DEVOTION, MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

DEVOTION,  MONDAY,   OCTOBER 1, 2012

“When Tolerance Isn’t Good”

BY

GREG LAURIE

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. - (Galatians 5:13)

Tolerance. Isn’t that the watchword of the day? You can be anything but intolerant. This may come as a surprise to a nonbeliever, but all the strong Christians that I know are very tolerant.

As believers, we have a worldview that comes from our study of Scripture and from our faith in Jesus Christ. We believe these things are true, so when we talk to someone who is not a believer, we try to convince him or her. We engage in evangelism. We want them to believe in Jesus as we do. But we also know that some people, after hearing what we have to say, will disagree. So what do we do? Do we scream in their face? No, of course not. Although we don’t agree with them, we still are tolerant.

But tolerance isn’t always a good thing. The church of Thyatira in Revelation 2 was tolerating sin. Jesus specifically focused in on this problem when He addressed this church, saying, “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (verse 20).

I don’t know whether this was a literal Jezebel to whom Jesus was referring or whether He was using the name as a metaphor for wickedness. We do know that Queen Jezebel of the Old Testament was an extremely wicked woman and culpable in putting to death the prophets of the Lord. She was teaching that immorality was not a serious issue.

The church of Thyatira was tolerating sin, and so Jesus essentially told them, “I am intolerant of this sin. You are allowing sexual immorality into your ranks.”

We cannot be followers of Christ and try to live in two worlds.

Summary sentence: We are called to be “intolerant” of immorality!

Tags: Thyatira, wickedness, tolerance, worldview

Copyright © 2012 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DEVOTION, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

DEVOTION,   SUNDAY,   SEPTEMBER  30, 2012

“”THE WINNING WALK”

WITH

DR ED YOUNG

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

Often we try to trap God in our time schemes. We lay out plans and schedules, and expect Him to conform. God sent His Son into the world as quickly as the world was prepared to receive Him. When the Father saw that the sacrificial system with its types and shadows had been established, and that the prophetic word pointing to the Messiah had been heard, the world was in readiness for the Messiah, and at the precise moment in accord with His plan, sent Him to us—in “the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4

DEVOTION - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

DEVOTION,   SATURDAY,   SEPTEMBER  29, 2012

“The Seventh Commandment of Marriage:  Do Not Commit Adultery”

BY

BAYLESS CONLEY

The seventh commandment brings us to one of the most vital principles of having the marriage God intends.  Exodus 20:14 simply says,

"You shall not commit adultery."

In a marriage, you would be hard pressed to imagine anything more damaging than your spouse being unfaithful.  But being faithful is not only being faithful in action, but also in thought.

Again, Jesus expanded on this in Matthew 5, and I want you to read these words very carefully.  He said, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.'  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Having a lustful, exploitive disposition has no place in marriage.  Love gives; lust takes.  Love serves; lust demands.  Love nourishes; lust chokes.

What a wonderful gift God has given us in this thing called sex.  It was His idea.  It is just as holy as when you lift your hands in church and worship Him.  It is God's idea within the context and the confines of marriage.  It should be enjoyed.

But lust has no place in marriage.  It is a poison that will destroy the fabric of your relationship with your spouse.

Men, do not even entertain the thought of allowing pornography into your life.  It can destroy your marriage.  You are committing heart-adultery when you look at pornographic images and lust after another woman.  Do not let the devil have that ground in your heart and life.

This is such a vital command, over the next few devotionals we are going to stay on this subject.  I will share with you three ways to affair-proof your marriage.

DEVOTION, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

DEVOTION,   FRIDAY,   SEPTEMBER  28, 2012

“Blessed are the Pure in Heart”

BY

TONY EVANS

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:18-19; Matthew 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6,16; 7:1

Eating organic food is a big health craze right now.  No one wants to eat the stuff that's been sprayed with pesticides or pumped full of steroids and preservatives.  Why?  Because it's a proven fact that the extra stuff will contaminate our bodies and make us sick.  When we eat food that man has messed with, we keep our bodies from functioning as God intended.

The same principle applies to our hearts.  When we feed our hearts what the world dishes out, we keep them from doing what they were meant to do.

But when we focus our hearts on God's Word and worship God with our thoughts and actions, He will keep our hearts pure.  Only then will our hearts be capable of doing what they were meant to do - help us see God.

Watch Online Videos of Dr. Tony Evans and The Urban Alternative at LightSource.com

DEVOTION - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

DEVOTION,   THURSDAY,   SEPTEMBER  27, 2012

“Our Giving God”

BY

ADRIAN ROGERS

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” - James 1:5

James 1:5 tells us that if we lack wisdom, we are to ask God. Let me tell you what that literally means. If you lack wisdom, ask of the “giving” God. Have you thought of God as the “giving” God?

