The Promises of God

By Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Peter 1:1-11

God’s promises are precious and magnificent. They became ours at the moment of our salvation so we’d have everything we need for life and godliness. They not only remind us of His care and love for us but also provide hope and encouragement during difficult times.

Sometimes we’re shortsighted and think only of what the Lord can do for us in this life. We may try to claim biblical promises in hopes of getting what we want, but that’s not God’s purpose. He’s working for His glory and our long-term spiritual good, not our temporal desires.

The Lord wants us to take hold of all the promises that come with salvation—and to rely on every resource He provides for our continual growth in faith, obedience, godly character, and love. The Holy Spirit, our instructor, works powerfully in us to enlarge our trust in God through the Scriptures. He also provides the strength necessary for fulfillment of God’s commitments.

As you read the Bible, look for all of God’s magnificent promises that you can claim as yours. Then count them as true, and rest in them.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

God’s Love Never Changes

God’s love never changes any time at all,

He loves us enough to hear when we call;

We may not understand what’s taking place,

But He’s always there to pour out His grace!

God’s love never changes, it can’t be erased,

No principalities or powers can take it away;

He gives us His love as we live on this earth,

Caring for us often more than we deserve!

God’s love never changes, even in Satan’s wiles,

God is much stronger, prevailing is His style;

His power is greater than Satan will ever be,

He’ll love all His children throughout eternity!

God’s love never changes, nor will it ever stop,

We’re abundantly blessed, He’s our loving God;

His blessings are so awesome to behold,

He cares for our heart, for we’re in His fold!

Today is another day that I’m looking forward to meeting in the “House of the Lord.”

Where else would I want to be on a Sunday?

I’m so grateful to my parents who raised me to be faithful to attend church each week.

There was NEVER a lingering question, “Are we going to go to church today?” It was simply understood and mentally placed on our “to-do list” just like you planned to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.

You have to wonder if Christians really “delight” in worshiping and serving the Lord.

When baseball or a TV program or sleeping in takes first place over going to the House of the Lord to worship, then I think NOT that they truly “delight in the Lord.”

The verb delight means to “please someone greatly,”  “to take great pleasure in,” “to give joy or satisfaction to.”

You see, Psalms 37:4 makes it clear that we’ll be blessed when we have such a determination to please the Lord.  When we’re more concerned about pleasing Him, we’ll walk according to His commandments.  When we LOVE the Lord Jesus, we’ll obey His Word.  And of course, that brings blessings when we have such a walk with the Lord.

The desires of our heart changes as well…

Sometimes we interpret that God will give us ALL the DESIRES of our heart if we’re trying to do right; however, I believe the closer we delight in pleasing the Lord, our desires become more inSYNC with His desires.  We’re not thinking about a diamond ring or a brand new luxury car…we’re desiring to have what God wants for us.

Yes, God also delights in giving us those “little things” that brings us joy, so please do not misunderstand me.  We are human and have earthly needs and desires.  We won’t make it very far without shelter, food, water, clothing, etc.  And I also believe that our Heavenly Father delights in giving us those extra things that we enjoy, but let’s be more generous today….

Let’s give MORE to our Heavenly Father of ourselves and our time.  Let’s truly take pleasure in serving the Lord….it’s a privilege and we OWE it to Him for all that He did to give us Salvation.

God bless your week ahead,

Rhonda White

 

 

By Ricky Smith

A few weeks ago, one of the biggest podcast episodes of the summer featured a long conversation about Stoicism, the ancient philosophy that is having a real moment right now. A lot of the advice was genuinely good. Confront your mortality so you stop wasting your days. Don’t let your emotions run the show. Don’t build your identity on things outside your control. If you have listened to that kind of content, you already know it is not a full or true picture of God’s design for us.

But it leaves one question hanging. If you are simply supposed to master yourself into peace, who decided you were worth mastering in the first place? Where does your worth actually come from, if it has to come from somewhere?

