Quote of the day

Saturday, September 29, 2018

God Always Cares

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

Mark 4:37–40

After a long day of ministry, Jesus got into a boat with His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. Because of the cliff formations that surround much of that small body of water, it is subject to violent storms. The winds sweep down and stir the water, creating massive waves. Such a storm hit their boat that night, and in fear and despair the disciples woke Jesus with a form of the question many of us have asked of God at one time or another: “Do you care about my trouble?”

It is always a mistake to evaluate how God feels about us by how we feel about our circumstances. His love is unfailing and never changes. That does not mean we will never experience storms. And while some of the hardships we undergo are a result of the consequences of our choices and actions, many times we are suffering because we are right where God wants us to be. The storm the disciples experienced led them to doubt whether Jesus cared about their needs.

Yet, by this time they had seen ample evidence of both the power of God and the love Jesus had for them. The storm caused them to forget that truth, and as a result their faith failed in the moment of challenge. God loves you, no matter what you are facing.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

If we listen to our fears rather than our faith, we will doubt the love and care God has for us.

Quote of the day

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…in your presence there is fullness of joy… --Psalm 16:11 Most adults are pretty accomplished when it comes to staying busy. But we need to guard ourselves against getting so busy that we miss out on what’s really important.   In Luke chapter 10, you and I are introduced to a woman who got so busy “doing” that she missed “being” in the presence of Jesus. And he was right there in her home!   On this day, Martha had invited Jesus to come to her home for fellowship. And she began busying herself with preparations for their time together. But somewhere along the way, the focus of her attention became more about the preparations and less about Jesus. Making matters worse, while she slaved away, her sister Mary sat at Jesus feet listening intently to his every word. Martha even asked Jesus to tell Mary to leave him and to help her! But instead, Jesus lovingly told her that while she had grown increasingly anxious, Mary had chosen well in spending time with him. You see, activities done in the name of the Lord can never replace time spent in adoration of him. Work cannot satisfy the place intended for worship. There is nothing more important to a Christ-follower than time spent in his presence! Don’t ask Jesus into your heart only to ignore him. Come and sit at his feet. In his presence is fullness of joy! ACTIVITIES DONE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD CAN NEVER REPLACE TIME SPENT IN ADORATION OF HIM. Friday, September 28, 2018 God Already Has a Plan by Dr. Paul Chappell “And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” John 6:4–7 Almost every day something happens that we do not expect. It may be large or small, and the surprise may be pleasant or unpleasant, but events occur that are not on our schedules or part of our plans. That never happens to God. The problem that seems to us to be overwhelming, like a crowd of thousands of people who need food when there is nowhere to buy it and no money to buy it with, already has a solution in the mind and plan of God. He wants us to trust Him, no matter what circumstances we may face. The miracle we call the feeding of the five thousand (although that is just the number of men and the actual crowd was much larger) is recorded in all four Gospels. It is not filler or repetition—it is an important story designed to strengthen our faith. We must remember who God is and what He is willing and able to do when we are tested by the unexpected. Charles Spurgeon said, “Alterations and afterthoughts belong to short-sighted beings who meet with unexpected events which operate upon them to change their minds, but the Lord who sees everything from the beginning has no such reason for shifting his ground.” Our faith cannot be in ourselves, for we have neither the wisdom nor the resources to respond to the unexpected. When things catch us off guard, we must remember to run to God and seek His help. Today’s Growth Principle:  God is able to deliver us when the things we face are beyond our ability and plans.

Ephesians 5:12-14

Quote of the day

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“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” —2 Corinthians 6:12-20 We’re living in a sexed-crazed society.  We’re living in a society in which now operates sexually like an open sewer and it’s been called a sexual revolution and even called by some, including some ministers, the new morality.  But the fact is, it’s not a new morality at all.  It’s just the same old immorality that’s been around for thousands and thousands of years. David is the perfect example.  King David, a man after God’s own heart, loved God more than most of us.  He fell to sexual sin because he did not watch and guard himself.  And as a result even though he was forgiven, even though he was cleansed, even though he’s in heaven today at the throne in the presence of God, he paid in his life some consequences as he reaped the bitter fruit of his sin all of his days. Today, many want to know, “How can I be morally pure?” The best way to deal with this sin is not to debate it, not hang around to try to discuss it, but get your Nikes on and run, run, run! Every Christian ought to run just a little bit scared today. Everywhere you go, there are these temptations…in our music, in the media, our television, our movies. The scripture says, “Flee sexual immorality.”  Jesus saved us that He might deliver us from our sin. He saved us that we wouldn’t have to be destroyed and defeated by this sin or any other sin. YOU CAN BE SET FREE FROM ALL SIN THROUGH JESUS

