GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SATURDAY MARCH 9, 2013.
PROVERB:
Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 29:20.
PROMISE:
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45.
PRAISE:
Shout with joy to God all the earth! Sing the glory of His name, make His praise glorious! Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds. Psalm 66:1-3
March 9, 2013
March 3, 2013
Gems of Encouragement: March 2, 2013
GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SATURDAY MARCH 2, 2013.
PROVERB:
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13.
PROMISE:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9.
PRAISE:
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. Psalm 86:5.
PROVERB:
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13.
PROMISE:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9.
PRAISE:
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. Psalm 86:5.
Rest: March 1, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2013.
REST
DEFINITION:
A state of quiet or repose; freedom from care; peace of mind or spirit.
SCRIPTURE:
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The verse above from Matthew is an echo of the first beatitude that Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God.”
The poor in spirit are those who are weary from carrying the heavy load of their sin. They recognize that they are lost and spiritually bankrupt and hopeless to save themselves. In Jesus day the religious leaders had added so many complicated do’s and don’ts to Jewish law that people felt heavy-laden and weary from trying to keep them. Jesus invites all to come to Him and find rest from spiritual weariness.
It is an open invitation to all that hear His words but is phrased in such a way that the only ones who will respond to His invitation are those who are burdened by their own spiritual bankruptcy and the weight of trying to save themselves by keeping the law.
Spiritual rest is a commodity today that very few people enjoy. This is because the stubbornness of man’s sinful rebellion is such that without a Sovereign God who offers spiritual relief, all sinners keep living a life that refuses to acknowledge the depth of their spiritual poverty.
To come to Him means to put our trust in Him believing that He can take away our heavy burden of sin and give us complete rest and enduring peace.
In Psalm 37:7 it reads, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Not only must we come to Him but we must rest in Him. We can be assured that God can carry our burdens better than we can so we should be willing to wait patiently for Him to work in our lives. All those who are willing to come to Him, will find rest from the heavy burden of sin.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Help me to find that blessed calm each day that I can rest in You. Take me away from the world of toil and evil that I live in and draw me close to You. Give me that quiet nook where I can rest and listen to what You have for me.
REST
DEFINITION:
A state of quiet or repose; freedom from care; peace of mind or spirit.
SCRIPTURE:
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The verse above from Matthew is an echo of the first beatitude that Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God.”
The poor in spirit are those who are weary from carrying the heavy load of their sin. They recognize that they are lost and spiritually bankrupt and hopeless to save themselves. In Jesus day the religious leaders had added so many complicated do’s and don’ts to Jewish law that people felt heavy-laden and weary from trying to keep them. Jesus invites all to come to Him and find rest from spiritual weariness.
It is an open invitation to all that hear His words but is phrased in such a way that the only ones who will respond to His invitation are those who are burdened by their own spiritual bankruptcy and the weight of trying to save themselves by keeping the law.
Spiritual rest is a commodity today that very few people enjoy. This is because the stubbornness of man’s sinful rebellion is such that without a Sovereign God who offers spiritual relief, all sinners keep living a life that refuses to acknowledge the depth of their spiritual poverty.
To come to Him means to put our trust in Him believing that He can take away our heavy burden of sin and give us complete rest and enduring peace.
In Psalm 37:7 it reads, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Not only must we come to Him but we must rest in Him. We can be assured that God can carry our burdens better than we can so we should be willing to wait patiently for Him to work in our lives. All those who are willing to come to Him, will find rest from the heavy burden of sin.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Help me to find that blessed calm each day that I can rest in You. Take me away from the world of toil and evil that I live in and draw me close to You. Give me that quiet nook where I can rest and listen to what You have for me.
Money: February 28, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2013
MONEY
DEFINITION:
A coin, bill or bank note used as a medium of exchange for obtaining goods and services.
SCRIPTURE:
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. I Timothy 6:10.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The world attaches far more significance to money than God ever intended. Instead of being regarded as simply a means of exchange for goods and services, it has become thought of as a source of power and prestige, and a means of achieving status, happiness, and security.
This leads to the false hope that money is the answer for everything. As believers we must not fall for these lies. When money is seen as an end in itself it leads us down a dangerous path. It will make us greedy and may even cause us to compromise our integrity. This is why the apostle Paul says that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil. Of even greater danger, is the concern that the love of money can cause us to wander away from our faith in God.
God’s Word is very clear and warns us of the dangers of having money and putting too much importance on it in our lives, especially when money becomes more important than our relationship with God.
