“To every preacher and every singer, God will someday ask, ‘Did you bring people to where the action could be found… at the throne of grace? If you just entertained them, if you just tickled their ears and gave them a warm, fuzzy moment, woe to you. At the throne of grace, I could have changed their lives.’ God has chosen prayer as His channel of blessing. He has spread a table for us with every kind of wisdom, grace and strength because He knows exactly what we need. But the only way we can get it is to pull up to the table and taste and see that the Lord is good. Pulling up to that table is called the prayer of faith.” —Jim Cymbala
Pastor, are you pulling up to the table enough? Is prayer a priority in your personal life? Is it a priority in your church?
“We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest ‘well pleased.’ To ask that God’s love should be content with us as we are is to ask that God should cease to be God: because He is what He is, His love must, in the nature of things, be impeded and repelled, by certain stains in our present character, and because He already loves us He must labour to make us lovable.” —C.S. Lewis
“Our old history ends with the Cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.” —Watchman Nee
“It’s easy, and perhaps comforting, to think of all the things the church is doing to try to change the world. But the real question is, what are you doing? Sure, you go to church and try to live a good life. But how intentional are you when it comes to actually impacting the lives of the lost people you rub shoulders with every day?” —Mark Atteberry
“Whatever the currents of public opinion and governmental action, God’s message is constant and glorious. Whether it is a crime to defy Scripture or to defend it, the Church must preach it—both in season and out of season. This is her calling.” —Kairos Journal
This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.
Temptations Mature Us
When we are born again we get our first introduction into what God calls temptation. When we are sanctified we are not delivered from temptation, we are loosened into it; we are not free enough before either morally or spiritually to be tempted. Immediately we become His “brethren” we are free, and all these subtleties are at work. God does not shield any man or woman from any requirements of a full-grown man or woman [Luke 22:28]. …
When temptation comes, stand absolutely true to God no matter what it costs you, and you will find the onslaught leaves you with affinities higher and purer than ever before. Temptation overcome is the transfiguration of the natural into the spiritual and the establishment of conscious affinity with the purest and best.
From Conformed To His Image (emphasis added)
Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean temptations stop. Just the opposite. Before becoming one of Christ’s “brethren” we weren’t exposed to the full onslaught of satan’s temptations, because satan wanted to keep us comfortably in his kingdom.
Jesus says to His followers, “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials” (Luke 22:28). It’s good to stand by Jesus and overcome all the trials and temptations that come our way.
Temptation overcome matures us.
Temptation overcome helps us see more acutely our need for a Savior and His abiding Spirit in us.
Temptation overcome makes us more empathetic to others who are going through the same temptation.
“The more difficult it becomes for an older person to use the mind and the memory, the more we must fight with him and for him, wielding the sword of the Spirit where his own hand is weak.” —John Piper
A little comedy—Al and Lois go to a counselor after fifteen years of marriage. The counselor asks them what the problem is. Lois goes into a tirade, listing every problem they’ve ever had in their years of marriage. She goes on and on and on. Finally, the counselor gets up, embraces the surprised Lois, and kisses her passionately. Lois shuts up and sits quietly in a daze. The counselor turns to Al and says, “That is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do that?” Al thinks for a moment and replies, “Well, I can get her here Mondays and Wednesdays, but Fridays I play golf.”
Ken Davis reminds us of the value of slowing down in his post Not So Fast.
Digital photography software is allowing archeologists and paleontologists and others to examine artifacts in 3D without damaging the original.
Parents want to give their children the best they can give. But that doesn’t come through education, or possessions, or even the loving attention of devoted parents.
King Abijah started out well. When King Jeroboam came from the north to attack him with an army double the size of Abijah’s army, Abijah delivered an impassioned speech to his men. He reminded them that the northern tribes of Israel were in rebellion against God, but that he and the southern tribes of Judah still had God’s favor.
In the middle of his speech, some men of Israel launched a surprise attack from behind, and the men of Judah cried out to God for help. With the Lord’s help, Judah routed the Israelite army. The Bible says, “The men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers” (see 2 Chronicles 13, emphasis added).
But something happened to Abijah. The scriptural account says that he became sinful and wasn’t fully devoted to God “as the heart of David his forefather had been” (1 Kings 15:3).
Did this happen because he thought his speech and his strategy won the day? Maybe his speech was just for show and he didn’t really believe what he was saying. Did his grandmother lead him astray by her idol worship? Perhaps Abijah’s 14 wives were his downfall.
In any case, Abijah sinned and God’s righteous judgment was going to fall on him and his people. Then the Bible says,
Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. (1 Kings 15:4, emphasis added).
Although Abijah sinned, God looked back to his great-grandfather in order to bless Jerusalem. Wow!
I pray that my life can be so devoted to God that His blessing can extend to my descendants. I know they have to choose for themselves that they will follow God, but I want my life to be a help and not a hindrance. So help me God!
“A spirit of thankfulness is so at odds with a spirit of coarse jesting that when one rises, the other falls [Ephesians 5:4]. And a spirit that yearns to edify is so at odds with foul talk that when one rises, the other falls [Ephesians 4:29].” —John Piper
“Love for others is the overflow of God-given security for the good of others. It signifies that we have the resources to care about others because God cares for us.” —John Piper
British prime minister David Cameron said recently that “our religion is now the most persecuted religion around the world.” Read this post about The War On Christians.
The Assemblies of God has now shown membership growth for 24 consecutive years, and its attendance grew more in 2013 than the US population did! Check out these God-glorifying stats.
