Don’t Go Back to the Dark

Saturday, June 29, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

Romans 6:17–19

In April of 2006, two workers were trapped in a gold mine near Beaconsfield, Australia, after an earthquake caused the tunnels to collapse. They only survived because they were able to make it into a safety cage that kept them from being crushed by falling rocks. For five days no one outside the mine knew whether they had survived. Finally a thermal imaging scan revealed their location, and rescue efforts began. It was a full fourteen days before rescuers could create a shaft large enough for the miners to escape. The head of the miner’s union called the rescue a “great escape.”

All of us are born trapped as slaves to sin. There is no hope that we can rescue ourselves. Unless someone comes from the outside to help, we are doomed. That is what Jesus did for us on the cross. We have been freed from the power that sin once had over our lives. Yet if we’re honest, we must admit that even after we are saved, the allure of sin remains, because we still have a fallen nature.

Having been freed from our captivity, we must resist the temptation to crawl back into the darkness of sin. Paul wrote, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). Sin no longer has the power to compel us, so each sin requires our willing participation.

Today's Growth Principle: 

When we sin, we are willingly exchanging freedom and light for slavery and darkness.

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Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  --Luke 21:1-4 In times like this, it’s easy to want to hunker down and hold on to everything we have. It’s especially hard for those who are out of work or those who’ve been forced to take a reduction in pay. I really do understand that it’s harder to give when there’s not as much there to give as there once was! Yet at the same time, think about the poor widow in today’s passage who gave everything she had to give to God’s work. While her gift wasn’t worth much monetarily, it was worth much… it was sacred… because she sacrificed to give it. In the same way, your gifts to the Lord’s work and my gifts to the Lord’s work are made sacred when they come from a sacrificial heart. Yet how many of us really give this way? How many really make a sacrifice in some area of life, how many are willing to give up a comfort, so that we can contribute to God’s work? Far too few, I’m afraid. That’s why today, my question is simple. When it comes to the church and God’s Kingdom work in the world today, are you a giver… or a taker? And if you’d admit that maybe you tip the scale to the side of being more of a taker, what’s one way you could start giving more to God’s work today? Maybe it’s as simple as getting your family on a budget so that you can be better stewards of the income God’s given you. Maybe it means cutting out cable television for a while. Maybe it means delaying that purchase, or going out to eat less so that you can give more to your church and God’s work around the world today. I don’t know what your particular situation is, but I do know that as Christians living in America, we’ve grown accustomed to certain comforts and privileges. I just wonder how many more lives could be reached if every Christian sacrificed one thing so that they could give more to God’s work? WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHURCH AND GOD’S KINGDOM WORK IN THE WORLD TODAY, ARE YOU A GIVER… OR A TAKER?

Faith and the Impossible

Friday, June 28, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

Hebrews 11:17–19

When Abraham headed for Mount Moriah to offer Isaac as a sacrifice as God instructed, to all human reasoning he would be coming back without his son. The child God had promised decades before had finally come after all hope seemed to have been lost. Yet now Abraham was preparing to obey God’s command to kill his own son. Abraham’s faith in God was so unshakable that he not only was willing to do that, but he also believed that after he did, God would resurrect the boy. His faith is revealed in what he told the servants who accompanied him on the trip. “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Genesis 22:5).

As far as we know, no one had ever been brought back from the dead. Abraham was not speaking from experience when he declared Isaac would return with him from the mountain. He was not speaking with the knowledge that he would only pretend to obey God but not really offer his son. He was expecting Isaac to die. Abraham knew God had promised that his descendants would come through Isaac and would become a great nation. And he believed that what God had said was as certain as if it had already happened. We honor God most when we live in such a way that it is apparent we are acting in faith. When we claim his promises in faith, we please Him.

Today's Growth Principle: 

Nothing God has promised to do is impossible, no matter how far beyond our ability it may be.