Money plays a large role in our existence. In fact, it is impossible to live without it. How would we purchase food, shelter, and clothing without money or some other medium of exchange? We all have the responsibility to work to earn money to support ourselves and family members that are dependent on us.
Money, down through history, has been more than a means for acquiring necessities. Wars have been fought over money. Lives have been ruined over money and people have died because of the lack of it. Paul said, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap that leads them into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction (I Timothy 6:9).
We, as believers in Jesus need to gain proper perspective of money and what God thinks about it. God is the source of all money. Since everything originated from the Creator, it all belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1). We are the stewards of money that He has entrusted to us. We must use it wisely.
Secondly, God uses money for His purposes. We cannot separate our finances from our Christianity. The Lord provides money for our physical needs and uses money to transform us spiritually. When we are yielded to God, wealth is a tool that God uses to teach us self-discipline. Instead of using wealth to satisfy our desires, we learn to seek His will to guide us to use our wealth to be generous to those in need and to spread the good news of the gospel.
God wants us to use our money according to His purposes. These purposes are threefold:
First, for personal needs: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” (II Thessalonians 3:10).
Second, for God’s work: “Honor the Lord with your wealth.” (Proverbs 3:9).
Third, for helping others: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” (Proverbs 19:17).
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Help me to make sure that our family is using the money You blessed us with as God has commanded us. Thank You for Your assurance that it is by being obedient to you and following your instructions, we will find joy and contentment our hearts truly desire.
MONEY
DEFINITION:
A coin, bill or bank note used as a medium of exchange for obtaining goods and services.
SCRIPTURE:
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. I Timothy 6:10.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The world attaches far more significance to money than God ever intended. Instead of being regarded as simply a means of exchange for goods and services, it has become thought of as a source of power and prestige, and a means of achieving status, happiness, and security.
This leads to the false hope that money is the answer for everything. As believers we must not fall for these lies. When money is seen as an end in itself it leads us down a dangerous path. It will make us greedy and may even cause us to compromise our integrity. This is why the apostle Paul says that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil. Of even greater danger, is the concern that the love of money can cause us to wander away from our faith in God.
God’s Word is very clear and warns us of the dangers of having money and putting too much importance on it in our lives, especially when money becomes more important than our relationship with God.
Money plays a large role in our existence. In fact, it is impossible to live without it. How would we purchase food, shelter, and clothing without money or some other medium of exchange? We all have the responsibility to work to earn money to support ourselves and family members that are dependent on us.
Money, down through history, has been more than a means for acquiring necessities. Wars have been fought over money. Lives have been ruined over money and people have died because of the lack of it. Paul said, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap that leads them into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction (I Timothy 6:9).
We, as believers in Jesus need to gain proper perspective of money and what God thinks about it. God is the source of all money. Since everything originated from the Creator, it all belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1). We are the stewards of money that He has entrusted to us. We must use it wisely.
Secondly, God uses money for His purposes. We cannot separate our finances from our Christianity. The Lord provides money for our physical needs and uses money to transform us spiritually. When we are yielded to God, wealth is a tool that God uses to teach us self-discipline. Instead of using wealth to satisfy our desires, we learn to seek His will to guide us to use our wealth to be generous to those in need and to spread the good news of the gospel.
God wants us to use our money according to His purposes. These purposes are threefold:
First, for personal needs: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” (II Thessalonians 3:10).
Second, for God’s work: “Honor the Lord with your wealth.” (Proverbs 3:9).
Third, for helping others: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” (Proverbs 19:17).
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Help me to make sure that our family is using the money You blessed us with as God has commanded us. Thank You for Your assurance that it is by being obedient to you and following your instructions, we will find joy and contentment our hearts truly desire.
Passion: February 27, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2013
PASSION
DEFINITION:
Intense emotion; ardent love; zeal; enthusiasm.
SCRIPTURE:
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Passion is one of the most intense human emotions. It is a motivating emotion that compels us to act on it. Passion is usually thought of in a negative way as being an emotion of the flesh and our unredeemed humanism. In order to accept Jesus as our Savior we must conquer the passions and desires of the flesh that are part of our sinful nature. Paul says that to belong to Christ we must crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.
Passion is a positive emotion when the object of our passion is the right one. The great men of faith in the Bible knew what it was to have a passion for obeying and serving God.
Just think of the passion of Abraham as he obediently places his only son, Isaac, on the altar to sacrifice him as an offering to God. There is the passion of Moses as he led the Children of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land. David spoke volumes of his passion for the Lord his God in the book of Psalms. Many of the disciples became martyrs because of their passion for the Lord. Passion is, indeed, a motivating force.
