God Uses The Evil
“You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Genesis 41:40
There are not many people who have not been impacted by others who are evil, and who have tried to do us harm. Although we may not be able to understand the reasons for this, many times God has destined these events to happen because they are part of God’s plan for us. In order to see how the plans of the wicked actually can be used to further the Lord’s purpose, we can look at the life of Joseph. Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery, but God used this seemingly impossible situation for good, as he was sold to Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officials. Joseph did a good job serving Potiphar and found favor with him and was promoted. But again, Joseph suffered when Potiphar’s wife had him imprisoned on false charges of adultery. The Lord also worked this circumstance for good, as in time Joseph’s actions in jail resulted in him being called to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream. The Pharaoh released him and promoted him to a high position in his kingdom as evidenced in the above scripture. He was then able to spare Egypt and his own family from the devastation of a severe famine. We all live in an evil and fallen world, and will at some time be affected by evil people, but by understanding and knowing God’s Word, and having faith and trust in Jesus and His promise of salvation, we will have the hope and endurance to persevere during these times. We must always remember that God’s ways are higher than ours, and that He promises to work all things for the believers good.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Things To Come
Things To Come
"Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name."
Jeremiah 10:25
When I read the book of Jeremiah, I think that he must have had a tough time as he was forever having to tell the people of all the bad things to come. His message was certainly not a feel good type of message, as God told him what to say and most of the people hated him for saying it. Many people simply discounted him, as they had no interest in hearing about the destruction and devastation that awaits all mankind. Besides, there were plenty of false prophets who were telling them a completely opposite message, one of hope and prosperity. If we look at our society today, we still have the Bible that tells us of all the things to come. We can read the Book of Revelations, and see what is ahead of us. We can also see false prophets still at work throughout our society, who are still leading people on the wrong paths and teaching them false doctrines, and telling them that there are other ways to Heaven than through Jesus Christ. Most of the things that Jeremiah prophesied about have already come to pass, and the rest are in their final phases before they become realities. Jeremiah did his best to give people a chance to repent and return to God. Today, people are still being given this same chance to repent and ask Jesus into their hearts. As the end times rapidly approach, you still have time to make the most important decision you will ever make, and ask Jesus into your heart. It will not be long before God will pour out His wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge Him, and call on His name
"Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name."
Jeremiah 10:25
When I read the book of Jeremiah, I think that he must have had a tough time as he was forever having to tell the people of all the bad things to come. His message was certainly not a feel good type of message, as God told him what to say and most of the people hated him for saying it. Many people simply discounted him, as they had no interest in hearing about the destruction and devastation that awaits all mankind. Besides, there were plenty of false prophets who were telling them a completely opposite message, one of hope and prosperity. If we look at our society today, we still have the Bible that tells us of all the things to come. We can read the Book of Revelations, and see what is ahead of us. We can also see false prophets still at work throughout our society, who are still leading people on the wrong paths and teaching them false doctrines, and telling them that there are other ways to Heaven than through Jesus Christ. Most of the things that Jeremiah prophesied about have already come to pass, and the rest are in their final phases before they become realities. Jeremiah did his best to give people a chance to repent and return to God. Today, people are still being given this same chance to repent and ask Jesus into their hearts. As the end times rapidly approach, you still have time to make the most important decision you will ever make, and ask Jesus into your heart. It will not be long before God will pour out His wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge Him, and call on His name
God's Call To Us
God’s Call To Us
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.”
