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Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. --Romans 5:20-21 It might come as a shock to you, but God delights in forgiving us on our sins… even when we come to Him with the same sin over and over again! That’s right, because we worship a God who is full of mercy and full of pardon. In fact, today’s verses tell us that where sin increases, grace abounds all the more. It really is an amazing day when you realize… when you finally embrace the truth… that God delights in forgiving you of your sin. As humans, offering forgiveness isn’t a natural act. In most cases, it’s extremely difficult to do. And as a result, I think many Christians assume that God begrudgingly offers forgiveness when we ask for it. But this simply isn’t true! When we confess our sins with honesty and sincerity and brokenness, the Scripture tells us that God is eager to forgive us. He loves to forgive you… even if you’re coming to Him with the same sin for the 100th time in a row. There are no limits to His love! I love the song by the Christian group Selah that says, “Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea. A great high Priest whose name is love, who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart. I know that while in heaven He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart… no tongue can bid me thence depart.” Christian, as a child of God, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you from all your sins! You can never, ever, exhaust the grace of God. So don’t let Satan tempt you into believing that God wants nothing to do with you when you sin. Remember the promise from Hebrews 4:16, which tells us, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” GOD’S GRACE IS THE GIFT YOU NEED

Killing Self-Righteousness

Monday, September 30, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

Philippians 3:7–9

There is a great temptation facing Christians who have been saved and serve God faithfully for many years to begin to focus on themselves rather than on God. It is easy to begin to rely on our own strength to win the battles we face. The victories of the past, however, were not won in our power, and if we allow ourselves to take credit for them, glorifying our own righteousness rather than God’s, we are on the path to failure and defeat. If we are found with only our own righteousness, we are doomed.

The very best that we can accomplish falls far short of God’s standard of perfection. A. J. Gordon wrote, “There is nothing of ours, soul, body, or spirit, that is without blemish. And when we understand that our very tears need themselves to be washed in the blood of the Redeemer, and our very penitence to be sanctified in his exceeding sorrow, we shall gladly turn wholly to the perfect offering.”

The devil whispers in our ear that we can do it on our own, relying on our strength and goodness. Like Samson after his hair was cut, we go out expecting victory because of what “we” have done in the past without regard to God’s role, only to be utterly defeated. Victories of the past do not provide protection in future attacks, and if we learn to lean on our own goodness, victory will quickly turn to defeat.

Today's Growth Principle: 

Understanding how far God’s righteousness is above ours protects us from the deadly sin of pride.

My 1st Snow

Don’t Trust Your Eyes

Sunday, September 29, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.”

Joshua 9:12–14

Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, God instructed them to drive out all of the inhabitants of the land. When they began that work, starting with Jericho, they were obeying God. Each enemy was totally defeated and destroyed. As news of the victories of Israel in battle began to spread, those who lived in the land feared for the future. The residents of Gibeon decided on a clever plan. They dressed men in ragged clothing and prepared old provisions to carry. When they reached where Israel was camped, they told the leaders that they had come from such a great distance that their new clothes had worn out and the remnants of their food were unfit to eat because of their journey.

Foolishly the leaders of Israel accepted that at face value, believing what they saw, rather than seeking guidance and counsel from the Lord. Three days later Israel reached the city of Gibeon, and realized that they had been deceived. They kept their bargain, allowing the Gibeonites to remain in the land as they had promised them. But they would not have been in that position if they had trusted God rather than their own eyes. We do not have the capacity to make good decisions apart from Him. “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Today's Growth Principle: 

Without God’s wisdom we will easily be deceived by the snares and lures of the world.

God Knows What He Is Doing

Saturday, September 28, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:7–9

There are a lot of things in life that do not go the way we think they should. From simple things like the weather or traffic to major financial or health situations, we feel like we know how things ought to work out. Often in these times we express frustration, and though we usually do not say it out loud, we wonder why God isn’t doing things the way we want. The reality is that God always knows what He is doing, and He never makes any mistakes. Even the most difficult circumstances of our lives can be used by Him to further His purpose.

William Cowper wrote:

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines, of never-failing skill;
He fashions up His bright designs, and works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, the clouds that you much dread,
Are big with mercy and will break in blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.

When we are tempted to doubt God’s love for us because of what we are experiencing, we must remember that we are not capable of understanding what He knows. We are kept safe in His love, and nothing touches our lives that has not first passed through His hands.