What does it mean to you that God yearns to pour out His blessing upon you? Do you say to yourself, “Oh goodie, goodie, let me see what I can get from God”?

Or does it humble you that the Almighty God who created the air you breathe, the ground you walk upon, and the body you are draped in…this God loves you and wants to bless you? I pray it is the latter, for that is the heart of a child of God.

DEVOTION - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

DEVOTION,   WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

“Pointing Beyond”

BY

PASTOR BOB COY

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” —Matthew 10:28 (NKJV)

Throughout His ministry, Jesus made it a point to point people beyond this world. He was constantly sounding an alarm about the eternal realities they needed to be ready for: that earth wasn’t “it,” that there was a Heaven and a Hell, and that their current life was best spent preparing for the next one.

For example, on the point of fearing man, Jesus taught that we shouldn’t be afraid of those who can only punish in this life, but instead we should fear God, who can punish us in eternity.

What’s He saying here? He isn’t just telling His audience to be afraid of God. He’s telling them to recognize the fact that eternal reality should take priority over the earthly reality.

How foolish it would be to live your temporal life in a way that only sets you up to suffer eternal consequences. No one wants to sign up for that. But the reality is that the daily grind of life on earth can dull people’s sensitivity to eternity. So Jesus reminds them to look past man and to look to God. If you’re going to fear someone, fear Him!

His warning to them is His warning to us, as well. We’re also in danger of making the same mistake they made…the mistake of not having an eternal perspective on our existence. When that happens, our judgments, convictions, and actions become based on the short-term.

Wisdom dictates that we base these things in view of eternity. So, receive Christ’s warning, and recognize that this life is best spent preparing for the next one.

For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14 (NKJV)

DEVOTIOIN - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

DEVOTION,   TUESDAY,   SEPTEMBER  25, 2012

“A Right to Lead”

BY

ALISTAIR BEGG

John 10:27

We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd, for He has a right to lead us wherever He pleases. We are not our own, we are bought with a price—let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood. The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his master, and so we must follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased possession. We are not true to our profession of being Christians if we question the summons of our Leader and Commander.

Submission is our duty; quibbling is our folly. Our Lord may say to us what he said to Peter, "What is that to you? You follow Me!"¹ Wherever Jesus may lead us, He goes before us. If we do not know where we go, we know with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread the dangers of the journey? The road may be long, but His everlasting arms will carry us to the end. The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation; because He lives, we will live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the paths in which He leads us all end in glory and immortality. It is true that they may not be smooth paths—they may be covered with sharp, flinty trials; but they lead to "the city that has foundations, whose designer and maker is God."² All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to those who keep His covenant.

Let us put our complete trust in our Leader, since we know that in prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, His purpose will be worked out, and that purpose will be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We will find it sweet to go up the bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our faces, His dear love will make us far more blessed than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world's fire. When Jesus draws us, we will run after Him. No matter where He leads us, we follow the Shepherd.

DEVOTION - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

DEVOTION,  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  24, 2012

“An ABC Culture”

BY

GREG LAURIE

“And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.” (Acts 20:32)

I think our culture today could be described as an ABC culture: Anything But Christ. It is not unlike ancient Ephesus, which believed in pretty much anything and everything. People would come to Ephesus from around the world to follow a path of false worship that led to nowhere.

When Paul met with the elders in Ephesus for the final time, he reminded them they had to be vigilant. They were like watchmen on a wall. He told them, “Guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. . . . Watch out!” (Acts 20:28, 31).

Paul was saying, “We have to be vigilant. We have to be alert, because the only way to turn back darkness is to let the radiant light of the gospel shine.”

It is amazing to me how some 2,000 years have passed since Paul brought the gospel to Ephesus, yet things haven’t changed all that much. People still believe in false gods. People still put other things in the place of the true and living God. They want to find some worship system that will accommodate the lifestyle they have chosen.

But as believers, we can’t back off. We are the watchmen on the wall. We are the stewards of the message. We are the witnesses. And we need to bring the message of the gospel to our culture, because it is the only thing that can turn it around.

Because of Paul’s preaching, Ephesus was turned upside down. But because the people of Ephesus forgot his preaching, the city lies in ruins today.

It has been said that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. So let’s remember to bring the gospel to our culture.

Summary sentence: Do you consider yourself a vigilant watchman?

Tags: Ephesus, gospel, watchman

Copyright © 2012 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org

DEVOTION - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

DEVOTION,   SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  23, 2012

“A DEVOTIONAL”

WITH

DR ED YOUNG

My people will be satisfied with My goodness," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:14

A friend visited the home of the president of a Central American country. The political leader collected ancient Indian art. Six-foot stone spheres, carved by Aztecs, rested in his garden. My friend marveled at the perfect roundness. That was something satisfying to his soul about sublime roundedness. Humans have a passion for completeness ranging from a resolution of disagreements to the completion of a musical chord. This points to the deeper need for spiritual satisfaction. The human psyche cannot rest until that need is met. The human spirit yearns for God’s goodness, and He promises to satisfy us with it.

