What God Can Do with a Surrendered Life

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…And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? --Micah 6:8 A person who’s serious about prayer is also serious about his walk with the Lord. This verse in Micah reminds us that as we walk with God, we must walk humbly. Why? Because the Bible makes it clear that God resists the proud and the arrogant. This often happens in our lives when things are going well. It’s very easy to begin to think more highly of ourselves during these times than we ought. But instead of being filled with our own self-worth, we need to be full of our God-worth! What’s important in life isn’t who we are in ourselves, but who we are in God. As a believer, where would you be today without the Lord Jesus Christ in your life? A major part of walking humbly with God is being honest and sincere in all areas of life as well. And this includes our prayer lives. You know, Jesus hated hypocrisy in prayer more than anything. He talked about those who just said words and whose hearts were far from God. In the reality of an experience with God, we can’t fake it anymore! Friend, I pray that you will walk humbly with the Lord today!   PRAY WITH HUMILITY AND HONESTY. What God Can Do with a Surrendered Life Wednesday, July 15, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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." Romans 12:1-2 When D.L. Moody was just starting in the ministry he heard a preacher say, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully surrendered to Him." Moody that night said, "By God’s grace I’ll be that man!" It is said that Moody shook two continents for God and over a million souls came to Christ under his preaching and ministry. Moody had little formal education, and he was not a polished speaker. But God greatly used his life. At a memorial service some years after Moody’s death, Evangelist R.A. Torrey who had been one of his closest friends said, "The first thing that accounts for God’s using D.L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully surrendered man. Every ounce of that two-hundred-and-eighty-pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had, belonged wholly to God." When we surrender our purpose and will to God and allow Him to use us as He sees fit, amazing things happen. The world is shaken not by the wise, the mighty, the intelligent, or the skilled, but by those who have yielded to God. Paul said it was "reasonable" for us to surrender our lives, but many today seem to think that it is too much to ask. Instead of surrendering, they cling tightly to their own desires and interests. How much better it is both for us and for a world in need if we surrender and let God choose our path! Today's Growth Principle: A surrendered and empowered life can shake the world. Are you willing to be that fully surrendered person for God?

Gold Rush

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

by Dr. Paul Chappell

"The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."

Psalm 19:8-11

In 1848 James Marshall’s discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in northern California sparked one of the greatest migrations in human history. News travelled slowly at first, but by 1849 tens of thousands of people were on their way to California. During the gold rush, some 300,000 people flocked to the area hoping for riches. The journey itself posed significant dangers. A trip across America required facing hostile Indians, wild animals, mountain snows, and desert heat. Sailing around the tip of South America took months and was quite dangerous as well. Yet people willingly took on the challenges and threats in hope of what might lie in store for them.

There are many things that people desire and are willing to sacrifice to attain. However there is no treasure that can be compared to that found in the pages of the Bible. God’s eternal truth is readily available to us, and yet we allow other interests and pursuits to fill our time. The wisdom and strength and power that we need for successful and blessed living is there, like the gold nuggets that were found resting on the surface in the creeks of California. But so often, we allow those truths to remain undiscovered and unsought while we settle for the trinkets of the world. Many, and in fact most, of the "forty-niners" went home empty-handed, never having found treasure. Yet those who seek the unsearchable riches of Scripture are never disappointed.

Today's Growth Principle: 

When you treasure and desire the Word of God rightly, you will seek to learn and apply its truths to your life.