Genesis 2:7 answers that question in one sentence: “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Two things are true about you in that verse, and both matter.

You are dust. Ordinary, common, mortal material, the same stuff underfoot everywhere, then and now. There is nothing about your raw material that suggests inherent status or nobility. And you are breath. Before Adam did a single thing to deserve it, before he had accomplished anything at all, God had already drawn close enough to breathe life into him personally.

Here is the theological word worth remembering: your dignity is not intrinsic, built into your material the way gold is valuable just by being gold. Your dignity is derivative. It comes from outside you, from what God did to you before you did anything. That matters because dignity tied to your own record is exactly as fragile as dust, gone the moment your performance slips. Dignity that rests on what God did for you is as secure as He is, because it never rested on you to begin with.

And here is the good news underneath that. The same God who formed Adam out of dust is not finished shaping you either. The Hebrew word for “formed” is potter’s language, and a potter does not set the clay down once it is on the wheel. You are not a finished project, proud of what you have built or ashamed of how it has turned out. You are clay still being shaped, in the hands of a Potter who, in Christ, has already promised to finish the work all the way to resurrection. Your dust is not a dead end. It is headed somewhere.

By Joe Stowell

When our children were young, taking them to the doctor’s office was an interesting experience. The waiting room was filled with toys they could play with and children’s magazines I would read to them. So, getting that far with them was no problem. But as soon as I picked them up to carry them into the appointment, everything changed. Suddenly the fun turned into fear as the nurse approached with the needle for the needed shot. The closer she got, the tighter they hugged my neck. They would cling to me for comfort, probably hoping for rescue, not knowing that it was for their own good.

Sometimes in this fallen world we move from times of peace and tranquility into the painful realm of trouble. At that point, the question is, “How will I respond?” We can be fearful and wonder why God allowed this to happen to us, or we can trust that in the midst of this trouble He is doing something that in the end is for our best, even if it hurts. We would do well to remember the words of the psalmist who wrote, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Ps. 56:3).

Like my children, the tougher it gets, the tighter we should hug His neck. Trust Him. His love never fails!

Come quickly, Lord, to help me. Teach me to trust You in times of trouble. Remind me of Your presence and of the fact that You hold me in Your loving arms.

from mikeysFunnies.com

A father thought it was about time to lecture his son, who was somewhat scatter-brained and frivolous. “Jim,” he said, “you’re getting to be a man now and you ought to take life more seriously. Just think, if I died all of a sudden, where would you be?”

“I’d be right here, dad,” said Jim.

“The better question is, where would YOU be?”

~ ~ ~

When Bill told his contractor he didn’t want carpeted steps, they gave him a blank stare.

~ ~ ~

When a kid says, “Daddy, I want Mommy,” that’s the kid version of, “I want to see your supervisor.”

~ ~ ~

Two guys walking on the beach found an old brass lamp. The first guy immediately started rubbing it and, sure enough, a Genie popped out! Before he could say anything at all, the Genie turned him into a crab. The other guy was horrified and shouted, “Why did you do that??” The Genie said, “Aww, he just rubbed me the wrong way.”

~ ~ ~

While my third-grade class was completing a writing exercise, one of the students asked me how to spell “piranha.”

I told him I was unsure. To my delight, he went to the dictionary to solve his problem. That’s when I overheard another pupil say to him, “Why bother to look it up? She doesn’t know how to spell it anyway.”

~ ~ ~

The problem with being on time is that no one is there to appreciate it.