 

Quote of the day

Seek the Truth

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For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. --Psalm 18:28 You know, it’s fascinating to me how popular the search for truth is in our culture today. Have you ever thought about it? Everyone – including every celebrity, it seems – is on some kind of journey to find truth. But there are really only two kinds of seekers of truth: those who don’t know and want to find the truth… and those who don’t know and really don’t want to find the truth. Which kind of seeker are you? Do you really want to know the truth? If you have a genuine desire to find God… to follow Him… and really know who He is… God will show Himself to you. If you respond to even the tiniest pin-prick of light you have, God will reveal more light when you genuinely want to know the truth. I truly believe, according to the Scripture, that if a person really wants to know God… genuinely wants to know Jesus… God will move heaven and earth if necessary to bring that person to the knowledge of Him. If you will sincerely and honestly look for the light, God says you will discover it. It’s that simple. So today, if you’re looking for a light in the midst of your darkness, what is your response to the light of Jesus Christ? Because I can assure you, that once you’ve found Jesus, your search for truth is complete.   MAKE A COMMITMENT TO YOURSELF TODAY TO TRULY SEEK A GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. Unlimited Power Thursday, June 27, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:” Ephesians 1:19–21 The power station with the most generating capacity on earth is at the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China. At full capacity, the thirty-two turbines that make up the power plant can produce over 22,000 megawatts of electricity. Each of these massive generators weighs more than 12,000,000 pounds. In 2015 the electricity production from Three Gorges was more than twenty times that of the Hoover Dam in America. In recent years, the power station has operated at less than full capacity because there simply isn’t demand for the additional electricity that could be produced. God’s available supply of power is unlimited. In fact it is beyond our capacity to even imagine how vast it is. Ephesians 3:20 tells us, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” There is never any challenge, burden, or obstacle we face that would require God to exert Himself to solve. With mere words, God created the world. He does not need extra effort to solve our problems. Yet as we serve the Lord, we all come to points when we find ourselves struggling to face the pressures in front of us or to experience His power through us. When we come to these times, we must remember that God is not limited in power; there is never a power failure with Him. We need to claim His promises and tap into the resources available to us. We are not helpless bystanders to the events around us. We are meant to be gospel witnesses, but we can only do that in God’s power. Today's Growth Principle:  No Christian needs to ever live a powerless and defeated life.

Quote of the day

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For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  --John 3:16 Do you know who Jesus really is? The deity of Christ is constantly assaulted by our society these days. But in the midst of such cultural confusion, we as believers can stand on the biblical truth of who Jesus is… and what He did for us in coming to earth as a man. Yes, He was a man… a perfect, sinless man. But He was also God… a God who loved us so much that He laid His life down so that we might be saved. Take another look at our Scripture verse for today. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Most believers have heard this verse since their days as baby Christians. But it’s my prayer that God would give you a new perspective and fresh insight about just how much He loves you today. And if you’ve never accepted the free gift of salvation that God is offering to you, just say these words: Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me of my sins. I accept the gift of grace and sacrifice Jesus Christ came to earth to give me. Thank you, Jesus, for what you did for me on the cross. Amen.   Friend, if you’ve just prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, I want to welcome you into the family of God!   TELL SOMEONE TODAY WHO JESUS REALLY IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU! The Danger of Hypocrisy Wednesday, June 26, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Matthew 23:1-4 In one of their humorous true life story collections, Reader’s Digest told about a lady named Callie Rough who was arrested in Middletown, Ohio for shoplifting at a local Dollar General store. To make matters worse, she had two young children with her as she stole from the store. To top off the situation, among the things which she stole was a book: 101 Ways to Be a Great Mom. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day made a great show of public righteousness. They offered loud public prayers, sounded trumpets to make sure people were paying attention when they gave, and spent a great deal of time telling other people how to live. The reason they hated Jesus so much was that He exposed their hypocrisy. They said the right things, but they did not live them. Hypocrisy is bad enough in its own right, but it also makes us resistant to the call of God to repent. When we are living hypocritically, we can justify ourselves to ourselves (though God is never fooled) by pointing to the outward expressions while ignoring the evil in our hearts. When we think of ourselves as righteous, we see no need to change our ways. Jesus saw this in the Pharisees, and revealed it, but they rejected His message. “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). They were content if people viewed them as doing right, without regard to whether they actually were doing right. Today's Growth Principle:  We must practice ourselves what we believe and teach to others.

