Month: August 2015

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Getting Re-Charged

20th August

“The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told Him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said that because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His disciples didn’t even have time to eat.”

Mark 6:30-31

Yesterday morning, after I had charged my phone I touched the screen to see if the charge had been successful. The big green battery icon indicated to me that the phone was charged to 100%. As I walked away something just jumped out at me. I am charged 100% for Christ or do I need to get re-charged? It’s a thought that didn’t leave me and was confirmed when reading this verse.

Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, commissioning them to cast out evil spirits, heal the sick and call many to repentance. After they came back, they sat down with Jesus and told Him all they had seen and taught. Yet Jesus realised that they all were so caught up in serving that they had forgotten to eat. He called for them to retire to a quiet place and revive their bodies before carrying on with more ministry, (interestingly they never got their rest but did receive food when Jesus fed the 5000).

The principle Jesus teaches here, is that we can so easily get caught in ‘life’ and forget to look after our bodies. Furthermore, we can get so busy that we start giving from our own resources instead of being connected with the real source, the Holy Spirit. When the danger light comes on, stop what you are doing and get connected again to the source. Re-charge your Spirit. If even Jesus recognised the need for rest and re-charging, how much more do we?

Paul echoes Jesus’ thoughts in His pray for the church in Ephesus with these words. May they be applicable to us and may we plug in and re-charge in Christ.

“I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16)

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The Humble Leader

19th August

 

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling on to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being…..”

Philippians 2:5-7b

This passage in Philippians is one of the most clearest accounts of what Jesus actually had to sacrifice for us. Not only does it explain His sacrificial love for us but also helps us to understand how humble Jesus was.

Paul explains that Jesus was God. Yet when He realised that mankind could never pay the debt of their sin, He knew that He had to sacrifice Himself, in human form, for the sins of the world. So, in the words of the original writing, He literally ’emptied Himself’, gave up His ‘divine privileges’ and took the position of a slave (again the original writing is even lower than a servant).

Let us not forget that this same Jesus, stood with the trinity, in perfect union at the beginning of time, flinging stars into space, breathing life in humanity and all created things. This same Jesus was there even before creation existed, yet here HE is, humbly emptying Himself of all His royalty, His divine privileges and making Himself as a human being, the very people He created.

Jesus did all this for you and I. He gave Himself up for us. He allowed Himself to suffer in our place because He loves us. He set us the perfect way to live our lives. He gave us the perfect example and He is living in us to help us become more like Him. Let us strive to live humble lives in the power of His Name and through the strength of the Holy Spirit.

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The Servant Leader

18th August

“…Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:26a-28

As the disciples gathered together once again, they began to discuss who was going to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus, when He returned to His Kingdom. Yet Jesus wisely didn’t give them a direct answer but instead shared the ultimate truth of what a true leader should be… A servant.

Jesus didn’t just speak empty words but lived them through His life. Jesus explained to the disciples that those who desire to become first or to become leaders must first know what it is to serve. Jesus, in coming to the earth in human likeness, showed us exactly what it means to live as a servant leader. He gave up His Heavenly rights to live as a created being and be crucified at the hands of those He created.

If we are to strive for leadership and strive for influence, then we must first learn how to serve our brothers and sisters with sacrificial love, self-less kindness and humility. The world teaches that great leaders are always the strongest characters, the boldest and the most outspoken. Yet Jesus teaches that the greatest leader should be like the meek and mild servant. This is not to say Jesus was a weak character, moreover it is to say His strength was in His gentle heart and His attitude to serve rather than be served. This was ultimately demonstrated when He gave His life as a ransom for our sins.

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When God’s On Your Side..

17th August

 

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; He will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.”

Psalm 118:6-7

David was a mighty man of battle. Many victories had been won by his leadership. In fact it has often been said that Israel has never had such a great king in all of it’s history. Such was David’s great fame and respect that even Jesus was often named the ‘Son of David’. It is clear that David’s life was a monumental period of time in Israel’s history. Yet why did David receive so much praise?

