Open the Door to Blessing

Open the Door to Blessing

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…

Ecclesiastes 9:10, NIV.

TODAY’S WORD

Did you know that when you do something to the best of your ability because you want to honor God, it opens the door to His blessing? That means it will be easier, it will go better, and you will accomplish more. That’s why no matter what we do, we should give it our best. This is especially true even in the little things.

For example, when you’re doing the dishes or mowing the lawn, don’t drag around sour and frustrated. Mow with enthusiasm! Mow it like you’re on a mission from God. With every step, thank God that your legs work. Thank Him that you’re healthy and strong. At the office, don’t just do enough to get by. You’re not working unto people, you’re working unto God. Do it with your whole heart. When you volunteer at church, don’t wake up and think, “Awe, man. Why did I volunteer? I want to sleep in!” No, serve Him with all your heart because that’s what honors God. When you honor God, He’ll honor you. He’ll give you His life, peace, health and blessing now and forevermore!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for Your hand of blessing on my life. I choose today to serve You with my whole heart and do everything to the best of my ability. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Satan Doesn’t Mind Bible Study Never Put Into Practice by Rick Warren “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24 NIV) Receiving, reading, researching, remembering, and reflecting on the Word of God are all useless if we fail to put them into practice. We must becomedoers of the word (James 1:22 KJV). I understand this is a hard step, because Satan fights it so intensely. He doesn’t mind you going to Bible studies as long as you don’t do anything with what you learn. We fool ourselves when we assume that just because we have heard or read or studied a truth, we have internalized it. Actually, you can be so busy going to the next class or seminar or Bible conference that you have no time to implement what you’ve learned. You forget it on the way to your next study. Without implementation, all our Bible studies are worthless. Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24 NIV). Jesus also pointed out that God’s blessing comes from obeying the truth, not just knowing it. He said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17 NIV). I cannot overstate the value of being a part of a small Bible study discussion group. We always learn from others truths we would never learn on our own. Other people will help you see insights you would miss and help you apply God’s truth in a practical way. The best way to become a doer of the Word is to always write out an action step as a result of your reading or studying or reflecting on God’s Word. Develop the habit of writing down exactly what you intend to do. This action step should be personal (involving you), practical (something you can do), and provable (with a deadline to do it). Every application will involve either your relationship to God, your relationship to others, or your personal character. Talk About It - What has God already told you to do in his Word that you haven’t started doing yet? - Start today recording and following through with an action step as part of your Bible study.

Good Thoughts

March Quote

So that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.---1 Corinthians 2:5

Closer Than You Think

Closer Than You Think

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

Hebrews 10:35, NKJV.

TODAY’S WORD

Have you been praying and believing for something that’s taking longer than you thought? Many times, people can miss God’s best simply because they give up before they see their answer come. Don’t let that be you! Be encouraged today, your answer is closer than you think. If it seems like things are getting more difficult, remember, when the intensity heats up, that means you are closer to your victory. It always seems darkest just before the dawn appears.

Friend, remember, you serve a faithful God. Know that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Don’t cast away your confidence today because your reward is coming. And just like a new mother forgets about her labor pain when she is finally holding her newborn, you’ll forget about your struggle when you are holding your promise.

While you are waiting, keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. Wake up every morning and declare, “I’ve come too far to give up now. My due season is coming. I will reap my harvest.” Stay in faith and be on the lookout because He has promised you victory, and it’s closer than you think!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, today I stand believing that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Give me Your strength to continue believing until I see Your promises fulfilled in my life in Jesus’ Name. Amen

PS…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvLjV_B_8V4

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God Created Us for Adventure by Rick Warren “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known …” (Ephesians 3:10 NIV) You and I were made for a great adventure — it’s why we like movies. Movies have a story to them, an adventure to follow through. It’s also why we like shows like “Star Trek.” We want to “boldly go where no man has gone before.” That’s no accident. God made us to long for adventure — his adventure. God calls all believers to join him in a rescue mission, “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10) and complete the Great Commission. Not only has God created us for this mission; he also wants us to go on the adventure together. God’s agent for completing his mission is the Church. Churches start churches. The Bible says, “[God’s] intent was that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known …” (Ephesians 3:10). God has chosen the Church — not governments or businesses — to be his agent to complete the mission. These are great days to be alive. We’re living in a generation when the Great Commission can be completed in our lifetime. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, it was physically impossible for his disciples to complete. In those days, when Jesus said to go into all the earth, there were only two ways to go anywhere: on foot or a donkey. Today we have dozens of kinds of transportation. We also have the Internet. You can talk to someone in a faraway tribe and still be sitting in your pajamas at home. It’s never been more possible to see the Great Commission completed. Of all the people in the world, you’re reading this devotional. Why? God wants to use you. Think you’re too ordinary? You are the one God wants to use. Every church in the world has been started by average, everyday people like you and me. Our generation can complete what God started 2,000 years ago when he gave the Great Commission. Being a part of that would be the greatest privilege of our lives. Talk About It - If God created you for a mission, why would you think you are too ordinary to fulfill it? - What priority does the Great Commission have in your life?

A Lifetime of Decisions

 Howard W. Stevens

Whether we like it or not, making decisions is an integral part of our daily lives. Regardless of our position, family background, education, or talents, we all must make choices that will affect not only our lives, but also the lives of others.

According to the Bible, the most important decisions are spiritual in nature. God not only created us in His image, but He also endowed us with the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and the freedom to obey or disobey His commandments. Because we possess free will, we constantly make decisions that will affect our ultimate status before God.

