The Fires of Anger

Saturday, September 07, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.”

Daniel 3:17–19

The story goes that in the latter part of his reign, Peter the Great of Russia took steps to make life better for the poor of his kingdom. A law was passed that said if a nobleman beat or badly mistreated the people under his care, he would have a caretaker from the government placed over his estate as he clearly was not qualified to lead. Yet in anger Peter the Great struck his own gardener, who died a few days later from the injury. When he heard that the man was dead Peter said, “Alas! I have civilized my own subjects and I have conquered other nations. Yet I have not been able to civilize or conquer myself.”

Anger is not always sinful. Jesus demonstrated this after He healed the man with a withered hand. “And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other” (Mark 3:5). That was anger for the right reason. However, much of our anger is not directed to defend the truths of God from attack, but directed at real or perceived offenses against us personally. This is the dangerous anger that must be brought under control.

Today's Growth Principle: 

If we allow the fires of anger to burn unchecked, destruction will always result.

Our Attitude over God's Command

CURRENT RADIO SERIES A Life that Pleases God   CURRENT TV SERIES Invisible

“Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” --John 4:35 If you are a follower of Christ… if you claim the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior… you are called to share your faith with others.  Yet, if you find sharing your faith difficult, I want to offer you a word of encouragement today: In spite of your weaknesses, in spite of your past mistakes or struggles, you can be an effective and successful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. You can share your faith! First, ask God to give you a passion for people. That’s where it all begins! Sharing your faith isn’t so much a program or technique as it is a passion of the heart. So ask God to give you a burden… a desire… a passion… to talk to your friends and family about Jesus. Second, be authentic. Most people can identify with the ordinary, real experiences you’ve had in your life. So don’t be afraid to let people know how God is working in those ordinary, everyday experiences! Remember… people aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for someone who’s real. Third, love people unconditionally. This is a hard one! But this is what Jesus did… and it’s what you and I are to do as well. No matter how people may mistreat or misuse you. Finally, share Jesus now! This is why Jesus says in today’s verse, “Lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” It’s the responsibility of every Christian to introduce as many people as possible to Jesus. Today! Right now!  It’s my prayer that you will get out of your comfort zone this week… and begin sharing your story of grace with those who need to hear it! IS SHARING YOUR FAITH AN IMPERATIVE FOR YOU? Today's Devotion Our Attitude toward God’s Commands Friday, September 06, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:1–3 God is not just our loving friend who has promised to supply all of our needs. He is also the King who is high and lifted up, and He commands and demands our obedience to His instructions. The way that we view the commands of God speaks volumes about the condition of our hearts. If we love God as we should, then we do not find His rules to be onerous. R. A. Torrey said, “Cultivate prompt, exact, unquestioning, joyous obedience to every command that it is evident from its context applies to you. Be on the lookout for new orders from your King. Blessing lies in the direction of obedience to them. God’s commands are but signboards that mark the road to present success and blessedness and to eternal glory.” If our love for God is not what it should be, then we will balk at obeying His commands. We will find them heavy burdens that we have to bear rather than wise fences placed to keep us from harm and danger. God has not set arbitrary rules, nor does He desire to keep us from enjoying life. Every command has a purpose and a reason, and is to be fully obeyed. But when we do not love God rightly, we also demonstrate a lack of belief in His love for us. This lack of love changes our view, both of Him and of His Word. The first step to joyful obedience is not found in our actions, but in our hearts. Today's Growth Principle:  Our attitude toward what God has instructed us to do is molded by our love for Him—or lack thereof.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES A Life that Pleases God   CURRENT TV SERIES Invisible