Today's Growth Principle: 

God’s purposes and plans may be mysterious to us, but they are never mistaken.

How Do You Know God's Will?

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And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. --Hebrews 11:6 More often than not, I think we all have tendency to make things in life more complicated than they really are. And this includes knowing God’s will. Because knowing God’s will isn’t a formula you have to figure out… nor is it a mystery that He’s trying to keep you from solving. Knowing God’s will in your life stems from your relationship with Him, your obedience to Him, your willingness to follow Him, and your faith to trust Him. Today, let’s break each of those down one by one. First of all, think about the relationship principle. When you’re connected to Jesus Christ… when His Spirit is living in you… you discover His will for your life as you walk with Him each day.  You see the path He has for you when you take the time to read the Scriptures… when you speak with Him regularly through prayer… and when you intentionally listen for the still, small voice that says, “This is the way, walk in it.” Because when Christ rules your life, He will lead you! Then, think about the obedience principle. Many people aren’t happy to hear it, but God won’t take you one step further than the measure of your obedience to Him. For some of us that means getting back in the center of God’s will as we know it, and then letting God lead us the rest of the way! Third, there’s the willingness principle. So much of knowing and doing the will of God is just being willing to say, “Lord, I’m available. Lord, I’m accessible. Lord, I am willing.”Now, you may say, “Well, I’m not there yet.” But are you willing to be willing? Last, there’s the faith principle. I’ve discovered in my own life the will of God requires faith.  As today’s verse says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” And Christian, God will do amazing things in your life if you are willing to act in faith and trust in Him! GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IS NOT A MYSTERY HE’S TRYING TO KEEP YOU FROM SOLVING.

When God Opens Windows

Friday, September 27, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.”

2 Kings 7:1–2

When the Syrian army laid siege to Samaria, they cut off the food supply in an effort to force the defenders to surrender. As things grew worse, the desperate people of the city were willing to pay almost any price for even the most disgusting food. Yet Elisha stood and proclaimed that the very next day prices would drop to almost nothing—that there would be plenty to eat. God did just that, driving off the invading army that very night and scaring them so badly that they left all of their food supplies behind. The next day there was more than enough food as the siege was lifted and the Israelites looted the camp of the Syrians.

There was one man present when this word was given, a high advisor to the king, who refused to believe the prophet. He mocked Elisha, claiming that even if God opened the windows of Heaven it would be impossible. And by human reasoning, he had a point. Israel had no reason to expect to be able to drive off the Syrian army. They were outnumbered with their forces trapped inside the city. They did not have allies to come and rescue them. Based on what he was able to see, the advisor was right. But God is not limited to what we can see. He has the power to do whatever we need.

Today's Growth Principle: 

We should never allow human limitations to make us doubt what God is able to do.

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“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.” --Matthew 6:9-13 Today, I want to remind you that when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are given a life connection to the heavenly Father.  This means you are given the promise and privilege of knowing that when you do pray, God doesn’t hear you as a stranger or even a subject. He hears you as His own child. What an incredible reality in the life of the believer! And to help you in your own prayer life, I want to give you a simple acrostic: P-R-A-Y. This tool will help give your prayers structure and direction as you pray to God throughout each day. The P in pray stands for PRAISE. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray beginning with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Praising God in prayer says, “It’s about you, Lord, Your kingdom, Your glory, Your greatness, Your name, Your honor.” The R in pray stands for REPENT. Yes, the penalty for your sins was paid for by Christ’s death. But because we sin daily, we are to repent, or turn from, our sin daily. The A in pray stands for ASK. This is when you come to God to ask Him for daily strength and to petition Him on behalf of others. And finally, the Y in pray stands for YIELD. This is why Jesus ended His prayer, “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.” Yielding yourself in prayer is the exact opposite of the popular “law of attraction” in our culture today that says you are the center of the universe. Rather, yielding is driven by getting God’s will done on earth in your life. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO...P-PRAISE...R-REPENT...A-ASK...AND Y-YIELD

The Source of Power

Thursday, September 26, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.”

Jeremiah 23:29–32

It’s easy to look around and see that our world is in need of some major changes. That was true in Jeremiah’s day as well. Despite God’s judgments for their sin, they persisted in worshiping idols and disobeying God’s law. To keep the people happy, many false prophets were telling them what they wanted to hear—claiming God had said things He had not, and that He had given them a message when He had not sent them. Against this destructive falsehood, God instructed Jeremiah to use the powerful Word of God. And that is what we need in our day as well.

