"So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." (Matthew 17:16-17)
Jesus gave His disciples the power to cast out demons and to perform miracles of healing (Matt. 10:8). He gave them His authority to minister to people, yet they became so self-centered that they lost the power to do the work of God. When God sent a father with his epileptic son to them for healing, they failed miserably. They were so concerned with position and status (Mark 9:32-35) that they lost their focus on what God wanted to do through them. Jesus’ response to His disciples included some of the harshest words ever to come from His mouth. He called His own disciples ?unbelieving? and ?perverse? and questioned how much longer He had to endure them! Why? Because they were supposed to be on mission with Him to bring salvation to others, but they had become so disoriented to Him that they were spiritually powerless, lacking the faith to bring physical and spiritual comfort to those God had sent to them. God ought to be able to send a hurting person to any child of His and expect that they will be helped. Like the disciples, we can become so preoccupied with our own ambitions and distracted by the busyness of our lives that we become ineffective in ministering to those whom God sends to us. It is even possible to become so involved in religious activity that we are of no help to anyone. Regularly take inventory of your life to see if you are being a faithful steward of every life God sends to you.
By: Blackaby Ministries
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
You’ve Got the Power
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - 1 John 4:4
I love the truths found in Isaiah 40. Isaiah tells us that the Lord comes with power and rules with a mighty arm. The Lord has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand and has marked off the heavens. He has weighed the mountains on a scale and put the hills on a balance.
No one taught the Lord the right way or enlightened Him. No one taught Him knowledge or showed Him how to understand things. He knows the names of every single star. Yet even with all of that power and knowledge, He gathers lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart.
And that, my friends, is the power of God. That power that you just read about is not only available to you but is living inside you if Jesus owns your heart. He’s there to lead you, comfort you, and empower you to live out your surrendered life in this fallen, broken world that we call our temporal home. See for yourself:You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
So do not fret when the mediocre attacks of Satan come your way. They will. And when they do, when you find yourself fretting and worrying and wondering how to come out on top, stand on the Word of God and proclaim His truth. The Word of God is sharper than any double-edge sword (Heb. 4:12) and will make the enemy flee.
You’ve got the power because the Power lives inside you.
By: Cindy Beall
I love the truths found in Isaiah 40. Isaiah tells us that the Lord comes with power and rules with a mighty arm. The Lord has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand and has marked off the heavens. He has weighed the mountains on a scale and put the hills on a balance.
No one taught the Lord the right way or enlightened Him. No one taught Him knowledge or showed Him how to understand things. He knows the names of every single star. Yet even with all of that power and knowledge, He gathers lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart.
And that, my friends, is the power of God. That power that you just read about is not only available to you but is living inside you if Jesus owns your heart. He’s there to lead you, comfort you, and empower you to live out your surrendered life in this fallen, broken world that we call our temporal home. See for yourself:You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
So do not fret when the mediocre attacks of Satan come your way. They will. And when they do, when you find yourself fretting and worrying and wondering how to come out on top, stand on the Word of God and proclaim His truth. The Word of God is sharper than any double-edge sword (Heb. 4:12) and will make the enemy flee.
You’ve got the power because the Power lives inside you.
By: Cindy Beall
Daily Devotional for Friday, February 17th, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
He’s Lying
"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down." - Revelations 12:10
One of the most painful things in life is to be accused of something that you're not guilty of. It can literally be overwhelming and consume your thoughts when someone has shared untruths about you. You feel defenseless against it and all kinds of frustrations, ideas and thoughts fill your mind on how to react, what to say, and if the problem has a solution.
I've learned the hard way that if a person wants to spread lies on you, there is nothing that can over-ride lies but the truth. The truth always prevails. This must be a constant reminder for us when satan attempts to plant certain thoughts and ideas in our mind. Everything that comes from him is a lie that is far from the truth. Quite frankly, if it comes from satan, we must remind ourselves – He’s lying.
Scripture reveals his resumé and his mode of operation. He lied to Adam and Eve. He lied to Jesus Christ. And he is still lying. Because of his inability to speak truth, he hurls accusations at God’s children to get them to doubt and dismiss God’s Word, God’s promises, and God’s principles.
Our enemy’s goal is to get us to focus on our sins and become blinded by God’s forgiveness. His second goal is to tempt us to sin further. He can only do this by his lies. And very similarly, the only defeat to these lies is the truth.
The question becomes, have you equipped yourself with the truths that you need to counteract each lie that you hear, may have believed, or even created patterns around?
Very much like the child who waited for his Daddy after school while being teased by the other children whose parents had already arrived. They would yell insults to get him frustrated.
“Your pops forgot about you!”
“I thought you said your Dad loved you? He’s got you sitting out here by yourself.”
