Dealing With Spiritual Problems # 1

Dealing With Spiritual Problems

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother, Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:3-8)"

This passage contains a classic example of a man who, if he was not already in the rut, was in danger of getting into it. The old soldier, Paul, was about to retire; that is, the Lord was about to take him home. Before he went he wrote a letter to his young coworker, much younger than he, but a noble young man. Timothy was full of faith, having been reared in a family where the faith of God was strong. He had proven himself a hundred ways in working with the great man Paul.

But even Timothy, though very busy and even because he was so busy, was in danger of settling into a rut. Otherwise Paul would not have said, "Fan the flame." In the King James this is translated "stir up the gift of God."

In Scripture God never uses superfluous words. He never says to a person who is wide, "Wake up!" He never says to a person who is lying down, "Lie down!" He never says to a person who is already stirred up, "Stir up." God never wastes His words, and He never makes any little  speeches like a person called upon at the laying of a cornerstone.  Nor was Paul wasting words or giving a little talk that would be good just about anywhere. "Stir up the gift of God that is in thee". Timothy needed this, or it would not have been written.

The evidence is that Timothy, even though a hard-working and faithful man, was in danger of getting into a rut. Paul said, in effect, "Don't be ashamed of the Cross."

It is possible to be beaten until you are numb. You can smile and praise the Lord and say, "Jesus, I my cross have taken," for awhile. But then you are slowly beaten until you are numb, and you get into a sort of a rut where you cannot fight back.

Timothy had been with Paula long time, and Paul had been in so much trouble so much of the time. Timothy was tagging along behind in the same trouble, and Paul had noticed a little temptation to be ashamed of the Cross. Essentially, Paul was saying, "Don't be ashamed of the Cross. Don't shrink from the affliction of the gospel. God has not given us the spirit of fear." Then in Second Timothy 2:3 Paul said, "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." It is as though he might have detected in the young man a little temptation to recoil a bit from the hard life he was called into.

Paul knew that Timothy was basically a sound man. He knew Timothy had been reared in a Christian home. He mentioned Timothy's grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. The grandmother and mother were both Christians, and good ones. Young Timothy had learned and become a Christian early in life. Paul knew that he was basically sound. But Paul was afraid that the pressure of things and the boredom of always being in the minority might put Timothy in danger of leveling off.

A Personal Revival

There is such a thing as a renaissance, a personal revival. The best illustration is the coming of the springtime on the farm. The snow will lay all winter long, and in some places you don't see the ground until springtime. How utterly dead everything looks, but you know that life is still there. The trees are stark, but there is life in them. The roots in the ground are all quiet, but there is life down there. Just below the frost line are the worms, the bugs, the mice, the moles and the chipmunks. They are all there, and there is life down there. They are all waiting for something, listening for Mother Nature to say, "Stir up the gift of God is in thee."

Then comes the spring; the snow goes, and the blotches and patches begin to appear. The bobwhites begin to whistle their happy but monotonous song on the sunny side of the hill. The cattle begin to kick up their heels and run about the fields. That is spring. Pretty soon all the snow is gone, calves are born and lambs are about, and we start over. Thank God, it is all new.''

There is such a thing in the Christian life as going under for a winter. In other words, something happens to you, little by little, until you get snowed under and frozen over. There is life down there, covered up by the frost and ice. It may be hidden; it is there somewhere.

It is possible for us to go through spiritual experiences that can rouse us, the spiritual equivalent of a springtime in the meadow. I have seen it happen, and I would like to see it happen today.

The winter meadow illustration, as all illustrations, breaks it down. The fields cannot be talked to. You have never heard of a farmer about February standing on a stump lecturing his fields. It  is done that way for this reason: these creatures have no moral perception and no wills if their own. They are dependent upon the position of the sun. They cannot do anything about their condition.

We Have To Enter In

But we can do something about ours. We can have the spiritual equivalent of springtime in the meadow, but we have to enter in. The tree waits it out, and even the animals have to wait it out. But you and I, being made in the image of God and having wills of our own, can do something about it. We can appeal directly to our hearts. We do not need to lie like a field covered over with snow. We can stir ourselves up. We can run to meet the sun. We can create our own crisis, because the job is not for meadow and grass, but for our own hearts. These other things only illustrate spiritual springtime. We can stir ourselves up. We can bring out the sun, and we can bring on the springtime.

How do we get this to happen? First it must come to the individual. I have no faith in anything that happens to a church that does not happen to the individual. If it does not affect the individual, numbers of individuals, if it is  only a sort of social overtone that affects everybody momentarily, I have no faith in it at all.

(Continued with # 2 - The Pad and Pencil Method

The Basis of Spiritual Understanding

[For those of you who do not know T. Austin Sparks:
 He wanted his messages to be freely and widely available. In spite of this, Mr Austin-Sparks was careful to ask that nobody change his writings but reproduce them word for word, thus maintaining and upholding his moral rights as an author. This means that even if his messages are not subject to copyright, they may not be edited or changed.]
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The Basis of Spiritual Understanding

by T. Austin-Sparks

(The Parable of the Sower) 

Reading: Matt. 13:1-23,34-35,51.