Building Your Life to Last

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“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” --Matthew 7:7 Years ago I read about a lady in Miami, Florida who wrote the editor of the Miami Herald because it had printed the results of an academic study on how prayer helped heal sickness. In her letter, she talked about a hurricane that hit Miami. She had gotten word that the hurricane was coming and so, though she wasn’t a praying person, she tried prayer, asking God to keep the storm from hitting her home. The clouds rolled in and the storm raged. And when it was over, it destroyed her house despite her prayers. So she asked the editor, “What do you think about that? What about this God who Christians say answers prayer? I prayed and He did nothing!” The editor responded in his editorial, “Madam, I don’t know much about prayer either. And to tell you the truth, I’m not much of a praying man so I don’t know why God didn’t answer your prayer. But I’m wondering… could it be that He was spending time with some of His regular customers?!”   Many times, I find out that when people say, “I’ve been praying about this,” what they really mean is “I prayed once about this.” But God wants more than simply our lip service. He wants our trust and our lives. So pray often, talking to God about your needs on a regular basis and most importantly, giving Him control by submitting to His will. PRAY OFTEN AND SUBMIT TO GOD. The Cost of Love Monday, July 13, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 15:11-14 Former Congressman J.C. Watts from Oklahoma once said, "Compassion can’t be measured in dollars and cents. It does come with a price tag, but the price tag isn’t the amount of money spent. The price tag is love." Love is anything but free. The nature of godly love is that it is willing to make sacrifices for the good of the other rather than being focused on protecting itself or getting its own way. Of course the ultimate example of this love is found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. He willingly came "to give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). This is a different kind of love from the kind our world knows today. Most of what is called love would more properly be called attraction, and in many cases simply lust. This kind of self-focused behavior is far short of what God has in mind. It is no surprise that the world falls short when it comes to love, but that should never be true for us. Each of our relationships—with family members, friends, fellow church members and the lost—should be characterized by this divine love that "seeketh not her own" (1 Corinthians 13:5). As we evaluate our love for others, we should not measure our feelings or our words, but our actions. Are we loving as Christ did, willing to give up that which we have every right to claim in order that someone else may benefit? Truly loving another is never an inexpensive proposition. Today's Growth Principle:  It is impossible to truly love people without being willing to sacrificially give to them.

And All the Promises of God

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But now, O God, strengthen my hands. --Nehemiah 6:9 You have to give Nehemiah’s enemies an “E” for effort. When their threats of violence didn’t stop Nehemiah from rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, they resorted to lies in an attempt to slander Nehemiah. They were simply doing the bidding of a greater enemy of God’s people, the devil himself, who according to Jesus Christ is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). The lie they used to slander Nehemiah was a big one: “Nehemiah, everyone knows you want to be king of Judah. The reason you’re rebuilding this wall is because you’re an egomaniac. You’re in this for yourself, and we’re going to tell the king of Persia on you!” Nehemiah’s enemies couldn’t break his will by threats. So they sought to break his spirit by spreading rumors about him. And they used the devil’s oldest attack of all – full-blown, blatant, bold-faced lies! The rumor mill was working full time, but Nehemiah simply denied the charge. “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind” (Nehemiah 6:8). And then Nehemiah prayed for the strength to finish his work. At some point or another, someone has probably lied about you or spread rumors to hurt you. Have you forgiven them? Do you harbor bitterness towards them? If you have been slandered, ask God for the grace to forgive. Then pray that God would strengthen your hands to finish the work He has given you to do without any bitterness in your heart.   ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO FORGIVE TODAY. And All the Promises of God Sunday, July 12, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:2-4 The great missionary Hudson Taylor personally baptized more than 35,000 converts during decades of service in China. He brought hundreds of missionaries to what had previously been a closed mission field and established hundreds of churches. Over those many years, God worked miraculously to supply his needs, but there were many times when the money did not arrive until the very last moment. Though those times could have shaken Taylor’s faith, he retained his confidence in God. At one point he wrote to a friend, “We have left eighty-seven cents and all the promises of God.” If we have the promises of God—and we do—then there is nothing to fear. Even if we cannot see how the answer could possibly come, He is not limited by our resources or lack of them. The most overwhelming problem you will ever face does not tax His abilities or power in any way. We see this truth beautifully expressed in the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer going out alone to attack a garrison of Philistine soldiers. Jonathan was not the least bit worried about being outnumbered. He said, "there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few" (1 Samuel 14:6). When God is on your side, nothing else matters. Simply claim His promises in faith, knowing that not one has ever failed, and you will not be overtaken with fear. Today's Growth Principle:  Trust God in faith even if you cannot see the answer. All of His promises are faithful and true.

The Peril of Prosperity

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A Life that Pleases God

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Life in the Shadows



Put not your trust in princes,
            in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
            on that very day his plans perish.

--Psalm 146:3-4

I once had the opportunity to meet the late Dr. Bill Bright, who was the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and a real patriot for our nation. Dr. Bright told me about a time when he was visiting with a man who was wondering about America and asking questions like, “Who do we need to elect to get us out of the mess we’re in as a nation?”

Dr. Bright said it seemed that God gave him an answer so quickly. So he said to that man, “There is nobody to elect to get us out of the mess we’re in. What is it going to take for our nation to get right with God?”