 Phil. 4:10-13 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
           THE SECRET TO BEING SATISFIED
Intro:  Paul uses the word “content” in verse 11.  This word speaks of “being satisfied with what one has, regardless of how small it might be.”  Are you a contented person?  Are you satisfied with your lot in life?  If you are, then you possess great treasure, 1 Tim. 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 
      We live in a world of discontented people!  You might be saved and have much in this world and still not be content. 
Ill. Quaker who promised to give a piece of land to the most contented person in the village. “If thou be content, then why dost thou want my lot?”
      Rather than living lives of grateful contentment, our lives are often filled with complaining.  We “whine, pine and recline.”  We complain when children are noisy, instead of being thankful that they are healthy, happy and in right mind.  We complain about our home when thousands have no home.  We gripe about work when many have no jobs.  We fuss about our cars when many have never seen a car.  Why? We have never learned the secret of contentment! 
Ill. Benjamin Franklin said, “Contentment makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor.” Il. Pro. 13:7.”There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.”
      There is a secret to satisfaction and Paul knew all about it.  Look at his words: “I have learned”, v. 11, this word means “to gain knowledge”.  “I know”, v. 12, this word means “to understand, to make a discovery”. “I am instructed”, v. 12, this phrase means “to be initiated”.  Paul uses the language of Greek “mystery religions”.  They claimed to have special knowledge of deep, divine secrets possessed only by the initiated.  Paul borrows their words to tell us that he has been initiated into The Secret to be Satisfied. 

I.  v. 10, 12           SECRET #1: REJOICE IN YOUR SUBSTANCE
A.  Ill. 1 Tim. 6:7-8 “ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”– Be satisfied with what you have!
B.  God knows your needs.  Ill. Paul had needs – 2 Tim. 4:13.  Ill. Paul – Snored, sneezed, scratched; got cold and hungry.  Ill. All have material needs – food, shelter, clothing, etc.  God knows! Ill. Matt. 6:32.  God will meet our needs in unusual ways. (Ill. Blessing to be saved!)
1.  He may send it directly – Ill. Elijah and the ravens, 1 Kings 17. He could send it from Heaven like He did the Manna, but He often chooses to use us, so that we can get a blessing too, Ill. Widow of Zarepath – 1 Kings 17. 
2.  He may meet our need through others – Ill. The Philippians gift to Paul.  Had been 10 years, but they sent to his needs.  Had lacked opportunity, but when time came, they gave.  Ill. “flourished again”  – “To bloom again” – Ill. Like flowers in the spring after long, cold winter.  Got Paul on heart and acted.  What prompted them?  God did!  (Note: When God lays something on your heart, do it!  When you have an opportunity to do good, take it! Ill. Gal. 6:10.)
C.  Regardless of what God provides, rejoice in it, Ill. V. 12; Ill. Heb. 13:5.  Ill. Sometimes, it is harder to handle a lot than it is a little! (Ill. What does it take to satisfy you? Gadgets, cars, recreation, clothes, keeping up with neighbors, etc.  Ill. Many not content to keep up with Joneses, want to be the Joneses!)  Ill. Instead of complaining about what you lack, how about praising Him for what you have?  (Ill Lady, bread and water: “All this and Jesus too!”)  (Ill. “I know how to be abased and to abound…” – Do we?)
 
II.  v. 11                    SECRET #2: REST IN YOUR SITUATION
(Ill. Paul a contented man.  In jail, not fretting or fuming.  In difficult situation, but content.  What does it mean to be contented?)
A.  Not Self-Satisfaction – We should never settle for less than our best.  We can be ambitious and still be right with God.  Should not be satisfied to be an office boy when could be President; to make C’s when could make A’s; to play 3rd string when could be All-American; to be mere Christian when could shake the world for God.  (Ill. D.L. Moody; Ill. Charles Spurgeon) Ill. A holy discontent – Phil. 2:12; 3:14.”The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.”
B.  Not Self-Sufficiency – “to be enough in one’s self” – Ill. Stuff you hear from motivational speakers; smile and be happy preachers.  You can do anything you want, just put your mind to it.  (Ill. Norman v Peele and Osteen) Ill. Word taken from Stoic Philosophers – Moved by nothing outside themselves.  Completely independent of all things and people.  Need nothing and no one. Not church, God, or Bible.  Eliminate all emotion. (Ill. Break plate, lose pet, lose loved one, etc. – “Don’t care!”  But, we do care!  T.R. Glover – “The Stoics made the heart a desert and called it peace.”
C.  It Is Self-Surrender – Bible made Christian.  Means “to be self-contained; to have all needed within.”  Used to describe a city or country that needed no imports.  They had all they needed to sustain life. (Ill. Cruise ship; Retirement community)  This is the essence of God-Dependence.  The Christian has hidden resources – Ill. John 4:14”shall never thirst”.  (Ill. People who blow up and out have no inner resources!)  This allows us to ACCEPT our situation.  ADAPT to our situation – Adversity proves Jesus to be true riches; plenty proves Jesus to be greater than riches.  APPROPRIATE our situation.  Every event in life becomes and opportunity to make Jesus known, Ill. Paul – Phil. 1:12-13; 4:22.”But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;”
 
