God Changes Us

God Changes Us
Friday, January 31, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”

Luke 19:5–8

Frederick Charrington was a wealthy and successful English businessman, until he turned his back on his family’s empire and walked away. He told the story of walking down a street and seeing a woman outside a pub pleading with a drunken man to come home to his family. She told him that they had no food and begged for help. In the window of the pub was a sign that said, “Drink Charrington Ale.”

“When I saw that sign,” Charrington said, “I was stricken just as surely as Paul on the Damascus Road. Here was the source of my family wealth, and it was producing untold human misery before my own eyes. Then and there I pledged to God that not another penny of that money should come to me.” Charrington gave up millions to become a leader of the temperance movement.

There is a radical change that happens when we come to God for salvation. Some of us who were saved at a young age and grew up in church did not have a large outward change, but all of us had a heart transplant. And it shows up in our lives. When we turn from our sins and commit to following God, we are willing to give up anything that would hinder our walk with Him.

Today's Growth Principle:
If our lives are not radically different from the world because we know Jesus, something is very wrong.

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We have all become like one who is unclean,             and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf,             and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. --Isaiah 64:6 I read in a survey awhile back that Americans were asked this question: Do you believe that most people are basically good? The result of the survey was that 83 percent said yes. People are basically good. That’s more than 4 out of 5 adults in America who say that people basically have good intentions and want the best for others. The problem with that line of thinking is the Bible. When the Scriptures describe the state of humanity apart from Christ, it says that not one person does what is right in the sight of God. In fact, if you look at today’s passage, you’ll see that even on our best day, our best deeds are like a polluted garment in God’s eyes. You’ll hear people say, “Oh, he’s got a good heart! He’s got a heart of gold.” Well, a heart of gold will not merit you favor before God because even your best isn’t good enough. So what are you to do? The answer is Jesus. You see, in the flesh, every person is subject to sin and its effects in the world. But in Christ, the old way of operating is done away with as He removes your sin and gives you a new heart. Yes, in Christ, you can live a life pleasing to God. So, even when you struggle with sin, remember that you have moved from darkness and, because of Jesus, can walk in God’s light! WHILE THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT NO ONE NATURALLY DOES WHAT IS GOOD, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST.

Is anyone really ‘okay’?

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“None is righteous, no, not one;             no one understands;             no one seeks for God.” --Romans 3:10-11 Perhaps you’ve seen or heard the illustration of people trying to get to heaven as trying to leap over an ocean. The illustration goes that some may jump further than others, but the point is clear that no one can jump across the ocean. And in the same way, while some may live better lives than others, the point is that no one can live a life holy enough to get to heaven. Now, I want you to know that I believe all of that is true. Not one person is good enough to go to heaven. And even those who seem to live better lives than others still fall short, by far. But do you know what I’ve noticed in life? It’s that most people don’t even try to jump to attain salvation. Oh, there may be a few religious people who try to prove themselves to God, but very few people today even bother to try to jump to get to God because most people today assume they’re already okay. However, the reality is that not one person apart from Christ is okay. Every single individual has sinned and has fallen short of God’s holy standard. No one is okay, but God has given them a way to be made okay with Him. So, don’t let the prevailing attitude of “I’m okay, you’re okay” keep you from sharing God’s truth. It’s only through Christ that anyone can come to God, so share that with others each day! NO ONE CAN COME TO GOD APART FROM JESUS CHRIST. SO LIVE YOUR LIFE TO TELL THE WORLD THAT JESUS HAS MADE A WAY BACK TO GOD! What God Wants When We Sin Thursday, January 30, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” Psalm 51:3–6 The first sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sank their teeth into the forbidden fruit. The first excuse for sin followed not long after when God confronted Adam about what he had done. Rather than confessing his sin, and acknowledging his responsibility for it, Adam blamed both his wife and God for it. “And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” (Genesis 3:12). And ever since, blame-shifting and rationalization of sin has been used by generation after generation. But until we accept that we alone are responsible, we cannot deal with sin properly. God desires and demands truth when it comes to dealing with sin. The popular catch phrase “The devil made me do it” is not true. He tempts us and tries to lure us into sin, but he does not cause it. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14). If we are blaming the devil or other people or even God for our sin, we are not yet ready to make things right with Him. Only when we point the finger at ourselves instead of someone else can we begin to return to close fellowship with God. The lies that we tell ourselves and others about sin will block that relationship as long as we cling to them. Today's Growth Principle: Until we are willing to confess the truth of our responsibility for our sin, we cannot truly repent.

