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“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Jesus is Mighty God. How does this impact your life? As believers in Jesus Christ, we have experienced the mighty power of Christ through salvation. Paul writes in Ephesians 1:19-20: ”I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” We have access to the mighty power of Christ. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20
We use it to defeat the enemy. “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” 2 Corinthians 10:4
Believe…act in faith. 1 John 5:4 says: “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” God has given us the victory – we must act in faith as though the victory were already ours. Walk in the victory of the one who has overcome the world. Be an overcomer. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Isaiah 9:6 Monday - Luke 1:69 Tuesday - Hebrews 1:3 Wednesday - Philippians 3:10 Thursday - Ephesians 1:19-20 Friday - Ephesians 3:20 Saturday - 2 Corinthians 10:4 Prayer: Father, thank you for the mighty power of Christ that is at work within me. Lord, help me to act in faith…to fight the good fight…to separate myself from the evil of this world…to draw near to Jesus, and to lean on my brothers and sisters in Christ for strength and encouragement. May others see the power of Christ in me as I live for you. Amen
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It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year and yet can quickly become a time of tremendous stress.
Shopping…Family…Activities…Year-end at work… When life becomes overwhelming, how open are you to seeking counsel? Maybe you just push your way through it all, or do you have someone you turn to?
If you don’t have someone to whom you turn, I’d like to make a suggestion: simply look to Jesus and say, “Lord, I need you to counsel me.” If you do, He will. He is a wonderful counselor. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Secular and Christian counseling are at an all time high in our society. And when you have a need in your life, there’s certainly nothing wrong with seeking out a counselor. In fact the Bible tells us to seek counsel. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” But as believers, we must never lose sight of the fact that we have access to the most wonderful counselor imaginable – Jesus Christ. Seek His counsel first and let Him show you the next step to take. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Isaiah 9:6 Monday - Proverbs 11:14 Tuesday - Hebrews 4:15 Wednesday - 1 Peter 5:7 Thursday - Isaiah 25:1 Friday - Psalm 119:24 Saturday - Psalm 16 Prayer: Jesus, thank you for hearing me and for knowing my needs and concerns before I even share them. Thank you for your counsel through your Word, through the Holy Spirit and through your church. Lord, give me ears to hear you when you speak and a heart to obey. Amen Have you ever been at a place in life where you wished you could see enough of the future just to know what to do next? A desire to simply know with certainty which door to open, which path to take, or which choice to make.
Life is full of choices, and our choices all have consequences. We all hope for the best, but there are those times when we end up suffering the consequences of poor choices. The Bible has an answer for this life dilemma: always follow God’s path…only go through the doors that God opens. In Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) it says, “Trust in the Lord with all you heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” It all centers on seeking His will and trusting Him implicitly. It is better understood when we remember that God has a plan for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord …” Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT Are you willing to follow God’s plan? The passage says to “seek His will in all you do.” God is offering to guide your life if you will surrender to His will and follow His path. The benefit for you is perfect peace. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord GOD is the eternal Rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT Let Him show you. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Proverbs 3:5-6 Monday - Mark 12:29-31 Tuesday - Isaiah 55:6-9 Wednesday - Proverbs 16:25 Thursday - Jeremiah 29:11-14 Friday - Matthew 6:33 Saturday - John 10:3-5 Prayer: Father, I want to follow the path you have planned for my life. Help me to stay focused on you and your will. Open my ears to hear you, my eyes to see you, and my heart to know your will for me. Thank you Lord. Amen “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
How easy is it for you to give thanks for everything, in all circumstances? If we’re honest we’ll admit there are times when that seems like an impossibility. When difficulties or hardships come, the furtherest thing from our minds is to say “thank you.” The problem is we have a very narrow perspective on life and its circumstances. God has a very different view. He sees everything…He knows everything…His perspective is the “Big Picture” while ours is focused on isolated instances occurring throughout our lives. Paul writes in Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Do you see it? Everything…both good and bad, pleasant and unpleasant…Everything works together for the good of believers, of those who follow Christ. It sure is a lot easier to thank God in the good times. Do you know what it takes to thank the Lord in the hard times? Trust. Complete and implicit trust in the one who sees and knows everything. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT God’s got a plan. Thank Him for everything. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Monday - Romans 8:28 Tuesday - Jeremiah 29:11 Wednesday - Philippians 4:4 Thursday - John 14:21 Friday - James 1:2 Saturday - Psalm 136 Prayer: Father, help me be truly thankful for everything, especially in the difficult days. Give me a glimpse of your perspective. I trust you, Lord. Amen Do you remember some of the wonderful words of wisdom your parents may have offered throughout your childhood? Words that perhaps you passed along or are passing along to your children? If you’re not sure, let me refresh your memory:
In Romans 12:9-21, God offers us wonderful words of wisdom as well. 'Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord . Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.' Wise words worth putting into action. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Romans 12:9-21 Monday - 2 Cor. 6:6 Tuesday - John 13:34 Wednesday - Ps. 34:14 Thursday - Heb. 13:2 Friday - 1 Thess. 3:12 Saturday - Col. 3:15 Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me words to live by . . . biblical instructions for living life your way. Help me to follow them, obey them and share them. Amen We have all been created for relationship. Relationship with God the Father and with one another. We need both God and people in our lives. The church provides that possibility.
