How well are you leading others?

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Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them… the one who leads, with zeal….  --Romans 12:6, 8 Whether you spend your days in an office, at home raising children, or serving in a ministry position, you will probably find that you’re involved in some form of leadership. That’s why today I’d like to encourage you with four great leadership qualities from the life of Nehemiah that you can apply to your situation: Nehemiah was a man of integrity who was respected. The people saw in him a man they could believe and follow, and they were inspired to action. Nehemiah maintained strong interpersonal relationships. He took a personal interest in knowing each person and what they were doing. Every individual was important to him.  Nehemiah knew how to encourage people. He noted the hard workers and affirmed them, giving honor where it was due. Nehemiah never said a word about what he did. He was the kind of man who was willing to let others take the credit and to share the victory with others. These are simple yet important qualities that set great leaders apart. In whatever situation you find yourself today, consider how you can adopt some of Nehemiah’s valuable leadership qualities. YOU HAVE INFLUENCE! SO BE DILIGENT TO LEAD OTHERS IN A WAY THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD.

The Rejected Ruler

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.”

Luke 19:11–14

God as the creator of everything is the only rightful ruler of the entire universe. Yet since before the world was created, there has been rebellion against Him. Satan led an angelic revolt meant to replace God on the throne. Adam defied the only command he had been given to do something in direct disobedience to God’s instruction. Israel rejected God for the false idols worshiped by their neighbors. Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders of His day because they feared they would lose their privileged positions.

The world does not want God to rule over them. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:2–3). While rebellion against God by the world is still sinful, it is not shocking. But many Christians also struggle with the issue of obedience to God’s commands. Often it is not that we do not know what we should do, but that we would rather go our own way. We do not have that right, because we do not belong to ourselves. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Today's Growth Principle: 

The best way to affirm Christ’s ownership of your life is to obey Him with glad surrender.

New Beginnings

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Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be a reproach”… So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to do this good work. --Nehemiah 2:17-18 As a servant of Jesus Christ, you have a purpose for living. And you can make a difference in your community, church, and world… especially when you work in partnership with others. When Nehemiah began rebuilding the wall, he knew he couldn’t do it alone, so he enlisted the help of others. All kinds of people were involved… priests, politicians, perfumers, clothiers, tradesmen, bachelors, women… there was a role for everyone. Yet in the midst of this great movement of service to the Lord, there were still those who chose not to be involved. Nehemiah 3:5 says certain nobles from Tekoa “would not stoop to serve their Lord.” It was forever recorded in God’s Word that when there was a job to be done for him, these people were absent. Imagine that! Never let it be said of you that when there was something great to do for God and his Kingdom, you weren’t involved. Some believers have the idea that when we come to Christ by grace through faith, we don’t need to serve and work hard. But Nehemiah and the believers of his day realized the charge to work hard and accomplished the impossible for God’s glory. I want to challenge you today: Do you have a place on the wall? Are you participating in building God’s Kingdom? There is a ministry for every person in the fellowship of the Lord—and every place is important. Ask the Lord how he wants to use you! AS LONG AS WE HAVE LIFE AND BREATH,WE’RE TO SERVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Power Destroyed

Monday, July 29, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.”

Romans 6:6–9

Alarmed by the growing threat of Iran’s nuclear program, somewhere around 2005 (the details have never been released publicly) the American and Israeli intelligence services created a new kind of weapon—a computer “worm.” This program worked by making copies of itself over and over on each new computer with which it came in contact. When it had spread, Stuxnet, as the worm was called, began altering the speeds at which the centrifuges used to enrich uranium ran. The program was designed so that the controls would report everything was normal, even as the sensitive equipment was being damaged or destroyed. In the end, Iran still had the buildings and equipment standing, but their power to enrich uranium to create nuclear weapons had been largely taken away.

Before we are saved, we are completely unable to resist the power of sin. No amount of will power or good intentions can deliver a lost person from Satan. Paul described this condition to Timothy: “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:26). But Jesus has, through His death and resurrection, destroyed the power that sin had to control us. The same habits and desires that once held us in captivity are still there after salvation, but they no longer have the ability to force our surrender to evil. Though we still sin, it is no longer because we have no choice, but because we have given in to a powerful foe.