One of the saddest things, I believe, about many in the Church today is that they’re putting their faith in the people and politics of our nation and setting up an idol for themselves. They believe everything will be okay as long as we get this or that person elected. But the reality is that there’s no one person who can transform a nation – only Jesus can.

Jesus is the hope for America and the world. He is what our country really needs. So while it’s good to be involved politically, remember that only Christ can truly transform our nation!

FIND YOUR HOPE IN JESUS, NOT IN THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD. HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN TRULY TRANSFORM OUR NATION!

The Peril of Prosperity
Wednesday, April 01, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Deuteronomy 32:15-17

In his final address to the people of Israel, knowing that they would be going into the Promised Land without him, Moses gave them warning about the dangers they would face. One of the threats he highlighted was the peril of prosperity. When we are greatly blessed and have good things to enjoy provided by God's grace, we can quickly take them granted, giving ourselves the credit instead of glorifying and thanking God. “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:12).

In her book Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, Peggy Noonan talked about the decline in religious commitment among successive generations of immigrants to the United States. The first waves tended to be very religious, while their descendants were less and less involved in their churches. She speculated that the prosperity of America explained the change, asking “Who needs God when you have America?”

But material blessings will never substitute for what only God can provide. And the more we are focused on material things, the more likely we are to take God's blessings for granted and forget that we owe everything to Him. There aren't very many people who would wish for a harder life with restricted finances. Yet there are many people who left those days behind, only to look back later and realize that they left God behind as well.

Today's Growth Principle:
When we are greatly blessed by God, we must be on guard against forgetting Him.

Give Up or Get Up?

Give Up or Get Up?
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”

Nehemiah 2:17–18

When Nehemiah got to Jerusalem, the city was in dire straits. The lack of a wall around Jerusalem meant a complete inability of the people to defend against marauders who came to attack. Nehemiah’s first step was to make a survey of the situation, and when he had a grasp on the problem, he immediately launched a plan to solve it. He challenged the people, describing the need and then offering a solution. They caught his vision and together built the wall in just a few weeks.

Every time we face a crisis in any area of life, we have two basic choices. We can sit around feeling sorry for ourselves, wondering why things like that keep happening to us and blaming others for the trouble we’re in. Or we can evaluate the situation, determine the best solution, and get up and do what is necessary to resolve it. The more time we spend reviewing our troubles, the more discouraged we will become, and the less likely we will be to do anything to make a change.

If we want to accomplish great things, we must be willing to “rise up and build.” There will always be obstacles we can use as excuses to avoid moving ahead, but if we take that route, we will never get anything meaningful done. Once we have prayed and planned, we should get up and get busy.

Today's Growth Principle:
When we attack our problems head on, we often find them smaller than we had feared.

Time for God

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For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world. --1 John 2:16 I’ll never forget one Christmas Day many years ago when one of my children, after opening up all of his presents, came to me and said, “Daddy, I’m bored!” There we were, wrapping paper everywhere, brand new toys all over the floor, and he played with them for about 30 minutes before he was bored! Were living in a time when more is less. We have more to live with and less to live for than any other generation! One man said, “If I have everything, why is it that I’m so empty?” We have more than we’ve ever had, and yet people are restless, empty, always on the move, and always wanting more! My son on Christmas morning is really no different than many adults with their toys today. They’ve got all their toys, but they’re ultimately feeling empty because they’ll never find true contentment in the things of the world. Materialism can never satisfy! Don’t look for your joy in the things of the world. Instead, find your joy in Christ, because while the things of the world may gratify for a short time, Jesus is the only one who can truly satisfy. INSTEAD OF FINDING YOUR HAPPINESS IN MATERIAL THINGS, FIND JOY IN CHRIST, WHO TRULY SATISFIES! Time for God Monday, March 30, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.” Mark 1:34–37 In her book Jonathan and Sarah: An Uncommon Union, Edna Gertsner described the habit that helped Jonathan Edwards accomplish so much with his life. “He frequently spent thirteen hours a day studying. He managed this amazing amount of time by husbanding every hour of the day. He usually arose at four in the morning, indulging himself in the later rising time of five in the winter. In this way he was far along in his studies while the household slept.” The pace of modern life is more hectic and frantic than ever before. It is tempting to use that as an excuse for ignoring time spent with God and in His Word, but it is not valid. We have the time to do what He commands, but we have to be willing to make other sacrifices to ensure God is not crowded out. The best way to measure true priorities is to evaluate how we are spending our time and our money. More than anything else, how we spend these reveals what matters to our hearts. In the midst of a very busy time of ministry, after a long day healing the sick and preaching the gospel, Jesus could have said He was tired and stayed in bed. He was fully man as well as fully God, and He got tired just like we do. But instead of resting, Jesus did what was most important–getting up early to spend time with His Father. Today's Growth Principle: No matter how busy we are, we always make time for the things that are most important to us.