When the evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman was asked the secret to the effectiveness of his ministry he replied, “I find that I have power just in proportion as my soul is saturated through and through with the Word of God.” We need the Bible for our own lives, because it holds the key to transforming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). And it is God’s Word, not our philosophies or opinions that can change society.

Today's Growth Principle: 

Only in the Word of God can we find the power to transform our lives and to speak effectively to others.

Are You Facing Something Impossible?

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Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. --Ephesians 3:20-21 Jesus is in the business of opening doors for faithful Christians. Even in the most impossible of circumstances. Today, you may feel how the Israelites felt when they were trapped against the Red Sea… with the Egyptian army behind them, and the mountains on either side of them. Talk about an impossible situation!  But what did God do? With a brush of His hand, He parted the waters and paved a highway right through the Red Sea… allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh’s army. He opened a door for them… and God can do the same thing for you! “But wait, Pastor,” you say, “You don’t know how far in debt I am.” Or, “You don’t know how badly I’ve messed up my marriage.” And you know what? I don’t know. But what I do know is that the size of your God will determine the size of the way He blesses and delivers you from whatever Red Sea you may be facing today. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Do you really believe this? Maybe you’ve been waiting for God to part the waters in your life for a while now… and you’re starting to lose patience. If so, stay faithful. Keep your eyes on Christ. As I’ve said before, if you’re a child of God, He’s got His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. He won’t let you give you more than you can bear! It’s my prayer that whatever your situation, no matter what you may be facing today, you will faithfully look to God and trust Him to open that door for you! JESUS OPENS DOORS FOR FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS.

Responding to Trouble

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Psalm 34:15–18

Because of the impact of sin on the world, all of us have to deal with heartbreak and trouble. It is not surprising or unusual, even for those who love God and are trying to serve Him, to suffer times of difficulty and hardship. There is no exemption promised to the righteous—but there is comfort and hope available to us from the Lord. This is something that all of us are going to need at times in our lives. No matter what else we may do or have, we will have trouble.

D. L. Moody said, “There is no class of people exempt from broken hearts. The rich and the poor suffer alike. There was a time when I used to visit the poor that I thought all the broken hearts were to be found among them, but within the last few years I have found there are as many broken hearts among the learned as the unlearned, the cultured as the uncultured, the rich as the poor.”

There are some today proclaiming that God wants His children to always be healthy, happy, and prosperous. Though it’s easy to see why that teaching is popular, that is not what the Bible says. What it offers instead is something better—the close presence of God when our hearts are hurting. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Today's Growth Principle: 

No matter what troubles may come, we have a loving and caring Father to ask for help.

Take a stand for what is right

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Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” --John 4:16-18 Being intolerant of sin is one of the most practical ways to really love someone… as Jesus shows us many times in the Scripture. Now, does that mean that we should be intolerant of sinners? Absolutely not! Christ frequently interacted with the worst “sinners” of His day. But He didn’t just interact with those who were caught in the grip of sin. He loved them enough to tell them that they were heading down a dead-end road.  But we live in a culture where anyone who stands for truth is seen as intolerant. People are expected to be tolerant of everything and everyone except those who are willing to stand for what is right!  The fact is, what this world needs… what the church needs… and what your sphere of influence needs is a Christian who will say, “You know, I’m going to take a stand for the truth of God’s Word. I’m going to buck the system of this world and in love, I’m going to call right, right and I’m going to call wrong, wrong.” You know, it doesn’t take a thousand people to start a revival. It only takes a few! It only takes a few who will be willing to be used by God to start that fire. So let me ask you… are you willing to be used by God? Are you willing to take a stand for what’s right… even if it comes at great personal cost to you? God is looking for a few good men and women… a remnant… who are willing to pay the price for Him. It’s my prayer that you will be one of those brave men or women who takes a stand for God’s truth in the face of our godless culture! BE INTOLERANT OF SIN

Only Jesus

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:”

Acts 14:13–15

When Paul arrived at the city of Lystra, he healed a man who had been crippled all of his life. When the people saw that they were amazed. They treated Paul and Barnabas like gods, and were going to make sacrifices to them. It took everything they could do to stop the people from worshipping them and point them to Jesus instead. “And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them” (Acts 14:18).

