How Jesus Taught Us to Pray (4)
29 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Christ, Gideon, God, Israel, Jesu, Midian, New King James Version, Paul
“Deliver us from the evil one.” Mt 6:13 NKJV
Jesus taught us to pray: “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (v.13 NKJV). Satan knows your areas of weakness and he will exploit them. But there’s good news. It’s your weaknesses, not your strengths, that draw you closer to God and make you lean on Him. Paul wrote: “I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me” (2Co12:9 NLT). At first this verse doesn’t seem to make sense. You want to be freed from your weaknesses, not boast about them. But Paul gives you several reasons: (1) Your weakness prevents pride. Paul writes: “So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations” (2Co 12:7 TM). You’ll often find a weakness attached to strength, acting as a governor to keep you from becoming boastful or running ahead of God. Gideon chose 32,000 men to fight the Midianites, but God reduced his numbers to 300 (See Jdg 7). Why? So that Israel would know it was God’s power and not their own that saved them. (2) Your weakness creates fellowship. Your struggles show you how much you need the support of others. Vance Havner said, “Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together they can stop traffic.” (3) Your weakness enables you to help others. It’s the broken who become masters at mending. Your most effective ministry can come out of your most painful experiences. The things you’re most reluctant to share are often the very things God will use to help others.
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/how-jesus-taught-us-to-pray-4/
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How Jesus Taught Us to Pray (3)
28 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Christianity, God, holyspirit, Jesus, Lord, New King James Version, Prayer, Satan
“Forgive us…as we forgive.” Mt 6:12 NKJV
Let’s clear up some misconceptions about the words, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Satan will try to convince you that if your feelings haven’t changed toward the person who wronged you, you haven’t truly forgiven them. No, you can make the right decision and still have the wrong feelings! This is when you need faith to carry you through. You have done your part, now you are waiting for God to do His. God has the power to change your feelings toward the one who hurt you, and He will. Another misconception is that all you have to do is make a decision to forgive and then your job’s finished. No, you are instructed to “Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you” (Lk 6:28 AMP). You say, “Bless them? Are you serious?” Yes. The word “bless” means “to speak well of.” You’re extending mercy to those who don’t deserve it. But isn’t that what God does for you? The truth is, you cannot truly forgive without the Holy Spirit’s help. So today why don’t you pray, “Holy Spirit, breathe on me and give me strength. I forgive _____________ [name] for what they did. I release them from this debt and ask You to bless them. I turn the situation over to You. I trust You for my total restoration. Help me, Lord. Heal my heart, in Jesus’ name, amen.” Now, by faith, leave it all in your Father’s hands, move forward and anticipate His blessing. You won’t be disappointed.
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/how-jesus-taught-us-to-pray-3/
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How Jesus Taught Us to Pray (2)
27 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Bread, Christianity, God, Jesus, Lord, Lord's Prayer, New King James Version, Prayer
“Give us this day our daily bread.” Mt 6:11 NKJV
Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Notice the word “daily.” You can’t fight today’s battles on the strength of yesterday’s bread; you must have a fresh supply. In the wilderness God’s people were only permitted to collect enough manna for one day; if they tried to collect more it rotted. It’s wonderful to talk about what God did yesterday and what He’s going to do tomorrow, but all you’ve got is today. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Only as you partake of what God’s provided for you today will you be able to stand up to the challenges you face. This prayer is an expression of faith. The very fact that you ask means you believe God’s got what you need and that He cares enough to provide for you. It says, “I don’t need to go to anybody else but You, Lord.” So hang up the phone, turn off the TV, shut the door, get down on your knees, approach God in faith and pray, “Give me what I need for this day.” God knows what you need, you don’t! As you partake of what He provides for you each day you’ll be able to handle whatever life throws at you. And one more thought. When people start getting on your nerves for no apparent reason, or you start having all sorts of mood swings, or you begin living by feelings instead of faith, it’s probably because you’re not eating right. If that’s so, it’s time to go back to your source and say, “Lord, I’ve come for my daily bread.”
