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Your character is more important than your financial status.

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Dare to Believe   CURRENT TV SERIES Dare to Believe

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.                                              --Proverbs 13:11 Most likely, I don’t have to tell you that there’s intense pressure to be successful in our world today. And as a result, there’s also incredible pressure to compromise our character in order to attain the world’s definition of success. This compromise shows itself through dishonesty, greed, and a wealth of other wrong attitudes regarding money. As a believer, the bottom line is that you must decide that your character is more important than your financial status. And the first financial firewall each of us must build around our families and homes is the firewall of honesty. This requires that we make honest financial decisions 100% of the time! This means you tell the truth at any cost. It means you always pay your debts. You put in a hard day’s work every day. You’re a fair employer. And you always pay your taxes. It means you’ll remember that money itself is here today and then gone…but the thing that will last is your character! Your character is more important than your financial status. The Importance of Knowing the Word by Dr. Paul Chappell “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew 22:29–32 The story goes that a new pastor was teaching a young boy’s Sunday school class and asking them some questions to test their knowledge. When he asked, “Who knocked down the walls of Jericho?” Of course, he wanted them to answer that it was Joshua from the Bible account in the book of Joshua. But none of them responded. Later when meeting some of the leaders of the church, he expressed his dismay at their lack of Bible knowledge. One of the elderly men said, “Pastor, I’ve known these boys all their lives, and if they say they didn’t knock down the walls, I believe them!” When the Sadducees tried to trap Jesus by posing what they thought was a challenging question, He pointed out that their question was wrong from the start because they did not base their belief and doctrine on what the Bible said. Because of the effects of sin our hearts and minds are darkened, unable to distinguish truth from error apart from the work of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures and guide us rightly. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). We have a great responsibility to learn the Bible, because the Holy Spirit cannot guide us through the Word unless we know the Word.   Today’s Growth Principle:  Only the inerrant Word of God has the ability to rightly guide us through a world filled with errors.

Live the abundant life Christ intends!

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Dare to Believe   CURRENT TV SERIES Dare to Believe

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12 Do you remember that story back in Genesis 3 when the devil, disguised as a snake, slithered into the Garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve? And as he spoke with Eve, he questioned both God and Eve when he said, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). Now, God didn’t tell Adam and Eve not to eat from any tree in the garden. He specifically told them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But the devil came alone and distorted what God had said. He tried to convince Eve that God was trying to hold out on her—that he was depriving her and didn’t want her to enjoy the garden. And you know what? He uses that same lie today when he tells you that God doesn’t want you to enjoy life! He does this because he wants you to think negatively about God. The devil wants you to believe that God is some kind of a cosmic killjoy and he wants to drape your life in darkness. He wants you to believe that God is holding out on you. But the Christian life is an abundant life! Both in the Old Testament and the New Testament we are promised life with a capital “L”. Jesus himself said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). So remember, the life Christ offers you is an abundant life. So don’t let Satan steal the joy God intends for you! DON’T LET SATAN STEAL YOUR JOY! A Necessary Obligation by Dr. Paul Chappell “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:16–18 We tend to think of preaching solely in the context of a pulpit ministry, but the Bible uses the word more frequently to refer to individual witnessing. Each time we share the gospel with someone, we are doing the task that God has laid upon every believer as a calling. We should view it as the critical assignment of our lives—something that must not be overlooked or ignored. There should be a driving passion for the lost that motivates us to faithful service. Charles Spurgeon said, “A man who has really within him the inspiration of the Holy Ghost calling him to preach cannot help it. He must preach. As fire within the bones, so will that influence be until it blazes forth. Friends may check him, foes criticize him, despisers sneer at him, the man is indomitable; he must preach if he has the call of heaven.” Too many Christians are content to let the paid staff of the church do the work of reaching the lost, ignoring the command of God to them to be busy proclaiming the gospel. There are many people that pastors and staff members never meet. God has placed each of us in a position to reach some people more effectively than anyone else. He desires for our heart to be burdened for the lost just as His is burdened. He desires for us to have love for those around us and concern for their eternal destiny.   Today’s Growth Principle:  Every person you meet today will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. Ask God for opportunities to share the gospel with them.

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Dare to Believe   CURRENT TV SERIES Dare to Believe

He is like a tree planted by streams of water….                                              --Psalm 1:3 A true man or woman of God is like a tree planted by a river. They’re grounded and settled. They have deep roots. Their waters run deep. They have depth of character and strength of will because they have roots. I’m sure you know people who are all showcase and no warehouse. They talk a big game, but when the storms of life blow, their façade crumbles! Friend, God wants you to be strong on the inside. He wants you to be strong and stable so that you can stand in the midst of the gales of life. What are you doing today to deepen your roots in Jesus Christ? Do you find yourself sacrificing your time with God when the storms of life aren’t blowing? I’d like to challenge you today…wherever you are in your walk with Christ…take some time to situate yourself near Him so that you’ll be ready when life’s storms come upon you. Because He’s the only way you’ll be able to stand strong when these times come! A true man or woman of God is grounded in Jesus Christ. The Song of the Redeemed by Dr. Paul Chappell “Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;” Isaiah 51:10–12 There is a beautiful story of a pastor who went to the pulpit with an empty birdcage. He told how the week before he had met a small boy who was carrying the cage with several birds inside. When he asked the boy what he planned to do, he was told that the boy would feed them to his cat. He said he offered to buy them and was told, “Mister, you don’t want to buy these birds. They’re not good for anything. They don’t even sing well.” The preacher holding the empty birdcage told the congregation, “That boy told me the birds were not songsters, but when I released them and they winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, ‘Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!’” While not all of us have great musical talent, every Christian has a wonderful song to sing because we have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. There is a great temptation, especially for those who have been saved for many years to forget just what a wonderful blessing we received in salvation, and to lose sight of the cage of sin that once held us and the fate that awaited us. It is vital that we keep our focus on what God did for us so that we will praise Him as we should.   Today’s Growth Principle:  A Christian who properly remembers His redemption will have a grateful, singing heart.