The insults were coming so fast that the young boy started crying. And in a moment of frustration he yelled, “My daddy’s never forgotten before and he can’t start now!” Although he said it out of frustration, he actually spoke a powerful truth. He didn’t realize it, but he spoke to his father’s character and past performance. And quite naturally, he stood on that.
We would be wise to follow this young man’s example. Look to our spiritual Father’s character and past performance. In every area of our life, God’s character is solid and his past performance is glorious.Deuteronomy 32:4 shares, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Additionally, Numbers 23:19 provides this insight: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?Both of these passages shed light on God’s ability to be trusted. He can be trusted to tell us the truth, back that truth up with promises, and get all of heaven and earth behind that truth. This good news should be our focus, while simultaneously overriding the lies from our enemy. Truly, I’d rather focus on my Father’s faithfulness, than my enemy’s lies.
By: Christopher Harris
One of the most painful things in life is to be accused of something that you're not guilty of. It can literally be overwhelming and consume your thoughts when someone has shared untruths about you. You feel defenseless against it and all kinds of frustrations, ideas and thoughts fill your mind on how to react, what to say, and if the problem has a solution.
I've learned the hard way that if a person wants to spread lies on you, there is nothing that can over-ride lies but the truth. The truth always prevails. This must be a constant reminder for us when satan attempts to plant certain thoughts and ideas in our mind. Everything that comes from him is a lie that is far from the truth. Quite frankly, if it comes from satan, we must remind ourselves – He’s lying.
Scripture reveals his resumé and his mode of operation. He lied to Adam and Eve. He lied to Jesus Christ. And he is still lying. Because of his inability to speak truth, he hurls accusations at God’s children to get them to doubt and dismiss God’s Word, God’s promises, and God’s principles.
Our enemy’s goal is to get us to focus on our sins and become blinded by God’s forgiveness. His second goal is to tempt us to sin further. He can only do this by his lies. And very similarly, the only defeat to these lies is the truth.
The question becomes, have you equipped yourself with the truths that you need to counteract each lie that you hear, may have believed, or even created patterns around?
Very much like the child who waited for his Daddy after school while being teased by the other children whose parents had already arrived. They would yell insults to get him frustrated.
“Your pops forgot about you!”
“I thought you said your Dad loved you? He’s got you sitting out here by yourself.”
The insults were coming so fast that the young boy started crying. And in a moment of frustration he yelled, “My daddy’s never forgotten before and he can’t start now!” Although he said it out of frustration, he actually spoke a powerful truth. He didn’t realize it, but he spoke to his father’s character and past performance. And quite naturally, he stood on that.
We would be wise to follow this young man’s example. Look to our spiritual Father’s character and past performance. In every area of our life, God’s character is solid and his past performance is glorious.Deuteronomy 32:4 shares, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Additionally, Numbers 23:19 provides this insight: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?Both of these passages shed light on God’s ability to be trusted. He can be trusted to tell us the truth, back that truth up with promises, and get all of heaven and earth behind that truth. This good news should be our focus, while simultaneously overriding the lies from our enemy. Truly, I’d rather focus on my Father’s faithfulness, than my enemy’s lies.
Daily Devotional for Thursday, February16th, 2012
By: Christopher Harris
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Faith to Stand Firm
Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you. (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17
A recent Bible reading in the twentieth chapter of second Chronicles was much more than a lesson in Old Testament theology; it was an epiphany of sorts. In verses five through thirteen, Jehoshaphat pours out his fervent prayer to the LORD for victory against the invading armies, seeking God’s help against his powerful foes. Don’t we all have vast armies that stand ready to destroy us and steal our joy and victory? For some, it is unrelenting job stress or family strife. For others, it is the threat of financial ruin or the fear that our children will grow up without God’s spiritual and moral compass to guide them through the maze of adolescence into the abundant life that God promises for those who follow him.God’s answer to Jehoshaphat can be God’s answer for us today: “The battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you.” As Christians, we face opposition every day because of the forces of evil that are at work in our world. We arm ourselves with the promises of Scripture and in our own strength argue God’s points and principles with others rather than put them into practice in our own lives. We may be armed and ready to fight, but do we have the faith to stand firm, take our position in prayer, and trust God to fight our battles for us?