Ezekiel 33:7-9
In many of my devotionals over the past four years I have discussed my thoughts on a church without walls and God’s great commission. There are millions of people who are lost, hurting and searching for some hope and answers to their problems and difficulties. They are struggling to get through life, and are paralyzed by their weaknesses. These people are not going to church on Sunday; they aren’t coming to the big Christian “crusades”; they aren’t watching Christian television, or listening to Christian radio or music, and they are not reading their Bibles or any Christian books or magazines. They are not hearing about God in any way during their daily lives. These people are simply dealing with the problems and difficulties of life totally void of God and the Truth of His Word. They go to sporting events, plays and concerts, fairs and carnivals, and watch secular television and listen to secular radio and music. They read secular books and magazines. They are bombarded with all the views and opinions that the secular world can throw at them, but they never darken the door of the church to hear the word of God. The majority of churches throughout our nation patiently wait for these hurting people to come to them in their comfortable churches, but these people never come, and the church does very little to go out and invade the world to tell them about God. When the church does not reach out, the cults like Scientology, the Jehovah Witnesses, and false religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam are taking advantage and bombarding our society with their false doctrine. These cults and false religions are growing exponentially, because they understand that the majority of people do not go to church, and have no foundation of faith in their life, and therefore are giving them a false reason and purpose for their life. The “New Age” movement is growing at an alarming rate, when influential people like Oprah, Tony Robbins and Wayne Dyer are getting the message out and reaching millions of people every day. The message of a “feel good religion” and “a happy life”, that is preached by these false prophets is leading many away from God and His Truth, and is leading them to hell. It is time that our churches, and each one of us, begin to take the responsibility to get out into the market place and begin to compete with the cults, the false religions and start reaching the lost and tell them about God. There are too many Christians who are selfish, and see themselves saved and assured of a Heavenly home, but see these people who are lost and are going to die and go to hell…and do nothing. This is very much like holding a life preserver in your hand, seeing a drowning man and not throwing him the life preserver and walking away while he drowns. The scripture above tells us that if we throw him the life preserver, and he refuses to use it, it is his problem. We did all we could. But if we do not throw him the life preserver and warn them, their blood is on our hands. I would encourage all of you to begin to go outside the church walls, and reach out to everyone you can and tell them about Jesus Christ who is the only one that can save.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.”
Ezekiel 33:7-9
In many of my devotionals over the past four years I have discussed my thoughts on a church without walls and God’s great commission. There are millions of people who are lost, hurting and searching for some hope and answers to their problems and difficulties. They are struggling to get through life, and are paralyzed by their weaknesses. These people are not going to church on Sunday; they aren’t coming to the big Christian “crusades”; they aren’t watching Christian television, or listening to Christian radio or music, and they are not reading their Bibles or any Christian books or magazines. They are not hearing about God in any way during their daily lives. These people are simply dealing with the problems and difficulties of life totally void of God and the Truth of His Word. They go to sporting events, plays and concerts, fairs and carnivals, and watch secular television and listen to secular radio and music. They read secular books and magazines. They are bombarded with all the views and opinions that the secular world can throw at them, but they never darken the door of the church to hear the word of God. The majority of churches throughout our nation patiently wait for these hurting people to come to them in their comfortable churches, but these people never come, and the church does very little to go out and invade the world to tell them about God. When the church does not reach out, the cults like Scientology, the Jehovah Witnesses, and false religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam are taking advantage and bombarding our society with their false doctrine. These cults and false religions are growing exponentially, because they understand that the majority of people do not go to church, and have no foundation of faith in their life, and therefore are giving them a false reason and purpose for their life. The “New Age” movement is growing at an alarming rate, when influential people like Oprah, Tony Robbins and Wayne Dyer are getting the message out and reaching millions of people every day. The message of a “feel good religion” and “a happy life”, that is preached by these false prophets is leading many away from God and His Truth, and is leading them to hell. It is time that our churches, and each one of us, begin to take the responsibility to get out into the market place and begin to compete with the cults, the false religions and start reaching the lost and tell them about God. There are too many Christians who are selfish, and see themselves saved and assured of a Heavenly home, but see these people who are lost and are going to die and go to hell…and do nothing. This is very much like holding a life preserver in your hand, seeing a drowning man and not throwing him the life preserver and walking away while he drowns. The scripture above tells us that if we throw him the life preserver, and he refuses to use it, it is his problem. We did all we could. But if we do not throw him the life preserver and warn them, their blood is on our hands. I would encourage all of you to begin to go outside the church walls, and reach out to everyone you can and tell them about Jesus Christ who is the only one that can save.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Give Praise To God
Give Praise To God
"My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long."
Psalm 71:8
Picture yourself sitting down to dinner with a delightful, tasty mouthful of your favorite food. One of our favorite foods is grilled salmon, and we usually have it at least once a week. We always serve it with a baked sweet potato, topped with butter, along with a vegetable and some good bread. In the scripture above the psalmist is describing a different kind of mouthful, which is no less delightful than your favorite food. I believe this is what God expects from us each day, as we should be praising and glorifying Him through what we say and do each day. Do you sing God's praises where ever you go, or do people even know that you know Jesus? So often in our places of work, at our schools, in our neighborhoods or where ever we are we hear complaining, cursing, negative and cruel words that are not representing a Christ like behavior. I want you to think today about what your mouth is filled with. Is it filled with praise for God, and letting others know that Jesus is in your heart and that you are happy. Your words should be ones that are an encouragement and ones that lift others up, not tear them down and discourage them. Your words should be ones that show that God is first in all that you do, and that He is the center of your life. If the people that you meet and interact with each day do not know that God is first and foremost in your life, you are not being the representative for God that you need to be. When you leave your house each morning take God with you, and let your mouth sing His praise and declare His splendor all day long.