The blessings that come with being grateful

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Dare to Believe   CURRENT TV SERIES Dare to Believe

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 I heard about two young city slickers who were driving through a small town out in East Texas. They stopped at a little café for a bite to eat, and they noticed an old farmer bowing his head and giving thanks for his food. Now, this wasn’t something they were used to seeing in the city. So they walked over to that old man with a little smirk on their faces and said, “Sir, does everybody around here pray like that before they eat?” Without even looking up at the two, the old man said, “Nope. The hogs don’t.” As believers in Christ, expressing your thankfulness toward God for the blessings in your life is of the upmost importance. In fact, as you read today’s passage, you’ll see that there is a direct correlation between letting Christ rule in your hearts and being thankful for His blessings! Now, I’m not saying you have to bow your head and close your eyes every time you chew a piece of gum. But take some time each day to acknowledge God’s blessings, and thank Him for what He’s given you. When you do that, you’ll begin to see just how blessed you are and just how good God is! GRATITUDE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. SO SPEND SOME TIME EACH DAY ACKNOWLEDGING GOD’S BLESSINGS AND EXPRESSING YOUR GRATEFULNESS TO HIM. Accepted by Dr. Paul Chappell “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:3–6 People do all sorts of things in order to be accepted by a group. Some wear certain clothing and fashions. Others adopt particular hairstyles. They may change what they eat, where they live, and more in an effort to fit in. There are even tragic cases of people severely damaging their lives or committing crimes in an effort to be accepted. As Christians, we have been given the precious promise that we have been accepted by God—not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus did. As a result, nothing can change that status. The same grace of God that provides our salvation also settles our standing in His eyes forever. The Bible does not tell us that we might be accepted or that we can be accepted, but that we have already been accepted. The righteousness of Christ that has been applied to our account makes us fit to stand in the very presence of God despite our failings and shortcomings. Recognizing this truth frees us from the constant cycle of worry and uncertainty that comes from trying to be good enough to measure up to a standard we can never meet. God’s grace works in us to give us the ability live righteously so that our witness and fellowship with God are not hindered. But our acceptance is external, coming through God’s grace, and it is eternal, never changing or failing.   Today’s Growth Principle:  Understanding God’s acceptance of us is the basis of our ability to rest in His love.

It Is All from God

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
Romans 9:14–16

Our culture is becoming increasingly less interested in religion. The most recent survey from Gallup showed the “nones”—those with no religious affiliation at all—have increased to one out of every five adult Americans. And among those who are affiliated with some religious belief, the level of attendance and involvement has declined. Yet despite this apparent lack of interest in religion, there is still an empty place in the heart of man that nothing but God can fill. All around us we see the evidence of the toll taken and damage done when people try to replace God with something else.
If we choose to try to replace God or find acceptance with Him in our own way, we are doomed to failure. Nothing we can accomplish or avoid can earn us merit in God’s eyes. Salvation is His work and His alone. D. L. Moody said, “The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise.”
This truth is one that Christians need reminding of from time to time, for it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we somehow deserved God’s gift of salvation. But like every good thing, salvation is a gift from God, and it comes apart from anything we do.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God’s mercy is all we have for our hope of Heaven—it is also all that we need.

At All Times

by Joyce Meyer - posted May 15, 2017

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
—Psalm 34:1

Faith and trust in God is meant to be exercised more than once in a while or from time to time; we can live in faith at all times. With God’s help we can learn to live from faith to faith, trusting the Lord when things are good, and when things are difficult. It is easy to trust God when things are good, but when things are challenging and we decide to trust God, then we really develop character.
Psalm 34:1 encourages us to bless the Lord at all times. There are several other scriptures that tell us things to do at all times—resist the devil at all times, believe God at all times, love others at all times—not just when it’s convenient or it feels good.
Temptation is a frequent visitor in our lives and as long as we are here on earth, we will have to discipline our emotions, our moods, and our mouths, so that we remain stable and calm, and peaceful—whatever our situation or circumstances. That enables us to be in close fellowship with God and walk in the joy of His Spirit.
 
Since you can choose your own thoughts, when doubt comes, you can learn to recognize it for what it is, say, “No, thank you,” and keep on believing!

Captured =)

Kim Mi-young: I want to become someone that can give you strength...