The Call of Christ

The Call of Christ
Saturday, March 28, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

Matthew 4:17–20

At the start of His ministry, Jesus clearly laid out His expectations for those He called to follow Him. They would embark on a lifetime course that would revolve around reaching other people. Jesus did not initially tell them they would be preachers or teachers or writers, but He did tell them they would be soulwinners. They would trade in catching fish for catching men. Dr. Curtis Hutson said, “Soulwinning is not a request; it is a responsibility. Soulwinning is not an opportunity; it is an obligation. The only alternative to soulwinning is disobedience to a clear command of Scripture. Everybody is to be involved. Nobody is excluded.”

It is impossible to say that we are truly following Jesus until we are doing our part to share the gospel with others. This was His purpose. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). And it must be our purpose as well. Everywhere we go, we meet people who are either heading for Heaven or for Hell, and we have a responsibility to them that we must not shirk. Paul wrote, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). If Heaven and Hell are real, and they are, we must make the eternal destiny of others a priority in our lives every day.

Today's Growth Principle:
God has placed people in each of our lives who need salvation, and we must reach out to the lost.

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But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. --Ephesians 2:13 One day Napoleon was standing before his army after he was defeated at Waterloo. He was trying to cover his losses and see what his next move would be. Napoleon realized that his quest for world domination was practically over. He had a map of the world on the wall and on that map the British Isles were marked in red. Napoleon angrily said to his generals, as he pointed to the red marked on that map, “Were it not for that red spot, we would have conquered the world!” I can imagine Satan gathering his hoards after Jesus’ death on Calvary. All of the demon spirits and the generals of hell listening as Satan pointed to the blood drenched slopes of Calvary and said, “Were it not for that red spot, we would have conquered the world!” But because of what Jesus has done for us, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). And it’s because of the blood of Jesus Christ that you can have full confidence that sin and Satan have been conquered in your life. The blood of Christ is the very power of God. It is by His death and resurrection that we have any hope of salvation at all. So remember that by the power of Christ’s blood, you have all the victory you need in the name of Jesus Christ! THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SAVES YOU FROM SIN AND GIVES YOU VICTORY OVER SATAN. SO CLAIM THAT TRUTH IN YOUR LIFE AND LIVE VICTORIOUSLY THANKS TO HIS FINISHED WORK! Continue Friday, March 27, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 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 3:12–15 When Paul wrote his final letter to Timothy from his jail cell in Rome, he knew full well what awaited him. Soon he would be martyred, killed for the faith he would not stop proclaiming. But he also knew that it would be up to men like Timothy to carry on the work he had started. Paul pulled no punches in his instruction to his protégé. He told Timothy that persecution was coming, and that those who tried to do right would face opposition both within and without the church. He also told Timothy what would keep him on track—continuing in the truth of the Word of God. It would be nice if we could make a commitment to the truth and everything would be settled once and for all. That is not the way the Christian life works. It is a daily commitment that having set out on the right course, we will stick to it no matter what comes. It is not enough just to start out right, we must keep doing it day after day. Ellen Sturgis Hooper wrote, “I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty; I woke, and found that life was Duty.” The devil cannot be defeated once for all. If we stand firm against temptation today, he will return. If we hold to the truth tomorrow, he will come back the next day. We must continue in the truth day after day. Today's Growth Principle: The commitment to follow Christ and do what is right is not a one-time decision, but must continue day after day.

