friendships

Romans 12:10

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another."

How many true friends do you have? At first, a lot of names may come to mind, but the longer you consider the question, the more likely it is that the number will start to dwindle. The reality is, we do not have many genuine friends—the ones who will remain loyal no matter what circumstances arise.

This dependable, intimate closeness is what the Lord wants for us, but it’s a rare treasure. The biblical account of David and Jonathan can help us learn how to foster such a relationship (1 Samuel 18-20). Their story demonstrates that genuine friendships are built upon a foundation of mutual respect, love, and authentic commitment. Today, let’s explore the first component.

For true companionship, each party must appreciate the other’s godly qualities. This starts with an attitude of valuing all people. After all, if Jesus chose to die in their place even before they acknowledged Him as Savior, they must certainly have great worth. But at the same time, the high regard that David and Jonathan had toward one another was greater than mere respect; it revealed admiration for qualities that Scripture commends. These included loyalty to the nation of Israel, courage in battle, and strong faith in God.

Consider the question asked earlier about the people you deem “true friends.” Do these individuals exhibit godly attributes that you respect? And do they, in turn, have admiration for the biblical characteristics they see in you? This mutual, scriptural respect is a necessary foundation for genuine and lasting friendship.

The lesson for today teaches about friendship, genuine friendship and like it says, is rare. A friend is one who will remain loyal no matter what.  It  is built on mutual respect, love, and authentic commitment.  Above all, scriptural respect is a necessary foundation for genuine and lasting friendship.

 

Who do you deem as your true friend?

Bible in One Year: Malachi 1-4

Remembering God's Goodness by Dr. Charles Stanley

Remembering God’s Goodness

Some people are exceptionally good at remembering images or information. Yet forgetting God’s goodness is all too common, even for those with the sharpest of minds.

In light of the human tendency to forget, today’s verses offer a good example for us to follow. God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt and safely through the divided Red Sea. Now, He miraculously provided another dry path by piling up the Jordan’s waters in an enormous heap upstream.

The Lord knew that the people were about to enter Jericho, and by His power, they would overcome the city. How compassionate to encourage them with a tangible illustration of His strength and presence prior to such a battle.

But God also knew how easily they would forget Him. We do the same today—when the Lord works in big and obvious ways, it’s easy to trust Him. But as time goes on, we drift toward self-reliance until we are reminded of our need for Him and repent. So the Father had a plan to help His loved ones recall the miracle at the river. He asked them to create an altar of 12 stones, each stone representing a tribe of Israel that had passed safely through the waters. This way, they would have a physical reminder of divine rescue.

When it comes to blessings, do you tend to be forgetful? If so, try to create reminders of God’s faithfulness. Some people journal; others make a gratitude jar, keep it in a prominent place in their home, and fill it all year long. There are many ways to make expressing thankfulness a part of your daily schedule. Whatever you do, make sure you have a way to remember the Lord’s involvement in your life.

How easy it is to forget the times the Lord has come to our rescue.  How quick we forget the times He has bailed us out of trouble.  In good times we hardly think of Him, but in bad times...He is our stronghold!  Ah, the hearts of men...quick to ask but slow to be grateful.  He is the same God who divided the waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan for His people to pass through and get to their destination.  He is the same God we pray to and ask for help to cross the rivers of our life...how can we treat Him with ingratitude and forget all His benefits?

Can you think of the many times He has bailed you out? Is He worthy of all your praise and thanksgiving?

Bible in One Year: Zechariah 11-14

Joshua 3:14-4:7

"So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
'Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.  and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.'”

The Way of Faith

Read | Hebrews 11:23-28

"By faith Moses, when he was born was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child and they were not afraid of the king’s command.  By faith Moses , when he became of age , refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them."

Many people consider Moses a biblical “pillar” of Old Testament days—a man without equal in godliness. And certainly, he encountered the presence of the Almighty in a most unusual way and was called to do mighty things with the Lord’s help. But, like us, he was a normal, sinful human being. What the New Testament commends him for is something we all can have: belief.

Today’s verses come from the passage known as the Bible’s “Hall of Faith.” Those honored with inclusion in this chapter were chosen because they acted obediently, and God achieved great things through them.

