Encourage One Another
Romans 1:8-17 (NIV) 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed —a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Have I talked to you lately about the importance of reading God’s Word out loud. You see, faith will actually grow at the hearing God’s Word. I believe that just like any parent, God loves to hear His children speak His words back to Him. It is a way to show you are listening, and it is a way to honor God.
Do you want to live by faith? Then stay in the Word daily, luxuriating in the presence of God. Put God first in all of your relationships and in all of your endeavors.
Additionally, there are many prayers we can pray out loud. Why would this be necessary? Sometimes we are at a loss to know how to pray for a specific need. Just pray a prayer found in the Word out loud, substituting yours or a loved one’s name. You may be surprised how effective this is.
,
May we be aware as we search out God’s Word the impact it will make in our lives and the lives of those around us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Redemption and Adoption
Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
1 Peter 2:9-10 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
How often do we go through life unaware that we have been given kingdom power? We have authority that comes straight from the Throne of God and purchased by the blood of Jesus.
What does this authority accomplish? When we recognize we have Kingdom authority and when we speak it boldly. we are no longer under the threat of any enemy. Instead, we are victorious as we claim the power granted to us in Jesus’ name.
May we claim with authority the name of Jesus, at which every knee will bow and every tongue confess.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My Shepherd
Psalms 23 1-3 GOD, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of GOD
for the rest of my life.
How many of you have read “The 23 Psalm” in The Message, a paraphrase of the original document? I thought today we would look at Psalm 23 through the lens of The Message.
David addresses God directly, calling Him “my Shepherd.” Even today we understand a shepherd to be someone who tends for and protects sheep. Sheep require a great deal of care and man, their counterpart, may seem self-sufficient, but the closer we look, the more we see the analogy. The sheep relies on the shepherd for everything—if man waited on God for everything, how much better off would we be?
Lush meadows indicates God gives us more than we will ever need. Isn’t that comforting? Quiet pools from which to drink shows the concern God has for us. He is aware that sheep are timid, and they would drink from muddy, bug infested ponds rather than drink from a bubbling brook. Man can become so busy that if we did not rely upon God, the chaos of this world would drown us.
God offers to walk beside us, He protects us, He refreshes us and like the man said ears ago, “I’m drinkin’ from the saucer ‘cause my cup has overflowed.” And the best yet is the assurance that His beauty and His love chase after me!
May we know, understand and believe just how blessed we are to have a Father who shepherds us through this life.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Renewing our Minds
Romans 12:2-3 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
2 Corinthians 4:13-16 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound (overflow) to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Have any of you ever refinished wooden furniture? There is no quick fix to the scars and blemishes that can damage your wood. The rough places must be sanded, cleaned, and sometimes sanded again to get beyond the impairment. Or, sometimes it is necessary to fill in deep gouges or scars with wood putty.
Likewise, renewing our minds is no quick fix. For this reason, it is far better to renew our minds daily, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. In doing so we build up our character, we recreate our inner man to become more Christ-like, and we receive a whole new strength based upon His glory and not upon our efforts.
May we develop a habit of renewing our minds daily, knowing that the transformation into discipleship is not necessarily easy but it is altogether necessary.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Who May Ascend
Psalms 24:1-6 1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.,
Today we take a glimpse into the sovereignty of God and who is able to approach Him. The King James Translation says, “The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof—there is nothing on this earth that does not belong to God.
Are we foolish enough to believe we are actually self-made and that everything we have is from our own efforts? That kind of thinking leads to idol worship, with the idol being ourselves.
If we truly desire to ascend to the holy place of God, we must have clean hands and a pure heart. In other words, God requires a heart that has no sin or evil intentions, and hands that have been free from actions that are harmful to others and steals God’s glory.
How do we accomplish such requirements? By placing everything before God and by giving Him all praise and honor.
May we today and everyday focus our attention on the One, True and Living God, so that we may approach Him freely and without hesitation.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 