"My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long."
Psalm 71:8
Picture yourself sitting down to dinner with a delightful, tasty mouthful of your favorite food. One of our favorite foods is grilled salmon, and we usually have it at least once a week. We always serve it with a baked sweet potato, topped with butter, along with a vegetable and some good bread. In the scripture above the psalmist is describing a different kind of mouthful, which is no less delightful than your favorite food. I believe this is what God expects from us each day, as we should be praising and glorifying Him through what we say and do each day. Do you sing God's praises where ever you go, or do people even know that you know Jesus? So often in our places of work, at our schools, in our neighborhoods or where ever we are we hear complaining, cursing, negative and cruel words that are not representing a Christ like behavior. I want you to think today about what your mouth is filled with. Is it filled with praise for God, and letting others know that Jesus is in your heart and that you are happy. Your words should be ones that are an encouragement and ones that lift others up, not tear them down and discourage them. Your words should be ones that show that God is first in all that you do, and that He is the center of your life. If the people that you meet and interact with each day do not know that God is first and foremost in your life, you are not being the representative for God that you need to be. When you leave your house each morning take God with you, and let your mouth sing His praise and declare His splendor all day long.
Anything Is Possible
Anything Is Possible
“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”
Genesis 17:17
The story of Abraham and Sarah is one of the most intriguing stories in the Bible. God had shown favor on Abraham, who obeyed God in everything He asked him to do. He had earlier followed God’s command to leave his country, his family and his people and go to a new place. Abraham had obeyed and was loyal to God, but when God told him at age 100, and Sarah at age 90, that they were going to have a son, they both thought this was impossible. But a year later they did have a son whom God had requested that they name Isaac, and whom God established a covenant with. To have God keep telling you these things, that I am sure seemed strange to Abraham, must have required an amazing amount of faith and trust. But this is how God worked in the life of so many of the great Biblical leaders, who had the faith and trust to follow God no matter what He asked them to do. I wonder what people today would think if God told them to build an ark in the desert, or to go to a distant land without any instructions, or that they would have a son at 90 years old. Would we have the faith and trust to follow these instructions? However God also tells us that if we have as little faith as a mustard seed that we could move mountains, and that all things are possible with God. There are dozens of accounts all through the Bible about amazing things that God has done. These accounts should give each of us hope in any kind of circumstance, that we will ever face that anything is possible, when we believe and have faith in God.
“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”
Genesis 17:17
The story of Abraham and Sarah is one of the most intriguing stories in the Bible. God had shown favor on Abraham, who obeyed God in everything He asked him to do. He had earlier followed God’s command to leave his country, his family and his people and go to a new place. Abraham had obeyed and was loyal to God, but when God told him at age 100, and Sarah at age 90, that they were going to have a son, they both thought this was impossible. But a year later they did have a son whom God had requested that they name Isaac, and whom God established a covenant with. To have God keep telling you these things, that I am sure seemed strange to Abraham, must have required an amazing amount of faith and trust. But this is how God worked in the life of so many of the great Biblical leaders, who had the faith and trust to follow God no matter what He asked them to do. I wonder what people today would think if God told them to build an ark in the desert, or to go to a distant land without any instructions, or that they would have a son at 90 years old. Would we have the faith and trust to follow these instructions? However God also tells us that if we have as little faith as a mustard seed that we could move mountains, and that all things are possible with God. There are dozens of accounts all through the Bible about amazing things that God has done. These accounts should give each of us hope in any kind of circumstance, that we will ever face that anything is possible, when we believe and have faith in God.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Lock Evil Out Of Your Life
Lock Evil Out Of Your Life
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10