Among a number of things which are taught by this parable, in this part of the Lord's discourse it is quite evident that the question which arises is that of spiritual fruitfulness and the basis of spiritual fruitfulness. It is quite evident that the thing of supreme importance in relation to the given Word of God is its result in fruitfulness. Undoubtedly that is what the Lord was getting at here, bringing into view the essential consequence of the Word of the Lord being given. The only justification for God giving His Word is that there shall be, accordingly, fruitfulness in those who hear.
Now, Christ had arrived at a computation as to the result. He was under no illusion. He, at the very outset of His teaching, saw that this real end, this object of the Word of God, would in all probability only be realised in a very small proportion of all who heard it. A fourth part of all the hearers gave back that for which the Word was given. There may be some comfort to be found in that for preachers, but it would be better to take the positive rather than the negative attitude, and note that God will get what His heart is set upon, even if it is in but a small proportion. And the important thing is to see that we are in that small proportion.

Spiritual Fruitfulness Dependent on Spiritual Understanding

Now, the whole issue of spiritual fruitfulness as we have it here, hangs upon one thing, and that one thing is spiritual understanding. That word 'understand' is repeated six times in this brief passage, and you notice in the explanation or the expounding of the parable it begins with, "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not..." and the end of the exposition is "and understands it" (Matt. 13:19,23). The whole matter is bounded, compassed, by this matter of spiritual understanding.
There is that great section who are dead and blind because of prejudice, to whom the prophecies twice quoted here from Isaiah applied; those who had closed their own eyes, and then God had fixed them; those who had steeled their own hearts and God had made it a fixed thing. Let us recognise this, however, that the slightest tinge of prejudice is going to defeat God's end in spiritual fruitfulness. That is settled. That is a fixed law of God. Unless there is openness, preparedness, willingness at the outset, spiritual fruitfulness is utterly impossible, the situation is hopeless. Well, that is a strong word, but let us understand that anything of the prejudicial character just does make the Word of God void in the cases concerned; the deadness which comes by prejudice.

Seed Sown by the Wayside

But then you have these other four here. The first, "When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatches away that which hath been sown in his heart" (Matt. 13:19). These are those described by the Lord as the wayside people. In their case, the faculty for spiritual understanding does not exist, it is just not there. If there is a prospect ruling out that utterly hopeless situation created by prejudice, if there is going to be anything at all, at the very beginning the faculty for spiritual understanding has got to be present, and you will have to say about these people that the initial basic work of the Holy Spirit had not been done. Therefore there was no result at all; there is no understanding, therefore there will be no fruit; they are outside of the pale of the fruitbearers or possible fruitbearers. We need to be very clear, very sure, about this, that, however much we hear - and we may hear a very great deal spread over years, or concentrated into a brief time - it is all unprofitable and in vain until that basic initial work of the Spirit of God has been done in us which will make possible a correspondence between us inwardly and God Himself in the matter of spiritual understanding. That is, that there has been, with other spiritual faculties, a constituting of us anew with power to apprehend and understand things which no one, however eager they might be to do so, no one can understand until something has been done inside.
It is a terrible thing that so many listen, attend meetings, conventions, have the information, but so little real result follows of spiritual fruitfulness. The question has to arise, has to be raised: Now, where is the faculty of spiritual understanding here? It is a definitely Divinely-imparted faculty, the presence of something which no ordinary natural person possesses. And that is where we begin. There is no prospect until that is present.

The Faculty of Spiritual Understanding the Birthright of every Child of God

But, of course, it is the birthright and the birth possession of every truly born-again and Holy Spirit indwelt child of God. We have often tried to press this home, especially upon our younger people, that it is your right, your inheritance, to have something in you by the imparting of the Spirit of God which constitutes you different from all other men and women in this particular sense. You have a power, a faculty, an ability to grasp and see, to understand - not fully and altogether, at once, but in beginnings to understand what the natural man can never understand, and you ought to be very jealous about that gift, that qualification. The Lord's people everywhere need reminding of that, if not instructing about it, because here, in the beginning of parables, the Lord Himself lays it down.
The Word went forth, it was heard, nothing resulted because they had no understanding. Do not let us dismiss this matter and so pass off the matter of responsibility on to the speaker. Put the Lord Jesus in the place of the speaker. No one could have been simpler than He was, no one could have been more definite and direct than He was, and certainly no one could have been conveying the heart of God more than He was, and yet in His case there where those who would have said, "Well, I do not understand what He is talking about!" - passing the responsibility back on to Him. Now if you do not understand, do not go away like that, saying, "I do not know what it is all about". If that is true, that may be your condemnation, not your justification; that might mean there is something wrong with you, not necessarily with the one who gives the Word. It is important to have the beginning of possible fruitfulness established in this matter of a faculty for spiritual understanding.

The Seed Sown on Rocky Ground

The second group were those whom He called the rocky ground people, who made a quick response very joyfully, and then tribulation arose because of the Word, and they disappeared; people who made swift mental and emotional reactions. You notice how the Lord put it - "Hear with their ears, and understand with their heart" (Matt. 13:15). That is the focal point of spiritual understanding - "and understand with their heart". Paul's prayer was that the eyes of their heart might be enlightened, that they might know (Eph. 1:18).
A mental and emotional reaction or response will not get us very far. Let us watch that very carefully. Very gladly we might feel - "That is great, that is wonderful, that is splendid, I should like to have that! And, oh, I have seen, I see that!" Are you quite sure that you have seen? You may be dubious about many of these emotional reactions and these mental reactions. It has to go deeper than that because it has got to stand up to something.