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/how-jesus-taught-us-to-pray-2/
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How Jesus Taught Us to Pray (1)
26 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Christ, Christianity, God, Jesu, Lord, New King James Version, Religion & Spirituality, Satan
“Therefore, pray…Our Father in heaven.” Mt 6:9 NKJV
Here’s how Jesus taught us to pray: (1) “Our Father in heaven.” When you say, “Father” you are acknowledging that you’re “family,” that you have a special relationship with God which entitles you to go to Him at any time, confident you’re loved, welcomed, and assured of His favor. When you say, “in heaven,” you can go no higher. You’re drawing what you need from the ultimate source of goodness, grace, mercy, provision, protection and authority. What a privilege! (2) “Hallowed be Your name” (v. 9 NKJV). This thought should always be uppermost in your mind: “Whatever I do today, Lord, whether in thought, word or deed, let it honor You.” People should be able to look at your life and want to become acquainted with the One you serve. (3) “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (v.10 NKJV). Each time you choose to say no to yourself and yes to God’s will, you demonstrate to a watching world what it means to live as a citizen of His kingdom. Note the words, “as it is in heaven.” Is anyone in heaven fearful or doubting? Stubborn or disobedient? Critical or negative? When the enemy brings something to your door that’s contrary to God’s will, you have the authority to rise up and say, “If it’s not done and approved in heaven it has no place in my life here on earth.” When it comes to disobedience, refuse to accept the package and sign the receipt. The one thing Satan hopes you never discover is that you have the God-given authority to restrict his movements in your life.
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/how-jesus-taught-us-to-pray-1/
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Read God’s Word–Every Day
25 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Bible, God, God's Word Translation, Jesu, New King James Version, New Testament, Satan, Scripture
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Ro10:17
If you are wise, when God talks you’ll listen. And He will talk to you through the Bible. The reason the Bible has outsold every other book is because it is God’s Word on the issue. It takes approximately fifty-six hours to read the Bible through. If you read forty chapters a day you would complete the Bible within a month. If you read nine chapters of the New Testament each day you would complete it within thirty days. But you must read it systematically, regularly, and expectantly. When Satan attacked Him in the wilderness, Jesus quoted the Scriptures to him. That’s why the Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps 119:11). The book of Proverbs has thirtyone chapters. Here’s an idea. Since there are thirty-one days in most months, why not read a chapter of this wisdom book every day. Can you imagine what you’d learn? The Word of God will build your faith. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Your faith grows when you hear God speak, and it works when you do what He says. If you struggle to lead a victorious Christian life, read these words carefully: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (v. 9 NKJV). The solution to every problem you face is contained in Scripture. To be wise you must study it. To be strong in faith you must believe it. To be successful in life you must practice it.
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/read-gods-word-every-day/
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“Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19
20 May 2012 1 Comment
in O Christian.com Tags: Christ, Christianity, Denominations, God, Jesu, New King James Version, Religion and Spirituality, Sin
When God takes all our iniquities with his own hand, and casts them with his own arm into the depths of the sea, they will never come out of those depths to witness against the family of God in the great and terrible day. Your sins now may seem to be all alive in your breast, and every one of them to bring accusation upon accusation against you. This sin is crying out for vengeance, and that for punishment. This slip, this fall, this backsliding, this foolish word, this wrong action, are all testifying against you in the court of conscience. Do what you may, be where you may, live how you may, watch and pray how you may, keep silent and separate from the world or even from your own family how you may, sin still moves, lives, acts, works, and often brings you into guilt and bondage. But if God has had mercy upon us he has cast all our sins with his own hands into the depths of the sea, and those sins have no more eyes to look at us with angry indignation, have no more tongues to speak against us in voices of accusation, have no more life in them to rise up and testify that they have been committed by us, that God’s law has been broken by them, and that therefore we are under its condemnation and curse. And there is no truth in God’s word more certain than the complete forgiveness of sins, and the presentation of the Church of Christ at the great day faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
http://devotionals.ochristian.com/j-c-philpot-daily-portions.shtml
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Don’t Go Until You Get It
18 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Bible, David, God, Israel, Lord, Morus (plant), New King James Version, Philistine
“David inquired again of God.” 1Ch 14:14 NKJV
The Bible says: “David asked God what to do. The Lord replied…‘When you hear a sound like marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that is your signal to attack, for God will go before you and destroy the enemy.’ So David did as the Lord commanded …and he cut down…the Philistines” (vv. 14-16 TLB). Observe three things in this story: (1) David refused to make a move until he first talked it over with the Lord. Notice the words, “David inquired again of God.” It wasn’t just something he did occasionally or in times of crisis, it was something he did on a regular basis. (2) David waited until he heard a certain sound: “A sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees.” Do you know God well enough to recognize the sound of His voice? With time and testing you can. “You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” (1Jn 2:20 NKJV). Not only will you know what God wants you to do, He will actually create within you the desire to do it. “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Php 2:13 NKJV). (3) David went, knowing God had gone before him to deal with every obstacle that stood in his way. The Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally” (Jas 1:5). Wisdom is “the ability to use knowledge so as to successfully meet the challenges of life.” You may acquire knowledge from books and schools, but this wisdom is a gift from God. Don’t go until you get it!