Quite simply, because his trust was never in himself, never in his great army and never in his wealth. It was always in God. Even when faced with foes that outnumbered his own, he stood defiant because he knew that God was with him. Even when faced with hate and fear, he could triumphantly because he knew that God was fighting with him.

His confidence was not in what he could do, but in what God could do. He knew that man’s ability to harm him was limited compared to God’s ability to save him. Time and time again, he drew on the strength of God to face his enemies and trusted Him with his life.

We too can take that same confidence into our own lives if we learn to put our full trust in Jesus. We can look at our problems triumphantly. We can face fear and anxiety with a winning attitude because God is with us. When we have full confidence in who we are in Christ, life’s problems seem less of a mountain to climb. Let us join in with David and rejoice our Saviour is with US!

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The Lord Of Lords and King Of All Kings

15th – 16th August

Weekend Edition

“Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because He is the Lord of all Lords and King of all Kings. And His called and chosen and faithful ones will be with Him.”

Revelation 17:14

There is no denying that the book of Revelation is not bed time reading. It has been said that it contains stories which are hard to understand and hard to relate to. In fact so many books have been written on it, trying to understand the intricate wordings of John’s revelation on the island of Patmos during his exile. Yet the key to understanding this book is to highlight the mega themes, of which one supersedes them all; Jesus WINS and the enemy is defeated. In fact so great is this mega theme, that it is repeated not just through the book of Revelation but throughout the whole Bible. Countless times we read of satans defeat and Christ’s victory.

Chapter 17 follows this mega theme as John describes his revelation. He explains that he saw a great prostitute, drunk with the blood of martyrs, adorned with jewellery from precious gems and full of blasphemous writings and obscenities all over her. Her power came from those who had committed adultery with her and those who had been made drunk by the wine of her immorality (all those belonging to the enemy). Yet foolishly, the beast and the prostitute try to wage war against God.

There is always only one outcome when in war with God; Jesus WINS. Period. There is never a time where God looses and there never will be. Why? As it says in today’s verse “because He is the Lord of all Lords and King of all Kings”. He will always overcome because He is God. He is Power.

Notice that it says that, we, His called, chosen and faithful ones will be with Him. We are His children and we have that same powerful God living inside us. Friends let us remember, that with God, we always can live in victory. Jesus is the Name above all Names, the Kings of all Kings and the God above all gods. We can live in victory over sickness, death, sin, loneliness, and sorrow. He is victory. He is our God.

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Jesus’ Patient Return

14th August

“And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved…”.”

2 Peter 3:14-15a

Jesus is coming again. The scriptures are full of prophecies concerning this and even Jesus Himself said that He would comeback again to His disciples as He returned to Heaven after His resurrection. Yet so often we get complacent and impatient in His timing. We long for the day when He will return and finally remove our suffering, pain and sorrow. When we can be re-united with loved ones we have lost on the way. When we can speak face to face with God Himself. Yet that day is not yet…

Peter reminds his readers that one day in God’s timing is like one thousand years for us. In fact God is out of our time. He created time Himself. Peter reminds his readers that it is not that God is delaying His return because He is slow but rather because He is being patient.

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (v9)

God’s heart is only full of love. He is giving all people a chance to repent and come back to Him. He heart is that no-one will perish. He died for that very reason. However, the sad truth is many will reject Him, reject His truth and many will perish. We can hasten the speed of His return by sharing the gospel with as many people as we can. The world needs Jesus. They need His salvation. Moreover they can know about Him through YOUR life! Go and share His good news while there is time.

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Double Victory

13th August

“Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulphur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Revelation 21:10

Although we should not underestimate the temporal power of the enemy, we should not either underestimate the power of Jesus Christ. In John’s revelation of what will happen in the ‘end times’ we learn that the devil will once and for all be defeated. Wasn’t he already defeated I hear you ask?

Yes he was, however, when Jesus was crucified on the cross and rose again, he defeated the power of death and sin and it’s strongholds on mankind. Jesus defeated the consequence of sin and the pain that sin brings. He took back the keys to the world that Adam so ignorantly gave to the enemy when he sinned in the garden of Eden. The enemy was defeated on the cross. Yet it was not a final death. His authority was relinquished and the power he had, limited, but he is very much still alive and active.

