Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Walking in the Word

Walking in the Word
Psalm 119:97-104
People make a lot of decisions on any given day. Most choices present themselves quickly, leaving little time to weigh pros and cons. So we “go with our gut.” However, believers who desire to walk wisely through the perils of this world require something more reliable than flesh-based instinct. We need godly knowledge and principles to guide us, which is why we must meditate on the Word.
I mention meditating on Scripture often in my writing and preaching—and for good reason. The Bible is the key to knowing God and following His will. Believers simply cannot neglect spending time poring over its words. If you want to be certain of God’s perspective on an issue, you go to the source book to fill your mind with truth.
All of us have a sort of grid around our minds. It’s made up of the principles we were taught as children, the habits we’ve formed, and the information we accept as true. New knowledge coming our way passes through that grid and is either assimilated or rejected. Think about TV commercials—those persuasive ads full of beautiful people are designed to steal past your mind’s defenses. Well, the Devil has the same goal of getting past your grid and gaining a mental and spiritual foothold.
Some of the darts that Satan aims at your mind seem harmless or even good—that’s why “going with your gut” is so dangerous. A mental grid plastered with biblical truth is essential for Christians, because it identifies and rejects whatever is sinful, poorly timed, or simply not fit for God’s children.

The prophet Nathan openly rebukes David and stirs him to repent.

2 Samuel 12

The prophet Nathan openly rebukes David and stirs him to repent.
INSIGHT
When Nathan comes to accuse David of adultery and murder, it is well within David's power to shout: "Off with his head!" But David does not issue that order. Instead, his heart breaks. The horror and magnitude of his sin is incalculable, but it is to David's credit that he immediately repents. Rather than resisting repentance because we feel we don't deserve forgiveness, we should do as David did-repent that very instant.
PRAYER
Give praise and thanks to the Lord for giving us victory over the world:
Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord
(You are great, and Your name is great in might),
Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due,
For among all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You. . . .
The Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure
His indignation (Jeremiah 10:6-7, 10).

Pray this confession as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
You have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:5-6).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater personal discipline
Persecuted Christians worldwide
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you complete in every good work to do His will,
working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

The story of Esther is found in the Old Testament book of Esther.

Influential Women of the Bible: Esther
The story of Esther is found in the Old Testament book of Esther.
Esther was queen of Persia during the reign of Xerxes I (486–465 BC). She was a woman of the Diaspora (“scattering”), descended from Jews who had been scattered among the nations at the time of the Exile. Her family had not returned to the land of Judah, as some Jews had, but had chosen to stay in the land of Persia, like many others.
Why did her family stay in Persia when other Jewish exiles returned to rebuild their homeland? I’m sure they had their reasons, but it was God’s purpose that ultimately guided their decision. Esther was an orphan and was raised by her cousin Mordecai. She became queen after King Xerxes became displeased with Queen Vashti for refusing to attend a banquet when commanded to do so (Esther 1:11-12). After Esther’s coronation, she won the king’s confidence by informing him of an assassination plot that had been discovered by her cousin Mordecai (Esther 2:21-23). This later enabled her to rescue her people from a massacre planned by Haman, a high official to the king. Through her wise advice and brave action, Esther exposed Haman, he was executed, and the Jewish people were rescued.
While some of the Jewish people returned to Judah, Esther’s family stayed because God had a specific purpose for Esther to fulfill in Persia. And just as in Esther’s day, today God’s people are “scattered” so to speak. We are in different age groups, ethnicities, speak different languages, and come from various backgrounds. God needs various tools to perform varying tasks in the Kingdom of God. For this reason, the “cookie-cutter Christian” does not exist! But God has placed special gifts, abilities, and callings within each one of us to advance the Kingdom of God!
We are not all called to preach or teach; we don’t all have gifts of healing or miracles. But God has a specific need that can only be fulfilled with what He has placed inside of you. There is a need to serve as foster parent or mentor; a need to minister in a nursing home, detention center, or penal institution; there is a need on that board of directors or that planning committee. Your calling may be as a loving husband, or a nurturing mother. Whatever your gift, whatever your calling, seek to glorify God and serve Him faithfully wherever He has placed you. “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).

Monday, May 30, 2011

How to Walk Wisely

How to Walk Wisely
Proverbs 28:26
Believers are to walk by faith, according to 2 Corinthians 5:7. However, with so many voices clamoring for us to follow worldly paths, we sometimes struggle to hear and apply God’s wisdom. For example, our natural impulse to withhold mercy is hard to ignore, even though the Lord demands that we forgive (Eph. 4:32).
Godly wisdom is the capacity to view things as the Lord does and to respond according to biblical principles. This discernment isn’t automatic. Yes, God’s Spirit lives inside believers to prompt them to do right. However, each individual chooses whether or not to pursue the wise way.
If a person is going to walk wisely, he or she must commit to remaining on the right path—that is, to determine in the heart, “I will follow God no matter what.” Pleasing the Lord and conforming to His likeness are always the right things to do.
Resolving to honor the Lord transforms the way that believers make decisions. Instead of following instincts or impulses, I choose to seek God’s viewpoint in a given situation. Moreover, rather than relying on other people’s advice, I choose to search Scripture for verification of what I hear Him saying to me. As a result, the Holy Spirit’s quiet voice becomes easier to discern, and those worldly shouts fade.
You have a loving heavenly Father who honors the heartfelt commitment to walkaccording to His will. God assumes responsibility for offering His children sought-after wisdom and enabling them to keep walking on the right path (Prov. 3:5-6). Following Him is always the best decision.

David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his loyal commanders.

2 Samuel 11

David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his loyal commanders.
INSIGHT
There is greater pain in sin than in righteousness. David clearly loves Bathsheba. Certainly, it would have pained him had he turned his heart away from her before having relations with her. But that pain is nothing compared to the pain he brings on himself and others by taking her as his own. Adultery, murder, the death of their child, the loss of respect, and the memory of the guilt were some of the results of his sin. It is sometimes painful to do the right thing, but it is always more painful to do the wrong thing.
PRAYER
Praise the Lord because He fulfills our lives by giving us talents and abilities to develop:
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp! . . .
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:1-3, 6).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me,
and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned
and by which they have transgressed against Me (Jeremiah 33:8).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord (Lamentations 3:25-26).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Your development of an eternal perspective
Your personal spiritual goals
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy,
and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 1:4).

Influential Women of the Bible: The Widow of Zarephath

Influential Women of the Bible: The Widow of Zarephath
The story of The Widow of Zarephath is found in 1 Kings 17:8-16.
Have you ever heard someone say, a closed mouth doesn’t get fed? It is a phrase meant to express the opinion that if one is not assertive about making his or her concerns known, their concerns will remain unresolved. But what is to come of those who are in need, but lack the voice to signal help? Who is to care for them?
The Bible tells how God himself has a special love and care for the poor, the widow, and the orphan. He describes Himself as “a father to the fatherless, [and] a defender of widows” (Psalms 68:5). “The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked” (Psalm 146:9). In the Old Testament, He commanded the Israelites to treat widows and foreigners with compassion and to provide for them. In the New Testament, pure and faultless religion is evidenced by the care of orphans and widows in distress (James 1:27).
The Widow of Zarephath was a widow and a single mother of a young son. She wasn’t a Jew. She wasn’t a daughter of the Covenant; she was a Phoenician woman who lived during a time of great famine. But it was to her that God sent His prophet, Elijah, to be sustained during the famine. She only had a handful of flour and a little oil in a jar, which she was planning to serve as a last meal for her and her son. But God had other plans for her life! God planned to miraculously provide daily provision for the widow, her son, and Elijah throughout the remainder of the famine. God spoke through Elijah and said, “Don’t be afraid! Make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” (1 Kings 17:13-14 NLT). And God provided exactly as He spoke through Elijah.
Even if you feel you don’t have a voice among men, know that your voice is heard in the ears of God. He sees and knows every one of your cares and needs. He will never ignore you. He will never fail you. He only asks us to trust Him. God is still a miraculous provider, granting what we need sometimes in the most unexpected ways!