Today's Growth Principle: 

The dominion of sin over us has been destroyed, and we no longer are forced to yield to it.

Soon :)

An Open Way to God

Sunday, July 28, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Luke 23:44–46

From the time shortly after the exodus from Egypt, God’s presence on earth was symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant. It was shrouded from view, first in the tabernacle and later in the temple in Jerusalem. Only one person, the high priest, was allowed in its presence, and that was just once a year on the Day of Atonement when he took the blood of the sacrifice to the Mercy Seat. There was a thick veil some thirty feet high that hid the Holy of Holies in the Temple. But on the day Jesus died, it was ripped apart, not by human hands, but instead from the top to the bottom and the way to God was opened to us. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” (Hebrews 10:19–20)

We have such an amazing privilege of access to God. The way has been opened once and for all. And yet too often we act as if there is still a barrier preventing us from coming into His presence. The reality of the torn veil does not benefit many Christians because they do not live as if it were true. Prayer is not just for emergencies, and fellowship with God is not just for Sundays. There is a real and living God who has invited us to come before Him. And though all Heaven and earth bow before Him, we get to call Him our Father.

Today's Growth Principle: 

How often do we use the access we have been given into the very presence of God?

The Rest of the Harvest

Saturday, July 27, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”

1 Corinthians 15:20–24

Anyone who has ever planted a vegetable garden knows that it takes a long time for the produce to ripen and be ready to eat. You pick out a good spot and prepare the ground. You plant your seeds and water the soil. Eventually, a small plant emerges from the soil. You weed and water and fertilize and then weed some more. Day after day it seems like no measureable growth is happening. But finally, you get to eat the first tomato or cucumber or ear of corn. That’s an exciting day, but it is just a small taste of what you are about to enjoy as the whole harvest comes in.

The wonderful things that we enjoy now as children of God are just “a foretaste of glory divine” as songwriter Fanny Crosby put it. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was not the end of God’s plan; it was merely the first step of the final phase which will end with us experiencing eternal life and the world placed under His authority and rule. His resurrection was just the beginning of the harvest, for it awaits us as well. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52).

Today's Growth Principle: 

Victory is already won, and we are simply waiting for the rest of the harvest to come in.

Are you happy with what you have?

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“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”  --Exodus 20:17 The first nine commandments have to do with actions. But the Tenth Commandment, “You shall not covet,” has to do with your attitude. The first nine have to do with deeds, but the tenth has to do with desires. Think about it this way. Most of the sins we commit are outward and visible. It’s pretty easy to spot stealing when you see it, and if you’re the subject of a lie, you see it up-front. But the sin of covetousness is inward and invisible. Others can’t see it. You can’t see it. Only God can see it. That’s why the apostle Paul spoke in 1 Thessalonians of the cloak of covetousness. It’s a cover-up for a lot of other sins like selfishness, greed, cheating, and on and on and on. Right now, our nation and really our world are paying a high price for our collective covetousness and greed. Its symptoms, to name just a few, are things like excessive credit card debt, bank failures, and corporate scandals. We are paying a price for the ungodly way we have handled our possessions! And it’s not just Wall Street who’s to blame. We need to look in our own hearts too! Because if we think we’ll be happier by having more stuff or better stuff… if we buy the lie that our identity is found in the car we drive or the clothes we wear or the street we live on… we will always be disappointed. I mean, think about it. How many times have you experienced the “new” wearing off on something you bought? We all have. Things… while they might bring temporary satisfaction or pleasure… ultimately don’t satisfy! The only thing that will ever really satisfy the hunger in your heart is an intimate, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  So today, let me remind you again of all you’ve been given as a child of God. You have forgiveness of sins. You have a new identity in Christ. You have the Word of God. And you have the Spirit of God living in you! Remind yourself today of these truths to combat the temptation to covet.  As a follower of Christ, you have far more than you deserve… and you have everything you will ever need! THE ONLY THING THAT WILL EVER REALLY SATISFY THE HUNGER IN YOUR HEART IS AN INTIMATE, GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. The Impact of Godly Parents Friday, July 26, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:19–21 It is not exactly news that our society is becoming increasingly wicked. Ungodly actions that used to bring shame in our society are now openly celebrated and flaunted in front of even young children. But we must not think that our experience is unique. There have been many times throughout history when evil ran rampant. As the Israelites faced their entry into Canaan, they were going to a place where they would be surrounded by idolatry and immorality. Their children would need a strong foundation of faith if they were to follow God. The solution for families in a wicked world is to make the home a place of instruction in what God teaches. It is easy to criticize the world for being hostile to God, but we must not neglect our responsibility to pass on our faith. Dr. John Rice wrote, “What hypocrisy it is for Christian people to indignantly blame the action of the Supreme Court about no Bible reading and no prayer in the schools when they do not have it at home! There is no law to prevent you from praying with your children. There is no law to prevent you from reading the Bible in your home and teaching your children the Bible. And it is a poor kind of escapism to blame the courts for forbidding Bible teaching in the schools, when you do not sincerely care enough about it to have it in your own home.” Today's Growth Principle:  God’s instructions for the family are applicable and vital in every society and situation.

