Wednesday, 4 January 2017
You can have unspeakable joy
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Unbelieving Believers?
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
Hebrews 3:12–15
People from many different cultures, backgrounds, languages, national identities, and regions have been saved through the centuries. But despite the differences, all of us have gotten saved in the exact same way. That is because there is only one way to salvation: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Christians are often referred to as believers in recognition of the fact that we trust Christ by faith.
Yet even we who have trusted Christ as our Saviour, struggle with our belief from time to time. Even John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest man ever born, went through a period of doubt: “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19).
During times of doubt, we are more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. When we fail to keep our faith strong, it has an impact on every part of our lives. The writer of Hebrews warns us that when our hearts are not believing, they will become hard, and we will be ensnared by sin. This is one reason that those who have served God for years may become entangled in sin. The roots of these great falls can usually be traced back to a lack of faith that was allowed to grow over time.
This is why it is so important that we give God’s Word continual entrance into our hearts and respond to it in faith. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Hebrews 3:12–15
People from many different cultures, backgrounds, languages, national identities, and regions have been saved through the centuries. But despite the differences, all of us have gotten saved in the exact same way. That is because there is only one way to salvation: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Christians are often referred to as believers in recognition of the fact that we trust Christ by faith.
Yet even we who have trusted Christ as our Saviour, struggle with our belief from time to time. Even John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest man ever born, went through a period of doubt: “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19).
During times of doubt, we are more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. When we fail to keep our faith strong, it has an impact on every part of our lives. The writer of Hebrews warns us that when our hearts are not believing, they will become hard, and we will be ensnared by sin. This is one reason that those who have served God for years may become entangled in sin. The roots of these great falls can usually be traced back to a lack of faith that was allowed to grow over time.
This is why it is so important that we give God’s Word continual entrance into our hearts and respond to it in faith. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Today’s Growth Principle:
The stronger the relationship you have with the Word of God, the stronger your faith will be.
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
Tangled Feet
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Tangled Feet
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”
1 Corinthians 6:12–14
The three-legged race is one of the most entertaining events at many picnics, reunions, and school outings. Two people stand next to each other with their inside legs tied together at the ankles, and then they try to run. Invariably, as they hurry, they will get tangled up. It is rare to see anyone go quickly through this kind of race without falling at least once. Trying to coordinate moving the legs together with tangled feet is extremely difficult.
This race is a picture of how many Christians attempt to live. Although they want to make progress in their spiritual life, they keep themselves so tied to the things of the world that they become entangled with them and invariably find that their spiritual progress is slow going.
The word expedient in the verse above comes from the Latin word for “having your feet free” and has come to refer to something that is helpful to our progress. The call of God is for us to be moving forward, not drifting in place; but we cannot do that unless our feet are free.
Jesus warned of the problem faced by those who allow themselves to be entangled by the things of the world as He told the parable of the Sower and the seed, which represented God’s Word. About the seed planted in thorny ground He said, “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). Our service and work for God are important enough to be worthy of setting aside the things of the world so that we are not caught in the entanglements that would keep us from accomplishing His work.
1 Corinthians 6:12–14
The three-legged race is one of the most entertaining events at many picnics, reunions, and school outings. Two people stand next to each other with their inside legs tied together at the ankles, and then they try to run. Invariably, as they hurry, they will get tangled up. It is rare to see anyone go quickly through this kind of race without falling at least once. Trying to coordinate moving the legs together with tangled feet is extremely difficult.
This race is a picture of how many Christians attempt to live. Although they want to make progress in their spiritual life, they keep themselves so tied to the things of the world that they become entangled with them and invariably find that their spiritual progress is slow going.
The word expedient in the verse above comes from the Latin word for “having your feet free” and has come to refer to something that is helpful to our progress. The call of God is for us to be moving forward, not drifting in place; but we cannot do that unless our feet are free.
Jesus warned of the problem faced by those who allow themselves to be entangled by the things of the world as He told the parable of the Sower and the seed, which represented God’s Word. About the seed planted in thorny ground He said, “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). Our service and work for God are important enough to be worthy of setting aside the things of the world so that we are not caught in the entanglements that would keep us from accomplishing His work.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Keeping your feet free from the entanglements of the world allows you to move forward freely for God.
Monday, 2 January 2017
Off and Running
Off and Running
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1–2
Our generation is obsessed with sports. Passionate fans of football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and a host of other sports and competitions fill arenas across the country. There are entire television networks dedicated to specific sports, hobbies, and interests.
The Roman Empire was much the same in its passion for competiton. Though the Coliseum in Rome is the best known of the ancient arenas, there were hundreds of stadiums, amphitheaters, and arenas scattered across the Empire. Tens of thousands of people gathered for the entertainment offered by the different contests, games, events, and fights.
The writer of Hebrews uses the imagery of a runner in a coliseum to describe what the Christian life is like. First he describes some of the great men and women of faith who have gone on to Heaven, and then he explains that they now, like spectators at an event, watch to encourage us in our race.
The devil is going to do everything he can to hinder your race. He tries to load us down with weights and sins that will keep us from finishing the course God has laid out for us. It is our responsibility to put those aside and run with our focus on Jesus. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Hebrews 12:1–2
Our generation is obsessed with sports. Passionate fans of football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and a host of other sports and competitions fill arenas across the country. There are entire television networks dedicated to specific sports, hobbies, and interests.
The Roman Empire was much the same in its passion for competiton. Though the Coliseum in Rome is the best known of the ancient arenas, there were hundreds of stadiums, amphitheaters, and arenas scattered across the Empire. Tens of thousands of people gathered for the entertainment offered by the different contests, games, events, and fights.
The writer of Hebrews uses the imagery of a runner in a coliseum to describe what the Christian life is like. First he describes some of the great men and women of faith who have gone on to Heaven, and then he explains that they now, like spectators at an event, watch to encourage us in our race.
The devil is going to do everything he can to hinder your race. He tries to load us down with weights and sins that will keep us from finishing the course God has laid out for us. It is our responsibility to put those aside and run with our focus on Jesus. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Today’s Growth Principle:
The knowledge that those who have gone before are watching should inspire us to run faithfully for Christ.
Start Your Day Right
by Joyce Meyer - posted January 01, 2017When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.
—Psalm 94:18
Some people seem to start their day on the "wrong foot." They feel all right when they wake up, but as soon as something goes wrong, they lose their footing and walk with a "loser's limp" the rest of the day. Once they are off to a bad start, it seems they never catch up.
If someone offends us early in the morning, our anger can keep us defensive all day. If we start the day rushing, it seems we never slow down. But to¬day our feet can be firmly planted in God's Word.
Sunday, 1 January 2017
God's Plan for the New Year =)
God’s Plan for the New Year
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Romans 8:28–30
When the calendar rolls over to a new year, we have to remember to write a new date on documents, checks, and letters. But most things will not be any different because the calendar reads 2017 instead of 2016. And among the things that do not change is God’s overall purpose for our lives. His overarching purpose for us, established before the world was created, was that we would be like His Son.
Many people primarily focus on specifics when it comes to the will of God. Where should I live? What should I do for a living? But God’s primary focus is inward, not outward. He is far more concerned with our hearts than with our circumstances. “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Our focus needs to be first and foremost on being like Jesus. That will place us in God’s will. A. W. Tozer said, “The only fear I have is to fear to get out of the will of God. Outside of the will of God, there’s nothing I want, and in the will of God there’s nothing I fear, for God has sworn to keep me in His will.”
Today’s Growth Principle:
Commit your life to being like Jesus, and you will live the coming year in the center of God’s will.
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