(From the series, “Influential Women of the Bible” by Pastor Steven R. Williams, Sr.)

David prepares for building a temple, but God tells him that David's son will build it.

2 Samuel 7

David prepares for building a temple, but God tells him that David's son will build it.
INSIGHT
With all his heart, David wants to build the temple of God. Yet because David is a man of war, God reserves that privilege for David's son Solomon, whose very name means "peace." While David cannot actually build the temple, he does draw the plans and begins amassing the materials. And Solomon's job is much easier because of David's work. In fact, the Lord commends David's deep desire to build the temple even though he is not permitted to do so (see 2 Chronicles 6:8.). There may be things in your heart that you would like to do for God that you cannot do. Even so, it is good that it is in your heart to want to do them.
PRAYER
Praise the Lord that He rewards us because of our motives:
"Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested" (Revelation 15:3-4).
One cried to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isaiah 6:3).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
My little children, these things I write to you,
that you may not sin. And if anyone sins,
we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins,
and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).
o Pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Faithfulness in sharing Christ
The Lord's work in world affairs
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 7:12).

Saturday, May 28, 2011

God Is Always In Control

God Is Always In Control
Isaiah 45:5-7
I admit that I often don’t understand why bad things happen. Even so, I believe that God has a purpose for everythingHe does or permits. My faith is rooted in the biblical principle that says the Lord is sovereign (Ps. 22:28). He is in absolute control of this universe, the natural and political climate of this earth, and my life and yours.
When we are in the midst of a trial, it is hard to resist crying out, “God, Why is this happening?” Sometimes we get the answer and sometimes we don’t. What we can be sure of is that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. He has a purpose for even our most painful experiences. Moreover, we have His promise to “cause all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28).
Seeing in advance how the Lord will work evil or hurt for our benefit is very difficult, if not impossible. My limited human perspective doesn’t allow me to grasp His greater plan. However, I can confirm the truth of this biblical promise because the Father’s good handiwork appears all through my pain, hardship, and loss. I have experienced Him turn mourning into gladness and have seen Him reap bountiful blessings and benefits from my darkest hours.
As believers, we must accept that God won’t always make sense to us. Isaiah teaches that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isa. 55:9). He sees the beautifully completed big picture. We can rely on the fact that God is in control, no matter how wildly off-kilter our world seems to spin.

After many years of delay, David assumes Israel's throne.

2 Samuel 5

After many years of delay, David assumes Israel's throne.
INSIGHT
Earlier, Samuel had anointed David-then a young, inexperienced boy-to be king over Israel. Fourteen years elapsed between Samuel's anointing and the time when David actually assumes the rule over all of Israel. Instead of luxuriating in the royal palace during these years, David runs from cave to cave, trying to escape from Saul who is bent on killing him. But it is these difficult experiences that build into David the strength of character, the convictions, the sensitivity to right and wrong, and the vision to be a great king. Even for us today, the road to transformation always goes through the tunnel of trials.
PRAYER
Because the Lord uses the difficult times to create Christlikeness in our lives, we can praise Him for all things:
The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
My mouth shall speak the praise of theLord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever (Psalm 145:17-19, 21).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless,afterward it yields the peaceable fruit
of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain (Psalm 127:1).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater love for others
The work of missions in the Middle East, the islands, and Australia
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of all grace, who called us
to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11).

Why Does God Allow Evil?

Why Does God Allow Evil?
Genesis 2:15-17
When Christians discuss how and when evil entered the world, theymost often point to the serpent’s temptation of Eve. But in fact, we must go back a bit further to the moment when God planted the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.By offering Adam and Eve a choice between obedience and rebellion, the Lord allowed for evil to enter His perfect creation.
Now, you are probably asking the very question that plagues many people, believers and unbelievers alike: Why does a loving God allow evil? Some unsatisfactory answers have been put forward over the years—for example, that the Lord doesn’t careor that He’s helpless to prevent evil. Such responses contradict what God says about Himself in Scripture (Rom. 5:8; Ps. 47:8). The truth is, our loving Father wields absolute authority over this world.
God had a purpose for letting wickedness enter the world. The Tree of Knowledge was a testing ground. Adam and Eve had to choose between rebellion and love, evil and righteousness, disobedience and obedience. Because the Lord desired love from the human beings He created, He had to offer a choice. Genuine love is given freely. The alternatives were either to skip the whole creation process or to program mankind like robots to give Him glory and praise.
The Lord gives two assurances regarding evil. First, His purpose is not for us to sin (James 1:13). He desires that we live with righteous intent so that evil can find no room in our hearts. Second, when we are touched by evil, He will cause the experience to work for our good (Rom. 8:28).

Goliath the Philistine challenges Israel's army.

1 Samuel 17

Goliath the Philistine challenges Israel's army.
INSIGHT
When God goes to war, there are no accidents. Just as He uses Gideon and an army of only 300 to rout the Midianite army that was "without number," so He uses a boy with a slingshot to rout the Philistine army. In 2 Chronicles 18:33, "a certain man drew a bow at random," but it "struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor." There are no accidents when God goes to war. We can take comfort in this fact in relationship to the spiritual warfare in which we all find ourselves. The obstacles may seem insurmountable. But if we are on God's side, no foe is too great.
PRAYER
Offer to the Lord this psalm of praise as you rejoice in the power He uses in controlling the events of history:
We have heard with our ears, O God,
Our fathers have told us,
The deeds You did in their days,
In days of old:
You drove out the nations with Your hand,
But them You planted;
You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
Because You favored them (Psalm 44:1-4).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord-how long? (Psalm 6:1-3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me (Psalm 138:7).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater courage in the midst of trials
Your pastor
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands (Psalm 138:8).

Influential Women Of The Bible: The Servant Girl of Naaman.

Influential Women Of The Bible: The Servant Girl of Naaman.

The young servant girl’s story is found in 2 Kings 5:1-5.

Even though she was not a woman, this young female child changed the course of a man’s life. Sometimes it's the most “insignificant” person who makes the biggest difference.
Her story begins with a man by the name of Naaman. He was an army commander for a country called Aram. The king of Aram admired Naaman because Naaman was a mighty warrior who had won many battles. His only problem was that he suffered from a disease called leprosy. During one of the raids against Israel, many of the Israelite people were taken captive. Among the captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman's wife as a servant. One day the servant girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go and see the prophet in Samaria! He would heal him of his leprosy.” After receiving permission from King Aram, Naaman leaves Syria and searches for the prophet Elisha. As he arrives at Elisha’s door, Elisha sent a message that he should go and wash seven times in the Jordan river and he would be healed. At first, Naaman became angry and left in a rage. But after much convincing an d reasoning by his servants, Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself seven times as Elisha instructed, and his flesh became as healthy as a child. He was completely healed! All because of a young girl who decided to share her faith in her God as a healer.

This young girl found herself captive in a foreign land. But she never lost sight of who she was. She was one of God’s chosen people. She had faith in her God. She ended up in a place where just a few words from her lips caused a mighty Gentile warrior to be restored to health. The circumstances of her life could have made her bitter and vindictive. Instead, she chose to help the man who was her master. And Naaman chose to take the advise of a servant girl, not allowing his pride to stand in the way of her help. By seeing a need and offering a little help, this young girl made a big difference.