Where to find your true worth

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But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. --2 Peter 3:8 A story is told about a man who was talking with the Lord and said, “Lord, is it true that with You, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day?” And the Lord said, “Yes, that’s true.” “Does that mean that a penny to you is like a million dollars and a million dollars like a penny?”  And the Lord said, “Yes, a million dollars to you is like a penny to me.”  The man said, “Well, Lord, since a million dollars to you is like a penny to me, could I have a penny?” And the Lord said, “Yes… in a minute.” When it comes to what you and I consider precious such as time, money, or anything else of value, in the grand scheme of things it’s really worthless. You can be the richest person in the world, but on the day you meet God, all your earthly possessions will count for nothing. It’s been said that that’s why you never see a hearse towing a U-Haul trailer! Compared to everything God has, you really have very little. So when you count your real value, remember that God sees past material wealth and petty possessions into your very soul. And with Christ on your side, you can have the only kind of riches that really matter in His eyes! DON’T BE DECEIVED INTO THINKING YOUR VALUE IS FOUND IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. THE ONLY RICHES THAT MATTER ARE THOSE YOU HAVE IN CHRIST! When You Hide Your Sin Wednesday, January 29, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.” Psalm 32:1–4 David did not find out what he had done was wrong when the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin. He knew it was wrong before he did it, and afterward he knew that he should repent. Instead David went to great lengths to cover up his sin with Bathsheba, to the extent of arranging the murder of one of his inner circle of warriors on the battlefield at the hands of the enemy. When he married the widow of one of his chief soldiers, David must have thought that his sin was hidden and would stay that way. “And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (2 Samuel 11:27). Even before his sin was revealed and the consequences announced to him, David was suffering from the result. There were serious physical and spiritual results of his attempt to cover his sin. It was not until he repented that David's relationship with God was restored. And it was not until then that his health began to recover. It should be no surprise to us that sin has effects on our bodies as well as our souls. In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul warned them about the results of approaching communion in an unworthy manner: “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (1 Corinthians 11:30). Today's Growth Principle: God is never deceived when we try to hide our sin from Him, and He will not allow us rest until we repent.

How to know you’re ready for eternity

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And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
--1 John 5:11

When Sir William Ramsay was executed in 1683, the English patriot took his watch out of his pocket, gave it to his doctor on his way to the gallows, and said, “Here, take my timepiece. I have no need of it now, for I am dealing with eternity.”

Your time is ticking. And if you just put your hand on your heart, you can feel those heartbeats as if they were saying, “Quickly, quickly, quickly, quickly.” Then one day, they stop. And while death is sure and life is so brief, God gives you this life as an opportunity to prepare for the future because everyone will live forever somewhere.

My soul and your soul will go on endless, dateless, and measureless throughout all eternity. You’ll be alive a thousand years from now. You’ll be alive 10 billion years from now, either in heaven or hell. So don’t miss this opportunity!

So, here’s the question I have for you today: Are you ready for eternity? Are you ready for that day you move from this life to the next? The only way to be 100% sure is to confess in your heart that Jesus is Lord and trust in Him for the forgiveness of your sins. When you do that, you’ll be ready to deal with the eternity that everyone will one day face.

EVERY PERSON WILL ONE DAY ENTER ETERNITY. SO MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY BY TRUSTING IN JESUS CHRIST TO FORGIVE YOUR SINS.

Faith Counts
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Romans 4:2–5

What God told Abraham to do was beyond human logic and reason. It made no sense to leave a comfortable home and live in a tent. It made no sense that an elderly couple could still have a child. It made no sense to offer that promised child as a sacrifice. Yet in every case, when Abraham did what God said, he found God’s promises to be faithful. We do not please, honor, and obey God by doing what seems right to us, but by obeying what He has spoken.