Living Like Jesus

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet,             they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson,             they shall become like wool.” --Isaiah 1:18 I heard about a Sunday school class where the teacher said to the children, “Is there anything, boys and girls, God can’t do?” So a little girl raised her hand and said, “Yes, teacher, there’s one thing that God can’t do. He can’t see my sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.” That little girl was exactly right. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, all our sins are gone forever. Every single thing I’ve ever done that has been dishonoring to God has been separated from me as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). And it’s because of that powerful truth that I know I’m saved forever. Yet, there are those who believe that somehow you or I can sin away our salvation after we’ve truly trusted in Christ – that there is some sin that we could commit or some failure that would cast us away from God. Oh no, my friend. This is not true because of the simple fact that when Jesus died on the cross, all of our sin was future. And all of our sin is forgiven by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. If there was one scintilla of sin that was held against you or me, we would be lost forever. But because the blood of Jesus cleanses you from all sin, you can have every confidence you’re safely in His arms! GOD CAN’T SEE YOUR SIN THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. SO LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT IF YOU’RE IN HIM, THAT PRECIOUS GIFT OF SALVATION CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY! Living Like Jesus Thursday, March 26, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” 1 Corinthians 4:14–16 Robert Chapman was well educated as a child and became a lawyer in London. After his conversion in 1823, however, he became actively involved in church work. After a few years he left the legal profession to become a pastor, and spent nearly seven decades reaching people with the gospel. He lived what he preached, and Charles Spurgeon called him “the saintliest man I know.” Chapman was a great friend and helper of George Mueller in his work with orphans, and called on his people to put their faith into action. Robert Chapman said, “There are many who preach Christ, but not so many who live Christ. My great aim will be to live Christ.” When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and told the people to copy his life, he was not boasting or holding himself up as some kind of spiritual giant. His reason for being confident to ask others to follow him was simply that he was a follower of Christ. “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Jesus is not just for Sundays at church. He is an example for us to follow every day, and those who know us best should see His principles and priorities on display in our lives. Though it is not as popular now as it once was, the expression WWJD—what would Jesus do?—is a valid standard by which to guide our actions and decisions. If we love Him as we should and grow to know Him more through Bible reading and prayer, it will be easier for us to see how He would act, and then do the same. Today's Growth Principle: It is not in our intentions, but in our actions that we must live like Jesus did.

This Is Love

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. --Colossians 2:16-17 Do you remember the story of Pavlov’s dog? Pavlov, a scientist, performed an experiment where he would ring a bell and then feed his dog. Then again, he would ring a bell and feed him, ring a bell and feed him. And to the amazement of Pavlov, whenever this dog would hear the bell, he would begin to salivate and prepare for the meal. He was conditioned by the sound of the bell to get ready to eat. Throughout the Old Testament, God was conditioning mankind with signs and symbols of greater truths that were yet to come. He was preparing the way for the One who would come and finally, forever, bring redemption for the sin of the world. The signs, the symbols, the types, the illustrations, the examples of the Old Testament all speak of the One who would come and give His life for you. So by the time Jesus came to earth in the New Testament, the Jews who had been truly following God were ready to listen. But many rejected Him because they had a false impression of the purpose of those signs and symbols. Yet, one thing remains abundantly clear: those signs pointed to Christ. The Gospels tell us that for 33 years God walked upon the face of this earth. That’s the central story in the Bible around which all others hinge. So when you feel like you’re getting bogged down in the ritual instruction of the Old Testament, remember that it’s a powerful story of a greater truth to come. THE STORY OF CHRIST IS THE FOCUS OF GOD’S PLAN FOR THE AGES. SO AS YOU READ THE OLD TESTAMENT, REMEMBER THAT THE RITUAL INSTRUCTION WAS MEANT TO PREPARE THE WORLD FOR A GREATER TRUTH TO COME. This Is Love Wednesday, March 25, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:7–10 The world around us is filled with talk of love, but often the way that word is used is different from the way God uses the word. His love for us is completely sacrificial, even to the point of Jesus coming into the world to die for our sins. While the Bible speaks of God loving us, it is in the context of that being a part of His nature and character. God does not love us for who we are but for who He is. Love is an integral part of who and what He is. He cannot be anything less than loving. This is the pattern of love that is set before us, not just for us to appreciate, but to follow. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11). Unlike God, our hearts are not naturally filled with love. As a result of the Fall, our hearts were corrupted, and they cannot love as God does. But He has not left us alone and responsible for something we cannot do. He has given us His Holy Spirit, and He is able to produce genuine love. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” (Galatians 5:22). We must walk in the Spirit if we are to love as God commands. Today's Growth Principle: We cannot love other people as we should unless we first love God as we should—with all our hearts.