There are many places in the bible where you will find people who were sold out for God despite the circumstances. They were willing to do anything that the Lord asked them, no matter the cost. You may have ended up at a place in your life because of circumstances that were beyond your control. Don’t let your circumstance make you bitter, resentful and vindictive. Allow God to use you to look beyond your circumstance and look for an opportunity to share your faith in God. You may be in a place where one step of obedience can change the course of someone’s life. Your decision today can make a big difference.

(From series, “Influential Women of the Bible” by Pastor Steven R. Williams, Sr.)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

When a Nation Turns Its Back on God

When a Nation Turns Its Back on God
2 Chronicles 33:1-25
Hezekiah was a god-fearing king who brought about reformation among the Israelites. His son Manasseh, however, was an evil ruler. He had watched his father walk with God and live according to Scripture. Yet he chose to ignore the Lord.
Manasseh worshipped false gods, even to the point of sacrificing his sons by fire in order to praise Molech. He practiced much evil—including witchcraft and sorcery— and led Israel astray, thereby provoking God to anger. The king, along with the people, paid a high price for his rebellion.
This story illustrates the Lord’s intolerance of a nation’s disregard toward Him. Now consider our country. We, too, are a nation that pushes God aside—one that has turned away from the only true God and embraced idols. Perhaps these aren’t statues of stone, but we worship money, sports ability, fame, and reputation, to name a few.
The United States of America was founded on biblical principles with the intent to guarantee freedom of worship. But over time, we have removed the Lord from many aspects of public life. Prayer in schools, for instance, was deemed unconstitutional. What was once a “nation under God” has turned into a country that tolerates a growing number of sins and yet belittles absolute truth.
If a nation turns its back on the Lord, His judgment is inevitable unless the people repent and make Him Lord once again. As believers, our responsibility is to pray that God would draw the heart of our country back to Himself—and to help the gospel and truth spread through our land.

David is anointed to be king.

1 Samuel 16

David is anointed to be king.
INSIGHT
David is indeed an outstanding individual. As a teenager, he is known to be "skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him" (v. 18). In each of these things, David is not just lucky. David works hard at all the things for which he is known, including the fact that "the Lord is with him." Each of us has been given talents and abilities. Like David, if we are to achieve our God-given potential, we must be slaves to the things that advance those abilities.
PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord that we are the objects of His tender mercies and powerful leading:
You have dealt well with Your servant,
O Lord, according to Your word.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
For I believe Your commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
You are good, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes (Psalm 119:65-68).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He has mercy on us (Psalm 123:1-3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater trust in God's sovereignty
The spiritual condition of our national leaders
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! (Psalm 90:14).

Influential Women Of The Bible: Huldah

Influential Women Of The Bible: Huldah

Huldah’s story is found in 2 Kings 22:13-20.

Huldah was a married prophetess living in Jerusalem during the time of the prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah. She also lived during the reign of King Josiah. She was regarded as a prophetess accustomed to speaking the word of God directly to high priests and royal officials. During renovations at Solomon’s Temple, the Book of the Law was discovered that the previous generation had neglected. King Josiah sent his officers to consult the prophetess Huldah to verify the authenticity of the Book and to seek counsel. She prophesied that divine judgment would fall on Judah for their failure to follow the book, but that Josiah would be spared because he humbled himself before the Lord. She declared that destruction would come after Josiah’s death and that he would be buried in peace. After receiving Huldah’s advice and counsel, King Josiah carried out religious reform in Jerusalem.

Huldah was a woman who was used by God to deliver an unpopular message. She had to prophecy judgment during a time of national wickedness. Judah had neglected the House of God and had forgotten and forsaken the Book of the Law of God. Even though Josiah’s father was wicked, Josiah decided to serve the Lord. He immediately began to reform the nation. First he began to renovate the temple. Then, after finding the Book of the Law, he needed to hear from God so he sought after the prophetess Huldah. Wickedness doesn’t come without a price. Huldah’s message would not be a good one for the nation. She doesn’t know how the people may respond but she courageously speaks out and delivers the message. Even though eventually Judah would be destroyed, for the sake of Josiah, it would be spared. Her message of judgment brought a national revival! It caused the nation to repent and turn back to God.

My sister, maybe God is dealing with you today to give someone an unpopular message. It may be someone who is on a pathway of destruction. You may be holding back because you are afraid how they may react. You may not always know how people may react when you speak out for God and encourage people to turn back to him. God is not holding you responsible for the results. He is holding you responsible for your obedience and actions. Like Huldah, be bold and courageous. The person that God is leading you to is ready to repent. They are just waiting for you to bring a tough message of repentance. When people repent, God responds. It only takes someone with the courage to speak out with the truth to bring repentance and spark a revival.

(From series, “Influential Women of the Bible” by Pastor Steven R. Williams, Sr.)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

When We Ignore God

When We Ignore God
James 4:17
Have you ever felt ignored? Everyone longs for love, acceptance, and attention, but perhaps a friend or close relative has shown little interest in you or what you have to say. Such treatment is hurtful and can lead to feelings of inadequacy.
There’s something even worse, though, than displaying no concern for others: disregarding God. Yet all of us have done this. One way we disregard Him is by failing to obey when we know His instructions. For example, if we are feeling cornered, we can be tempted to justify a white lie, but once falsehood has left our lips, we’veignored the Lord. The same principle holds true when we sense His leading but do not follow. And unless we discipline ourselves to spend time with our Father in His Word and in prayer, we are neglecting Him again.
The consequences are painful. For one thing, neglect grieves God because He is
our heavenly Father, who desires closeness with each of His children. We also miss out on the best for our lives. Since connection with the Lord is like being “plugged into” the source of life, ignoring Him will mean missing out on His best for us. And then we shortchange ourselves out of fulfilling the purpose for which He created us—glorifying Him. And remember, we eventually will be held accountable for our actions.
How are you choosing to live—do you heed what the Almighty says, or are you living with your own set of standards? Your conscious choices affect your walk with Jesus. If you tune your spirit to listen and discipline yourself to obey, you will enjoy great intimacy with the Lord.

Saul breaks the Law of the Lord then offers sacrifices to the Lord.

1 Samuel 15

Saul breaks the Law of the Lord then offers sacrifices to the Lord.
INSIGHT
Saul's fall is fast and far. His spiritual leadership is destroyed before he really gets a good start. Such a profound disparity between how he starts and how he ends is difficult to explain. It stands as a warning, however. None of us is above falling, no matter where we are in our spiritual walk. Our regular prayers ought to include what Jesus teaches us to pray: "Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). Again, Jesus says, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation" (Matthew 26:41). The price of our spiritual welfare is eternal vigilance.
PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord for His protection from evil:
All the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts. . . .
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness (Psalm 96:5-8, 11).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing (Jeremiah 10:23-24).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.
And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
A stronger desire to be like Christ
Local churches around the nation
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light,
whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.
Amen (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

Mary’s story begins in Luke 1:26.

Influential Women Of The Bible: Mary (Mother of Jesus)

Mary’s story begins in Luke 1:26.

Mary was a young woman of Galilee around the age of 16. Mary's parents made plans for her to be married as was customary during the time. They chose a young man by the name of Joseph of Nazareth for her husband. The engagement took place and Mary returned home to wait for about a year before she would go and live with Joseph as his wife. Before that could happen, Mary had a visitation by an angel named Gabriel. The angel told Mary that she was “highly favored and the Lord was with her” and that she was “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28). After being somewhat afraid and confused, the angel explained to Mary, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” The angel then departed from Mary and visited Joseph in a dream. He explained to Joseph also concerning the birth of Jesus. After a three month visit with her cousin Elizabeth, Mary went back home. About six months later, Mary and Joseph had to leave Galilee for Judea to register for the national census. At this point, Mary was at full term of her pregnancy. When they arrived in Judea, Mary began to have contractions and they ended up in a small town of Judea called Bethlehem. Because there was no vacancy, Mary gave birth to her child in a stable at the Inn. Her baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a feeding trough. Nearby, there were Shepherds who had an angelic visitation. The angel declared, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:1-11) Eight days later, they circumcised the child and called his name JESUS!