Most people understand passion when one talks about the ardent love between husband and wife or parents and children. But to understand passion from God’s point of view one must have a relationship with God. However, most people today are so busy with their activities and pursuits that they rarely think of Jesus until a desperate situation arises.
Believers that know the Lord intimately have a passionate desire to have a continually deepening relationship with Him. It becomes a passion to the believer because it is their top priority, and every possession, accomplishment, or pursuit is worthless compared to knowing Him.
Stop a moment now and evaluate how you are living. What is your relationship like with God? Is it a deep passion or a casual acquaintance or somewhere in between? We need to have the passion of the apostle Paul and “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14.
There are six important steps that a believer must take to grow a deep passion for our Lord. First, you must study the scriptures daily. You begin by reading the Bible daily but take the time to study what you read; God then, through His Word, will reveal to you who He is and what He does.
Secondly, you must be willing and committed to spend time alone with the Lord in prayer, meditation, and worship. Invest this time in prayer and you will get to know God better and He will honor the time you spend communicating with Him.
Thirdly, you need to put your complete trust in the Lord. The depth of any relationship depends on the level of trust. Fourthly, you need to obey Him. Your time in reading and studying the scripture will reveal to you areas where God expects you to obey Him in what He is saying.
Fifthly, take the time to observe how Christ works in your life. By paying attention to how the Lord operates, you will become familiar with His ways and goals. And finally, make Jesus your top priority. Be willing to lay aside anything that competes with your loyalty to Him and devotion to Him.
When you make Christ foremost in your life you will have increasing passion to know Him better. The more we know Him, the more we will mature spiritually. And remember the power of the Holy Spirit flows through those closely connected to Jesus.
Take the time now to develop your passion for Christ and He will give you a new perspective on how He works through you giving you continued victorious living.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Help me to look to You daily for Your guidance and direction for me to develop a deep and abiding passion for You. Take away my desires and passion for the things of this world so that they may not rob me of the treasure of knowing You better. Help me to be persistent and to forget the failures of the past and move on to a closer and more meaningful relationship with You.
PASSION
DEFINITION:
Intense emotion; ardent love; zeal; enthusiasm.
SCRIPTURE:
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Passion is one of the most intense human emotions. It is a motivating emotion that compels us to act on it. Passion is usually thought of in a negative way as being an emotion of the flesh and our unredeemed humanism. In order to accept Jesus as our Savior we must conquer the passions and desires of the flesh that are part of our sinful nature. Paul says that to belong to Christ we must crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.
Passion is a positive emotion when the object of our passion is the right one. The great men of faith in the Bible knew what it was to have a passion for obeying and serving God.
Just think of the passion of Abraham as he obediently places his only son, Isaac, on the altar to sacrifice him as an offering to God. There is the passion of Moses as he led the Children of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land. David spoke volumes of his passion for the Lord his God in the book of Psalms. Many of the disciples became martyrs because of their passion for the Lord. Passion is, indeed, a motivating force.
Most people understand passion when one talks about the ardent love between husband and wife or parents and children. But to understand passion from God’s point of view one must have a relationship with God. However, most people today are so busy with their activities and pursuits that they rarely think of Jesus until a desperate situation arises.
Believers that know the Lord intimately have a passionate desire to have a continually deepening relationship with Him. It becomes a passion to the believer because it is their top priority, and every possession, accomplishment, or pursuit is worthless compared to knowing Him.
Stop a moment now and evaluate how you are living. What is your relationship like with God? Is it a deep passion or a casual acquaintance or somewhere in between? We need to have the passion of the apostle Paul and “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14.
There are six important steps that a believer must take to grow a deep passion for our Lord. First, you must study the scriptures daily. You begin by reading the Bible daily but take the time to study what you read; God then, through His Word, will reveal to you who He is and what He does.
Secondly, you must be willing and committed to spend time alone with the Lord in prayer, meditation, and worship. Invest this time in prayer and you will get to know God better and He will honor the time you spend communicating with Him.
Thirdly, you need to put your complete trust in the Lord. The depth of any relationship depends on the level of trust. Fourthly, you need to obey Him. Your time in reading and studying the scripture will reveal to you areas where God expects you to obey Him in what He is saying.
Fifthly, take the time to observe how Christ works in your life. By paying attention to how the Lord operates, you will become familiar with His ways and goals. And finally, make Jesus your top priority. Be willing to lay aside anything that competes with your loyalty to Him and devotion to Him.