Alexander MacLaren said, “Disobedience is the root of unbelief. Unbelief is the mother of further disobedience. Faith is voluntary submission within a person’s own power. If faith is not exercised, the true cause lies deeper than all intellectual reasons. It lies in the moral aversion of human will and in the pride of independence. With dreadful reciprocity of influence, the less one trusts, the more he disobeys; the more he disobeys, the less he trusts.”
The goal of pleasing God should be our motivation. To accomplish that, we must walk in faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). The world may say that believing the Bible is old fashioned. Even Christians may say walking in faith leads us to extremes. But we can and should always believe what God has spoken and act upon it in obedience.

Today's Growth Principle:
God is looking for men and women who will believe what He says and act on it.

Treasure That Lasts

Treasure That Lasts
Saturday, January 25, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 6:19–21

In the early 1900s, Radio Corporation of America was one of the largest companies in the world. Their electronics business was booming, especially after World War I and the start of the “Roaring Twenties.” In October of 1929, RCA was trading for $58.50 on the New York Stock Exchange. But the Great Depression came, and by 1932 the company had lost more than 95 percent of its value with the stock trading at just $2.50 per share. There were many who thought they had wealth and security because of their RCA stock, but it proved to be fleeting.

No matter how secure any earthly investment may seem to be, it is temporal. While it is important for us to be good stewards of the resources God entrusts to us, and we should make wise plans for the future, nothing should outweigh eternity in our hearts and minds. The things that we put into God’s work are treasures that are prepared for us to receive. Paul wrote, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

The things into which we pour our time, money, and energy are the things that matter most to us. If we only have earthly investments, it speaks loudly that we do not have Heaven in our hearts. Knowing that we will spend eternity there, we should be far more interested in treasure that lasts than in worldly possessions.

Today's Growth Principle:
If we invest our lives in the things of Heaven, we cannot lose the rewards laid up there.

Prayer for Revival
Sunday, January 26, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.”

Psalm 85:4–8

England in the late 1700s was in turmoil. The loss of the American colonies had greatly impacted the empire, not just in the new world, but in the old as well. In addition to the political and military upheaval, economic woes roiled society. From his pulpit in London, John Newton saw the great need of spiritual renewal above all else. He wrote to a friend, “A revival is wanted here with us as it is with you, and some of us are praying and also singing for a revival. The song we are singing will be found on the reverse side of my letter.”

Saviour, visit Thy plantation,
Send, oh send, a gracious rain;
All will come to desolation
Unless Thou dost bless again.

Break the tempter’s fatal power,
Turn the stony hearts to flesh,
And begin this very hour
To revive Thy work afresh.

Lord, Thy help is greatly needed:
Help can only come from Thee.

Everywhere we look, there are signs of the spiritual decay and decline of our society. This evil is not limited to the world, but has infected much of the church as well. There is a need for revival, but it cannot be produced by any human means or effort. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on God’s children that we should be earnestly praying to see become a reality.

Today's Growth Principle:
Nothing is more needed in our society than a genuine revival, and only God’s power can bring it about.