Devotion - Saturday, September 22, 2012

DEVOTION,   SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  22, 2012

“Prayer of Personal Edification”

BY

BAYLESS CONLEY

Today's devotional brings us to the prayer of personal edification.  In 1 Corinthians 14:4, Paul writes,

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

In verse 14, Paul says, If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays.  Coupled together with his statement in verse 4, we can see that praying in tongues edifies our spirit.

Edifies is actually an old English word.  It means to build an edifice or building higher and higher.  The closest modern way to say that would be "charges himself with energy," just like you would recharge a battery.

When I pray in other tongues, I charge my spirit with energy.  I build myself up.  It is like my cell phone.  It needs to be recharged, or before long it will cease to work.

Sometimes I keep my phone on and talk on it while it is recharging, but when I do that it takes a whole lot longer to recharge.  If I turn it off and plug it in, the charging process happens much quicker.

Sometimes you just need to shut everything down, turn everything off, and go get away with God and pray.  Build yourself up in the Holy Spirit, especially praying in other tongues.

Sometimes after a long day I will come home just drained, tired inside and out.  Eating a good meal and getting some rest takes care of my physical tiredness, but in order to replenish my inner resources, I need to do something else.

For me, reading His Word is food for my spirit, and praying in tongues brings inward rest and rejuvenation.

Even as the Scripture declares in Isaiah 28:11-12, For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, "This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest," and, "This is the refreshing."

Take the time to get away and recharge your spiritual batteries.

DEVOTION - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

DEVOTION,   FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2012

“You were Custom Made”

BY

TONY EVANS

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:1-6

There's nothing quite like having a custom-made shirt.  On one shirt that I had custom made - cut especially for me - I even had my initials embroidered on the cuff.  When you get something custom-made, it is fitted to your uniqueness, crafted with you in mind, and you are proud of it.

Now think about this: YOU have been custom-made by Almighty God, and your days were ordained before time into being.  When you read Psalm 139:15-16, I want you to pay close attention to how God has placed all the parts of your life in order.  He's got your whole life in His hands.  This means you can stop trying to be somebody else and be satisfied with the unique person God made you to be.

You are custom-made!  When you live in that realization, you will shine brighter than ever.  Walking in God's purpose for you will turn out to be the greatest adventure you've ever jumped into!

Watch Online Videos of Dr. Tony Evans and The Urban Alternative at LightSource.com

EVOTION - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

DEVOTION,   THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  20, 2012

“Do You Have Only A “Prayer Life”?

BY

ADRIAN ROGERS

“Pray without ceasing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

You are to pray when you are adding up prices in the grocery store line. You are to pray when you are changing a tire. You are to pray when you are singing a song. You are to pray when you are teaching a little one how to read.

We are commanded to pray all the time. But how do we do this? Think of a mother who has a child who is ill with a fever. Finally, the fever breaks and the mother and child settle down for some much-needed sleep. Not a noise from the television, from the street, or from the phone could awaken that mother. But one whimper from her child and she’s awake, right? That’s because even when she is asleep, she is in tune with that child—just as we are to be with God…constantly communing and attuned to His voice.

Prayer to us should be as natural and continual as breathing. Jennifer Kennedy Dean asks an important question: “Do you ‘have a prayer life’—or are you living a praying life?” Think about the difference.

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.

DEVOTION - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 2012

DEVOTION,   WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  19, 2012

“A mistake we make”

BY

PASTOR BOB COY

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” —Matthew 7:1 (NKJV)

It’s one of the most familiar passages in the Bible. Even people who rarely read the Bible know the warning Jesus gave: “Judge not, that you be not judged.” But in addition to being one of the most familiar passages in Scripture, it’s also one of the most misunderstood.

What exactly is Jesus warning us about here? Here’s what He’s not warning us about: exercising judgment. We know that because in this very same chapter He goes on to warn us about false prophets and tells us to examine the fruit of their lives and then discern whether they are speaking the truth (Matthew 7:15-20). So the Lord does expect us to discern and make judgments when the occasion calls for it.

But the warning here, “Judge not,” speaks to something different. When you read a little further, you recognize that Jesus isn’t prohibiting us from exercising judgment. He’s telling us how we’re to exercise judgment. He does so by sharing a parable of someone who has a beam of wood in his eye yet is intent on pointing out a speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye (Matthew 7:3-5). It’s a comical yet powerful picture of the mistake we make when we exercise judgment.