The other day while I was grilling a steak on our grill, I was constantly going in and out the door to our patio, and most times would leave the door open as it was a warm and sunny day. Sometime during all of this there was a large wasp that flew into our kitchen, and as my son is very allergic to the sting of a wasp or any kind of bee, we were very concerned about killing it, or getting it out of our house, before it could have stung him. All of this could have been prevented by simply keeping the door shut. However, this made me think is there other areas of our lives that we leave the door open where the enemy can get in. I can think of several areas that we leave open where Satan can attack. What about what we watch on television that is questionable, or reading books that do not honor and respect God? Are we a party to begin or further the spreading of gossip about others? Have we not been able to forgive someone for something they did to harm or injure us, and are still holding bitterness in our hearts? There are dozens of other doors that maybe we keep open where Satan can enter and influence or tempt us to do things that are not Godly. So often we think that someone else will look out for our children and family and protect them, such as the church or other members of the family. The more I think about this, the more I realize that we are the ones that need to be aware of leaving the doors open where Satan can come in and attack. It is up to us to keep evil out of our life
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10
The other day while I was grilling a steak on our grill, I was constantly going in and out the door to our patio, and most times would leave the door open as it was a warm and sunny day. Sometime during all of this there was a large wasp that flew into our kitchen, and as my son is very allergic to the sting of a wasp or any kind of bee, we were very concerned about killing it, or getting it out of our house, before it could have stung him. All of this could have been prevented by simply keeping the door shut. However, this made me think is there other areas of our lives that we leave the door open where the enemy can get in. I can think of several areas that we leave open where Satan can attack. What about what we watch on television that is questionable, or reading books that do not honor and respect God? Are we a party to begin or further the spreading of gossip about others? Have we not been able to forgive someone for something they did to harm or injure us, and are still holding bitterness in our hearts? There are dozens of other doors that maybe we keep open where Satan can enter and influence or tempt us to do things that are not Godly. So often we think that someone else will look out for our children and family and protect them, such as the church or other members of the family. The more I think about this, the more I realize that we are the ones that need to be aware of leaving the doors open where Satan can come in and attack. It is up to us to keep evil out of our life
Don't Linger In Sin
Don’t Linger In Sin
“Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city. But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.”
Genesis 19:14
We know the story of Lot and his wife and his family, who were spared from being destroyed along with all the other inhabitants of Sodom. But even after being visited by two angels, and being told of the imminent doom that would soon come upon the city, Lot and his family lingered. The Lord had to literally have them taken by the arm and physically removed from the city. Lot and his family had grown accustomed to the lifestyle, the comforts and yes, even the sin that surrounded them. By “lingering” he and his entire family were almost destroyed by God’s righteous punishment upon an unrighteous city. When God tells us by His Holy Word to leave behind a certain sin, habit or something in our lives that is holding us back from Him, we must do so immediately and not linger. If we linger and stay where we are, and continue this sin, we may be putting ourselves and others whom we love directly in the path of God’s righteous judgment. But when we turn from our sin, and become obedient to God, He is able to guide us down the path of righteousness, which will keep us in His protection, provision, mercy, grace and love. I would encourage each of you to not be like Lot and his family and linger in your sin, as God is pleading with you to separate yourself from your sin, and to follow Him. Just as He had to drag Lot and his family, He wants to remove you from the sinful lifestyle, and maybe even some comforts you may have become accustomed to, but He wants to replace these with a new lifestyle, one that will lead you to His kingdom.
“Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city. But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.”
Genesis 19:14
We know the story of Lot and his wife and his family, who were spared from being destroyed along with all the other inhabitants of Sodom. But even after being visited by two angels, and being told of the imminent doom that would soon come upon the city, Lot and his family lingered. The Lord had to literally have them taken by the arm and physically removed from the city. Lot and his family had grown accustomed to the lifestyle, the comforts and yes, even the sin that surrounded them. By “lingering” he and his entire family were almost destroyed by God’s righteous punishment upon an unrighteous city. When God tells us by His Holy Word to leave behind a certain sin, habit or something in our lives that is holding us back from Him, we must do so immediately and not linger. If we linger and stay where we are, and continue this sin, we may be putting ourselves and others whom we love directly in the path of God’s righteous judgment. But when we turn from our sin, and become obedient to God, He is able to guide us down the path of righteousness, which will keep us in His protection, provision, mercy, grace and love. I would encourage each of you to not be like Lot and his family and linger in your sin, as God is pleading with you to separate yourself from your sin, and to follow Him. Just as He had to drag Lot and his family, He wants to remove you from the sinful lifestyle, and maybe even some comforts you may have become accustomed to, but He wants to replace these with a new lifestyle, one that will lead you to His kingdom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)