Rather than fret and fight, let us worship and call on the name of the One who is able to deliver us. “As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:22). God inhabits the praises of his people, and our worship of him is a powerful weapon against our enemy. Let prayer be your first line of defense, not your final act of desperation, and “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Daily Devotional for Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
By: Dee Wike
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Standing Strong
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
The Apostle Paul endured unbelievable hardships and opposition during the course of his life and ministry. So when he talks about spiritual warfare it is a pretty good bet that he knows what he is talking about. Spiritual warfare is something that we know exists, but we may not know a lot about it. It is important to recognize that when we talk abut the subject we observe how it goes on in our culture, in our church and in our personal lives. Failure to understand spiritual warfare can lead to personal pain, discouragement, and confusion.We see this played out in the book of Job where Job’s friends accuse him of grievous sin based on the presupposition that Job would not have received the tragic loss and pain that he has experienced were it not for some secret sin that God is punishing him for. Job on the other hand knows that he is a sinner (which he does not deny) but he knows that he is a righteous man (in right relationship with God), who has not done anything to deserve this kind of suffering and he is confused about why this is all happening to him. The point is that neither Job nor his friends were aware of the role of Satan in all that is taking place. ( Job 1:6-12 ) We as readers know it, but Job and his friends do not.
Paul knows that spiritual warfare is a daily experience and he gives us advice as to how to deal with it in our reading passage today. This passage about putting on the full armor of God is familiar to many, but too often we read over it quickly and do not take the time to apply it in our own lives.Paul’s first admonition is to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Note that it is His strength and not our own. The battle does not depend on us but on Him alone. It is not our battle, but the Lords.Putting on this armor is so that we might stand firm against the schemes of Satan. Spiritual warfare is first and foremost about standing strong. In the days ahead we will take some time to look at the elements of God’s protection that are offered to us; why they are important and how we are to use them.
Daily Devotional for Tuesday, February 14, 2012
By: Neil Ellison
Monday, February 13, 2012
Tempted As We Are
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18
You will never face a temptation so strong that God has not made complete provision for you to overcome it. God, out of His love, has done everything necessary for you to be victorious whenever you face temptation. He has clearly revealed His will to you in Scripture so that you will not be confused about the right thing to do. He has placed the Holy Spirit within you to guide you in your decisions and to convict you when you make harmful choices. With every temptation God also provides a way of escape so that you never have to yield to it (1 Cor. 10:13). Everything is in place for you to experience victory over every temptation. God in His infinite love, however, has done even more to safeguard you from temptation. He has allowed Himself to suffer the full brunt of temptation. The very Son of God humbled Himself, taking on all the limitations of frail human flesh, and was tempted in every way that we are. Jesus knew what it was like to grow tired, to be hungry, to experience the same limitations we have; yet He was without sin. It is to this One that we turn when we are facing temptation. Ours is not an unsympathetic God who is unconcerned with our struggle to live righteously, but we follow a God who knows how difficult it is to resist sin and withstand temptation. We can approach Christ with confidence, knowing that He understands our plight. He knows how to aid us when we are tempted.
Daily Devotional for Monday, February 13th, 2012
By: Blackaby ministriesFriday, February 10, 2012
God's Promises Are Yes
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20
God keeps every promise He makes. When we walk in intimate fellowship with Christ, we have the assurance that every promise God has made in Scripture is available to us. This truth should motivate us to search the Scriptures for each promise in order to meditate upon its potential for our life.
Jesus promised that when you ask for something in His will, He will give you what you ask (John 16:23b). This promise is available to every Christian. If you ask God if this promise applies to your life, His answer is yes. If you are not now experiencing this promise, it does not change the fact that God has said it. You may need to seek God’s answer for why His promise has not yet reached maturity in you.
Paul claimed he had tested each of these promises in his own life and found them all to be abundantly true. That’s why he could speak of the “exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7b) and the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8b). Paul had found a wealth of God’s promises and enjoyed them all in abundance.
Don’t become discouraged or impatient if you are not experiencing to the fullest all of God’s promises in your life. God may want to prepare you to receive some of the great truths He has made available to you. Walk closely with your Lord and, in time, you will see Him bring His promises to fruition in your life.
Daily Devotional for Friday, February 10th, 2012
By: Blackaby Ministries
God keeps every promise He makes. When we walk in intimate fellowship with Christ, we have the assurance that every promise God has made in Scripture is available to us. This truth should motivate us to search the Scriptures for each promise in order to meditate upon its potential for our life.
Jesus promised that when you ask for something in His will, He will give you what you ask (John 16:23b). This promise is available to every Christian. If you ask God if this promise applies to your life, His answer is yes. If you are not now experiencing this promise, it does not change the fact that God has said it. You may need to seek God’s answer for why His promise has not yet reached maturity in you.
Paul claimed he had tested each of these promises in his own life and found them all to be abundantly true. That’s why he could speak of the “exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7b) and the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8b). Paul had found a wealth of God’s promises and enjoyed them all in abundance.
Don’t become discouraged or impatient if you are not experiencing to the fullest all of God’s promises in your life. God may want to prepare you to receive some of the great truths He has made available to you. Walk closely with your Lord and, in time, you will see Him bring His promises to fruition in your life.
Daily Devotional for Friday, February 10th, 2012
By: Blackaby Ministries
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)