However his reign is will soon be over, his power is limited and his time will soon be done! In John’s revelation, we read that the devil’s time will finally be up. On the day of judgement, he and all his followers will be thrown into the lake of fire where they will burn forever. Finally defeated. All pain, sorrow, death, temptation, sin and everything else we associate with him, will be burned with him……Forever!!!

We have victory both now and eternally because Jesus bought it with His blood. We are on the winning. When we are with Jesus we can only win! In Him is only victory. Choose the winning side!

The Authority Of Christ
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The Authority Of Christ

12th August

“”Yes,” He told them, “I saw satan fall from Heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you!”

Luke 10:18-19

Yesterday we learnt that Jesus encouraged His disciples to rejoice, not in the authority of using His Name but in the fact that their names were written in the book of life. That is not to say that we should not rejoice in the victories gained in Christ, but rather rejoice in our salvation, the greatest victory.

However, it is important not to overlook the authority we have in Christ. That authority comes from Jesus and not of ourselves. In fact, Jesus was not just preaching an ideology, He was preaching a way of life. He saw first hand, the Father casting out satan because of his pride and arrogance. He was there. Our victory is not in some dead statue or carnal god, it is in the Living God who was and is and is to come. Because of the authority Jesus has, we can access that power and authority as part of our inheritance and because we are His children.

Yet His power and authority is not a game to be played with, but a tool to equip the believer with weapons to stand firm against the enemies schemes and tactics and to tear down his strongholds in spiritual realms. We are not supposed to go looking for trouble but when trouble comes, because of the authority we have in Christ, we can stand firm, call on His Mighty Name and see God’s power move.

If only we learned to live in His power more. We can access the very same power that rose Jesus from the dead, because that power lives in us too. Let us trust in His Mighty Name, call upon Him in times of trouble and know that the power of God is able to overcome all things.

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Knowing What To Rejoice In

11th August

“When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to Him,”Lord even the demons obey us when we use Your Name!”….“But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in Heaven.”

Luke 10:17, 20

Jesus sent out seventy-two of His disciples on a mission trip with the aim to heal the sick, spread the message of the kingdom of God and to make more workers for His kingdom. He anointed His disciples with power and encouraged them to bring peace wherever they went, if they were accepted.

When they came back they were over joyed at experiencing victory in the Spiritual realms and realising how powerful the Name of Jesus was in casting out demons. Yet Jesus reminded them that true joy was found not in spiritual victories but in knowing their position in Heaven.

Today we can know the fullness of what Jesus did for us on the cross and the victory that was won. There is and was no greater victory. It is because of that victory that we should rejoice. We should rejoice that we are called Children of God, that we can abide in His love and that whatever comes against us, we can remain secure and unshaken because our names are written in the Book of Life. It is the knowledge of how much we are loved and valued that helps us to rejoice in-spite of our circumstances and in the midst of storms. Gaining victories through Jesus’ Name is great, yet the greatest miracle is when your name was written in the Book of Life because of the Blood of the Lamb.

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Divine GPS

10th August

“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”
Jeremiah 10:23

The introduction of GPS in recent years has put a new spin on finding directions. Our phones, tablets, and dedicated GPS devices connect with orbiting satellites to determine where we are and tell us how to get where we want to go. We have to take the steps ourselves, but the directions come from over our heads.

This is not an entirely new idea, of course. The psalmist David said that God has ordained our days—and the steps in those days—before they come to pass (Psalm 139:16). Solomon wrote that “a man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). And the prophet Jeremiah wrote that “a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23, NIV, 1984). The point of these verses is not that God micromanages our individual steps through life. Rather it is the recognition that we need His help to find our way.

Our lives are not our own. We need God to guide our steps to walk us through this thing called life. Based on these verses, ask God to guide you today and every day. Divine guidance beats all others.

Today’s post is taken from Turning Point’s Daily Devotional