“Under the Sun”

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” --Acts 8:35-36 As a pastor, I perform wedding ceremonies for couples in all kinds of emotional conditions. I’ve seen couples who cry all the way through the ceremony. There have been times between the wedding party and the couple, we went through an entire box of tissue because they just cried and cried. I’ve also seen others where there’s no emotion; it’s like a business deal. I’ll ask, “Do you take–“ And with a straight face they look right at each other and give a very simple, “I do.” But in each of the examples above, who’s more married? The ones with all the emotion, or the ones with none of the emotion? The answer is obvious – they’re all married! What matters is whether or not they made a commitment in their hearts to one another. Christians love good “come to Jesus” stories that are filled with emotion and drama. But that’s not how it always goes as we see in today’s passage. This man simply knew he had a need, and looked to have it met. So when it comes to placing your faith in Christ, don’t worry if you didn’t have a huge, mountaintop emotive experience. What matters is that you trusted in Him with your heart and now you’re His forever! DON’T WORRY ABOUT A BIG EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST. WHAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU’VE GIVEN HIM YOUR HEART. “Under the Sun” Tuesday, March 24, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:9–11 King Solomon truly had it all with wealth, power, and the ability to indulge any whim that came to his mind. He took advantage of those opportunities, trying to find satisfaction and purpose “under the sun.” He failed miserably. Despite being able to pursue any and every pathway that might lead to pleasure, Solomon found none. Instead he came to the conclusion that life was empty and meaningless. Herman Melville wrote, “Ecclesiastes is the fine hammered steel of woe.” Nothing that we do or try in this life can provide what only God can give. So many people think that if they had something more or could do something differently, they would find joy and happiness, but that is a lie from the devil. Only in God can we find what we are seeking. David wrote, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). The world is filled with things that try to draw us away from God. The devil offers substitutes that promise great things, but never deliver them. If our focus is on this world, we will never find what we have to be enough, no matter how much that may be. There must be a focus above the sun for life to truly matter. Today's Growth Principle: If we are seeking God first, then the things of life can find real meaning and purpose.

Joy in Hard Times

Joy in Hard Times
Monday, March 23, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Romans 5:3–5

Our attitude is not determined by our circumstances. Some people are joyful during times of great trial. Others are discontent even in times of plenty. Our attitude is determined by our view of those circumstances. If we view hard times as something unfair or surprising, we will be likely to allow them to drag us down. On the other hand, if we view hard times as part of God’s purpose for our lives, we will be likely to keep our joy.

Nothing ever happens that takes God by surprise. Many times we are blindsided by things we didn’t see coming, but He never is. And while there are times when His plan involves us going through great hardship and trial, there is never a time when we get there accidentally. Our hardships are an opportunity for our faith to grow and God’s power to be displayed. Writing to people who were literally being killed for their faith, Peter said, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:13).

In Pilgrim’s Progress, when Christian and Hopeful are trapped in Doubting Castle by the Giant Despair, they spend days in a basement prison. Finally, Christian remembers something important. “‘What a fool,’ quoth he, ‘am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom called Promise; that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle.’“ The key works, and the two walk free rejoicing to continue on to the Celestial City.

Today's Growth Principle:
Because of our faith in God’s purpose for our lives and our belief in His promises, we can be joyful in the most difficult circumstances.

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

--John 6:63

Not long ago, I was looking at all the books I’ve accumulated over time. I realized that as great as many of them are, only one has life. Oh yes, they have truth in them; but there is no life in those books.

When it comes to the Bible, it’s the only book that pulsates with life. The Bible says of itself, “The Word of God is living…” (Hebrews 4:12). And the Bible will endure forever. The Scripture says that God’s Word is “firmly fixed in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89). There’s no way around it – God’s Word is where life is found and it endures forever!

I’ve been asked in the past on the issue of the infallibility of Scripture, “Where are the original Scriptures?” And my answer to that is, “The Word of God is settled in heaven! That’s where the originals are!” And God, by His power, has preserved His words through the years because His Word is alive.

The Lord Jesus Christ is inseparably linked with His Word. The eternal God is known by the Word of God. So if you want to really know God, study His Word. Meditate on it each and every day because that’s the only book where real life is found!

THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY BOOK THAT HAS LIFE. SO MEDITATE ON THE SCRIPTURES EACH DAY!