Quote of the day =)

Angels

The Right Kind of Sacrifice

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

Genesis 4:2–5

All over the world people are trying to reach God in their own way, rather than coming to Him through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This problem dates all the way back to the first two children born into the world, Cain and Abel. The story shows us the evil power of hatred, but it also shows us the folly of thinking we can come to God on our own terms. He alone has the right to demand and dictate how we worship Him.

The story of Cain’s rejected offering also raises the question as to why Abel brought the right sacrifice while his brother did not. The answer is simple—Abel believed what God said and acted accordingly. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4).

This obedient faith is essential both to our salvation and to our Christian life. Many people do foolish things and claim to be acting in faith. But in the Bible, faith is always shown as acting according to what God has said. We can fully believe every promise He has made, because none of them have ever failed. And faith is always active, never passive. If we are not acting as God directs, we are not living in faith.

Today's Growth Principle: 

Acceptance with God only comes when we approach Him in faith as He commands.

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I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. --Psalm 34:1 Have you ever wondered why we are commanded to offer praise continually as believers? First, when we praise the Lord, it encourages others. Psalm 34:2 says, “My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.” I think you’d be amazed at how people, Christian and non-Christian alike, respond to something as positive as honest and sincere praise to God when something good or bad happens to you. Second, praising God naturally brings fellowship. Psalm 34:3 says, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” There is a closeness… a bond… that is created when you’re praising God together. And last, praising the Lord gives you power for your day-to-day life. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” I don’t know what you may be facing today, be it a temptation you can’t let go of or a sin you can’t escape. Whatever it is, praise will help bring you out of it! God responds to your honest, genuine praise of Him. So I urge you to make praise a habit, like our Scripture verse for today suggests, no matter what you may be going through.   START TODAY! GIVE GOD PRAISE FOR THE GOOD AND BAD IN YOUR LIFE!

“To Will and To Do”

Monday, June 24, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:12–13

Time and again, the Scriptures instruct us to study and memorize and meditate on the Word of God and to be faithfully hearing it taught and preached. We must obey those commands. But we must also remember that the purpose of learning the Bible is not primarily to know more, but to do more. Dr. George Truett said, “To know the will of God is our greatest knowledge; to do the will of God is our greatest challenge.”

We see this principle in practice in the life of Jesus. He was not content with merely knowing what was right, but instead set an example of living what was right. The writer of Hebrews describes the motivation of Jesus this way: “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second” (Hebrews 10:9). When Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized, John realized that Jesus was above Him and protested that he was not worthy to baptize the Lord. Yet Jesus insisted. “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him” (Matthew 3:15).

The temptation to think that we are growing in grace because we are growing in knowledge is very real. However, we only grow in grace when we put into practice what we know. Reading every book available about lifting weights, running, and other exercises does nothing to improve our health. It is only when we actually do what we have learned that we benefit.

Today's Growth Principle: 

We must apply the truths of Scripture that we know in order to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

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All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name. --Psalm 66:4 Today, I want to ask you, when God looks at your life, does He see genuine worship or does He see a counterfeit? Does He see something real or something phony? The bottom line is that each of us was made to worship God. And until we realize the true purpose in life… which is to worship Him and enjoy Him forever… we’ll always be floundering. We’ll always be frustrated because worship is the central purpose of life! It is impossible to be a productive, positive Christian without participating in meaningful, genuine worship! And I’m not just talking about corporate worship. Worship is something more than what we do… worship is a lifestyle. It is an attitude that we carry with us day by day. It is an activity and an attitude that reveals the inner heart and recognizes the value we place on God in our lives. That’s what worship is! So today, let me challenge you to make your life a life of worship… an exclamation of the glory of our God!   EXAMINE YOUR LIFE TODAY...DO YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GENUINE WORSHIP?

​​ The Fruitful Season

Sunday, June 23, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Psalm 1:1–3

William Wilberforce probably did more than anyone else to end the slave trade in England and her colonies. Despite being right about the awfulness of slavery, Wilberforce found few allies in the fight. It took many years of effort and a willingness to keep going in the face of one defeat after another. One of the encouragements he turned to was a letter John Wesley wrote him not long before Wesley died.