The Power of a Burdened Heart

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The grass withers, the flower fades,             but the word of our God will stand forever. --Isaiah 40:8 In 1939 at the World’s Fair in New York, a time capsule was buried, which is to be opened 5,000 years from now. And, of course, in that time capsule they included many items of the culture and society of that day – memorabilia to give a slice of life if the world is still in existence in 5,000 years.  In that time capsule, they included one book: The Bible! And when one of the officials was asked, “Why did you put the Bible in that time capsule?” he answered, “The Holy Bible, of all books familiar to us today, will most likely survive through the ages. The Bible we placed in the capsule will be a link between the past, the present, and the future.” I don’t know what the world will be like in 5,000 years. In fact, I’d venture to say that no one really knows what the world will be like in 100 years. But one thing is clear: God’s Word will endure. The Word of God stands forever. People have tried to disprove it and destroy it, but it has endured. I can’t think of a better book on which to build a philosophy of life than a book that’s worked so well for so long. So live your life by God’s Word because it’s the only book that will endure forever! WHILE OTHER PHILOSOPHIES AND PSYCHOLOGIES COME AND GO, GOD’S WORD ENDURES FOREVER. SO MAKE IT THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR LIFE! The Power of a Burdened Heart Friday, January 24, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” Acts 20:29–31 When Paul met with the elders of the church at Ephesus for the last time, he recapped his ministry in their town as part of his final charge to them. He was able to tell them that his work in Ephesus had been characterized by a passionate intensity. Paul was not casual in trying to reach people—he went around the clock, weeping from his burden as he went. There is no substitute for a deep, passionate, intense burden for others as we do the work of God. D. L. Moody was one of the most used and effective evangelists in history. Though he had little formal education, people responded to his preaching in a great way, and tens of thousands were saved in his meetings. One thing that was obvious when Moody preached was his passion for reaching the lost. The English pastor Robert Dale said of Moody, “I have never heard him refer to Hell without tears in his voice.” If we are going to make an impact on those around us and be effective witnesses of the gospel, we must truly care about the people to whom we speak. If we are going through the motions or checking an item off our to-do list, we should not be surprised if there is little result. The Lord we are commanded to follow cared deeply about the needs of the people around Him. “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Today's Growth Principle: We should never let our hearts grow cold to the eternity awaiting everyone around us.

Living the new life God gives you

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. --2 Corinthians 5:17 Augustine, the famed theologian and philosopher, was a very carnal young man, often frequenting houses of prostitution. So when he came to know Christ as his Savior, he was dramatically transformed and changed by the power of God. One day he was walking down one of the streets in his home town and a shady lady that he had known previously was standing on the street corner. She saw Augustine and said, “Augustine! Augustine! It is I!” So Augustine immediately turned the other direction and said, “Yes, but it is not I.” You see, when you become a believer in Christ, you are radically changed from the inside out. That’s because Jesus takes your sin away, liberating you from its bondage, and has given you the Spirit of God to live inside of you. The result is that your old self is dead and your new self enables you to live a life pleasing to God. God can give you a new heart and a new life if you’re in Christ. And as a Christian, you can make a commitment to holiness and godliness because of that new life. So if you’ve been made new in Christ, live your life focused on bringing glory to Him! IN CHRIST, GOD HAS TAKEN AWAY YOUR OLD SELF AND GIVEN YOU A NEW LIFE. SO LIVE YOUR LIFE IN FREEDOM FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN AND GIVE THE GLORY TO GOD! Looking Up Thursday, January 23, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?” Isaiah 51:12–13 When we allow ourselves to be filled with worry and fear, we are not living as the God who offers comfort and encouragement wants us to live. We are constantly under attack in this world, but we do not have to be defeated. After many years on a difficult mission field, Amy Carmichael wrote, “I have noticed that when God has purposes of blessing some person, the devil of Discouragement, who is one of Satan’s most useful servants, is sure to come and whisper all sorts of miserable, depressing thoughts. Do not forget that discouragement is always from beneath, while encouragement is always from above.” Even in the worst moments of our lives, if those who are closest to us fail us or turn against us, God is there. David wrote, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Psalm 27:10). We do not have to live without comfort, which God freely offers to us. When we go to Him, He does not have to be talked into comforting and encouraging us. He loves us beyond our ability to comprehend, and He is always ready to respond to those who cry out to Him. We can allow our circumstances or the actions of others to drive us down, or we can cling to God and not fear anyone else. That is an unfailing source of encouragement that is available to Christians. Today's Growth Principle: God offers deep and real comfort, even when—especially when—we struggle with fear and discouragement.