We, too, can watch His hand in our lives as we act on faith. When we trust Him and obey, God demonstrates His power and shows that He truly is Lord. By operating out of His strength and through our weakness, He teaches us to rely upon Him.

That’s not to say the path is easy; Jesus warned that the way of faith includes suffering. Indeed, many early Christians were beaten or killed for His sake, and faith is still met with harsh persecution in various places around the world. While that may not be our experience, each of us has encountered ridicule, misunderstanding, or lost friendships because we follow Christ.

Even mild persecution can cause us to question whether living out our faith is worth the sacrifice. The truth is, it’s the best way to live. God responds to faith by enabling His children to endure difficulty, demonstrating His power in their circumstances, and providing joy.

In our weakness God displays His power.  When we can’t, He can.  As children of God, we too suffer as everyone else.  But it is through these times that God builds us up.  Like the bible says, “Count it all joy!”  Through suffering, we learn to endure, and when we endure we achieve victory, when we are victorious, we receive joy..joy unspeakable.

How is your faith lately?

Jesus Is Lord

Read | Philippians 2:5-11

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation , taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. After being found, in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name , which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those  in heaven , and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

What does it mean when we say that Jesus is Lord? We hear the word used so frequently that we are in danger of losing the significance of its sheer power and magnitude.

Lord is far more than a mere title that Scripture bestows on Jesus. The second chapter of Philippians emphasizes this fact by repeatedly mentioning the word name. We see that God gave Jesus the “name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus,” all of heaven and earth will bow down and “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (vv. 9-11).

In that passage, the name given to Jesus is none other than “Lord.” You see, that word is not used to describe what Jesus does; it’s simply who Jesus is. He is, and will always be, the sovereign ruler of everything in heaven and on the earth.

Therefore, if we echo the confession, “Jesus is Lord,” then our lives must reflect that confidence. Is there anything in your life that you attempt to hide from Christ? Have you refused to do something that He has called you to do? These are acts of rebellion, and they simply demonstrate our lack of faith in Jesus as Lord of our lives.

One day everyone will recognize that Christ is Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15). We who are His children should show our faith by inviting Him into any dark areas of our life and allowing Him to conform us to His image. We can begin with the simple yet profound confession: “Jesus is Lord.” And when we confess those words, we should be mindful of their meaning.

No one is called “Jesus.”  Others may have the same spelling, but never called “Jesus” as He is called in every language and tongue.  His name is above all names, for at the mention of His name, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess..that Jesus Christ is Lord, lord of all.  The only name by which one can be saved.

Do you marvel at the mention His name..Jesus?

The Resurrection: Does It Matter?

Read | Acts 2:22-24

“Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know – Him being delivered by the determined purpose and fore-knowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”

Believing that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead is essential for Christians. Merely recognizing that He died for our sins is not enough; we must accept His resurrection in order to receive eternal life. Christ paid our debt, but His sacrifice on the cross means nothing unless He possesses power over the grave. In vanquishing evil and death, the Lord made our salvation possible.

Jesus’ resurrection proved He was able to remove sin and its penalty. Assuming Christ remained dead would mean accepting the opposite—that believers are still in sin. And the inevitable end of a sinful life is death. Consequently, a person who denies Christ’s eternal nature looks toward a void future. Bertrand Russell, a famous atheist philosopher, offered this sad description of such hopelessness: “Brief and powerless is Man’s life; on him and all his race, the slow, sure doom falls pitiless and dark.”

Instead of enjoying Christian liberty and anticipating a home in heaven, those who reject resurrection are slaves to the present, with no real hope or meaning in life. Career, family, and good works can offer brief pleasure but not the kind of joy that comes from knowing we are right with the Lord and working in His will.

Resurrection is not a denominational issue or a point for theological debate. Either we believe Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven or we do not. If we reject His victory over the grave, we deny ourselves a place in eternity. But if we accept the truth, we will be saved.

The Resurrection – if there was no resurrection, then we really don’t have a future and a hope.  Then Jesus would have suffered and died in vain.  But Jesus did rise up, He did conquer sin and death. He is sitting at the right hand of God interceding for us, waiting for us to join Him in His kingdom for all eternity.  This hope erases all fears, even death itself for we know what awaits us!  Thank You Jesus for Resurrection!!!