Wesley said, “Unless the divine power has raised you up... I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that [slavery] which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Oh, be not weary of well-doing. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might.” The Slavery Abolition Act gained the votes to pass three days before Wilberforce died.

God does not work on our timetable. He promises that anyone who delights in His Word will flourish, but even trees of righteousness only bear fruit in season. There is a certain time of harvest, but it is only enjoyed by those who continue faithfully until they see the promises fulfilled. Do not be discouraged just because you have not yet seen that harvest.

Today's Growth Principle: 

Never give up your hope until you reach the season of harvest.

Responding to Criticism

Saturday, June 22, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah 2:19–20

We should never be surprised when doing something right creates a backlash. While it would be nice if people recognized we were trying to build something for God and supported us, often it raises criticism and opposition instead. We continually fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, but sometimes we also have to face hostility from those who should be on our side. Motion always creates friction. Elbert Hubbard put it this way: “Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing, and you’ll never be criticized.”

If we are going to do what God calls us to do, we are going to face criticism. It is not the criticism but our response to it that determines the outcome. Nehemiah faced this when he began the massive rebuilding project to raise up the walls around Jerusalem. Rather than allowing his critics to deter him, Nehemiah turned to God. In faith he stepped out, believing that what he was doing was what God had called him to do—and that God would make the work prosper no matter who opposed it.

While there are sometimes legitimate criticisms that we should evaluate (and we should never be too proud to listen), most of the negative things said when we are doing right come from detractors with the wrong motives. Rather than allowing those to dictate our actions, we should simply move ahead with what God has called us to do. Only then will we be able to fulfill His calling.

Today's Growth Principle: 

The more we are criticized by others, the more we should turn to God for strength and help.

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Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation…. --1 Peter 2:2 I want to remind you today that not only is the Word of God perfect, living, and abiding forever.  Not only is the Word of God unchanging and true.  Not only does it have a saving purpose. But the Scripture also has the power to transform your life! Jesus said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”  If you want your life to change, saturate your soul and nourish your heart in the Word of God. The Bible has power to save and sanctify, and it also has the power to strengthen.  In our verse for today—1 Peter 2, verse 2—the Word of God is described as milk to strengthen and grow us in our faith. Have you tasted the goodness of God from Scriptures?  Have you experienced the grace of God found in His Word? The Bible is not an ancient black book filled with theology about yesterday.  It is a book that satisfies the longing of the human heart.  The Word of God strengthens us every day and nourishes our spirit.  Our very life depends upon this Word and truth! So, let me leave you with some questions to consider.  Do you love God’s Word?  Are you obeying God’s Word?  If you love it, you will read it.  And if you read it, you will pray it… think it… live it… and share it.   TAKE THE TIME TODAY TO STUDY GOD'S WORD AND MAKE IT AN EVERYDAY COMMITMENT! Understanding this Present Age Friday, June 21, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” 2 Timothy 3:1–4 The Department of Health and Human Services’ 2016 report showed that their investigations revealed more than 676,000 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect among the more than three million cases they investigated. Even worse, they found 1,700 fatalities from child mistreatment. Most of these cases were at the hands of parents or relatives—the very people who should be doing the most to protect and defend those young lives. There is no doubt that we are living in a day “without natural affection”—where even parents often don’t display the affection that would be natural for their own children. This is the result of a society’s decision to turn away from God. We cannot deny Him as the Creator and His rightful role as the Judge without at the same time denying the value of the lives He made. When people proclaim evolution as an alternate explanation for life, it is a short step from claiming we are nothing more than advanced apes to deciding that certain lives, or even all life, has no real value that must be respected. The solution to this problem is not found in a political movement or in social reform. Instead, it is found in our hearts. Paul wrote to Timothy from prison in Rome where a depraved Nero was doing everything in his power to undermine morals and righteousness and oppose Christianity. His plan—God’s plan—was to change the world through faithful ministry. We must keep our focus on the Bible in perilous times. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Today's Growth Principle:  We must rely on God’s Word more than ever as we face perilous times in a debased society.