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Recognize the Danger

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Ephesians 5:11–14

When Hurricane Katrina flooded much of New Orleans, Coast Guard helicopter pilot, Lt. Iain McConnell, was sent from his base in Florida to help rescue those who had been stranded in their homes by the rising water. He and his crew were able to save dozens of people, but the thing he remembers most is not the people they rescued, but those who refused help. McConnell later wrote about one mission he will never forget.

“On the fourth mission, to our great frustration, we saved no one—but not for lack of trying. The dozens we attempted to rescue refused pickup! Some people told us to simply bring them food and water. ‘You are trying to live in unhealthy conditions and the [flood]water will stay high for a long time,’ we warned them. Still, they refused. I felt frustrated and angry, since we had used up precious time and fuel, and put ourselves at risk during each rescue attempt. I felt like they were ungrateful. But, in truth, they did not know how desperate their situation was.”

The world around us is filled with dangers, although most of them are not as visible as quickly rising floodwaters. Yet too many people, including Christians, are living carelessly, without an appreciation for the peril they face. We have an enemy trying to destroy our lives every day. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8).

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The church and our world need more Christians who are aware of the urgency of what we face.

Quote of the day

Our eternal security is not in getting to heaven; it’s getting heaven in our hearts.

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“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” —John 10:28 How much sin does it take to sin away your salvation? Ten sins? Twenty sins? Fifty? One hundred? Or you might ask, “What kind of sins sin away your salvation?” Big sins? Little sins? How much sin sins away salvation? The Bible says by the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, we are forgiven of all our sin. Every sin. Past sin, present sin, and future sin. The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin! The perfect, complete sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ assures us that we belong to Him because of His perfect work at the cross. If it were possible for you to lose your salvation, then it means that Jesus Himself would have to go back to the cross and die all over again for your sins. God’s not going to let go of you. You belong to Him. Count on it. We are eternally, forever secure. Not because of what we have done or because of what we are doing, but because of what He has done and continues to do until we stand in His presence complete. Enjoy your salvation and relax in the eternal security that we have in Jesus Christ. This ought to prompt us to love Him more and to serve Him better. Our eternal security is not in getting to heaven; it’s getting heaven in our hearts.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Carrying on the Work

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

John 5:16–18

In 1852, an engineer named John Augustus Roebling began promoting the idea of a suspension bridge to cross the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn. It took him nearly fifteen years to convince government leaders of the practicality of his design and secure the funding. Not long before the work was to begin, Roebling died from complications and infection after an accident during his survey work. Before he died, he placed the project in the hands of his son, Washington Roebling, who supervised the construction. After fourteen years of labor, the Brooklyn Bridge opened and has been in use ever since. The work continued because someone was willing to carry it on.

Jesus returned to Heaven almost two thousand years ago, but the work that He began must continue. The only way that can happen is if we as His followers take up the mission and carry out the tasks that He left for us to do. This is the purpose and plan of God for reaching the world. We were not just saved to allow us entry into Heaven. We have a calling and a mission to fulfill in this life. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). We do not need a new plan for our age, but rather a new commitment from God’s people to obey His command to live and work as Jesus did.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God’s purposes will only be accomplished when His children work to carry them out.