After escaping to Egypt from the massacre of Herod, Mary and Joseph returned back to Galilee to raise Jesus. When Joseph died, some years before Jesus' public ministry, Mary became a widow and a single parent. She had to raise her children on her own and depend on her son Jesus for support. When Jesus was about thirty, He left Nazareth to begin His ministry. Mary watched Him preach in the synagogues, cast out devils, and work many mighty miracles. She watched Him be rejected by His own people. She watched Him get arrested and wept as He was crucified. She watched her son suffer and die. When all the disciples fled, she remained with Him. Oh, what joy she must have had when she saw him on the third day alive! Mary became among those who waited for the promise of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. As the mother of Jesus, she also had a special place among the followers of the early church. She was able to strengthen their faith through her own during persecution. From His cross, Jesus gave her example to His church as a woman and mother of all ages. “Behold thy Mother” (John 19:25-27)

(From series, “Influential Women of the Bible” by Pastor Steven R. Williams, Sr.)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Samuel publicly introduces Saul to the nation of Israel.

1 Samuel 10

Samuel publicly introduces Saul to the nation of Israel.
INSIGHT
Leadership is at the same time a blessing and a curse. Leaders like to have the allegiance and esteem of their followers, but such is rarely the case. Inherent in humanity are differences of opinion, and those differences cause some to be for certain leadership and against other leadership. The day Saul is presented as king over Israel, a faction of "worthless men" grumble against him. If you are in a position of leadership, you should not be insensitive to dissension, but you must also realize that you will never make all the people happy all the time.
PRAYER
Use the following psalm to express your gratitude and praise to the Lord for all He has done for you:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord;
Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord! . . .
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. . . .
I know that the Lord is great,
And our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases He does,
In heaven and in earth,
In the seas and in all deep places. . . .
Blessed be the Lord out of Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 135:1, 3, 5-6, 21).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise (Psalm 51:14-15).

Pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,
and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;
but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Spiritual victory over temptation
Opportunities to serve the Lord
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely;
and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

The Impact of Prayer

The Impact of Prayer
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Prayer is the lifeblood of an intimate relationship with the Father. But believers often have questions about its power and effectiveness. Don’t hesitate to take your queries to the Lord, dig into Scripture for answers, and seek the counsel of a trusted spiritual mentor. Prayer is too important to neglect.
Will God’s plans fail if I don’t pray? God is not subservient to believers or dependent upon their prayers. The time we invest in speaking with Him involves us in the work that He is doing in our lives and in the world, but He will carry on without us.Laboring alongside the Lord is our privilege.
Does my prayer (or lack thereof) impact God’s work? I believe that Scripture indicates the answer to this question is both yes and no, depending upon the situation. There are times when God’s purpose is set. He is in control and has determined the best course. In the Old Testament, the Lord often prophesied what He would do and then brought those events to pass.
In other cases, “you do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). There are some good things that He holds back until we put out prayerful hands to receive them. But because God is a loving Father, He also pours our blessings that we wouldn’t even think to request.
Believer’s prayers have tremendous impact, particularly on their own faith and life. Do you understand what an awesome privilege it is to kneel before the all-powerful Father and know that He listens and will respond? God loves to be good to His children and answer their prayers.

The story of Elizabeth is found in Luke 1:5-25, 39-66.

Influential Women Of The Bible: Elizabeth

The story of Elizabeth is found in Luke 1:5-25, 39-66.

The scripture introduces us to Elizabeth as the wife of Zechariah. They both came from a long line of priests. The scripture says that they both were, “righteous before God, carefully walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and they were now elderly. One day while Zechariah was serving in the Temple, an angel appeared to him. The angel told him not to be afraid and that the Lord heard his prayer. He further told him that his wife Elizabeth was going to bear him a son and his name was to be called John. After questioning the angel of how it could be possible for he and his wife to conceive, the angel explained who he was and how God himself sent him with the good news. Then the angel told him because of his unbelief, he wouldn’t be able to speak until the child was born.

A few months later, Elizabeth became pregnant. In the sixth month of her pregnancy, Elizabeth’s young cousin Mary, who just became pregnant herself by the Holy Ghost with Jesus, came for a visit. When the two met, Elizabeth's unborn baby suddenly “leaped in her womb; and she (Elizabeth) was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:40). Elizabeth took this as a sign and pronounced a blessing upon Mary. Mary responded with the words of the song called the “Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55).

When the baby was eight days old, relatives and friends came for the circumcision ceremony. They decided his name should be called Zechariah after his father but Elizabeth said his name was to be called John. After failing to persuade Elizabeth, they went to Zechariah. Zechariah wrote on a tablet, “His name is John” and immediately was able to speak again and began to praise God. Everyone was amazed at what happened and knew that the hand of God was on Elizabeth’s baby. Zechariah prophesied to his little son that he would one day be a prophet of the Most High, preparing the way of the Lord.

The account of Elizabeth's life is a good example of a woman of faith and patience. The Bible says that she lived blameless and was righteous before God. She asked for a son to carry on the family name and priesthood and God gave her the forerunner of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. The name John means “The Lord is gracious.”

Maybe years have passed in your life and it seems as though you haven’t yet received what you desired. Like Elizabeth, stay faithful to God. Continue to live blameless and keep the commandments of God. God doesn’t always give to us according to our asking or deserving. He gives to us according to the riches of his grace. God is gracious! He wants to do “exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20). He loves to do the impossible for people who trust and obey Him.
(From series, “Influential Women of the Bible” by Pastor Steven R. Williams, Sr.)

Monday, May 23, 2011

Why Believers Pray

Why Believers Pray
Psalm 103:19-22
Recognizing that God is sovereign prompts some questions about the nature of prayer. Specifically, many people have asked me, “If the Lord is in control, why does He expect us to pray?”
Prayer brings us into cooperation with what God has purposed to accomplish. He desires to involve believers in the work that He is doing in the world and in their lives. We aren’t to sit around when there is kingdom building going on—there isn’t a single scripture to support the idea that we relax while the Lord works all things to His good pleasure. In fact, the opposite is true.
In John 17:11, Jesus asked God to protect the disciples by the power of His name (niv). Did He think they might lose their salvation or drift from their commitment?Absolutely not. Jesus was God in human flesh. He knew exactly what was going to happen—how these men would spread the gospel and remain faithful even unto death. Jesus was taking part in the Father’s plan for His followers by interceding for them.
God certainly can build His kingdom without believers’ input or help. But a relationship develops depth and intimacy when the Lover and His beloved share an interest. Praying and working alongside our Lord grows our faith and strengthens our trust in His power.
Talking with almighty God is a privilege. The Lord created you to love Him and be loved by Him. Prayer is how that connection gets nurtured and developed. Our Father calls us to communicate with Him so He can draw us close to His heart and involve us in building the kingdom.

God instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king over Israel.

1 Samuel 9

God instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king over Israel.
INSIGHT
The sovereignty of God is a difficult concept to keep in balance. Often we find ourselves making too much or too little of it. It is true, however, that many of the events in our lives, which seem to come at random with no significance, are actually events that the Lord is using to orchestrate His purpose in our lives. For example, Saul goes looking for donkeys and ends up discovering that he will be king of Israel. We should always bathe our daily activities in prayer, for we never know what the Lord might be preparing for us.
PRAYER
Even though you may be in pain, praise the Lord that He loves you and cares for you:
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His
commandments (Psalm 112:1).
Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He has mercy on us (Psalm 123:1-2).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O Israel, return to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
Take words with you,
And return to the Lord.
Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips" (Hosea 14:1-2).

Pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater wisdom in decision making
The needs of personal friends
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer:
Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered (Psalm 40:5).

Anna’s story is found in Luke 2:36-38.

Influential Women of the Bible: Anna

Anna’s story is found in Luke 2:36-38.

Anna’s story begins with an elderly man by the name of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35). Simeon was a righteous man and very devout. He was a student of Old Testament prophecy and eagerly awaited the Messiah to come to Israel. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.

Anna was an eighty-four year old widowed prophetess. She had only been married for seven years when her husband died, and had never had any children. After her husband’s death, she completely devoted her life to the Lord. According to Jewish custom, care had to be given to orphans and widows. The Temple, which was a very large building, had dwelling places in different sections for those who needed assistance. This is where the prophetess Anna lived. She was a devout and well respected prophet of God. The Bible says that she “departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37). She also spent much time in the Temple prophesying the coming of the Messiah.

One day the spirit led Simeon into the Temple. On the same day Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required. When Simeon saw the child, he took him in his arms and praised God saying, “Lord, now let your servant die in peace according to your word. For mine eyes have seen the savior” (Luke 2:29-30). Then Simeon began to bless Mary and Joseph. Anna, being in the Temple at the same time, came along just as Simeon was speaking to Mary and Joseph. As soon as she saw the baby, Anna burst out with praise to God. She knew who Jesus was the moment she laid eyes on Him. Even though He was just a tiny infant, she knew He was the Savior she had been waiting for. She had finally seen the promised Messiah. The scripture says that she went throughout the Temple telling everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Israel that He had finally come. Anna was the first evangelist. She was the first to declare the message of salvation to the people.

Anna’s life is a testimony to the great contribution an individual can make to the Kingdom who devotes their life to God. Like Anna, just knowing who Jesus is should move us to tell everyone we see the good news that Jesus Christ, the Savior is here!
(From series, “Influential Women of the Bible” by Pastor Steven R. Williams, Sr.)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Israel demands a king from the Lord.

1 Samuel 8

Israel demands a king from the Lord.
INSIGHT
The Lord intends to rule Israel by theocracy, which means that God will rule through a man who will be His spokesman. In rejecting this method, the Israelites are not rejecting Samuel but God. To be sure there is a problem with Samuel's sons not walking after the Lord, but rather than ask God for another theocratic administrator, they demand a monarchy. In seeking to correct a legitimate problem, they make matters worse because their motives are wrong. They have a selfish desire for a king like the nations around them. When we see legitimate problems, we must be careful that we do not demand wrong solutions. There is no substitute for pure motives when it comes to problem solving.
PRAYER
Praise the Lord because we need not fear His solutions to problems:
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness. . . .
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works (Psalm 145:6-9).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart-
These, O God, You will not despise (Psalm 51:16-17).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
This is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment (1 John 3:23).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater faithfulness with your finances
Revival among Christians in America
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17).

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Choosing Love over Rights

Choosing Love over Rights
Matthew 5:38-48
We talk a lot about rights these days. Yet the attention given to human entitlements hasn’t brought about corporate or personal freedom. Instead, most people are prisoners of jealousy (you have greater rights than I do!), greed (I deserve more!), or bitterness (my rights have been violated!).
Instead of focusing on the privileges due us, we should take the biblical perspective of loving enemies and forgiving persecutors (Matt. 5:44). Believers lay down their rights so they can take up the cause of a holy kingdom. That doesn’t mean that we let people trample on us. Rather, we offer a proper response according to biblical principles. In short, believers should be more concerned about showing God’s love to those who do wrong than about demanding their rights.
Maybe you’re thinking, But he doesn’t know how I’ve been mistreated. Indeed I do not. But what I do know is how Jesus Christ, our example, reacted to terrible abuse. He was betrayed by His friends, persecuted by His people, condemned by His peers, and crucified for our sins. Yet He said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).
Before assuming that Jesus’ capacity for forgiveness and love is out of reach for mere human beings, remember: His Spirit dwells in believers. We can choose to give away our rights and let God’s love work through us.
Luke 6:29 says to turn the other cheek and give up more than is asked because expressing love outweighs exerting our rights. You can’t lose when you show others the boundless care of the Lord. You gain His blessing, and, hopefully, someone will be saved because of your example.

The Lord speaks directly to Samuel, and all Israel recognizes Samuel as a prophet.

1 Samuel 3

The Lord speaks directly to Samuel, and all Israel recognizes Samuel as a prophet.
INSIGHT
For all the glory of speaking directly with the Lord, Samuel is given a very difficult task: He must deliver to Eli a troubling message from the Lord. With a pure heart and nothing to gain or lose by the encounter, Samuel tells Eli the truth. We too must sometimes confront people with truth, knowing that the truth will hurt. Ephesians 4:15 instructs us to speak the truth in love. Speaking the truth without love is destructive. Samuel's example is a difficult one but a good one. Like Samuel, we can only fulfill such a task if our hearts are pure and we do not manipulate the situation for our own benefit.
PRAYER
Because we can know the truth and the truth can set us free, offer your praise to the Lord:
I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts (Psalm 145:1-4).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,"
Says the Lord, your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:7-8).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater love for your family
The work of missions in North and South America
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

Friday, May 20, 2011

The Power of Love

The Power of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-6
Today’s verses teach that love does not “rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.” This means believers aren’t to dwell on another man’s wrongs and give up on him as a hopeless, despicable criminal. Love enables us to hate the evil unjustly visited upon the innocent while valuing the one who committed the act. More simply, we hate the sin but love the sinner.
In spite of everything that seems apparent about someone who’s been driven to sinful actions, God has created him or her with the potential to be made into something good. Outwardly, it may seem as if substandard upbringing, poor treatment, or negative influences have corrupted a person’s morality and worldview beyond repair. For such individuals, the capacity to love and rise above circumstances can get buried so deep that it may seem nonexistent.
God still considers the most evil and corrupt person worth saving. How do I know this is true? Because in the first verse we teach our school children, He said that whoever believes in God’s Son will haveeternal life (John 3:16). Many of us are guilty of thinking we deserveHis love because we look so good compared to unlovable kinds of people. God doesn’t work that way. He loves every single person, no matter how awful his or her sin may be.
God doesn’t want anyone to mistreat others; such sinful action will bring repercussions or divine discipline. But the Lord does extend His care, His mercy, and His salvation to anybody who wants it. He keeps no record of wrongs. He loves without conditions. And He wants us to love in the same way.

Hannah dedicates Samuel to the service of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2

Hannah dedicates Samuel to the service of the Lord.
INSIGHT
We rarely give God sufficient thanks and praise for the things He does for us, and we rarely give Him adequate worship for who He is and for His significant answers to prayer. By contrast, notice Hannah's song of thanksgiving. She prays earnestly for a child, and when the Lord gives her one, she expresses her gratitude in full-blown poetic praise. Her response is fitting for the gift.
PRAYER
Because the Lord is so merciful to us, we give Him heartfelt praise and thanksgiving with the psalmist:
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
The Lord has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God (Psalm 98:1-3).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down,
and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet,
so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:11-13).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.
For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater thankfulness to the Lord
Unsaved family members
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
A day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalm 84:10).

Influential Women Of The Bible: Hannah

Influential Women Of The Bible: Hannah

Hannah’s story is found in 1 Samuel Chapters 1-2. Hannah was one of two wives of Elkanah. The other was Peninnah. Peninnah bore children to Elkanah but Hannah was childless. Peninnah used this fact to torment and irritate Hannah. This went on year after year causing Hannah much grief. Rather than allow her pain to cause bitterness, Hannah used her pain as incentive to pray (1 Samuel 1:12-20).