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” --John 4:13-14 What would it take to make you genuinely happy? What would it take to really satisfy you?  Would it be more money, more pleasure, greater success, better relationships, or a better physique? What would it take? Unfortunately, the world screams that these are the things that will bring you ultimate satisfaction. And it’s so easy to buy into the notion that these things will truly satisfy. But take another look at today’s verse. Jesus told the woman at the well that the things of this life won’t ever really satisfy us… only He will. So many people today chase the dream of personal achievement… and find that it doesn’t really satisfy. Others think, “I’ll be happy if I can just find Mr. Right,” or “I’ll be fulfilled if I can just find Mrs. Right.” But the even best man or the best woman can’t satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart! I can guarantee you that nothing… no human relationship… no job promotion… no amount of money in your bank account… will satisfy you like Jesus can. If you’ve lost sight of this fact, I encourage you to ask God to help you realign your priorities today! ETERNAL SATISFACTION IN AN INSTANT GRATIFICATION WORLD. Deeper into God’s Word Thursday, September 05, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:37–39 When Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees over His claim to be the Son of God, He pointed them back to the very basis of their belief and practice—the inspired words of God—what we know as the Old Testament. These men were religious scholars. They knew the ins and outs of the law, and spent much of their lives debating the smallest points of doctrine. Yet for all of their knowledge, it remained on the surface and did not make a positive impact on the way they lived their lives. It is good and important to know what the Bible says, but that alone is not enough. We must take the Word into our heart and apply it to every situation we face. We cannot be spiritually mature and equipped for the work God has called us to do apart from His Word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). The devil is delighted if we fall into the trap of equating more knowledge about the Bible with spiritual growth. Knowing what God said is important, but alone it is not enough. We must then apply what we have learned to our daily lives. The best way to deepen our relationship with God’s Word is to put it into practice day after day, and allowing what it says to control how we live. Today's Growth Principle:  The Bible must be both known and applied to make our lives what God wants them to be.

A Priority for Believers

CURRENT RADIO SERIES A Life that Pleases God   CURRENT TV SERIES Invisible

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” --Matthew 28:19 Baptism should be important to followers of the Lord Jesus Christ because it was important to Him, plain and simple! Not only was Jesus baptized at the outset of His ministry, He concluded His ministry with baptism. So don’t you think we should make it a priority too? I think so! If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, and you have never been baptized, then I want to challenge you today to do so. Let me share with you why… First, baptism is a sign of your commitment to Jesus Christ. If you are truly committed to Jesus, then you need to make a public statement of that commitment, much like a wedding ring is a public expression of a commitment of a husband or wife.  Second, baptism is a symbol of your salvation. You need to publicly symbolize the sacrifice of Christ on your behalf and your submission to Him in your life.  Third, baptism is a sign of obedience. While there are many things you and I cannot do like Jesus Christ did, baptism is one thing that we can do exactly like He did! And when you are baptized, you are publicly declaring your obedience to Him.   Finally, baptism is a statement of your faith. When you’re baptized, you’re declaring to the world that you believe and belong to Jesus Christ. You are saying to everyone that you love Christ and want to follow Him with your whole heart. Now, understand that being baptized doesn’t save you. But I would encourage you today… if you’re a believer and you’ve never been baptized… to prayerfully consider following Christ in this step of obedience. Through it, you will give a beautiful testimony of your faith in Him. JESUS MADE BAPTISM A PRIORITY, AND SO SHOULD WE. The Way to Change the World Wednesday, September 04, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;” Titus 1:1–3 In the late 1700s in an effort to relieve prison overcrowding, the British government began sending shiploads of criminals to Australia. Crimes that were eligible for “transportation,” as it was known, were generally lesser offenses like theft, although it was sometimes used to deport people who were deemed undesirable to remain in England. Along with the first ships of prisoners, at the insistence of John Newton among others, was a chaplain, Richard Johnson. In addition to building the first church in Australia with his own money, Johnson established a system of schools focused not just on academic subjects, but on moral instruction. He said, “It is my long and ardent wish that the minds of the rising generation of this Colony may be duly impressed with moral and religious sentiment.” When I preached at a church in Sydney, Australia, I was able to see the Bible sent from England and used in that church still on display. Johnson is still remembered more than two hundred years later for the powerful impact he had on the entire nation. If we want to change our society, and it certainly needs help, the most important thing is not to elect new politicians or get new laws passed. The most important thing is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those around us. There is nothing else with the power to transform the sinful hearts of people. No program or effort or campaign can change the world the way that winning people to Christ does. God has given us the good news to share. Today's Growth Principle:  We have the cure for the world’s problems in the gospel, and we must share it with them.