Following God’s plan for sex

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Drink water from your own cistern,             flowing water from your own well… Let your fountain be blessed,             and rejoice in the wife of your youth. --Proverbs 5:15-18 I once heard a grandfather who was talking about his grandson. He said, “You know, my grandson has more temptations before school starts at 8:30 in the morning than I had out Friday night looking for trouble!” And you know, he’s exactly right. In fact, one young lady told her father recently, “When I see how casual sex is treated by my classmates, there are times when I wonder, ‘What am I waiting for?’” So why should you maintain the purity and the standards of righteousness that the Bible gives? The world today is full of so many opportunities for men and women to go astray when it comes to sexual purity. So why not just give in? Well, here’s your answer: because God wants what’s best for you. I can’t tell you the heartbreak I’ve seen and the emotional damage I’ve witnessed as a result of illicit sexual relationships. God doesn’t want you to experience that, so He’s protected you by giving you guidelines to obey. God created His rules for sex with your joy in mind. Never forget that. So whether your young and single or have been married for years, follow God’s perfect plan for sex and you’ll experience His very best for you and your spouse! GOD’S PLAN FOR SEX WAS CREATED WITH YOUR JOY IN MIND. SO FOLLOW HIS PLAN AND YOU’LL EXPERIENCE HIS VERY BEST FOR YOU! Presumption and the Will of God Wednesday, January 22, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.” James 4:13–16 Many people live as if God did not exist. When they make their plans for the future, they are only concerned with what they desire and how they intend to achieve their goals. The truth is that none of us knows the future. We can and should make wise plans to the best of our ability, but we do not control our lives. Even the moment at which they end could come unexpectedly. None of us is promised tomorrow. James gives us this reminder, not to make us dread the future, but to urge us to trust and submit to God’s will rather than rejoicing in our own plans and presumptions. Submitting to God’s will is not passive—it still requires us to do what He says. But it is freeing, because it replaces our opinions with His. Hudson Taylor said, “I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient.” The warning of James was not to the world, but to believers. We are just as prone to self-reliance, and we must resist it. Today's Growth Principle: Only when we recognize that God is in control and yield to His will can we live as we should.

Where to Find the Power of God

“How Long Will It Be?”
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?”

Numbers 14:10–11

The Children of Israel saw the ten plagues that devastated Egypt. They saw the Red Sea part so they could cross, before returning to drown the Egyptian army. They saw God miraculously provide for them as they made their way to the Promised Land. Yet when ten of the twelve spies Moses sent into the land came back with a report that highlighted how strong the people already in the land were, they refused to even try to enter. When Moses insisted that they could triumph with God’s help, they started talking about stoning him, along with Joshua and Caleb. None of the adults in that generation, except for the two faithful spies, were allowed to go into the land, because none of them had the faith to take God at His promises.

God’s frustration with those people is often echoed in our day, as those who call themselves His children refuse to believe what He has said and act on it. In truth, every one of us has seen God do great and amazing things in our lives, giving us far more than we deserve. His power is on display each time someone comes to Him for salvation—the greatest miracle of all. Yet despite all we have read and heard from the Bible and from the lives of others, and despite all we have personally experienced, too often our actions are determined by our perception of the obstacles we face rather than by our faith in God to overcome them.

Today's Growth Principle:
We should be quick to trust in God and obey Him, regardless of how the circumstances appear to us.

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For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. --Hebrews 4:12 I heard about a vacuum cleaner salesman who was up in the hills of Arkansas and was showing one of his vacuum cleaners from house to house. So he got to one house on the backside of a mountain, and he walked in at the invitation of a lady and said, “Ma’am, I guarantee you this vacuum cleaner will suck up every piece of dirt on your floor anywhere in your house.” Then he went over to the fireplace, got a bunch of ashes in his hands, threw them on the floor, and said, “I’m so convinced that this vacuum cleaner will suck up those ashes that I’ll personally eat them with a spoon if this vacuum cleaner won’t do it!”  So the lady of the house said, “Well, you better start eating because we ain’t got no electricity in this house!”  Now, the Bible works because unlike that vacuum cleaner, it has all the power it needs. And because of that, it brings the power of God to our lives. Yet, many believers today are living a ‘Bible-less’ Christianity. They want all the benefits of the Christian life, but they’re missing out on the greatest one of all: the wisdom and power of God. So as you walk with Christ, remember the powerful resource God’s given you in His Word and you’ll tap into His never-ending resources! THE BIBLE ‘WORKS’ BECAUSE IT HAS THE POWER OF GOD. SO AS YOU LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, STAY CONNECTED WITH GOD’S WORD!