The Seed Sown in Thorny Ground

And then the third group, those thorny ground people, "The care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches" (v.22). What a phrase, what a lot there is in that! There were certain people, one outstandingly, who came to the Lord Jesus. He was very rich and thought that because he could buy anything in this world that he wanted, he could have spiritual things on the same terms, and that is the deceitfulness of riches. Because you can buy everything else you want, do not be deceived into thinking that you can buy spiritual things. Oh no, not at all. Here are people who may receive, the Word may get in, there may be something done, something promising, some potential, something which has in it tremendous possibilities, but they are preoccupied and have no time for sufficient occupation with these Divine matters. How the enemy likes to fill the hands overfull, the hands even of the servants of the Lord, Christian workers. And as to the business of this world, the affairs of this world, oh, one of his greatly successful lines is to see that we do not have time for occupation with the things which matter most. It is like a drive. And then, oh, where has it all gone, all those promises, all those possibilities, those potentialities? "As thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone" (1 Kings 20:40), said a man in the Old Testament. How that might be applied to this - while I was busy here and there, even in Christian work, the spiritual values were gone.
We need not speak about the last group, "This is he that hears the word, and understands it" (v.23).

The Wayside - The Need to Seek Spiritual Understanding

Now, what would spiritual understanding have meant in the case of these different people if they had had it, in the case of the three who did not have it, or did not have it sufficiently, or did not look after it? It is quite clear that, in the first place, as we pointed out, the realisation that there was no understanding, that attitude, "Well, I don't understand, I do not know what it is all about..." - surely any glimmer of understanding would mean, "Well, what is the matter with me? There are people who are getting the good of that, there are people who seem to understand and get blessing". The very faintest glimmer of understanding would have meant - "There is something wrong with me. I must see to that, I must find out what is lacking in my case, where I am deficient". This is a kind of imaginative argument, not absolutely sound, because people who do not understand, do not usually argue like this. They usually put it off and blame someone else. But if you should at any time feel the thing is not getting through to you and you are not getting hold of it, just pause for a moment. Do not go away saying, "I did not get anything this morning, I did not understand". Rather say, "What is the matter with me? Was there something of the Lord there and I have missed it? What has happened to me? Is something necessary in my case? Am I lacking? I must give heed and ask the Lord about it, if something has got to be made good in my case, that I get more of what the Lord is wanting by this faculty of spiritual understanding either being brought in or developed more fully". That is the very simplest thing that we can do, and we must do it.
The whole question of the result of God's Word coming to us is before us, the whole issue of God's end in the ministry of His Word, the whole matter of spiritual fruitfulness. "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit" (John 15:8), God's end is spiritual fruitfulness. "For all that is bound up with this, I must have spiritual understanding, and I must have more spiritual understanding." So that, to even view the question of spiritual understanding from afar off necessitates our exercise in this way, "I am not getting all that I might be, all that others seen to be getting. The difficulty must be in myself. There is something there that is in the way; it must be dealt with."

The Rocky Ground - The Need to Count the Cost

In the case of the second group, the rocky ground people, what would spiritual understanding mean in their case? Simply this - "I see, I hear; if I accept that, if I fall into line with that, it is going to cost me something, tribulation is going to arise because of that word, it is going to land me into difficulties if I follow the Lord in that way. I shall come up against people and people will come up against me. I shall find I may be ostracised, isolated, all sorts of things may happen." You can visualise what will happen if you are going on with God when He gives His Word, for a word from God will always raise some kind of issue, do not make any mistake about it. It is no easy way to go on with God in His revealed will.
If you are going to be faithful to what God reveals to you, it is going to cost. Do not have any illusions about that. And a small quantity of spiritual understanding will bring to this - that is going to cost, what am I going to do about it? These people did not count the cost. They received, and when persecution came, they were offended; they went, that is the end. We must take the whole consequence of obedience to the Lord into view when we are presented with the challenge, and settle it. The day will come when I shall meet the consequence of this response of mine to the Lord; when that day comes, I will know what it is, I have taken it in advance. That is spiritual understanding in its essence, and will lead not only to continuance and stamina, but to fruitfulness.