One day while in the temple, Hannah was praying with great weeping while Eli the High Priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost (1 Samuel 1:10). In her prayer she asked God for a son and in return she vowed to give her son back to God for the service of the sanctuary. She promised that her son would remain a Nazarite all the days of his life. Eli thought she was drunk because she only moved her lips so he questioned her. When she explained herself he sent her away and said that her prayer would be heard and her desire granted. As promised, the Lord answered her prayer. She conceived and bore a son. She called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked of the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:20). She raised him until he was weaned (about age three), and she dedicated him back to the Lord in the sanctuary (1 Samuel 1:24-28). Samuel lived with Eli the priest and was visited by his parents on their annual pilgrimages. Hannah records her song of praise to the Lord for answering her prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10). Eli then pronounced another blessing on Hannah and she conceived two additional sons and 2 daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). God is a prayer answering God!

Hannah’s story reveals the pain many women experience of not being or having “enough.” But yet she shows the courage and faith to overcome that pain. My sister, you may have a desire that God seems to have denied you. As a result, you may be experiencing pain. Be encouraged today and pour out your heart to the Lord. You may not understand all that your going through but one thing is for sure, those who put their trust in God will “not be put to shame” (Isaiah 54:4). Hannah was a woman of prayer. She did not settle for her current circumstance. She went after God. She was hurt, and she wasn't going to pretend before God that everything was alright. Her heart was bleeding and she wanted God to tend to her wound. She literally poured her heart to God until He granted her desire. God always hears the cry that comes from a righteous heart (James 5:16).

Hannah's story ends with her giving praise and glory to God (1 Samuel 2:1-11). The fact that she had to wait didn’t mean it was over. Waiting on God is never a waste of time. God always ends on a positive! Stay in-tune with God my sister. There’s a blessing to those who remain faithful to Him. This was Hannah’s testimony, now let it be yours.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Impossible Love Made Possible

Impossible Love Made Possible
Galatians 5:22-23
When a lawyer asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest, He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and “the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matt. 22:37, 39). What an overwhelming assignment!
In our own strength, none of us can live up to this obligation, but the Lord has provided a way for Christians to do the impossible. The indwelling Holy Spirit works to produce His fruit in us, and first on the list is love (Gal. 5:22). In fact, the other eight qualities are really just descriptions of its expression.
Whenever we demonstrate kindness, patience, or gentleness, we see the Lord’s love at work through us, especially when the other person has been unkind and doesn’t deserve such pleasant treatment. This fruit is not produced by trying harder to muster good will toward someone who is irritating or hard to get along with. Instead, think of the process more like sap running through a branch on a grape-vine. The branch doesn’t make grapes; the sap does. In the same way, the Spirit flows through us, producing God’s love in us, so that we can pass it on to Him and others.
Agapelove is the reason we are able to care for someone who mistreats us—it’s God’s doing, not ours. Even the adoration we offer the Lord is not something that we can produce in our own heart apart from His assistance. Though the command to love is enormous,God’s grace makes it possible.

God gives a child to Hannah and Elkanah, after Hannah's years of praying for a son.

1 Samuel 1

God gives a child to Hannah and Elkanah, after Hannah's years of praying for a son.
INSIGHT
The grief of being childless drives Hannah to God. In Him, she finds her only resource for consolation. Even though children may cry when they are taken to a doctor by their parents, they still trust their parents in spite of fear and pain. Similarly we must still trust and cling to the Lord even though we do not understand why He does not deliver us from our pain. Just as children will someday understand about the doctor, we will someday understand about the pain.
PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord who will one day make all things in heaven and on earth right:
With righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
And faithfulness the belt of His waist.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat. . . .
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
As the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:4-6, 9).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions (Psalm 51:1).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater faith in the Lord
A world-wide revival
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Influential Women Of The Bible: Deborah

Influential Women Of The Bible: Deborah


Deborah’s story is found in Judges Chapters 4-5. The story takes place during a time of a great falling away from God in Israel. After God delivered Israel from Egypt and brought them into Canaan, they began to intermarry with the other tribes in the land and turned away from God into pagan practices. With each apostasy, Israel suffered oppression and war. But when they cried out to God, God would raise up a deliverer to rescue them from their oppressors. One of those deliverers was a woman by the name of Deborah.
Deborah was a prophetess and Judge of Israel, which was the equivalent of a king. She was the only woman to Judge Israel and her leadership was honored. She was known as the “Mother of Israel” (Judges 5:7). The entire nation would come to her for guidance. As Judge, she was also leader of the army of Israel. During the time of Deborah's rule, the nation had been under Canaanite domination for twenty years. They had suffered terrible atrocities and finally began to cry out to God for deliverance (Judges 4:3). The Canaanite army had 900 iron chariots and many more warriors. Israel had only 10,000 warriors. God told Deborah to instruct Barak, her general, to take their 10,000 soldiers up to the River Kishon on Mount Tabor. There they would meet Sisera, the leader of the Canaanite army and his soldiers. God told Deborah that the Israelites would win the battle (Judges 4:6-7). Barak says he’ll obey this command only if Deborah accompanies him. She agrees, and her presence comforts him and gives him confidence. Israel is delivered from its oppressor and defeats the enemy as Deborah predicted.
Deborah’s leadership, courage and humility should be a model for every woman. She kept her eyes focused on God and not the circumstances around her. Instead of trying to become a great leader, she saw herself as a “Mother to Israel”. As a mother would nurture their ailing child back to health, Deborah would nurture Israel. Deborah's understanding of Israel's potential for spiritual greatness came from her maternal love. She held hope for Israel and inspired a renewed sense of value as God’s chosen people. She was able as a woman to instill in the people rather than impose. She was able to motivate rather than use force. She had the unique ability to cultivate rather than command. She brought feminine sensibility to a male dominated office. She focused on the people rather than herself. Her natural gifts, appreciation and knowledge of the Word of God, and her prophetic gift was a great combination to bring leadership for a national revival.
Deborah understood how to utilize the full extent of her power as a woman to bring positive change. She never allowed the circumstances around her to interfere with her faith in God’s promises. She gave God the glory for the victory and she thanked Him specifically for what He did for her and her country. She reminds women everywhere that all women have the potential to do great things for God if they only listen, trust and obey.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Supreme Love

Supreme Love
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
There is no emotion of greater importance than love. Paul’s incomparable treatise on this subject in 1 Corinthians 13 is sandwiched between two chapters that deal with spiritual gifts. The Corinthians focused too much on their display of such gifts, so the apostle showed them the “more excellent way” of love (1 Cor. 12:31). Interestingly, he made no attempt to define love but instead described its importance and expression.
The type of love which Paul is talking about is not human in origin, but rather a love coming from God—a part of His verynature. It’s unselfish, sacrificial love which acts on behalf of someone else. Since the Lord wants to transform our character into the image of His Son, this priority makes perfect sense, because whenever we display such selfless care for one another, that’s when we are the most like Christ.
The first three verses of this chapter issue us a warning. Without the motivation of love, all our good deeds—even service for the Lord—will profit us nothing. In God’s eyes, a loving spirit is more important than all our impressive words, knowledge, faith,generosity, and self-sacrifice. When we stand before Christ to be judged for our good works, those deeds done for selfish reasons will not be worthy of reward.
We are all blinded to some degree when it comes to our motives, so discerning why we serve God or do good deeds can be difficult. Pray to know your heart’s hidden intentions, and replace any self-centered motivations with His “more excellent way” of love. Then your works will be of eternal value.