The Progression of Sin

The Progression of Sin
Monday, January 20, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.”

Joshua 7:20–21

Jericho, the first city that Israel had to fight when they entered the Promised Land, was a large and wealthy city. In those days, gathering the goods found in a conquered city was a major economic consideration. Many armies received much of their pay from the plunder gained in battle. But God reserved that first city for Himself, decreeing that no one was to take anything from Jericho. Achan disobeyed that decree, and after the defeat at Ai his sin was revealed. When he made his confession to Joshua, Achan described the progression of his sin. First he saw something attractive, then he wanted it, and then he took it and hid it.

Sometimes we focus on the end of the process—the actual sin. But the problem begins earlier, in our thoughts before it is seen in our actions. When we allow ourselves to desire things that God has forbidden, we are already on the path to defeat and destruction. James wrote, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15). Sin always begins internally before it is seen externally. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “Behind every tragedy of human character lies a long process of wicked thinking.” Achan did not sin because the treasure was so attractive. Thousands of other Israeli soldiers passed by equal treasures. Achan sinned because he allowed the temptation to linger until it produced the bitter fruit of sin in his life.

Today's Growth Principle:
The only safe way to deal with sin is to crush it in the temptation phase.

“Give Me”

“Give Me”
Sunday, January 19, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”

Luke 15:11-14

Though it has been almost two thousand years since Jesus told the story, the parable of the Prodigal Son reads like a picture of modern society. All around us the drive of materialism, the endless quest to accumulate more and more money and more and more things, is easy to see. There is a widespread feeling that people are owed whatever they desire, and have a right to get it without first earning it.

This “give me” mindset destroys joy because no matter how much someone gets, there is never enough. Someone said, “A spirit of entitlement robs us of happiness and God of glory.” We are not entitled to anything. Everything that is good in our lives and our eternity is the direct result of the grace of God. The more that we insist on having our own way or getting what we “deserve,” the more we undermine our spiritual growth and development.

When the Children of Israel complained in the wilderness because all they had to eat was manna, God sent them quail to eat, but they did not find pleasure in that provision. “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul” (Psalm 106:15). Instead of spending our lives insisting on getting more and more so that we have what we think we deserve, we must develop a spirit of contentment and gratitude.

Today's Growth Principle:
If we are not content with what God has given us, we will not be content no matter how much more we get.

Keep it Real

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Lifeworks   CURRENT TV SERIES The Gospel of God

But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. --Joshua 24:15 If you are a parent who wants to pass your faith on to the next generation, I have some advice for you—KEEP IT REAL! If you and I are going to instill a strong, unshakable faith in our children, we must be transparent, authentic, and real. Exercising your faith at home must be part of your everyday life! Now you certainly don’t have to dress up for it or put a face on for it. Real faith works in a suit or in blue jeans. Make faith a normal, comfortable part of your everyday life and your children will see faith in action. I love today’s verse when Joshua said, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” He took the lead and made the decision that his household would live for God. You can make the same decision for your family today! If your heart and soul longs to know Christ, real faith will permeate your life as a parent, whether you are worshipping or working, praying or playing, going to church or fishing. When you rise and when you go to bed at night, be real! Make God’s Word part of your daily walk. Talk the truth, model the truth, and live the truth. According to Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Training your child in the ways of the Lord is a 24/7 job, but you can do it with God’s help. MAKE FAITH A NORMAL, COMFORTABLE PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL SEE FAITH IN ACTION. Hypocritical Hearts Thursday, January 16, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” Mark 7:6–8 It is very possible for a person to outwardly conform to a set of rules and appear to be doing what is right while their heart is distant and cold toward God. And while our outward conduct and conversation matter, they are far less important than the condition of our hearts. For if the heart is not right, it will not be long before it is revealed. When Mary anointed Jesus with a very costly perfume, Judas complained in a manner that revealed his hypocritical motivation. “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein” (John 12:5–6). Everything we do is motivated by what we truly love. We are not supposed to love God somewhat or partly or incompletely. Jesus said, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). God knows what is in our hearts no matter how we may try to conceal it from others. If we are not right with Him on the inside, He will never be deceived no matter how loudly we proclaim our allegiance to Him. God is searching for people who will dedicate their hearts to Him, for He knows that their lives will follow. Today's Growth Principle: Correcting behavior always begins with the heart, not the outward conduct.