When you make Christ foremost in your life you will have increasing passion to know Him better. The more we know Him, the more we will mature spiritually. And remember the power of the Holy Spirit flows through those closely connected to Jesus.
Take the time now to develop your passion for Christ and He will give you a new perspective on how He works through you giving you continued victorious living.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Help me to look to You daily for Your guidance and direction for me to develop a deep and abiding passion for You. Take away my desires and passion for the things of this world so that they may not rob me of the treasure of knowing You better. Help me to be persistent and to forget the failures of the past and move on to a closer and more meaningful relationship with You.
Barometer: February 25, 2013
TODAY”S WORD FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2013.
BAROMETER
DEFINITION:
Anything that indicates or measures change.
SCRIPTURE:
When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. I Corinthians 13: 11-12.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We all need a barometer to measure our spiritual maturity. Physical growth is quite easy to evaluate. We can check our weight with a scale and our height with all with a tape measure. When someone becomes a child of God he or she comes as a new born babe and like a child must grow to maturity. As a child we think and reason like a child. As we mature as Christians we will change in the way we think and the way we live. We must put away the childish things of immature faith.
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, Paul says to aim for perfection in the spiritual maturing of our faith.
In measuring spiritual growth we need to look at three things in our lives. First, what are our desires? Do we look at the pleasures of this world as we did before we accepted Jesus as our Savior? What about our hunger for God and His Word?
Secondly, what is our understanding concerning the spiritual things in our life? Do we see life from God’s perspective as written in the Bible? Do trials and temptations that come our way become opportunities for growth and service for the Lord?
Finally, what is the status of our selflessness? Are we submissive to the Lord when He speaks to us or our conscience talks to us? Is it more important to us to go our own way rather than do what it seems God wants from us? Are we more concerned about others rather than ourselves?
Christian maturity requires a barometer in our lives to measure the disciplines of our daily godly habits. Is it time to check your spiritual growth barometer and take the measure of the growth of godliness and spiritual depth of your daily disciplines? These disciplines should include a time for devotions, a time for prayer and obedience to what God says to you. Spending time with God will be a barometer to help you recognize your inadequacy and be less independent and more dependent on God.
We need mature faith to endure the trials and temptations that come our way. We need to look for divine help in order to resist Satan’s evil influences that would hinder our growth and discourage us from pursuing the goal set for us, perfection in Jesus Christ. Endurance requires patience.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Help me to continually grow in my spiritual maturity each day. Make it evident to me the things I must change in my life that hinder my spiritual growth. Thank You for Your Word and Your Holy Spirit working in me that will enable me to grow toward perfection.
BAROMETER
DEFINITION:
Anything that indicates or measures change.
SCRIPTURE:
When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. I Corinthians 13: 11-12.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We all need a barometer to measure our spiritual maturity. Physical growth is quite easy to evaluate. We can check our weight with a scale and our height with all with a tape measure. When someone becomes a child of God he or she comes as a new born babe and like a child must grow to maturity. As a child we think and reason like a child. As we mature as Christians we will change in the way we think and the way we live. We must put away the childish things of immature faith.
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, Paul says to aim for perfection in the spiritual maturing of our faith.
In measuring spiritual growth we need to look at three things in our lives. First, what are our desires? Do we look at the pleasures of this world as we did before we accepted Jesus as our Savior? What about our hunger for God and His Word?
Secondly, what is our understanding concerning the spiritual things in our life? Do we see life from God’s perspective as written in the Bible? Do trials and temptations that come our way become opportunities for growth and service for the Lord?
Finally, what is the status of our selflessness? Are we submissive to the Lord when He speaks to us or our conscience talks to us? Is it more important to us to go our own way rather than do what it seems God wants from us? Are we more concerned about others rather than ourselves?
Christian maturity requires a barometer in our lives to measure the disciplines of our daily godly habits. Is it time to check your spiritual growth barometer and take the measure of the growth of godliness and spiritual depth of your daily disciplines? These disciplines should include a time for devotions, a time for prayer and obedience to what God says to you. Spending time with God will be a barometer to help you recognize your inadequacy and be less independent and more dependent on God.
We need mature faith to endure the trials and temptations that come our way. We need to look for divine help in order to resist Satan’s evil influences that would hinder our growth and discourage us from pursuing the goal set for us, perfection in Jesus Christ. Endurance requires patience.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Help me to continually grow in my spiritual maturity each day. Make it evident to me the things I must change in my life that hinder my spiritual growth. Thank You for Your Word and Your Holy Spirit working in me that will enable me to grow toward perfection.