“Let anger be guarded against. If it cannot, however, be averted, let it be kept within bounds. For indignation is a terrible incentive to sin. It disorders the mind to such an extent as to leave no room for reason. The first thing, therefore, to aim at, if possible, is to make tranquility of character our natural disposition by constant practice, by desire for better things, by fixed determination.” —Ambrose of Milan
“There is no true comfort for anyone on this earth except that of the Holy Spirit. This is why you need Him abiding in you. He alone can lay you down at night, as in a warm bed, and fill your heart with perfect peace. He alone can truly comfort you in times of pain and sorrow. He is the one who will assure you, ‘This comfort is not just temporary—it is eternal!’” —David Wilkerson
O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love as we worship in Your Temple. (Psalm 48:9)
“We can go to church and worship. But if we go to church and worship one day, it is not true worship unless it is followed by continuing worship in the days that follow.” (A.W. Tozer)
It’s easy to say, “O God, I worship You in church on Sunday,” but can I also say…
…I worship You in my office on Monday.
…I worship You in my basketball game on Tuesday.
…I worship You in my commute on Wednesday.
…I worship You in my dinner preparations on Thursday.
…I worship You in my house cleaning on Friday.
…I worship You in my golf game on Saturday.
Worship means making sure what I’m doing is pleasing to God, and glorifying God. It means I am doing my utmost for His highest. It means I am doing what I’m doing so that others see God in it, and are prompted to worship Him too.
Worship wherever you are today, and not just in your church building on Sunday. Let TRUE worship be seen all day, everyday, in everything.
“The reason God made man in His image was that he might appreciate God and admire and adore and worship; so that God might not be a picture, so to speak, hanging in a gallery with nobody looking at Him. He might not be a flower that no one could smell; He might not be a star that no one could see. God made somebody to smell that flower, the lily of the valley. He wanted someone to see that glorious image. He wanted someone to see the star, so He made us and in making us He made us to worship Him.” —A.W. Tozer
“Of course Heaven is leisure (‘there remaineth a rest for the people of God’): but I picture it pretty vigorous too as our best leisure really is. Man was created ‘to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’ Whether that is best pictured as being in love, or like being one of an orchestra who are playing a great work with perfect success, or like surf bathing, or like endlessly exploring a wonderful country or endlessly reading a glorious story—who knows? Dante says Heaven ‘grew drunken with its universal laughter.’” —C.S. Lewis
“The Father loves you! It is at this point of understanding that multitudes of believers fail God. They are willing to be convicted of sin and failure, over and over again, but they will not allow the Holy Spirit to flood them with the love of the Father.” —David Wilkerson
This past weekend we celebrated my parents golden anniversary. Long-time friends gathered around the dinner table and shared some great memories of how my Mom & Dad had impacted their lives. Other friends who couldn’t attend sent in letters and videos. My biggest takeaway from that weekend is something I already knew: My parents are ministers.
They don’t have a title like reverend or pastor or missionary. But for their entire marriage they have ministered like Jesus described in Matthew 25: they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, provided shelter for the homeless, and love for the hurting.
See for yourself…
I am so blessed by the legacy my parents have left!
It’s a concept that is observed in almost every discipline of science: in biology, physics, astronomy and other areas things naturally flow in the path of least resistance. What is true in the physical sciences is also true in the social sciences, especially in the relationship between a father and his children.
There’s a story tucked away in the records of the kings of Israel (see 1 Kings 15:33-16:3) in which Baasha comes to the throne, and immediately kills all of the descendants of Jeroboam, a previous king. Baasha is not only removing potential rivals to his kingship, but he is also bringing punishment on a family which had caused Israel to sin. But then Baasha walks in the exact same sinful path as Jeroboam!
A prophet was sent to confront Baasha. His name was Jehu son of Hanani. Hanani was the prophet God sent to Asa, king of Judah. In other words, Jehu is following in the same path of his father Hanani.
Two sons, both with free wills to choose their own path, and yet both of them chose the path their fathers set for them.
Children can choose their own path, but the path of least resistance is the path the father walks.
Notice I said “walks” (present tense). I’ve seen in both the Bible and in the lives of people around me, that a Dad who starts out well but finishes poorly, sets a path for his children that is away from God. But those Dads who start out poorly, but turn to God later in life, set a path for their children to pursue God.
Dad, the best time for you to set the path for your children is now … today!
The good news is that you don’t have to do this on your own. Jesus said that even us Dads who are sinful have figured out how to give our children the best that we can. If we sinful Dads have figured that out, Jesus said, “How much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (see Luke 11:11-13).
Your Heavenly Father wants to give You His Holy Spirit to help you set the right path for your kids. And He wants to give His Holy Spirit to your children to help them choose—and stay in—that right path.
Why does God want you and your kids in the right path? So He can pour out the best gifts on you! For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right(Psalm 84:11).
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you set a righteous path for your kids today!
“To every preacher and every singer, God will someday ask, ‘Did you bring people to where the action could be found… at the throne of grace? If you just entertained them, if you just tickled their ears and gave them a warm, fuzzy moment, woe to you. At the throne of grace, I could have changed their lives.’ God has chosen prayer as His channel of blessing. He has spread a table for us with every kind of wisdom, grace and strength because He knows exactly what we need. But the only way we can get it is to pull up to the table and taste and see that the Lord is good. Pulling up to that table is called the prayer of faith.” —Jim Cymbala
Craig T. Owens 