Boaz marries Ruth and restores the fortunes of both Ruth and Naomi.

Ruth 4

Boaz marries Ruth and restores the fortunes of both Ruth and Naomi.
INSIGHT
What a happy ending. Because of Ruth's faithfulness and circumspection, all the broad acres in which she once gleaned as a destitute alien are now hers, for she has become one with the owner. When we are one with Christ, we are no longer aliens in another's fields; and being one with Christ, all that is His is now also ours. As Ruth is translated from isolation and poverty to union and wealth in Boaz, so we become fellow heirs of the riches of Christ and the grace of God. It is likely that the story of Ruth is intended by God to picture our redemption in Christ. And our story is even greater than Ruth's story.
PRAYER
Ruth is such a beautiful story of redemption.Praise the Lord for His redemption for us:
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth. . . .
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield. . . .
We will bless the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 115:1, 11, 18).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us
(Psalm 103:10-12).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater passion for moral excellence
Christian education institutions
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Influential Women Of The Bible: Rahab

Influential Women Of The Bible: Rahab

Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Soon after Moses’ death, God told Joshua that he and the people were to cross the Jordan River and occupy the Promised Land. Before crossing, Joshua sent two spies into the land to scout out the city of Jericho. Upon entering the city, the spies quickly found their way to an inn which belonged to a prostitute named Rahab. As the news of the spies arrival reached the king of Jericho, he demanded that Rahab reveal their whereabouts. She cleverly admitted to seeing them but insisted that they had left the city at nightfall. Actually, the spies were hiding under the stalks of flax on the roof of her house. When night comes, Rahab goes to her roof and tells the men of her faith in God. She then asks them to spare her and her family when the Israelites attacked. They agreed and Rahab let them down from her roof by a scarlet rope. The men told her to protect herself and her family by hanging the same scarlet rope in her window during the attack. When the Israelites attacked, God caused the walls of Jericho to fall down in a great victory for Israel and Rahab and her family were saved.

When you look at it from the outside, you would think that Rahab, who was a Canaanite prostitute, would not be a likely candidate to be in Hebrews 11 as one of the heroes of faith. Like it or not she is! She was a highly intelligent and perceptive woman. She was able to identify the spies for who they were and hid them before the Kings men arrived. Because of her story the men didn’t search her house for fear of risking the spies getting away. Her wisdom allowed them to leave the city undetected. She also advised them to hide in the hills for three days before crossing back over the Jordan. Rahab didn’t know the God of Israel but she feared him. No doubt because of her occupation she had learned from many men that the Israelites were to be feared. She heard the stories of their escape from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the wanderings in the wilderness, and their recent victories in battle. She learned enough to say to the spies in Genesis 2:11, “for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on he earth below.” She knew that the victory belonged to Israel. She had just one chance for salvation and she took it. She showed her faith by her works of tying a scarlet cord in the window. Because of her faith, Rahab and her family were the only survivors of the battle. They were led to safety by the very men she had saved. As a result, Rahab leaves prostitution, marries Salmon, and becomes the mother of Boaz who will marry Ruth. Both Rahab and Ruth are named in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

Rahab’s life reminds us that God never excludes anyone and neither should we. No one is beyond God’s redemptive power. No sin is beyond God’s ability to forgive. Regardless of our past, God still desires to use us.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Financial Wisdom: How to Spend

Financial Wisdom: How to Spend
Philippians 4:11-19
God entrusts each believer with a share of His resources. And like any wise overseer, He gives His stewards guidelines for making the best use of His wealth:
• The Essential Expense—A believer’s wisest money management decision is to regularly set aside the first portion of income for the church. As we promote and provide for God’s work in this way, He protects what is left (Deut. 26:2; Mal. 3:10-11).
• The Next Priority—God promised to supply for our needs (Phil. 4:19). The primary way we get necessities like food, clothing, shelter, transport, and education is by paying for it with what He provides.
• Pursuit of Godly Goals—Next, we’re to use money to meet God’s goals for us or our family. Instead of “floating” through life; believers should seek and pursue God’s will. He may lead you to invest in education, start a business, or purchase a particular item.
• A High Calling—Giving to the needy is an investment in God’s kingdom. While we should be cautious not to promote laziness, a gracious act to a poor man “lends to the Lord and He will repay . . .” (Prov. 19:17).
• Uses for What’s Left—Last on the list is fulfilment of desires. Believers who delight in the Lord walk in obedience to Him. He in turn blesses them with the good things that fit His will for their lives (Ps. 37:4).
Good stewards manage God’s resources by asking Him, “What is Your will for the wealth that You have given me?” You’ll be amazed at how fulfilling it is to live according to biblical principles. Even a little money seems like more than enough when you spend it as the Lord intends.

Boaz, a close relative of Naomi, agrees to marry Ruth.

Ruth 3

Boaz, a close relative of Naomi, agrees to marry Ruth.
INSIGHT
The custom in the Old Testament is that when a relative dies without leaving a male heir, the next nearest relative marries the surviving spouse to preserve the family name and property rights. Naomi thinks Boaz is the next of kin; therefore, there is nothing forward in Ruth's actions. Boaz exercises admirable restraint, knowing that there is closer kin. His concern for Ruth's good name again shows his nobility of character, for he is surely attracted to Ruth already.
PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord who renews our strength when we wait on Him:
O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth (Psalm 108:1-5).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
Let not those who wait for You, O Lord
God of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me,
O God of Israel (Psalm 69:5-6).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"This is My commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you" (John 15:12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
The Lord's leading in your life
Opportunities for evangelism
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of patience and comfort grant you
to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6).

The story of Sarah is found in the book of Genesis.

Influential Women Of The Bible: Sarah
The story of Sarah is found in the book of Genesis.
Sarah is the wife of Abraham whose name was originally Sarai (Genesis 11:29). Her name was changed to Sarah when she was promised that she would bear a son and become the mother of nations and kings (Genesis 17:15-16).

Sarah went with her husband Abraham in his journey from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran and eventually into the land of Canaan. She could not have children during most of her marriage. When God promised Abraham that his children would become a great nation and that the land of Canaan would be given to his descendants, Sarah was still barren. After ten years had passed, Abraham and Sarah still had no children. Sarah decided to give her Egyptian slave, Hagar, to Abraham to have a child. Hagar conceived and bore a son, Ishmael. God promised that a nation would come from Ishmael but that he was not the child God had promised Abraham. Sarah herself was to be the mother of this child. Finally when she was ninety years old, she gave birth to her son Isaac, twenty-five years after the original promise of a child to Abraham (Genesis 17:17).
Every woman drawing closer to God will face the challenge of trusting him. Although at the beginning Sarah struggled with her faith, but at the end she trusted in God’s promise. Job 8:7 says, “Though thy beginning (is) small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” Many times God’s word doesn’t take effect immediately but as we hear it over and over our faith begins to increase. The same is true of Sarah. The writer to the Hebrews in our text expressed the fact that it was “through faith” that Sarah “received strength to conceive seed.” This was the beginning. Then she needed faith to “deliver the child” in her old age. This was the end. Her faith in God’s promise caused her body to do what it wasn’t strong enough to do before. Her body was now restored to perform its natural functions. Her dead womb was supernaturally revived. She trusted God to the end. Sarah trusted God alongside her husband Abraham to fulfill His promise.
Romans 8:35 says: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” We can let nothing separate us from the promises of God! We can’t allow being barren; deadness; not feeling productive, to separate us from what God has promised. My sisters, let the example of Sara’s faith encourage you also to trust God to the end. You may not see it in the beginning but keep declaring God’s promises. You will soon discover God to be faithful to His word in the end. Hebrews 3:14 says, “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” I have confidence that God is going to see me through, no matter what the case may be, I know He is going to fix it for me! Have faith like Sarah, to know that God will see you through to the end!!!