The Thorny Ground - The Need to Put First Things First

As to that third group: thorny ground people, spiritual understanding would at least mean this: "Well, I must put first things first anyway; yes, there is the care of this world, there are all these other things that would preoccupy, get in the way, but I see what the effect will be. I must see to it that this that the Lord is seeking and is after has the first place, whatever it means. Things have got to bend, have got to be made to subserve God's end. It would be better for me to cut down my business, seeing to it that when God speaks other things do not come in as diversions, but that that, if kept as the most sacred responsibility, everything has to be held in relation to that." Much more could be said about it, but this is the simple attitude of spiritual understanding. Social appointments and engagements may be held sacredly and looked after, but in their place, not getting into the place of the primary. That is not easy, but you see, spiritual fruitfulness does not just happen, does not just come about willy-nilly. If there is anything about this parable at all, it is this truth: that God's end is only reached by being tremendously serious about it, nothing frivolous, nothing superficial, no mere mental reaction, and trying to have a good time. No, this is business.
Cost, tribulation, adversity, scorching sun because of the Word; other things, good in their place, perhaps right and proper in their measure, but they have all got to be handled seriously in relation to the thing. What has God said, what is God after, what has God revealed? We are dealing with the Word of the living God. We can go out from a gathering and begin at once to talk about all the things of common life. The parable is fulfilled in our very midst: the enemy taking the Word away - preoccupations, diversions - the Word gone. Oh, there ought to be some very serious business done every time the Lord speaks, and it must be held into its place and not allowed to be lost. What has been the fruit of the last time the Lord spoke? Try it out that way. How many times have you heard the Lord speaking, how many times has the Word of the Lord been spoken in your hearing? How much fruit has resulted from all or any part of it? That depends on your exercise over it, and not a bit upon your having heard it.
It is spiritual fruitfulness, therefore; although it may be in a fourth part, it must be there, and it is there that His Word does not return void. May we be found there.

For Me To Live Is Christ (and other devotionals)

