CURRENT RADIO SERIES Songs for the Savior   CURRENT TV SERIES Songs for the Savior

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.  --Zechariah 4:6 Have you ever suffered spiritual defeat or failure? Of course you have; so have I. But when we fail, God doesn’t want us to fall into despair and to quit serving him. No! He wants to restore us and to give us victory over defeat! Think back on the disciples just after Jesus’ crucifixion. With Jesus gone from their presence, these believers experienced a terrible loss of faith and hope. They feared for their own lives and left Jesus to die alone. In the days that followed they felt guilty and unworthy to serve their Savior. But Jesus knew they needed to be empowered. And on the Day of Pentecost, he sent them the Spirit to transform their lives from defeat to victory! Now maybe there is some reason that you feel like you have failed Jesus. Perhaps you think God cannot use you again. But he can! Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus can wash away your defeat, restore you to himself, and refit you for service! Listen! This is not something that you and I can accomplish on our own, but only through the power of Spirit-filled living. Right now he is calling you to yield yourself to him and to glorify him in your life choices in all that you do. Let the Holy Spirit transform your life and move you from defeat to victory! THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS CAN WASH AWAY YOUR DEFEAT,  RESTORE YOU TO HIMSELF, AND REFIT YOU FOR SERVICE! Taken out of the Furnace by Dr. Paul Chappell “But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day. Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance: But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.” Deuteronomy 4:20–22 The popular teaching in many religious circles of our day is that life for God’s children should not have any bumps in the road—raises, promotions, better houses and cars, good health, and continued advancement should be expected. It’s easy to understand why people like to hear such teaching, but it contradicts what the Bible actually says. God’s Word reveals that God’s plan for His beloved children often includes great trials and severe testing. The reality is that often the very troubles that are so painful prepare us for the plan God has for our lives. The experiences we endure are the equipping that God knows we will need for what He has in store for us. At a very difficult time in the life of the nation of Israel, God sent this message through the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10). If we refuse to remain in the fire until God’s work is done, our lives will not be refined and made more useful. But we have the wonderful promise that God never abandons or forsakes us. If His plan involves placing us into the furnace, we will find Him there with us, just as the three Hebrew children did in their day. Today’s Growth Principle:  We must be willing to endure the afflictions and trials God brings if we are to be valuable in His service.