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“You shall not steal.” --Exodus 20:15 Today I simply want to ask the question, are you a giver or a taker? And I want you to think about that question in terms of your relationship with people and your relationship with God. First, your relationship with people. When it comes to others, are you a giver or a taker? Think about the words you say. Does what you say build people up… or tear them down? Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Is your life marked by this verse? Then think about your actions. Does what you do help people… or hurt people? Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” Are you letting this verse play itself out in your life? Now I want you to think about your relationship with God. When it comes to him, are you a giver or a taker? Think about the life that he’s given you through Christ. Are you showing thankfulness to him by living a life serving him, loving him, and worshipping him? First Corinthians 6:20 says, “You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” As followers of Christ, you and I have been bought and paid for by the blood of the Lord Jesus and who we are and what we have belongs to Him. We are purchased as His own possession!   That means when we withhold our lives and gifts from Him… when we sit on the sidelines and do not participate in the work of the ministry of Christ on earth… we are taking from God what’s really his. We’re robbing him! And the same is true when we don’t bring him our tithes and offerings. So today my encouragement is this. No one, not you or me or anyone else, is a giver 100% of the time. We’re all selfish to some degree. But don’t let that keep you from striving to give yourself completely—to others and most of all… to God. WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, ARE YOU A GIVER OR A TAKER? Identification Thursday, July 25, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:18–21 People answer the question, “Who are you?” in many different ways. Some give a historical account of their family tree. Others cite their job, career, or hobby as an identifying mark. Some may share a philosophy or allegiance that helps define them. As children of God, all of us are called to identify with Jesus Christ, not just in a general sense, but in a specific way. We are to identify with His crucifixion. Without that identification, we cannot accomplish God’s purpose for our lives. Someone said, “There is a great difference between realizing, ‘On that cross He was crucified for me,’ and ‘On that cross I am crucified with Him.’ The one aspect brings us deliverance from sin’s condemnation, the other from sin’s power.” The cross does not just represent the means of our salvation, but also our means of victorious new life in Christ. The Lord does not save us to leave us as we are, but to change us completely. This process begins with our death to self. “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). The road Jesus left for us to follow can only be walked by those carrying crosses. Today's Growth Principle:  Unless we are crucified daily, we will not be able to live the victorious Christian life.

Don’t Look Back

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“You shall not commit adultery.” --Exodus 20:14 Talking about a subject like adultery is unpleasant. It’s unpleasant because in our hearts, we know how dire the consequences of this sin really are.  What’s sad, though, is that as horrible as the consequences of adultery or sexual sin are, so many people… including Bible-believing, Christ-following people… continue to put themselves in a position to be tempted by the sin of adultery.  That’s why I want you to think about your day-to-day life. Think about the people you work with, the people you email with, or even the people you might Facebook with each day.  Is every relationship you have… whether it’s online or offline… aboveboard? Are your motives in each relationship pure?  First Corinthians chapter 10 tells us with any temptation, God provides a way of escape. And one way of escape he has given us is his Word. This is why I’m such a strong advocate of memorizing Scripture!  Because just trying to not think lustful thoughts really doesn’t do you any good. You and I have to replace bad thoughts with good thoughts. And the best thoughts you can put in your mind are God’s words. So today, I want to help you start winning the battle against lust and sexual sin in your life by giving you a verse you can memorize. It’s 2 Corinthians 10:5, which says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” So write that down. Second Corinthians 10:5. Learn it and memorize it. And the next time you’re tempted to lust… the next time you’re tempted to flirt… the next time you’re tempted to cross that line… repeat this verse in your head. You may even need to say it out loud! However you do it, use this verse to help you take every lustful, adulterous thought you have captive. And trust me, the escape of God’s Word will protect you, your witness for Christ, and the godly relationships in your life. YOU HAVE TO REPLACE BAD THOUGHTS WITH GOOD THOUGHTS. AND THE BEST THOUGHTS YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR MIND ARE GOD’S WORDS.

