VIDEO The God You Can Believe

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

 

When you went to bed last night, how long did you lie awake wondering if the sun was going to come up this morning? Before you flipped the switch in the kitchen, how much thought did you give to whether the lights would work? And how confident do you feel that you will indeed have to file an income tax report at the end of this year?

Some things in life are givens, aren’t they? We don’t spend time wondering whether they are going to happen. On the other hand, there are many things that are question marks each and every day—things which we can only hope and pray will happen: success in our job, continued good health, and happy and productive relationships within our family. Some things in life are relatively certain; other things are not certain at all. Sadly, many believers put God and His promises in the latter category—as if God’s promises can’t really be trusted. But God is faithful, and the evidence is His Son Jesus Christ.

If there is a promise of God you are struggling to believe, look at Jesus. He is the sure sign that all the promises of God will be kept.

Because of all that Jesus has done, I can look at him and say, “Yes, Lord, I will trust you.” Randy Alcorn

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1 Corinthians 1:1-20 – Skip Heitzig

Keeping Our Spiritual Edge

The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

The Rocky movies tell the story of a raw boxer, fueled by never-say-die determination, who overcomes improbable odds to become heavyweight champion. In Rocky III, a now successful Rocky becomes impressed with his own achievements. Television commercials disrupt his time in the gym. The champ grows soft, and he’s knocked out by a challenger. The rest of the movie is Rocky’s attempt to regain his fighting edge.

In a spiritual sense, King Asa of Judah lost his fighting edge. Early in his reign, he relied on God in the face of daunting odds. As the mighty Cushites prepared to attack, Asa prayed, “Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army” (2 Chronicles 14:11). God answered his prayer, and Judah struck down and scattered their enemies (vv. 12-15).

Years later, Judah was threatened again. This time a complacent Asa ignored God and instead asked the king of Aram for help (16:2-3). It seemed to work. But God wasn’t pleased. The prophet Hanani told Asa that he’d stopped trusting God (vv. 7-8). Why hadn’t he relied on God now as he had then?

Our God is unfailingly reliable. His eyes “range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (v. 9). When we keep our spiritual edge—fully depending on God—we’ll experience His power.

By:  Mike Wittmer

Reflect & Pray

As you age, is it easier or harder to trust your heavenly Father? Why do you think that is? How might God strengthen your faith?

Dear Jesus, may I rest in You more each day.

Sorrow in Rejoicing

God understands the intricacies of the human heart and is faithful in all the confusing moments we face Ezra 3:10-13

Have you ever waited a long time and then finally gotten something you dearly wanted? Maybe you waited decades to see a close relative. Or perhaps you left your home country and never expected to get back there. How did you feel when the time finally came? Sometimes the reality at the end of a long period of expectant waiting feels bittersweet.

The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon were traumatic. The Israelites waited 70 years for redemption and the chance to return. Now, in Ezra 3, the time is finally here—the people have returned and the temple foundation has also been laid. What was lost will be rebuilt at last. Can you imagine the relief, the celebration?

Yet there’s also weeping. The older generation remembers what stood before and knows all that’s been lost. This redemption, though cause for joy, stirs memories of what will never be again.

In this fleeting life, we have moments of rejoicing and of sorrow (Ecclesiastes 3:4), and sometimes they intermingle in a way we can’t understand or ever hope to separate. And God doesn’t ask us to. He remains faithful to us in those moments—and a thousand more besides—until the day comes when He will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).   

Build Yourself Up

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 1:20-21)

The New Testament relationship of the twice-born to the eternal condition is compared to a “building” of God (Ephesians 2:22) made up of “lively stones” (1 Peter 2:5). Thus, there is often the exhortation for us to build a holy association with each other (Romans 14:19) and to seek to build a strong assembly as we work together (Ephesians 4:16).

Each of the many references uses some combination of descriptive preposition or adjective along with the term for house. The general application assumes that since we will be “housed” together in eternity, we should seek to be building that house while on Earth. Even those who are in authority in the “house of God” (1 Timothy 3:15) are to be focused on building that house (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Jude addresses the individual. He presumes we are aware that we are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets” with “Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). Even with a “wise masterbuilder” like Paul to give us inspired instructions (1 Corinthians 3:10), we need to be very careful how we build on the foundation that Jesus Christ has laid for us. Our work can be “gold, silver, and precious stones, wood, hay, [or] stubble,” and it will be evaluated by the “fire” of God’s timeless judgment (1 Corinthians 3:12-13).