More than a Glance

More than a Glance
Friday, January 17, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

James 1:22–25

Over the years I’ve heard a few people say that while they tried doing what the Bible said, they found it didn’t work so they stopped trying to follow the Word of God. But the Bible is not a magic pill that we take once and have all of our problems resolved. It is truth, but the “cure” must be constantly applied. We have to do what the Bible says and keep on doing it to receive the blessings promised for obedience.

James used the illustration of a man looking in a mirror to communicate this truth. You can take a quick glance at a mirror as you walk by and see if anything major is out of place. But in order to fully inspect yourself, it takes more than a glance. James said that not only must we take the time to look deeply and seriously into the Word of God, but that we must continue to do so throughout our lives.

The Christian who takes the Bible casually will never be a victorious Christian. It is not enough just to glance in the mirror on Sunday mornings. In addition to the public teaching and preaching of the Word, each of us needs a regular infusion of truth from God in our lives. We need to read God’s Word with an open heart and mind, willing to do whatever God says.
Today's Growth Principle:
Spiritual growth requires consistent, persistent, and continuing obedience to God’s Word.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Lifeworks   CURRENT TV SERIES The Gospel of God

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. --Colossians 3:21 When it comes to disciplining your children, do you ever find yourself majoring in minors? Parents have to be very careful not to break a child’s spirit by constantly finding fault, nagging, and criticizing. In discipline, you and I are to be reasonable, right, respectful, and real. Now I’m not saying that you should be lacking in discipline. Yes, you should establish firm, age-appropriate guidelines for your children. And sometimes correction and consequences are a part of parenting. But, many kids are hassled and provoked because parents worry about things that don’t mean anything. Some parents are more interested in pushing their kids to the top of the success ladder at school or in athletics than seeing them succeed spiritually. Are you guilty? According to our verse today, we are not to “provoke” our children. Don’t worry so much about the things that have little impact on eternity, on their moral character, or on their spiritual strength. We shouldn’t push our children to succeed because of our own failures. Nor should we use our children to compete against others. Today I want to ask you to take inventory. When it comes to parenting, are you majoring on the minors… or majoring on what’s most important? TAKE INVENTORY OF THE PRIORITIES YOU HAVE FOR YOUR CHILDREN. IS THEIR SPIRITUAL CHARACTER ON THE LIST?

8 Reasons Why The Man You Marry Should Be An Introvert

BY PAUL HUDSON

JUL 22, 2014

I love that I’m an introvert by nature. While there are many downsides to be completely introverted, there are tons of benefits. The real beauty is that introverts can learn to become more extroverted.


In reality, people aren’t either introverted or extroverted, but land somewhere in between on the spectrum.

Introverts can very quickly pick up extroverted characteristics or tendencies. While it’s also possible for an extrovert to learn a few tricks from introverts, the fact is that it’s more difficult for them.

Introverts have no choice but to function in a physical world outside of them all day, every day. Extroverts, on the other hand, have a difficult time finding a reason to be more introverted. Extroversion provides instant gratification while introversion is more useful when playing the long game.

With that said, ladies who love men and men who love men, introverts make much better husbands. Here’s why:

1. He’ll know himself better than most men you’ve dated.

Why do most relationships fail? Because most people can’t make up their minds on what exactly it is that they want. Why can’t they make up their minds on what exactly it is that they want? Because they don’t know themselves well enough to understand what it is that they need in life.

Introverts have this distinct ability to differentiate their wants from their needs. All of which is a result of talking to oneself for decades at a time. Differentiating between wants and needs is the first step in being able to suppress your wants in order to continue pursuing your needs.