Monday, May 16, 2011

The Grace of Giving

The Grace of Giving
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
Today we live under a new covenant established by God through the shed blood of His Son Jesus (Heb. 9:15). Based on what Christ did, Romans 12:1 tells us to present ourselves “as a living and holy sacrifice, [which is] acceptable” to the Lord. If you are a child of God, all of your abilities, time, and money belong to Him.
The principle of sacrificial living can be seen in the early church. Those new believers eagerly sold their possessions and property to meet the needs around them (Acts 2:45). In response to their generosity, God blessed them with glad hearts, favor from the people, and increasing numbers.
Macedonian churches also understood the priority of giving. Even though the believers there were extremely poor, they begged for the opportunity to help financially. Scripture says they excelled at the “grace of giving” (v. 7 niv).
Under Old Testament law, God required a tithe (a tenth of one’s animals and crops) to support the temple (Lev. 27:30-32). When the nation drifted away from this practice, the Lord sent Malachi to warn them of the consequences for disobeying. By not giving their tithe, they were robbing God of what was rightfully His (Mal. 3:8). We certainly don’t want to be guilty of withholding the Lord’s money from Him.
Having appointed us to be His stewards and entrusted us with resources, God expects us to give generously. Jesus praised the impoverished widow in the temple for her sacrificial giving (Mark 12:41-44). When we trust the Lord with our finances as thewidow did, we’ll excel at the grace of giving.

Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem in hopes of fostering a livelihood.

Ruth 2

Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem in hopes of fostering a livelihood.
INSIGHT
When Boaz, a noble and godly man, hears of Ruth's noble and godly actions, he is moved with appreciation for the kind of person she is. When he finds her gleaning in his fields, he bestows kindnesses on her. Ruth asks why he should take notice of her since she is a foreigner. Boaz replies that it is because of all that she has done for Naomi. The way we live our everyday lives communicates a "life message" to others. When we live for the Lord, that message is a beacon of light to others.
PRAYER
Praise the Lord for His sovereignty and for the fact that He works His will regardless of the failures of His children:
Praise the Lord!
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?
Who can declare all His praise?
Blessed are those who keep justice,
And he who does righteousness at all times!
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 106:1-3, 48).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities (Psalm 51:7-9).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus answered and said to him,
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;
and My Father will love him,
and We will come to him and make Our home with him"
(John 14:23).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
The renewing of your mind
The needs of your extended family
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103:21-22).
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Shiphrah, Puah and Jochebed

Influential Women Of The Bible
Shiphrah, Puah and Jochebed

Exodus 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 20Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. (Exodus 1:15-21)

2And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. (Exodus 2:2)

In the first chapter of Exodus, Shiphrah and Puah are singled out for their bravery and their efforts to save the Hebrew children. As the population of the people of Israel grew in Egypt, Pharaoh was threatened by the large number of Hebrew slaves and their potential power. So he commanded that all Jewish male babies be killed so that the Israelite population couldn’t expand any further. He gave a particular assignment to the two midwives of the Hebrew community, Shiphrah and Puah, to see to it that all male Hebrew babies be killed. Despite the possible danger to their own lives, Shiphrah and Puah disobeyed the order. They lied and told Pharaoh that the Hebrew women were giving birth so fast that the babies were arriving before they could get there. At the same time, an Israelite woman named Jochebed gave birth to a son and hid him for three months. Then she risks everything by putting him in a wicker basket instructing her daughter Miriam, to place the basket in the river. Through God’s sovereign control, God allowed Pharaoh’s daughter to find the baby and have compassion on him. Even though she identified him as a Hebrew child who should be killed, she takes Him into the household of Pharaoh as her own son. Of course, we know who the child was. He would become the future deliverer of Israel. His name was Moses!

Because these three women decided to risk it all, God provided a deliverer for His people. We should take note, and realize Shiphrah and Puah took the position of helping to give birth despite obstacles they would have to face just to secure deliverance for God’s people. Jochebed took the position of giving birth just so deliverance could come to God’s people. The enemy does not want what is inside of you to come out. What is inside of you is great; what is inside of you is world changing; what is inside of you is the ministry of reconciliation! 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2nd Corinthians 5:18). What is inside of you is too big to stay inside of you, so it is time to get in the birthing position. Like these three women, what position you take can lead to deliverance for many.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

A Jewess, Naomi, and her two daughters-in-law lose their husbands.

Ruth 1

A Jewess, Naomi, and her two daughters-in-law lose their husbands.
INSIGHT
In Ruth, we see one of the most stirring examples of loyalty in the Bible. In spite of Naomi's urgings to the contrary, Ruth stays with her, looking not for personal fulfillment or material comfort but longing merely to maintain the relationship with one whom she loves. This loyalty comes from a pure heart, and it is not surprising that it extends not just to Naomi but also to the Lord. In stark contrast to Samson, Ruth's selflessness leads to beauty, fulfillment, and seeking the good of others. We should take instruction for our own lives and live as Ruth, not as Samson.
PRAYER
Because we can have the beauty of the Lord in our lives, give thanks and praise to Him:
Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its going down
The Lord's name is to be praised. . . .
Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? . . .
He grants the barren woman a home,
Like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 113:2-3, 5-6, 9).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord;
Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me,
so that I am not able to look up;
They are more than the hairs of my head;
Therefore my heart fails me (Psalm 40:11-12).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Faithfulness with your talents
Your state and local leaders
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
To Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began . . . to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen (Romans 16:25, 27).

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Selfish Christianity

Selfish Christianity
John 6:22-27
Which interests you more—who Jesus is or what He can do for you? I’m afraid that too many of us are more concerned about what He can give us than we are about getting to know who He is.
But this is nothing new—Jesus had this problem when He walked on earth. The crowds often sought Him out for what He could do for them. Even though their needs were quite often legitimate, Christ knew their motives.
There is a fine line between selfishly trying to use the Lord to get what we want and humbly coming to Him with our needs and struggles. Some of the issues we bring to Him are so pressing and urgent in our minds that our desire for Him to take action in the way we want becomes greater than our willingness to submit to His will. At times, what we call “faith” is really a demanding spirit.
We must remember that our needs will come to an end, but Jesus Christ will remain forever. If our prayers have dealt only with presenting our requests to the Lord, we’ve missed a great opportunity to get to know the One with whom we’ll spend eternity. Let’s invest time in pursuing intimacy with Christ. Then we can enjoy the benefits of that relationship forever.
How much of your communion with God is devoted to your needs—even legitimate ones? Are you spending any time getting to know the Lord? Although God delights in our prayers and tells us to pray about everything, He also wants us to come to Him just because we enjoy being with Him.

Samson is subdued and later dies in his final act of resistance.

Judges 16

Samson is subdued and later dies in his final act of resistance.
INSIGHT
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7). Samson's lustful foolishness finally catches up with him, and in a profound example of bad judgment, he discloses the secret of his strength to a woman who had betrayed him repeatedly. Samson violates his Nazarite vow, and all his power leaves him. His eyes are gouged out and he dies, not avenging the Lord against the Philistines but avenging the loss of his own eyes. It is a heartbreaking conclusion to a life that is tragic-tragic not only because of what it was, but even more for what it could have been.
PRAYER
Thank the Lord and give Him your praise. By His grace, we can escape consequences similar to those Samson experienced by living for Him:
I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. . . .
His work is honorable and glorious,
And His righteousness endures forever.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever (Psalm 111:1, 3, 10).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater love for the lost
Mission work in Africa
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer:
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
Biblical Portrait
of Marriage

Instructor Training