True

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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” —Genesis 1:1 Mankind…are we the product of natural selection, the survival of the fittest? Or are we the handy work of a personal God who created us individually? It is the Bible, not Darwin, that tells us not only about the origin of the species, but the destiny of the species. Origins are important because the fact is, how we got here and why we are here greatly affects where we are going. Evolution is the attempt to explain the origin of life without a Creator. I reject it for the following three reasons: Number one, I reject it on the basis of logic. Evolution theorizes that nothing times nobody equals everything. Many intelligent and well-trained scientists are moving away from this theory. Not because they are Bible believers, but because they realize that there is a lack of evidence to support the theory. I also reject this theory on the basis of morality. If there is no God, then there is no need for morality. When you begin teaching people that they came from animals, it won’t be long before they start acting like animals. Finally, I reject evolution for theological reasons. The Word of God simply doesn’t teach it. Be careful about trying to accommodate the Scripture to this theory. I don’t believe you can have it both ways and remain consistent. You are not here by accident today. This isn’t by chance. I don’t believe that anything has ever happened by chance, but by the governing, guiding hand of God. God created you to know Him. He set eternity in your heart.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

All Things Made New

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:15–17

Evangelist Harry Rimmer told the story of a man who was saved on a Sunday night in one of his meetings. On Tuesday, the man came to the church and asked for his help. Rimmer said, “He had some trouble starting, but finally informed me that he had deserted his wife and baby daughter six months before. The poor fellow wept like a child as he unfolded his tale. He offered no excuses, asked for no favor, just begged for forgiveness. I somehow phrased his pitiful pleas, and we mailed it together. Two weeks later he came in accompanied by his wife and wee daughter. I never saw a happier man in all my life. When his wife got his letter she wasted no time writing; she answered it in person!”

Those of us who have been saved for a number of years must be careful not to forget the transformation that the new birth brought to our lives. We must continue to walk according to the new nature we have been given. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). God’s plan is not for our conversion to be an event that takes place in the past and left behind. We are to be living in the new nature in the present as well.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The impact of salvation should be clearly visible in our lives every day.

Principle Truth

Quote of the day

The Source of our Sufficiency.

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“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” We live in a world where that old money monster can chew us up if we’re not careful. I mean, how big of a house is big enough? What kind of car is good enough? What kind of clothes for me or my kids? If we care about spiritual things, we have to ask ourselves these questions. How much should I keep, and how much should I give? I want to give you a threefold test to help you evaluate the demands upon your life and upon your resources. Anything that I give to, it must be initiated by the Lord. God blesses what God begins. All charitable giving in my estimation should be to advance the work of Jesus Christ! It must be redemptive in nature. God never supports a cause that does not fulfill His primary purpose, and His primary purpose is to seek and to save that which is lost! Always ask: Does this ministry exist to the glory of God rather than the glory of man? God is committed to one grand purpose: to glorify Himself through His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will not share His glory with another! Do you want to be miserable? Then be miserly and hoard for yourself the blessings of God. Do you want to be happy? Instead of a greedy getter, become a gracious giver. It is out of the generosity of the heart of God that we are caused to praise Him. YOU ARE NEVER MORE LIKE CHRIST THAN WHEN YOU GIVE!

Monday, September 24, 2018

Hiding the Gospel

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:3–6

Perhaps the best-known and most widely-distributed gospel tract of the 1800s was called “Come to Jesus.” Written by a British pastor named Newman Hall, the tract was handed out to hundreds of thousands of soldiers during the American Civil War. After the war, Hall became embroiled in a theological dispute that grew quite heated. He used his literary ability to write a response which dissected, not just the opposing point of view, but those who held and promoted it.

After he was done writing, Hall asked a friend to read it before he had it printed and distributed. The friend agreed that it was a powerful and pointed piece, and asked if he had a title for it yet. When Hall replied that he did not and was looking for ideas, the friend said, “Why don’t you call it ‘Go to the Devil’ by the author of ‘Come to Jesus’?”

The way that we act and talk to and treat other people should be a reflection of the grace that God extended to us in allowing us to become part of His family. We have a responsibility as His children to not bring dishonor on the family name. One of the reasons the world is not being reached is because of the failure of Christians to live up to their faith.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

We should never treat others in such a way that the hope of the gospel message is obscured by our actions.