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.’” Matthew 2:1-2. DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Not all “wise men” are wise men. You may be a great entrepreneur, a great businessman, engineer, or nuclear physicist. You may be a physician, lawyer, a gifted artist. But if you don’t know Jesus, you’re not truly wise. There’s a kind of wisdom that’s not wisdom at all; it’s the wisdom of this world. “PhD” may stand for “phenomenal dud” if you don’t know Jesus.  Omar Bradley, a great American five-star general, once said, “We’re living in a time when our achievement, our knowledge of science, has gone far beyond our power to control it. We have too many men of science and too few men of God. We’ve brought about brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We’re living in a time of nuclear giants and spiritual pigmies.”  That’s well said. What is real wisdom? Wise men and women will seek Jesus. Do you know the mark of wisdom, how to determine wisdom? Just tell me what motivates you, tell me the consummate ambition of your life, and I can tell you clearly whether you’re wise or not just by what you seek. The apostle Paul summed up his life in one sentence: “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). What he meant was the source, the substance, the subject, the satisfaction of his life was Christ.  ACTION POINT: Could you put your life in a sentence like that? “For me to live is Christ.” Pause and think about that. ~Adrian Rogers~ ____________________________ Trust Perseveres  For the King trusts in the Lord, through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. Psalm 21:7 Trust in God perseveres. It perseveres with the addition of more responsibilities and in a season of lost opportunities. Whether in the excitement of promotion or the discouragement of demotion it still trusts God. In fact, the more responsibility we gain, the more we need God. The more it seems we are capable, the more we realize we are incapable without Christ. Power may tempt us to lower our guard in trusting God, but the more responsibility and power we are entrusted with, the more we need to trust the Lord.  Kings and presidents need Christ as much as or more than paupers and priests. Trust is not contingent on our felt need. It is contingent on our having the ability to breathe. As long as we have breath in our lungs, we desperately need the Lord. Self-confidence is an obstacle to our holy confidence in Christ. He sees us through. Trust in Him perseveres. Trust perseveres because it is buoyant in its belief in the unfailing love of God. The love of God stands secure in the face of suffering. The love of God licks the wounds of a lacerated soul. The love of God provides the grace to forgive and forget. The love of God continues in the face of ugly odds because it is optimistic of what we can hope for in Christ. God’s love draws us into intimacy with Him. It is when God loves us that we feel safe. It is when God loves us that we feel secure. It is when God loves us that we feel support and encouragement. The love of God covers our sin of unbelief. It is a buttress for our belief. It is the love of the Most High that lifts us when we are at our lowest to continue trusting our sympathizing Savior. He is high and lifted up, so He can lift us up. He looks down on us with compassion. Because He is trustworthy, we trust. No one is higher than Almighty God. He is the Most High. We have the privilege, the opportunity, and the obligation to go right to the top. The Holy Spirit is God’s gatekeeper. By faith we can trust Him to intercede on our behalf. Our faith may be faltering in our confusion, but Christ clarifies. Do not give up because of the complexities of your current situation. Go to the Most High to unravel the mess in which you find yourself. He is the decision maker. He is your maker. He knows how to guide you through this uncertain process. The Most High has the needed perspective to see you through. It is by faith that we do not completely falter. Trust Him to tell you what you need to know. Persevere. The fruit of trust is perseverance. The lethal high winds of adversity may attempt to uproot your faith, but you will persevere. You will persevere in your marriage though our culture gives you a pass for divorce. You will persevere in your job even though you have been passed over for someone less qualified. You will persevere as a parent because this may be your time to mature and grow up. You will persevere as a leader because God is not finished spreading your influence. You will persevere as a Christian because you trust God. By God’s grace you will not be moved. Allow Him to grow your character. Stand strong. Allow Him to love you through this time of transition. Trust perseveres. Prayer: Heavenly Father, I trust in You to see me through this hard time at home and at work. Related Readings: 1 Corinthians 13:7; Hebrews 10:36, 11:27; James 1:12, 5:11; Revelation 2:3 ~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~ ___________________________________ Jeremiah 2:2 I remember thee. Let us note that Christ delights to think upon His Church, and to look upon her beauty. As the bird returneth often to its nest, and as the wayfarer hastens to his home, so doth the mind continually pursue the object of its choice. We cannot look too often upon that face which we love; we desire always to have our precious things in our sight. It is even so with our Lord Jesus. From all eternity "His delights were with the sons of men"; His thoughts rolled onward to the time when His elect should be born into the world; He viewed them in the mirror of His foreknowledge. "In Thy book," He says, "all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Ps. 139:16). When the world was set upon its pillars, He was there, and He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. Many a time before His incarnation, He descended to this lower earth in the similitude of a man; on the plains of Mamre (Gen. 18), by the brook of Jabbok (Gen. 32:24-30), beneath the walls of Jericho (Josh. 5:13), and in the fiery furnace of Babylon (Dan. 3:19, 25), the Son of Man visited His people. Because His soul delighted in them, He could not rest away from them, for His heart longed after them. Never were they absent from His heart, for He had written their names upon His hands, and graven them upon His side. As the breastplate containing the names of the tribes of Israel was the most brilliant ornament worn by the high priest, so the names of Christ's elect were His most precious jewels, and glittered on His heart. We may often forget to meditate upon the perfections of our Lord, but He never ceases to remember us. Let us chide ourselves for past forgetfulness, and pray for grace ever to bear Him in fondest remembrance. Lord, paint upon the eyeballs of my soul the image of Thy Son. ~Charles Spurgeon~ _______________________ Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -- Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. -- Having therefore, ... boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. -- We may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.        HEB. 4:16.  Phi. 4:6,7.  Rom. 8:15. Isa. 45:19.  Heb. 10:19,22.  Heb. 13:6. EVENING Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. -- The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. -- If the Son ... shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.        Brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. -- Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. -- Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.        JOHN 8:32.  II Cor. 3:17.  Rom. 8:2.  John 8:36. Gal. 4:31.  Gal. 2:16. Jas. 1:25. -Gal. 5:1. ~Samuel Bagster~ _________________________ Getting Established in the Faith If you are a new believer in Christ, or know someone who is, I want to talk to you today.  I want to share with you four things that will help you get established in your faith. 1. Read your Bible every day. That's food for your spirit. Psalm 119:11 says, Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  It is vital you spend time in God's Word. 2. Pray every day. Spend time talking to God and then listening in your heart for His answers.  As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 admonishes us, Pray without ceasing.  This is a vital part of your growth and protection as a believer. 3. Fellowship with other believers. Do not get isolated from the church.  Do not get isolated from the rest of the body.  Scripture tells us to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as is the manner of some (Hebrews 10:25).  In fact, it is important to get integrated into a smaller circle of fellowship.  You need to get connected relationally.  There is a real safety in that. 4. Listen to your spiritual leaders.  Go to church whenever the doors are open, and go expecting God to speak to you through the teaching and preaching.  One translation of Hebrews 13:17 says, Give ear to your spiritual leaders and be willing to do what they say for their work is to watch over your souls. Become a part of a strong Bible-believing fellowship and take heed to what is taught. If you will do those things:  read your Bible every day, pray every day, get involved in a smaller circle of fellowship and listen to your spiritual leaders, you will be all right.  ~Bayless Conley~ _________________________ John 10:9 I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Jesus, the great I AM, is the entrance into the true church, and the way of access to God Himself. He gives to the man who comes to God by Him four choice privileges. 1. He shall be saved. The fugitive manslayer passed the gate of the city of refuge, and was safe. Noah entered the door of the ark, and was secure. None can be lost who take Jesus as the door of faith to their souls. Entrance through Jesus into peace is the guarantee of entrance by the same door into heaven. Jesus is the only door, an open door, a wide door, a safe door; and blessed is he who rests all his hope of admission to glory upon the crucified Redeemer. 2. He shall go in. He shall be privileged to go in among the divine family, sharing the children's bread, and participating in all their honours and enjoyments. He shall go in to the chambers of communion, to the banquets of love, to the treasures of the covenant, to the storehouses of the promises. He shall go in unto the King of kings in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the secret of the Lord shall be with him. 3. He shall go out. This blessing is much forgotten. We go out into the world to labour and suffer, but what a mercy to go in the name and power of Jesus! We are called to bear witness to the truth, to cheer the disconsolate, to warn the careless, to win souls, and to glorify God; and as the angel said to Gideon, "Go in this thy might," even thus the Lord would have us proceed as His messengers in His name and strength. 4. He shall find pasture. He who knows Jesus shall never want. Going in and out shall be alike helpful to him: in fellowship with God he shall grow, and in watering others he shall be watered. Having made Jesus his all, he shall find all in Jesus. His soul shall be as a watered garden, and as a well of water whose waters fail not. ~Charles Spurgeon~ ___________________________ Finding Satisfaction Philippians 4:11-13 God has provided us with many things to enjoy. But too often our lives are filled with turmoil instead of contentment. Four practices that create dissatisfaction are . . . Busyness. We live in a hurry-up society, dashing from one activity to another. Jesus did not rush anywhere, yet He accomplished whatever God gave Him to do. Not once did He tell His followers to move faster. He even praised Mary for choosing to stop her work and spend time with Him (Luke 10:39, 42). Earthly perspective. Too often we live focused on our circumstances. Our minds think about what happened earlier in the week, what’s on today’s agenda, and the activities occurring next week, month, or year. No wonder enjoyment of life remains elusive. The solution is to have an eternal perspective, which acknowledges that God is in charge and our goal is to please Him. Self-imposed pressure. We have all experienced the unavoidable burdens of schoolwork, employment, and relationships. But we bring needless pressure on ourselves when we allow unnecessary “musts” and “shoulds” to rule us. The remedy is to turn to God, acknowledge His right to order our days, and ask for His plan. Unhealthy attitudes. Perfectionism, false guilt, and apathy all undermine our enjoyment of life. Satisfaction is found in a life that reflects God’s priorities—and time with Him comes first. Reading His Word, we become mindful of the Father’s great love, learn what He views as important, and experience the joy of belonging to Him. When contentment is elusive, it’s time to examine our priorities. ~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~ _________________________ Agreeing With God  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9  Recommended Reading Psalm 51:1-6 Confession of sin is multifaceted, but there is a core principle. It is not sorrow, guilt, or shame. It is agreement. The Greek translation for “confess” is made of two words: homos means “same,” and lego means “say or speak.” So, to confess means “to say the same thing as.” As who? As God! We don’t inform God of our sins by confessing them. He already knows what we have done. Our greatest need is to humbly agree with Him: “Father, You call what I did ‘sin’ and I agree with You.” Consider these words from the General Confession in the Book of Common Prayer: “Almighty God, We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness.” The key word there is “acknowledge.” It suggests that we are simply agreeing with God about our “sins and wickedness.” We aren’t hiding our sins or hiding from God. We enter God’s presence ready to acknowledge (agree with) what God already knows. Such acknowledgement means we humbly accept God’s definition of our actions. We don’t try to call our sins “mistakes.” If you have sins to confess today, start by agreeing with God. Only what is rightly confessed can be rightly forgiven. The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession. ~David Jeremiah~ ____________________________ Hebrews 12:25-29 (25) See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, (26) whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." (27) Now this, "Yet once more,"indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. (28) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (29) For our God is a consuming fire. New King James Version    Listen! Hear Him! Believe what He says! The author of Hebrews has presented us with the facts that Christ is greater than angels, greater than Moses and greater than Aaron; that the New Covenant is superior in every way to the Old Covenant. He addresses this presentation to Christians who stand, not before a physical mountain in the Sinai, but a spiritual Mount Zion in heaven. Nevertheless, we still have the potential to refuse to hear, even as our spiritual ancestors who had just come out of Egypt did not hear. Now, they knew—they knew—that it was the voice of God that they heard, and they refused to hear because they believed they could not endure what He commanded! Do we see the parallel? It is possible for Christians to cherish their own will—which they know to be diametrically opposed to the will and purpose of God—and to stick to their own desires, thus stifling the voice of the Almighty God Himself! And thus, we can wrench ourselves away from the voice because we feel uncomfortable going against our resolve. ~John W. Ritenbaugh~