The noted English author Charles Lamb was once discussing with a group of other writers which historical figures they would most like to meet. Each named someone, most of them writers, and talked about how they would respond and what they might say. Finally Lamb said, “If William Shakespeare were to walk in we would rise to meet him, but if Jesus came we would fall to the ground to kiss the hem of His garment.”

The world tells us to lift ourselves up and make sure everyone knows how good we are. God tells us to lift up Jesus Christ and humble ourselves. Jesus alone is worthy of praise and worship, and we cannot allow anything to take His place in our lives. There is no room for pride when we have Jesus on the throne because He demands and commands all the honor and glory.

Today's Growth Principle: 

If we keep our focus on Jesus and glorify Him alone, we will be protected from pride.

Exceptional Rendition

Autumn's Lovely Perspective :)

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‘Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ --Revelation 2:16-17 We live in an age of compromise. You see it in every level of government, industry, and unfortunately you see it in the church as well.  But today instead of focusing on the compromise you see in others, I want to ask you… are you a compromising Christian? Are you living a double standard? Are there areas in your life, be it in your marriage, your professional life, or your thought life.  Where you are compromising? Maybe you’re thinking about cheating on your spouse. Perhaps you’ve turned a blind eye to something unethical at work. Or maybe you allow yourself the leeway to think lustful or hateful thoughts. Whatever it is, let me assure you of this: God takes the sin of compromise seriously!  Revelation 2:16 says it clearly, “Therefore repent.  If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.” Jesus is not only saying that He’ll deal with any church that compromises with sin… He’s saying it to any Christian too… including you and me! Jesus wants you to stop compromising, admit your sin, and deal with it. He wants you to get right with Him. And you know what’s great about repentance? When we repent… when we genuinely change our mind and attitude about our sin… Jesus says in Revelation 2:17, “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna….” Jesus says to the one who repents, He will give a taste of heaven! There is blessing and there is reward when you quit compromising. And it’s my prayer that you will ask God to help you see any area of your life where the world has crept in… and that you will turn from your sin to a life of freedom in Christ!     JESUS WANTS YOU TO STOP COMPROMISING, ADMIT YOUR SIN, AND DEAL WITH IT. HE WANTS YOU TO GET RIGHT WITH HIM!

Don't Let Your Light Go Out

Monday, September 23, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

"And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;"

1 Samuel 3:1 - 3

According to Greek mythology, it was Prometheus who first brought fire to mankind. He had a special shrine set up at Athens, in the same olive grove where Plato's famed academy was located. Because of this mythological fable, in the Greek games held to honor the local heroes and deities, there was a “Prometheus race.” Young men would run from the shrine into the city to a post, carrying lighted torches. Winning the prize took more than just running fast, for the victor was crowned for being the first to reach the finish line with his torch still burning.

The instructions God gave to Moses for the tabernacle included the admonition that the light in the menorah was never to go out. “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always” (Exodus 27:20). Yet by the time of Eli, the priests were letting the light go out every night.

We are called to be lights in the darkness of the world, and we must keep our light shining, not just for ourselves, but for the sake of others. Paul warned, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:” (2 Corinthians 4:3). We have the light that the world needs, but it is only visible to the world if we take care to keep it from being extinguished.

Today's Growth Principle: 

The light we have comes from God, but it is our responsibility to keep it shining brightly.

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Pick Up Your Cross

Sunday, September 22, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matthew 16:24–26

Henry Lyte’s father abandoned his family when Henry was just a boy, and not long after that, his mother and younger brother died, leaving him alone in the world. His academic brilliance made it possible for him to receive scholarships to study, and he trained for the ministry. Despite lifelong health struggles, Lyte was a much-loved pastor to his people, and the author of several beautiful hymns that we still sing today. In one of the best-known, Lyte wrote:

Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.

Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

There is no salvation apart from the cross, and there is no true Christianity—the effective daily following of Jesus Christ—apart from the cross. There is a great disconnect between the spirit of the world which seeks to gain and acquire and accumulate, and the spirit of the Lord which seeks to give to others.

It was the custom in Roman times to force the condemned prisoners to carry the instrument of their own execution. When Jesus spoke of taking up a cross, it was a literal description of what He would do. It represents His willingness to lay down His life rather than holding it dear to Himself. When He calls us to follow Him, that sacrifice is a vital part of the process.

Today's Growth Principle: 

We cannot follow Jesus unless we are willing to take up His cross first.