III.  v. 13                   SECRET #3: REALIZE YOUR STRENGTH
A.  Paul does not say “I can’t” – That is the language of PESSIMISM. 
Ill. Hear this kind of talk everywhere.  Churches can’t grow, or be great for God.  Christians can’t witness, pray, be effective.
B.  Paul does not say “I can” – That is the language of PRESUMPTION.  Ill. New convert reading NT and “Paul, you’ve gone too far now!”  Hear this a lot too.  People say, “I can run my own life!  I do not need God, the church or the Bible.  I am the captain of my own soul and the master of own fate.”  Take Christ out of Christian and what do you have? IAN = “I am nothing”  Ill. Rich fool – “I will” – Luke 12:32.” Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
C.  He said “I can…through Christ” – That is the language of POWER.  This is dynamic contentment; this is dynamic Christian life.  This is victory over every temptation; grace for every trouble; strength for every task. (Ill. What are “all things?” Jump off church?  Stop speeding locomotive?  Play piano?  Means all things in v. 12!  Jesus gives power to face life’s adversities.  He gives the power to cope.  He gives the power to enjoy contentment regardless of the circumstances, Phil. 4:6-7 “ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  People succumb because can’t cope.  He gives the power to face anything that comes your way with true contentment.  Ill. “strengthens me” – “infuses His strength into my life.”
 
Conc:  Ill. Poor farmer worked hard and had nothing.  When he died, his property was found to be sitting on a sea of oil.  He had a treasure he had never tapped into! Are you content? Are you saved? Are you tapping the well of His power?

One Light

By Steve Goodier

Imagine an artist painting a winter scene. She depicts a white, frozen ground and evergreens draped in snow. Her hand brings the day to a close as she paints night falling on the canvas. In the deep shadows of dusk, she has painted a grim, log cabin, barely visible to the casual observer.

Then she dips her brush in yellow paint and, with a few quick strokes, places a brightly burning lamp in one of the cabin’s windows. Warm rays dance on white snow, now made brighter by the light. The lonely lamp wholly changes the tone of the picture, replacing feelings of dark and gloom with warmth and security.

Edith Wharton has said that there are two ways of spreading the light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Sometimes we are the candle. We shed light of love and hope. We shine encouragement into dark souls, for this is a bleak and cold world for too many people, a frightening and lonely place in need of light. Francis of Assisi got it right: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”

But sometimes we are the mirror that reflects light. We reflect back what we see in others to help them see their own light — their own goodness and beauty, their own strength and resiliency and resourcefulness.

There are two ways of spreading light — to be the candle or the mirror. Which are you?

God Works All Things Out

God works all things out, for He’s in control,

He meets all our needs, in His hands He holds;

He walks with us daily, as on earth we trod,

We’re abundantly blessed to be led by God!

God works all things out, everything we can’t,

There’s nothing too great for His almighty hand;

He brings us through all that life sends our way,

Then fills us each day with mercy and grace!

God works all things out, walking by our side,

Within the saved one’s heart is where He abides;

His presence is awesome to have within,

He guides our heart in living right for Him!

God works all things out, the good & the bad,

He’s our faithful Friend when we become sad;

Thank God for all the abundant things He does,

He’s more than worthy of all our faith & trust!