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/dont-go-until-you-get-it/
Are You a “Philip”? (2)
11 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Caesarea, David, God, Israel, New King James Version, NLT, Psalm, Samuel
“And they chose…Philip.” Ac 6:5 NKJV
The Bible says: “We…came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip…this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied” (Ac 21:8-9). Here’s the second thing that qualified Philip for leadership in the church: He knew how to build a strong family. You say, “Does that mean if I’ve failed in marriage God won’t use me?” No, Samuel was one of Israel’s greatest prophets, yet he failed with his children. David wrote Psalms, yet his family life was a shambles. Interestingly, neither Samuel nor David had much to say in Scripture about family life. When it comes to church leadership, to have credibility in God’s house you must first have it in your own. So, pastor: (1) don’t sacrifice your family for your church; (2) don’t sacrifice your children for your congregation; (3) don’t sacrifice your spouse for your children; (4) don’t sacrifice the important for the urgent. The Bible gives us qualifications for leadership in the church. Paul writes that a leader “must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious…He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent or dishonest with money…He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong” (Tit 1:6-9 NLT). So, do you qualify?
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/are-you-a-philip-2/
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Don’t Get Bitter
09 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Christ, God, Jesus, Juda, Judas Iscariot, New King James Version, Peter, Saint Peter
“Watch out that no…bitterness grows up.” Heb 12:15 NLT
Betrayal is something others do to you; bitterness is something you do to yourself. It’s impossible to go through life without being hurt. It may be an unfaithful mate, an employee who slanders you, or a boss who fires you without explanation. Sitting at supper with His disciples, Jesus said, “One of you will betray me” (Mk 14:18 NIV). Shortly after that, Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. Some folks will kiss you today and kick you tomorrow. But Jesus refused to become bitter. That’s because He knew Judas’ kiss would usher Him into His destiny. Nor did Jesus turn His back on Peter when he denied Him. Instead, Peter was the only one He mentioned by name when He arranged to meet His disciples for breakfast following the resurrection. Jesus saw people in the light of their potential, not their problems. What they were at that moment didn’t keep Him from seeing what they would become when His grace touched their lives. And you must be that way too. This is why Paul wrote: “Get rid of all bitterness…Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Eph 4:31-32 NLT). So eliminate any words of bitterness from your conversation. Stop rehearsing the details of your past unless it’s to teach and encourage others to rise above theirs. How often do you revisit your old issues? What are you doing to make sure no bitterness remains in your heart? God says, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isa 43:18-19 NKJV).
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/dont-get-bitter/
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Are You Fulfilled? (3)
08 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Andrew Carnegie, David, Dream, George Lucas, God, New King James Version, Social Sciences, Star Wars
“I delight to do Your will, O my God.” Ps 40:8 NKJV
To keep your dream alive and find fulfillment in the pursuit of it, you must allow yourself to keep dreaming. God gave Joseph two dreams: in the first, other sheaves of wheat bowed down to his; in the second, other stars bowed down to his. Note, he dreamed progressively higher, from sheaves to stars. Most creative people intuitively understand the importance of dreaming as a process for inspiration, motivation and fulfillment. George Lucas, creator and producer of the movie Star Wars, says one thing that kept him and his colleagues going during the difficult times was this: “We were always dreaming of how it was going to be.” If you are not a naturally creative person, then you have to learn how to keep dreaming. And if you can do it with a sense of humor, that doesn’t hurt. There’s a story about a student riding a bicycle on a college campus. On his tee shirt was the message: “I am going to be a doctor.” On the bike was a sign that also had a message: “I am going to be a Mercedes.” That’s somebody who had learned to keep dreaming! Andrew Carnegie, who was a Christian philanthropist during the early 1900s, said, “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.” In other words—keep your dream alive and it will keep you alive. When David said, “I delight to do Your will, O my God,” he simply meant you’ll find your highest fulfillment in doing what God put you on this earth to do.
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/are-you-fulfilled-3/