Power: February 26, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2013
POWER
DEFINITION:
The strength or ability to act or accomplish anything; physical or mental strength; control.
SCRIPTURE:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall then be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the world. Acts 1:8.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The apostle Paul fully understood the power of the Holy Spirit in his life. Paul writes in Romans, chapter 8, that in life we are controlled by one of two forces. We are controlled either by the sinful nature or the Holy Spirit who Jesus sent to be with us to empower every believer. The key question for us today is if we understand how much power is available to us as believers through the Holy Spirit.
Paul wrote to his churches giving them, and us as well, much information concerning the power of the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5, he tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome our sinful desires and the evils we face every day. He does not just name some of them, but all of them: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21).
In Galatians 5:22 Paul lists the results of what the Holy Spirit has the power to do for us. He speaks to us because this is what he has experienced in his walk with God through the Holy Spirit. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. What a list and we need to remember that God gives us the power through His Holy Spirit to live by these traits and to accomplish for Him what we may think is impossible.
In Romans chapter 8, Paul tells us that we must be controlled by the Holy Spirit and then He will give us the power to please God. This is one of the many promises given to us in the Bible, but there is a condition. We must put aside our sinful misdeeds (verse 13). It begins with us and how we involve the Holy Spirit in our lives.
What kind of vision do you have to help reach people for Jesus? Are you limiting the potential power that God has for you because of your lack of vision? Does your spouse, your children, your neighbors and your friends see Christ and His power in you and do they see a vision that honors God?
We often limit our vision by thinking something is too difficult for us. Moses had limited vision when God directed him to go before Pharaoh and demand that Pharaoh let His people go free and leave Egypt. Moses did not think he was capable. In Exodus 9:16 God assured Moses that he would have the power that he needed to accomplish this task. This is the power that only God can give.
In Ephesians 3:20-21 we are reminded that we serve a great God who is all powerful and is our source for power. He is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
If you are looking for more assurance that God is your power source read, Colossians 1:11. “God will strengthen you with His own great power so that you will not give up when trouble comes.”
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Thank You for being my power source for all that I do in life. Increase my vision so that I might want to serve You by doing what may seem impossible to me because I know by the power of the Holy Spirit working in me all things are possible. May my spouse and my family and friends respond to the leadership You give me so that together we can reach our community for Christ.
POWER
DEFINITION:
The strength or ability to act or accomplish anything; physical or mental strength; control.
SCRIPTURE:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall then be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the world. Acts 1:8.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The apostle Paul fully understood the power of the Holy Spirit in his life. Paul writes in Romans, chapter 8, that in life we are controlled by one of two forces. We are controlled either by the sinful nature or the Holy Spirit who Jesus sent to be with us to empower every believer. The key question for us today is if we understand how much power is available to us as believers through the Holy Spirit.
Paul wrote to his churches giving them, and us as well, much information concerning the power of the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5, he tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome our sinful desires and the evils we face every day. He does not just name some of them, but all of them: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21).
In Galatians 5:22 Paul lists the results of what the Holy Spirit has the power to do for us. He speaks to us because this is what he has experienced in his walk with God through the Holy Spirit. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. What a list and we need to remember that God gives us the power through His Holy Spirit to live by these traits and to accomplish for Him what we may think is impossible.
In Romans chapter 8, Paul tells us that we must be controlled by the Holy Spirit and then He will give us the power to please God. This is one of the many promises given to us in the Bible, but there is a condition. We must put aside our sinful misdeeds (verse 13). It begins with us and how we involve the Holy Spirit in our lives.
What kind of vision do you have to help reach people for Jesus? Are you limiting the potential power that God has for you because of your lack of vision? Does your spouse, your children, your neighbors and your friends see Christ and His power in you and do they see a vision that honors God?
We often limit our vision by thinking something is too difficult for us. Moses had limited vision when God directed him to go before Pharaoh and demand that Pharaoh let His people go free and leave Egypt. Moses did not think he was capable. In Exodus 9:16 God assured Moses that he would have the power that he needed to accomplish this task. This is the power that only God can give.
In Ephesians 3:20-21 we are reminded that we serve a great God who is all powerful and is our source for power. He is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
If you are looking for more assurance that God is your power source read, Colossians 1:11. “God will strengthen you with His own great power so that you will not give up when trouble comes.”
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
PRAYER:
Thank You for being my power source for all that I do in life. Increase my vision so that I might want to serve You by doing what may seem impossible to me because I know by the power of the Holy Spirit working in me all things are possible. May my spouse and my family and friends respond to the leadership You give me so that together we can reach our community for Christ.
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