Standing on the Front Lines

Standing on the Front Lines
Sunday, March 22, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.”

2 Samuel 11:15–17

There is a spiritual war going on all around us. We do not get the option of sitting it out or avoiding it—even if we try to avoid it, the devil will bring that battle to our doorsteps. And there are days when that battle rages hot for all of us. We find ourselves on the front lines, facing the strongest foes of the enemy. And in that day, when the battle is most intense, it is vital for us to rely fully on God’s power for the victory.

There are many people who are happy to give advice about gaining victory who are not speaking in line with God’s Word. They hold themselves up to be experts, but they don’t really know what they’re talking about because they are not walking and working and battling in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is important that we receive good advice for spiritual warfare. Dwight Eisenhower said, “Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.”

The devil rejoices when he sees a Christian going into battle in his own might. He knows that victory is coming for him, and that we will fall. But when we stand in God’s power we cannot be defeated. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Today's Growth Principle:
Because we have the promise of the power of God, we can be victorious no matter how hot the battle becomes.

Keeping an Eye on the Real Enemy

Keeping an Eye on the Real Enemy
Saturday, March 21, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Galatians 5:13–15

In the late 1800s, a civil war in the Samoan Islands sparked international worry. The various world powers that had influence in the region feared the loss of their preferred status so they backed different sides in the conflict. Warships from Germany, Great Britain, and the United States converged on Samoa. They remained in a standoff in Apia Harbor, unwilling to actually fight, but also unwilling to leave and allow another nation to gain influence. The standoff continued for weeks until a massive cyclone wrecked all six warships in the harbor. The power of the wind and waves didn’t care about the different sides or their opinions, but equally struck them all.

There are some battles that are worth fighting and we must not shirk from standing for the truth and doing what is right, even if it requires a battle. But there are other battles that simply are not worth fighting, and can instead distract us from the real enemy. And we have a real enemy to fight. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

A division or conflict that arises because of a stand for truth is very different from one that arises from a stand for preference. Without lowering our standards, we should make every effort to avoid conflict with other Christians. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Our strength should be devoted to fighting against the devil.

Today's Growth Principle:
We should never allow minor disagreements to divide us from true Christians committed to following Christ.

Eternity

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There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. --Galatians 3:28 Every now and then, I’ll be asked to officiate at weddings at other churches across town. I remember one time specifically when I walked in and saw the pastor of this particular church who had been faithful in ministry for nearly fifty years. Our church had just recently taken out an ad in the paper congratulating him on his ministry, and he was so grateful for that show of appreciation from another church. There’s a popular misconception among many today that churches are competing for members. Now, I’m not saying it never happens, but I can tell you one thing: that’s not how the Bible calls the body of Christ to act. In fact, churches should be in the business of building up one another because in Christ, we’re all one! As the body of Christ, we need hundreds and thousands of people working together to expand the Kingdom. We need one another. So whether you’re Jew or Greek, male or female, Baptist, Methodist, or whatever denomination, so long as Christ is at the center and you share a common faith in His death, burial, and resurrection, stay united and work together for His glory! RATHER THAN FINDING REASONS TO ARGUE AND COMPETE, BE UNIFIED IN THE BODY OF CHRIST AND WORK WITH OTHERS FOR HIS GLORY. Eternity Friday, March 20, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Revelation 1:16–18 When John was given his vision of Heaven on the Isle of Patmos, he was terrified. But then Jesus reached out to comfort him. To provide that comfort, He focused John’s gaze on His unending, unfailing and unchanging power that reaches beyond time. Jesus died for us once, but now He is alive forever, and gives the promise of eternal life to all those who trust in Him. Because we live bound by time, it is hard for us to imagine, but eternity will never end. The English Puritan pastor Stephen Charnock wrote, “Time is fluid, but eternity is stable; and after many ages, the joys will be as savory and satisfying as if they had been but that moment first tasted by our hungry appetites. When the glory of the Lord shall rise upon you, it shall be so far from ever setting, that after millions of years are expired, as numerous as the sands on the seashore, the sun, in the light of whose countenance you shall live, shall be as bright as at the first appearance.” Any promise is only as good as the person making it. Our eternity is promised and guaranteed by a God who never fails. Paul wrote, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). The promise of eternity is good as long as the Lord lives, and He will never die. Today's Growth Principle: When the changes of time are no more, we will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus in Heaven.