From the very beginning, Christianity was not primarily a “doctrine" to be be taught, but a “community" in which to live. There was not only a "message" to be proclaimed and delivered, and "Good News" to be declared, but there was a New Community to which members were called and recruited. Church is not about “attending” in order to watch and listen to what others are saying or doing; it’s about becoming a part of a community. Listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 2:19: “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” Church membership is an important commitment because it is a tangible expression of a life that is surrendered to Jesus Christ. This Is My Church . . .
A church is never stronger than the commitment of its members to one another and to the purposes of that church. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday -Acts 2:41-47 Monday - Ephesians 2:19 Tuesday - Romans 12:4-5 Wednesday - Romans 12:9-10 Thursday - 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Friday - 1 John 4:20-21 Saturday - Ephesians 4:16 Prayer: Father, thank you for my church. Help me to faithfully serve the community of faith where you have placed me. Lord, I love my church. Bless her in Jesus’ name. Amen “I am the Lord , the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27
We often look at the world with all of its trials, troubles, tribulations, heartaches. . . and ask:
Think of what we know about the majesty of God's limitless Power. God told Abraham that he was going to have a son in his old age…Sarah heard, and she laughed about the possibility. In Genesis 18:14, God asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Later, Jeremiah gives the answer: “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” Jeremiah 32:17 Praise God… …there is no promise too hard for God to keep. …there’s no prayer too hard for God to answer. …there is no problem too hard for God to solve. …there’s no person too hard for God to save. No matter what you’re facing…no matter what you’re dealing with, there is absolutely nothing too hard for God to do. Trust Him. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Jeremiah 32:27 Monday - Jeremiah 32:17 Tuesday - Matthew 21:22 Wednesday - Revelation 3:20 Thursday - Isaiah 59:1-2 Friday - Luke 9:57-62 Saturday - Luke 18:18-27 Prayer: Lord, I declare my trust in you over all things in my life. Help me to fully surrender these things to your will everyday. Amen “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 Wherever and whenever you experience the Father’s love, you also experience His mercy, His grace and His faithfulness. Think about it. You really can’t experience any one of these without the others. It’s as if every character quality of God is interconnected. Yet, they are all unique to themselves. However, it is His faithfulness that truly binds them together. God is always faithful. God is faithful to his Word...to his promises...to his people...to his character. Why? Because he cannot be otherwise. You can depend on him 100 percent of the time. He will never let you down. God reveals His faithfulness…
No matter what you’re facing in your life today, the secret to your hope for the future is in the faithfulness of God. Every other basis for hope will eventually let you down – other people, your job, your possessions, your skills and abilities. Tell someone today how God has been faithful to you. “I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.” Psalms 89:1-2 NLT Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Lamentations 3:21-24 Monday - Psalm 119:90 Tuesday - Numbers 23:19 Wednesday - Isaiah 55:10-11 Thursday - Revelation 19:11 Friday - 2 Timothy 2:11-13 Saturday - Psalm 89:1-2 Prayer: Father, you have proven yourself faithful throughout my life. You said that you would never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you for fulfilling your promise. I love you, Lord. Amen How often do you pray?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” Is that possible? Can I really maintain constant communication with God? I believe it all begins with understanding that prayer is a relationship . . . a relationship with one who says He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is always with us. When we have a constant consciousness of His presence with us throughout the day, we can better maintain an attitude of talking and listening to God our Father. Another question we need to answer is: How important is prayer to you in your spiritual journey and growth? We must not only recognize its importance, but we must understand that it is absolutely essential to our spiritual lives. Our prayers must come often and regularly, not from legalistic duty, but from a humble heart, realizing our dependence on God in every aspect of our lives. Prayer should be personal and private as well as corporate with the body of Christ…His church. As we pray by ourselves and with one another we need to remember:
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth. In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.” 1 Timothy 2:1-8 NLT Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Acts 1:14 Monday - John 17:20-21 Tuesday - Acts 12:5 Wednesday - 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Thursday - Matthew 6:5-13 Friday - Matthew 21:13 Saturday - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing me, responding to me and loving me. Amen Have you ever made a call to a company, been quickly greeted by an operator or secretary, and before you can say a word, they say, “Would you hold please?”
Or maybe you get an automated system that walks you through what seems like an eternal series of prompts, and when you finally get the extension you want, a recording says, “Please leave your name and number and somebody will get back with you as soon as possible.” Yeah, right. Does it sometimes feel like you’re constantly waiting? With the use of cell phones, internet, texting & email, we have become spoiled, expecting instant access. Whenever an operator puts us on hold, we feel as if we’ve been deprived. What about when God is slow in responding to your prayers? What do you do when you have to wait on God, when He puts you on hold? In Matthew’s and Mark’s gospel accounts, we read about the Canaanite woman who approached Jesus and asked for help for her daughter. Initially, Jesus didn’t respond to her. From this account, I believe we can learn what we should do when we are waiting on a response from God, when we feel as if God has put us on hold. #1 Keep on trusting in Jesus #2 Take inventory of where you stand with God #3 Surrender your whole life to God '“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Matthew 15:21-28 Monday - Mark 7:24-30 Tuesday - Romans 1;16 Wednesday - Matthew 10:1-6 Thursday - Psalm 27:14 Friday - Matthew 7:7-8 Saturday - Romans 12:12 Prayer: Lord, help me to wait on You. I know You hear me and I know You are faithful and just. Give me the peace that can only come from You in those moments in my life when I am waiting on You. Help me see what You are wanting me to learn. Amen |
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