Oftentimes we are quick to see problems in another’s life, but we’re blind to the glaring sins in our own. In essence, Jesus is warning us against focusing on the problems of others without first dealing with our own. Judgment needs to start with us. We need to examine our own heart before we make any attempt to examine anyone else’s heart. And when we do, we often find we’re guilty of the very things we’re quick to criticize in others, which opens the way for confession and cleansing.

There is a time for us to exercise judgment, but it’s always after we exercise it on ourselves.

DEVOTION - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

DEVOTION,  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2012

“The Greatest Text Message”

BY

RON MOORE

1 Samuel 16:1-13
The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate." Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?" Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Does God speak directly to people today? I hear that question a lot. The answer is “Yes” and “No.”

God does not speak to people today like he spoke to Samuel and the rest of the prophets. Samuel had an unmistakable conversation with God. And when Samuel writes, “The LORD said,” he does not mean he felt an urging from God or heard a faint hint of God’s voice. He meant “The LORD said.” What follows then is the inerrant, infallible, unmistakable, undeniable word of the living God. Today, no one possesses that same gift of prophecy. Some do claim that gift and many of these cultish leaders lead their followers into tragic endings.

God does speak to us through His word. Scripture is living and active. The Spirit, living within us, speaks to our spirit as we read and study these love letters from God—the greatest text message ever. Now, here’s the question—can a believer hear from God directly? The answer is “Yes.” But what we hear cannot contradict the standard of Scripture or it is not from God. In fact, most of what we hear will be guidance in an application of Scripture.

I have never heard God speak to me in an audible voice. But I have often sensed and heard in my soul His voice of comfort, conviction, correction, teaching, and training as I have read the word and spent time in prayer.

God will speak to you through His powerful word. Read it and hear His voice.

Join us on The Journey at www.oneplace.com 

DEVOTION - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

DEVOTION,  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  17, 2012

“Add No Stumbling Blocks”

BY

ALISTAIR BEGG

Psalms 5:8

The enmity of the world is bitter in its assault against the people of Christ. Men will forgive a thousand faults in others, but they will magnify the most trivial offense in the followers of Jesus. Instead of vainly regretting this, let us make it work for us, and since so many are watching for our collapse, let it be a special motive for walking very carefully before God. If we live carelessly, the watching world will soon see it, and multiple tongues will spread the story, exaggerated and emblazoned by the zeal of slander.

They will shout triumphantly, "See! See how these Christians act! They are hypocrites to everyone." And so great damage will be done to the cause of Christ, and His name will be greatly maligned. The cross of Christ is in itself an offense to the world; let us take care that we add no offense of our own. It is "a stumbling block to Jews"¹: Let us ensure that we put no stumbling blocks where there are enough already. "Folly to Gentiles": let us not add our folly to give apparent reason for the scorn with which the worldly deride the Gospel. How concerned we should be with ourselves! How rigid with our consciences!

In the presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds and impugn our motives if they cannot censure our actions, we should be circumspect! Like pilgrims we travel under suspicion through Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there are more spies than we imagine, at home and at work. If we fall into the enemies' hands, we may sooner expect generosity from a wolf or mercy from a fiend than anything like patience with our infirmities from those who spice their infidelity toward God with scandals against His people. Lord, lead us always; do not allow our enemies to trip us up!

¹1 Corinthians 1:23

DEVOTION - SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

DEVOTION,   SATURDAY,   SEPTEMBER  15, 2012

“God Honors Our Commitment to Him”

BY

DR CHARLES F STANLEY

Daniel 1:1-21

Daniel and his friends faced the same dilemma we do--how to live a holy life in a godless culture. At one time, our society readily accepted Christian values and standards, but that era is quickly passing. Our challenge today is to live under God's authority while remaining in submission to the law of the land. At times we are forced to choose between the two, but if we'll seek the Lord's guidance before marching defiantly forward, He may open an alternative approach for us.

Had Daniel bluntly declared, "I won't eat this food!" he wouldn't have lasted long, and we wouldn't have the book of Daniel in the Bible. But the Lord gave him the wisdom to humbly seek permission from the person who was in a position of authority over him. God honored his commitment and provided a way for him to live righteously in a pagan world.

We tend to hold up Daniel and his three friends as extraordinary people who lived amazing lives. But have you ever wondered what the Lord could do in the life of an ordinary person like you? The determining factor is not the greatness of the individual but, rather, his commitment to a God who can do remarkable things in a life fully devoted to Him. That's the kind of people our Lord is looking for.

Although we don't know all that God could do in our lives if we'd radically commit ourselves to Him, the thought of missing out on His plans should be enough to motivate us to obey. You don't want to arrive in heaven and discover you forfeited blessings because you weren't fully devoted to Him.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.