Introverts know themselves well enough and have trained themselves (obviously depending on their age and maturity) to better control their radical wants and focus on what they know they need instead. Because they’re men, what they want is to f*ck every woman in the world. But what they need is you.


2. Because he spends more time thinking, he’ll likely spend more time thinking about you.

What woman (or man) doesn’t want that?! Introverts spend a whole lot of time in their own heads, thinking, scrutinizing, daydreaming, solving, imagining.

While their thoughts will vary greatly, even from day to day, they are sure to settle their minds most often on those who matter most in their lives.

The introverted husband is likely to spend more time thinking about you than the extroverted husband. It makes sense, right? Men have thoughts pop into their heads sporadically throughout the day, much of which have to do with sex.

While the introvert may just as well be undressing his secretary with his eyes, at least he’ll spend more time throughout the day thinking about how much he loves you. You won’t find a perfect man, but lock down an introvert and you may find a great one.

3. He’s less likely to cheat on you.

Introverts generally care less about other people. They don’t spend much time worrying about impressing others, interacting with others, or giving others too much thought.


Unless, of course, those people matter to them. Unless those people influence their lives and are believed to be important individuals.

The introvert is less likely to be the life of any party and for this reason is less likely to be found in a compromising situation. If he won’t talk to other women then chances are that he won’t sleep with them either.

The fact is that the fewer chances a man has to cheat, the less likely he is to cheat. Numbers don’t lie.

4. If he does cheat on you then at least you know how he feels about you.

Introverts aren’t usually the ones to make such "mistakes." If he decided to cheat on you then it’s because he doesn’t want to be with you anymore.

Whether or not he is still in love with you is up for debate, but more likely than not, he believes he no longer wants to be part of the relationship – even if he doesn’t know it yet.

Or rather, he most likely does know it – being an introvert and all – but isn’t able to admit it to himself yet. While no one wants a cheating man, at least you’ll have one that leaves you knowing where exactly you stand.

With extroverts, there tends to be much more deception and confusion.


5. They’re better in bed.

Men think about sex. A lot. Now, let’s do the math… Say an average male spends 10 percent of his thoughts thinking about pushing his preferred sexual partner up against the hood of his car.

If an extrovert spends, say three hours a day fiddling with his thoughts and an introvert spends six hours with his thoughts, introverts spend double the amount of time thinking about sex.

Even if the gap isn’t so drastic, introverts usually do spend more time daydreaming and thinking about sex. Practice does make perfect – even if you’re only running through raunchy scenarios in your own mind.

6. They’re usually more reliable and less self-absorbed.

You’d think it would be the other way around, but it isn’t. Introverts spend more time in their heads because they find that most of the outside world ought to be observed instead of simply interacted with.

However, when they do interact with the physical world, they tend to do so with more meaning. They act not for the sake of acting, but because they feel the need to act. When an introvert loves you, you become part of him and he will take care of you like he takes care of himself – if not better.

Introverts tend to obsess more over their loved ones because they find it miraculous that they can connect to another individual on such a profound level. He won’t forget your birthday to say the least.


7. When an introvert enters a relationship, it’s because he believes he needs the relationship

...Not that he’s bored and figures that he may as well enter such a partnership. Which, let’s be honest, seems to be the case for most men. Introverts are so comfortable with themselves that they often don’t feel that they need anyone else.

They find themselves sufficient for their happiness. That is, however, until they fall in love. Once they realize that they literally need this other person, they will be the best partner they can possibly be. Why? Because they need it to work in order to stay happy.

8. They make better fathers.

Introverts spend the majority of their lives basically alone. They are observers. They are thinkers. They are lone wolves who believe the best way to live life is by taking a step back and seeing the bigger picture.

When they enter fatherhood, things change – even more so than they did when they fell in love. Falling in love teaches them that there exist other people who are just as important to them as they are to themselves.

Fatherhood teaches them that there are people in this world who are more important to them than themselves. An introverted father will love his daughter/son more than any other. Not to mention that he’ll likely have more to teach them.

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