He Died For All (and other devotionals)

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He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him. (2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV)

We can only know Christ after the Spirit, so that Christ for us in this dispensation is spiritual in the sense that all that we know of Him or can have to do with Him can only be in the Spirit. “Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.” (2 Cor. 5:16). He is known after the Spirit. Our resources are spiritual. The weapons of our warfare are spiritual. Everything has got to come to us from above. The one great effort of the enemy, which is again and again successful through this dispensation, has been to bring the things of God down to the attachment with this world, attachment to this earth, to make them something here....

You only need to read John to see how unattached everything is, how everything is lifted clean out of this world, and everything is bound up with the fact that Christ is in heaven, and that the Lord’s people are here, but not here; here, but not known; in the world, but not of it; a mystery people in this world so far as the world is concerned... unrecognized, unknown. And yet by that very means and for that very reason, the most potent force that this universe knows: the spiritual, hidden, secret people of God in this earth. To take hold of Christianity and mold it, and shape it, and systematize it, and crystallize it, and make it some mighty movement here; with its roots here, with all its associations such as man can see, appreciate and approve; to register itself upon the ordinary consciousness of this world as being something; all of that is contrary to the Word of God and is contrary to spiritual life and spiritual power. Christ is in heaven, and we are lifted out, translated, seated together with Him in the heavenlies. Our present purpose in this world is testimony only, by which others will be taken out of the nations, a people for His name.

~T. Austin-Sparks~
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Just Look Around

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

—1 Peter 5:6

When God is looking for a man or a woman to use, He often goes out of His way to find someone who will say, "I'm the last person You would want to choose."

The Lord might say to that person, "Actually, you are the first person I wanted to choose because you think you're the last person I would want to choose." People who think they are qualified, people who think they can do it all and know it all, disqualify themselves. Why? Because "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

Sometimes people tell me they want to be in ministry, and they want my advice regarding how they can get into the ministry. Ministry is everywhere. Jesus said, "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35).

I started out in ministry on the streets. I was just someone who heard the gospel and believed it. I went out on the streets of Newport Beach, around the pier, and I walked around. I'd walk up to people I had never met and talk to them about my faith. I looked for any opportunity I could find.

In the Bible we see that the people God called to serve Him usually were busy doing something else. Gideon was grinding wheat. Elisha was plowing a field. Peter and John were mending nets. Matthew was sitting at his tax table.

Ministry is all around us if we will just open our eyes. Work where you are. Do what you can where you are. If you are faithful in the little things, God will open up great opportunities for you.