Settled Feet

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Giving God Your Best   CURRENT TV SERIES Invisible

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” --Mark 16:15 Do you realize that God has a special calling on your life? He does! You may not have sensed God leading you to become a missionary or a preacher, but you still have a calling! And it is a mission that you must not shirk. No less than five times in the Scripture, Jesus called his followers to “go” into the world and to be witnesses for him. And that’s exactly what he is saying to you today. He’s calling you to be his witness. And you can begin right where you are! There can be no doubt… you are called. Have you listened for his voice? Have you heeded that call and followed his will obediently? It is so important that you do. You see, God has placed specific people in your path who need to hear what he has done for you. They need to hear about the blessings and peace of God. They need to know that God loves them and that he has a future of hope for them. So be bold in Christ Jesus! Pray for those who have needs in their lives. Be a witness of his saving grace. This is your calling, the work of the ministry that God has entrusted to you. GOD HAS PLACED SPECIFIC PEOPLE IN YOUR PATH WHO NEED TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU!

Settled Feet

Tuesday, September 03, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

Psalm 40:1–3

Charles Spurgeon told of an elderly Welsh lady who was visited by a preacher as she lay on her deathbed. He asked if she were sinking, and she just looked at him. He repeated the question, and she continued her silence. When he asked the third time she raised herself up a little and said, “Sinking! Sinking! Did you ever know a sinner to sink through a rock? If I had been standing on the sand, I might sink; but thank God, I’m on the Rock of Ages, and there is no sinking there.”

Because our salvation is all God’s doing and not our own responsibility, we do not need to worry if we are secure in Him. He not only does all the saving, but all the keeping as well. He is an unfailing, unchanging Rock and we can have full confidence in Him. There are few more effective tools of the devil than to get us focused on ourselves rather than on God. He is the one we can trust both to take us to Heaven and to guide and provide for us here on Earth.

David said that God “established my goings.” That did not mean David had an easy life. What it meant was that God was the Rock David could trust no matter what circumstances might come. God was just as present with David when he was running for his life as He was when David was sitting in the palace. He never changes, and never breaks a promise.

Today's Growth Principle: 

We can always trust our unfailing God to be a firm foundation for every part of our lives.

The Value of Children

Today's Devotion

The Value of Children

Monday, September 02, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

Mark 10:13–16

Everywhere we look, we can see signs of the devaluing of children in our culture. From the decline in childbirths to the widespread use of abortion, children are often seen as a nuisance or an expensive luxury. The rise in childless couples has been noted by a number of sociologists. Many nations around the world have reached their lowest birthrates in modern history.

The Christian view of children is very different. “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth” (Psalm 127:3–4). Every child is a gift from God and deserves all of the love and attention and care he or she needs. The tragedy of child abuse and child neglect should never been seen in the church. As the song most of us learned in Sunday school teaches, Jesus does love the children of the world.

Those who have never had children or whose children are grown and gone, can still make wonderful and meaningful investments in the lives of children. We often speak of church in terms of it being a family, and there are so many ways in which we can make a difference for the children in our church family. We have no excuse to join a wicked world in devaluing children.

Today's Growth Principle: 

The investments we make in the lives of young people create a lasting impact on the world.

Chamomile Christians

Saturday, August 31, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

Acts 8:1–4

In ancient times, Anthemis nobilis—Roman chamomile—was widely used in medicines. The flowers were brewed into tea for treatment of digestive disorders, headaches, and to promote restful sleep. The Greeks also used Roman chamomile as a symbol for humility because, “the more it is trod, the more it spreads.” Walking on the low-growing plants encourages the seeds to spread, and increases the crop.

When the church in Jerusalem was greatly persecuted, that did not end their gospel witness. Instead it increased it widely. At a time when opposition to Christianity is becoming widespread in our society, it is important for us to remember that we are not promised religious freedom by God. Almost every book in the New Testament was written by a man who would be martyred for his faith. But God can turn even the hatred of His people into something positive. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain”(Psalm 76:10).

As our culture shifts from resistance to receiving the gospel message to attempts to silence it, we must be conscious of the hand of God even in times of hardship and suffering. The mission we have been given to reach the world is not conditioned on the world being happy to receive the good news. Rather than feeling sorry for ourselves or silencing our voices when things get harder, it is simply another opportunity for us to spread the gospel.

Today's Growth Principle: 

We should not allow anything to keep us from being faithful witnesses for Christ.