Don’t Look Back

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Ephesians 4:20-24

Though Ruth was born in Moab rather than Israel, she recognized the God of her new family as the true Lord of all and began worshiping him. Even after the death of her husband, her father-in-law, and her brother-in-law, Ruth trusted in God. When Naomi decided to return to Israel, she urged Ruth and Orpah to stay behind, but Ruth refused. She issued this ringing declaration of her commitment: “Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:17).

God saved us from sin, and calls us to become more and more like His Son. Though God provides us the power through His Spirit and the knowledge through His Word, we must do our part in the process for it to achieve its desired goal. The tentacles of past sin grow deeply in our hearts, and we must ensure that we are looking forward rather than back. If we are dwelling on what was behind, we will certainly be presented an opportunity to return to our sin. “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned” (Hebrews 11:15). Instead we must focus on Jesus and on moving forward. The sins of the past are forgiven and the power of sin to control us is broken. But we must not look back.

Today's Growth Principle: 

If we are not fully committed to moving forward with Christ, we will drift backward into old sins.

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“You shall not murder.” --Exodus 20:13 The Sixth Commandment isn’t one that a lot of people think they need to pay much attention to these days. But when we dig a little deeper into what those four words really mean and imply, we see that they do apply to each and every one of us! Because the word murder doesn’t just mean homicide. The Scripture teaches that you can murder someone by gossiping about them or by harboring hateful thoughts about them. Jesus made it very clear that these are murderous actions just as much as the actual taking of an innocent life is. But here’s the great news about the grace of the Lord Jesus. It covers every sin, including the physical or mental act of murder. And it doesn’t just cover the sin, it redeems the sinner. Think about Moses. Or David. Or the apostle Paul. In the world’s eyes, each of these men was a murderer.  Yet because of God’s forgiveness, Moses wasn’t a murderer… he was a liberator. Because of God’s forgiveness, David wasn’t a killer… he was a man after God’s own heart. And because of God’s forgiveness, Paul wasn’t a persecutor… he was a missionary. And the same is true for you! If you’re a follower of Christ, God’s grace and forgiveness cover your sin—past, present, and future. And his grace and forgiveness not only cover your sin, they redeem your life as a sinner! As David himself proclaimed, “He redeems your life from the pit”! So let me ask you today. Are you in need of the redeeming power of Christ in your life? Perhaps your past is marked by an abortion, and you haven’t been able to let go of the guilt. Maybe today you’d admit that when it comes to the words you speak, you’re a taker of life instead of a giver of life. Wherever it is that you’ve taken a life or are taking life, I urge you to confess it before God today. Then repent, or turn from it, knowing that God can redeem your life for your good… and his glory. GOD’S GRACE AND FORGIVENESS NOT ONLY COVERS YOUR SIN, IT REDEEMS YOUR LIFE AS A SINNER. False Allegiance Tuesday, July 23, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7 We went to some Oakland A’s baseball games when I was young, in part because Alvin Dark, who managed the team, was a member of our church and generously gave us tickets. Imagine that when I went to one of those games I was seated next to a man wearing a New York Yankees jersey. “You like the Yankees?” I might ask. “No, I’m a big A’s fan,” he would say. A little confused, I would watch his actions during the game. Each time the Yankees made a good play or scored, he would cheer. Each time Oakland did, he sat silently. What would I conclude at the end of the game? Which team would I believe he really supported? There are many people who claim to be Christians, but whose lives reflect a very different allegiance. It is possible to say the right things, but to still be far from God. Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23). God does not measure our lives according to what shows on the outside or what we may claim with our words. He sees the heart, and no matter how successful we are at deceiving others, He knows the truth. Today's Growth Principle:  Make sure that what you do reflects the love and devotion to Christ that you profess.