First, we must decide whether or not to accept God's claim on our lives and His verdict on our fallen nature. When we repent of our sins and accept Christ as our Savior, we receive God's forgiveness and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Then, as God's children, we are exhorted to live our lives in a Christlike manner and to completely yield ourselves to God's will and purpose. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do so. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). 

Chapters 12 through 15 of the Book of Romans present us with guidelines for applying Christian principles in our daily lives and in our relationships with Christians and non-Christians. Since God will never force His desires upon us, we must make the necessary personal sacrifices to live our lives in accordance with His plan. Our willingness to set aside our own desires and seek to fulfill God's desires for us will directly affect our spiritual growth and development.

To live in a Christlike manner within the Christian community, we must recognize that no two individuals are alike. Each person comes from a different background, has had a variety of experiences, and is uniquely gifted by God. Just as the human body has many members and each has its own function, the Christian community is made up of many members who possess diverse abilities and callings (Romans 12:4-5). We are responsible for performing our God-given functions to the best of our ability so that the entire Body will be edified.

We should not use our degree of spiritual growth and maturity as a yardstick to measure or judge the spirituality of other Christians. Romans 12:10 reminds us, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Rather than criticizing and finding fault with our fellow Christians, we should be ready at all times to welcome and love them as members of the body of Christ, and let God be the final judge of their (and our) Christian growth and development. "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. . . . Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (Romans 14:19; 15:7).

Another important area of Christian responsibility and decision-making is found in Romans 12 and 13 concerning our relationship with individual non-Christians and with non-Christian organizations and governments. Displaying proper Christian conduct in our daily affairs can play an important role in furthering the spread of the gospel by the body of Christ. Not only must we manifest love toward Jesus and desire to do His will, we must also show respect and a Christlike love toward everyone. "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:17-18).

In His sermon on the Mount of Olives, Jesus referred to His followers as the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). As light is used to dispel darkness and brighten its surroundings, manifesting Christ's love will brighten the world around us and attract others to Christ. "‘Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven'" (v. 16).

Romans 13:1 exhorts us to submit to the power and authority of human government and government institutions. "There is no authority except that which God has established." Human government was established by God to repress crime and encourage righteousness. Those who manifest positions of authority here on earth do so through God's delegation. We as Christians are commanded to respect and submit to government and obey all laws, "not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience" (Romans 13:5).

We are compelled to render to all governing authorities what they demand as long as our doing so does not go against our basic Christian conduct. If our obedience to the powers of government would be in direct violation of our service and obedience to God, we must realize that our primary allegiance is to serve God and put His will above all else. Jesus himself said, "‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's'" (Matthew 22:21). Therefore, we must be willing to suffer hardships and persecution for our faith at the hands of non-Christians and non-Christian governments when they interfere with our service to God. As Jesus said, "‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it'" (Mark 8:34-35).

As we moment by moment make the decision to follow and obey Christ, the "God of hope" can fill us with His joy and peace, so that we will "overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

Feb Quote

Do everything in love.--- 1 Corinthians 16:14

Breaking Strongholds

Breaking Strongholds

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4, NKJV.

TODAY’S WORD

Scripture tells us that there is a battle going on in our minds. Our thoughts dictate our actions. That’s why the enemy will do everything he can to get you thinking in the wrong direction. Sometimes, it’s not our own thoughts that are holding us back; sometimes it’s that we’ve believed the negative things that other people have spoken over us. Those words are like seeds. If you dwell on them long enough, they’ll take root and become a reality.

In life, there will always be people telling you what cannot be done, speaking negative things. Too often we latch on to those negative words and develop what the scripture calls a “stronghold.” That’s a wrong thought or action that keeps us from God’s best. The way you break those negative strongholds is by rejecting the lie, forgiving the person, and embracing the truth of God’s Word. In other words, you have to choose to delete that negative file in your mind.

Today, why don’t you take inventory of your thought life? Ask yourself, “Where did these thoughts come from? Do they line up with what God says about me?” Break the negative strongholds and embrace God’s truth so you can be all that God has called you to be!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, today I choose to reject negative thoughts. I choose to reject lies from the past. I break every stronghold through the power of Your Word and embrace Your truth which sets me free in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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How Will You Help Fulfill the Great Commission?

by Rick Warren

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

You have a mission; we all do. When we become a part of God’s family, our mission is given to us by God himself: to help others join that family, too. Since God loves everyone, there is no one in the entire world he doesn’t want to be in his family.

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV).

When Jesus tells the Church to go to “all nations,” he isn’t talking about countries; he’s talking about people groups. He tells us to go to every people group and make disciples.

Today, there are 13,000 people groups in the world; 6,350 of those people groups have churches among them, but less than 2 percent of the population is Christian. Christianity has spread to every major language group in the world.

Yet there are 3,800 people groups that, 2,000 years after Jesus’ death on the cross, still have no church in their language. Why? We simply don’t care enough. We’re too busy with our own lives to care about people who are dying spiritually. Instead of telling those 3,800 people groups about the love of Jesus, we tell them by default to “go to Hell.”

Certainly, it’s a huge task. God’s mission is global. But it’s not missionimpossible; it’s mission inevitable. The Great Commission will be fulfilled. It’s a certainty. In fact, the Bible gives us a picture of its fulfillment in Revelation 7:9: “There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

One day there will be people from every language group in the world standing before the throne of Jesus. The only question for us is this: Will our generation be the ones to do it? Or will we give up our responsibility and pass it on to someone else? Will another generation be the ones who get the privilege of fulfilling God’s great mission that he created the whole universe for in the first place?

Talk About It

- What might keep you from fulfilling your mission?

- What is God asking you to do with your life today to help fulfill the Great Commission?