The construction of the building—both the larger house and the individual “lively stones” that make up the house—are to be built up on the “most holy faith.” Once the foundation has been laid by Jesus Christ, we are to be “rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7). HMM III

Ten Resolves For Those Trafficking In The Marketplace

• To try to learn to be thoroughly poor in spirit, meek, and to be ready to be silent when others speak. (Matthew 5:3, 5; James 1:19)
• To learn from everyone. (Job 8:8; Proverbs 24:32)
• To try to despise the prevailing principle of “blowing your own horn”; and to feel it a degradation to speak of my own doings, as a poor braggart. (Proverbs 27:2; 1 Corinthians 4:7)
• To speak less of self. (Proverbs 20:6)
• To try to overcome the mentality of building one’s own “kingdom”. (Jeremiah 45:5; Romans 12:16)
• To preserve as sacrosanct all secrets committed to me, especially any confidential communication of spiritual complexities. (Proverbs 11:3)
• To take a deep interest in the difficulties of others. (Philippians 2:3, 4; 1 Corinthians 10:24)
• To perform vigorously the examination of conscience. (Acts 24:16; Galatians 6:4)
• To contend one-by-one against evil thoughts of the mind. (2 Corinthians 7:1; 10:5)
• To watch over a tendency toward the uncharitable judgment of others. (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 2:1)

“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.”

John 7:25-39

John 7:25, 26

There were various opinions and conjectures. All those who had come up to the feast were interested in him. Jesus always creates a stir; men cannot remain indifferent, but must take one side or the other in reference to him. The dauntless manner in which our Lord faced the crowd led many to ask whether, after all, the rulers were not afraid of him.

John 7:27

There was a vague notion current among the Jews that the origin of the Messiah would be veiled in mystery—a notion in which there was a large amount of truth, hence their knowledge of the family at Nazareth was a stumbling-block in the way of their receiving the claims of Jesus.

John 7:28-31

Well might they make the inquiry. If men will not have Christ for a Saviour, what sort of a Saviour would they have?

John 7:33, 34

They need not be in a hurry to put him away, for he would soon be gone.

John 7:35

There was such a large-heartedness about his teaching that it was adapted for all mankind, and a sense of this may have caused much of the irritated feeling of the Jews towards him.

John 7:36-39

Jesus kept in the background till the fitting moment, and then he came boldly forward to deliver one of the freest and fullest gospel discourses upon record. On a day when no servile work might be done, and consequently no water could be drawn, he freely proclaimed his salvation. His grace is free, it is effectual in its operation, and its results are abiding, elevating, purifying, and saving. Faith receives the grace of God, and the soul lives. Without money and without price the boon of eternal life is bestowed. Let us bless that dear Redeemer who at this moment still cries aloud, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

The Saviour calls, let every ear

Attend the heavenly sound;

Ye doubting souls, dismiss your fear,

Hope smiles reviving round.

For every thirsty, longing heart,

Here streams of bounty flow,

And life and health and bliss impart,

To banish mortal woe.

Ye sinners, come; ’tis mercy’s voice,

The gracious call obey;

Mercy invites to heavenly joys;

And can you yet delay?

Dear Saviour, draw reluctant hearts,

To thee let sinners fly,

And take the bliss thy love imparts,

And drink, and never die.

God Is Sovereign

We are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 5:20)

Oh, how I wish that I could adequately set forth the glory of the One who is worthy to be the object of our worship!

I do believe that if our new converts—the babes in Christ—could be made to see His thousand attributes and even partially comprehend His being, they would become faint with a yearning desire to worship and honor and acknowledge Him, now and forever!

I know that many discouraged Christians do not truly believe in God’s sovereignty. In that case, we are not filling our role as the humble and trusting followers of God and His Christ.

And yet, that is why Christ came into our world. The old theologians called it “theanthropism”—the union of the divine and human natures in Christ. This is a great mystery and I stand in awe before it!

The theanthropy is the mystery of God and man united in one Person—not two persons but two natures. So, the nature of God and the nature of man are united in this One who is our Lord Jesus Christ!