“We Would See Jesus”

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”

1 Corinthians 2:1–4

On a mission trip to India, Dr. George Truett was invited to address the students at a university. Before he spoke, he was warned to expect a hostile response because of the strong influence of Hinduism among the students. One official warned him, “When you are through preaching, people in the audience will ask you questions that are difficult to answer. They will contradict everything that you say.” Dr. Truett prayed earnestly, and then stood and preached a clear gospel message about salvation through faith in Jesus alone. When he finished, there was a long silence. Finally one of the leading Hindu students stood and said, “Sir, we have nothing against the Christ this man has preached.”

The lost world around us wants many things, but what it needs most of all is a clear presentation of Jesus Christ, the only hope of salvation. Just as those foreigners from Greece who came to Jerusalem during the ministry of the Lord, the people around us have a pressing need. “The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). It is not our eloquence or our gifting that makes a difference to people, but the Jesus we talk about and reflect in our actions. His name and His righteousness must be lifted up and presented to the world. This is our purpose and calling.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

If we faithfully present the message of Jesus and live as He did, those around us will be touched.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

The Fruit of Not Forgiving

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant. So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.”

2 Samuel 14:22–24

David’s failure to correct his children when they did wrong brought great trouble to his family. Absalom killed his own brother, Amnon, when David refused to deal with his horrible sin, then fled for his life, fearing that David would kill him for taking the life of the heir to the throne. Years passed, and it took a trick by Joab to get David to extend permission for Absalom to return to Israel. But even then, David did not really forgive his son, and refused to allow Absalom into his presence. It was not right for Absalom to later lead a rebellion against his father, but we can certainly see that David’s lack of forgiveness made Absalom vulnerable to temptation.

When we do not forgive others, it does not just damage our relationship with them, but it hinders our relationship with God as well. Evangelist R. A. Torrey said, “That is the trouble with some of you. Someone has done you an injury, or you think he has, and you will not come [close to God] because you want to cherish this bitter grudge in your heart.” Too many people are still in bondage to hurts of the past because they simply will not let things go. But we cannot be right with God or with others unless we are willing to forgive those who wrong us, just as God forgives us.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

When we are wronged, we must be willing to forgive, or those we love may suffer the consequences.

When Your Faith is Tested.

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“My God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ!”  Philippians 4:19 God meets our needs when we face impossible situations. And sometimes we face overwhelming obstacles, situations in our lives that seem impossible. We are over our heads, beyond our pay grade, beyond our ability. And when this happens, these are tests for our faith so that we won’t be satisfied where we are, but that our faith can grow. God may put you in the middle of a test. God uses tests and trials of all kinds to develop our faith, to grow our faith! Some of you are facing perhaps a domestic crisis, an impossible situation in your marriage where it seems it’s never going to work. You may be facing something with your children. You don’t know the answers, you don’t know how to handle it. But in times of testing what we have learned is to trust God, to believe God has an answer! Whether it is a mountain or a mole hill, you know Jesus is interested in big things and little things. Sometimes we have the attitude that, “Well, the big things I’ll bring to Jesus, but the little things, I’ll handle myself.” No, everything big and small, we are to bring to Him! For whom all things are possible. And when you face impossible situations and when you don’t know the way in, the way out, or the way through, that’s when you trust in a God who will make a way when there is no way. Trust God! He will meet your needs.

“I Will Have My Rights”

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

2 Corinthians 5:19–21

Dr. H. A. Ironside told of a church business meeting where a bitter dispute arose between members of the board. Ironside said, “I can remember one man springing to his feet and with clenched fists saying, ‘I will put up with a good deal, but one thing I will not put up with, I will not allow you to put anything over on me; I will have my rights !’ An old Christian responded, ‘You did not mean that; did you? If you had your rights, you would be in Hell. And you are forgetting that Jesus did not come to get His rights; He came to get His wrongs, and He got them.’ I can still see that man standing there for a moment like one transfixed, and then the tears broke from his eyes and he said, ‘Brethren, I have been all wrong. Handle the matter however you think best.’”

Before we insist on getting what we deserve, we would be wise to stop and reflect on exactly what that would mean. So often we insist on getting our own way, forgetting that Jesus did exactly the opposite. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:5–6). If Jesus had insisted on clinging to and receiving His rights, we would have no hope of salvation.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Jesus took our sins to provide a way for us to avoid getting what we deserve in God’s judgment.