~Greg Laurie~

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Hard History

Today's reading: 2 Kings 9:1-10:27

As we arrive at 2 Kings 9 Jehu is anointed king of Israel, and what immediately follows is deadly violence. I find passages like these extremely difficult to read, understand and accept--even knowing that this account is from a much different time period where customs, traditions, practices and laws were nothing like what we follow today. Nevertheless, it's part of God's Word as well as biblical history which means I need to know about it and look for lessons from it.

There was one word that kept going through my mind as I read this heavy passage--SIN. Sin is powerful, far-reaching and always has consequences.

What are some of the spiritual consequences when we choose to sin? What helps you keep your focus on God and following His ways? 

~Tami~

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Quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.

It is the Spirit that quickeneth. - The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.

I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. - The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. - The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. - This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

PSA. 80:18. John 6:63. Rom. 8:26,27. Eph. 6:18. Psa. 119:93. John 6:63. II Cor. 3:6. -John 15:7. I John 5:14. I Cor. 12:3. 

EVENINGHave no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolators; for then must we needs go out of the world. I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. - That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

EPH. 5:11. I Cor. 15:33. I Cor. 5:6,7,9 11. Phi. 2:15. II Tim. 2:20.

~Samuel Bagster~

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Nearest and Dearest Fellowship 

"So shall we ever be with the LORD"   (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

While we are here the LORD is with us, and when we are called away we are with Him. There is no dividing the saint from His Savior. They are one, and they always must be one: Jesus cannot be without His own people, for He would be a Head without a body. Whether caught up into the air, or resting in paradise, or sojourning here, we are with Jesus; and who shall separate us from Him? What a joy is this! Our supreme honor, rest, comfort, delight, is to be with the LORD. We cannot conceive of anything which can surpass or even equal this divine society. By holy fellowship we must be with Him in His humiliation, rejection, and travail, and then we shall be with Him in His glory. Before long we shall be with Him in His rest and in His royalty, in His expectation and in His manifestation. We shall fare as He fares and triumph as He triumphs. O my LORD, if I am to be forever with Thee, I have a destiny incomparable. I will not envy an archangel. To be forever with the LORD is my idea of heaven at its best. Not the harps of gold, nor the crowns unfading, nor the light unclouded is glory to me; but Jesus, Jesus Himself, and myself forever with Him in nearest and dearest fellowship.

~Charles Spurgeon~

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This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.—Luke 21:13

Life is a steep climb, and it does the heart good to have somebody “call back” and cheerily beckon us on up the high hill. We are all climbers together, and we must help one another. This mountain climbing is serious business, but glorious. It takes strength and steady step to find the summits. The outlook widens with the altitude. If anyone among us has found anything worth while, we ought to “call back.”

If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back—

’Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track; 

And if, perchance, Faith’s light is dim, because the oil is low, 

Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;

Call back, and say He kept you when the forest’s roots were torn;

That, when the heavens thunder and the earthquake shook the hill,

He bore you up and held you where the very air was still.

Oh, friend, call back, and tell me for I cannot see your your face,

They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race;

But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim,

And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

But if you’ll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,

And if you’ll say He saw you through the night’s sin-darkened sky

If you have gone a little way ahead, oh, friend, call back—

’Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track. 

~L. B. Cowman~

Not I, But Christ (and other devotionals)

[not I But Christ. I have this on two of my blogs this morning. I think that this should be spread throughout the internet! Worthy is our Lord!!]


Not I, But Christ

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted,

Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard;

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action,

Not I, but Christ in every thought and word.

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord!

Oh, to be lost in Thee!

Oh, that it might be no more “I”,

But Christ that lives in me!

Not I, but Christ, to gently soothe in sorrow,

Not I, but Christ, to wipe the falling tear;

Not I, but Christ, to lift the weary burden,

Not I, but Christ, to hush away all fear.

Christ, only Christ! No idle words e'er falling,

Christ, only Christ; no needless bustling sounds;

Christ, only Christ; no self important bearing,

Christ, only Christ, no trace of “I” be found.

Not I, but Christ, my every need supplying,

Not I, but Christ, my strength and health to be;

Not I, but Christ, for body, soul, and spirit,

Christ, only Christ, here and eternally.

Christ, only Christ ere long will fill my vision;

Glory excelling soon, full soon I'll see

Christ, only Christ my every wish fulfilling

Christ, only Christ my all and all to be.

~Frances E. Bolton~

[Oh, halleluah!!! Most beautiful expression I have ever seen of our Lord and Saviour!! Not I - no, never "I", but always, always  Christ!]

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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
New King James Version   

Paul addresses I Thessalonians 5:16-18 directly to us, and its commands can greatly affect our attitudes during trials so that we make the best use of them without getting down on life: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in ChristJesus for you.” These are quite challenging! But since God commands them of us, they are things that He will enable us to accomplish. Therefore, they are not impossible tasks.

These are attitudes and actions that we can control. Other scriptures reveal that God permits us to be saddened or disappointed about what is happening. For example, the gospels say that Jesus sorrowed about various things. Here, Paul's concern is that, in our relationship with God—as the mention of prayer establishes—we will not remain depressed for an extended time because of our contact with God. We should be able to come out of our funks. If we do not, it is because we are too focused on ourselves.

These commands guard against allowing ourselves to sink from an upbeat, positive, and hopeful attitude of a child of God to a discouraged and self-centered one. How? By doing spiritual work directly in relation to God, holding onto God in the midst of all circumstances in life. Peter writes that if God is our hope, He will lift us up (I Peter 5:6-7).

I Timothy 6:6-8 reminds us of an important reality: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” This passage's central issue concerns wealth. Great discontentment and discouragement are generated through coveting wealth. However, the attitude of a reasoned, faith-based contentment, regardless of economic circumstances, causes great spiritual gain.

Within a relationship with God, this faith-based attitude greatly assists in enabling a Christian to live an “over the sun” life. In a converted person's mind, because he is living such a life, God is the Central Figure, and he accepts whatever life throws his way. A Christian with that focus works his way through his trials, overcoming the pulls toward self-centeredness because he knows God is with him.

Without God being the beacon that provides guidance and encouragement, a person can much more easily drift into an easily discouraged, discontented, covetous, “life is down on me,” self-centered existence. When that happens, spiritual progress grinds to a halt.

~John W. Ritenbaugh~

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None of you can be My disciples unless you give up everything. (Luke 14:33 GW) 

Nothing is truly established until it has been yielded up and has received the brand of the Cross upon it. Have you got that? Even though that may have been given to you from God, there is still always the danger of something in ourselves impinging upon something that God has given us. We insinuate ourselves into it, and make it ours somehow. This Self! This flesh! Oh, yes, God gives us a ministry and then we get hold of it and become jealous about our ministry and afraid of other people getting in our way and taking our ministry away from us; interfering with our ministry, you see. The flesh comes up in that way and in so many other directions and connections. God does something, and then we come into it. We get into the picture.

Somehow or other this flesh cannot keep itself out of even the things that God does by a miracle. We turn them to the glorification or the gratification of this flesh of ours, and even a thing which God may give – and you are thinking perhaps of different things which God may give – will never be established and confirmed until it has been yielded up and knows the mark of death to ourselves and that is only alive for and unto God, and we are only alive for and unto God in that connection, whatever it may be. The Cross is the way of Life in everything and immediately the Cross is nullified by this thing upon which the Cross says, "No, No!" Immediately anything of that comes up again, we counter the life of that thing, we strangle its life, we limit its life. We not only arrest the progress, but we bring into smallness God’s intention of multiplication. Why cannot God increase? And the answer is clearly and definitely this: that somehow or other man has come into this business of God and turned it to himself. The Cross has not been kept in its place to give God a clear, full, free way.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

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Representing God Today's reading: 2 Kings 8:7-15 Elisha was well-known for boldly following and serving God and the many mighty works he did in God's name and through His strength. So when the king of Syria falls ill, he reaches out to "the man of God," for guidance and direction, rather than turning to the god of the Syrians. Elisha's demeanor and how Elisha interacts with Hazael and responds to Ben-hadad, got me thinking about ministry and the varying situations, demands and opportunities that come with it. Elisha is in a country that follows a foreign god, and when he is approached by the king through Hazael, he represents God fully and well. He willingly conversed with Hazael, he wasn't arrogant or condescending in his actions or words, he was straightforward and spoke openly and with truth. There's a temptation as we read passages and accounts about people like Elisha, Elijah, Moses, or one of the disciples to think of their examples as being primarily for those who have chosen full-time ministry as an occupation. But the fact of the matter is that as a follower of Christ, we are all in full-time ministry, whether or not it generates our paycheck. As a follower of Christ, do you consider yourself as being in full-time ministry? Think back over the past week, how did you represent God to others through your actions and words? What does you representing God well look like?  ~Tami~ ___________________________________ Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ acted in what He did as a great public representative person, and His dying upon the cross was the virtual dying of all His people. Then all His saints rendered unto justice what was due, and made an expiation to divine vengeance for all their sins. The apostle of the Gentiles delighted to think that as one of Christ's chosen people, he died upon the cross in Christ. He did more than believe this doctrinally, he accepted it confidently, resting his hope upon it. He believed that by virtue of Christ's death, he had satisfied divine justice, and found reconciliation with God. Beloved, what a blessed thing it is when the soul can, as it were, stretch itself upon the cross of Christ, and feel, "I am dead; the law has slain me, and I am therefore free from its power, because in my Surety I have borne the curse, and in the person of my Substitute the whole that the law could do, by way of condemnation, has been executed upon me, for I am crucified with Christ." But Paul meant even more than this. He not only believed in Christ's death, and trusted in it, but he actually felt its power in himself in causing the crucifixion of his old corrupt nature. When he saw the pleasures of sin, he said, "I cannot enjoy these: I am dead to them." Such is the experience of every true Christian. Having received Christ, he is to this world as one who is utterly dead. Yet, while conscious of death to the world, he can, at the same time, exclaim with the apostle, "Nevertheless I live." He is fully alive unto God. The Christian's life is a matchless riddle. No worldling can comprehend it; even the believer himself cannot understand it. Dead, yet alive! crucified with Christ, and yet at the same time risen with Christ in newness of life! Union with the suffering, bleeding Saviour, and death to the world and sin, are soul-cheering things. O for more enjoyment of them! ~Charles Spurgeon~