Surrounded By Favor
PSALM 5:12 NIV
12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround
them with your favor as with a shield.
God's favor can change your life.
Someone who is favored is called a favor-ite.
(The New Testament teaches that being righteous (in right
standing with God), is a gift we receive when we receive Jesus
-- not something we attain by our works.)
So, the promise of Scripture is that God surrounds you with
favor. What does that mean?
Favor is the blessing of God making people like you and treat
you well.
Is it automatic? We have access to God's grace only through
faith (Romans 5:2). So, you will never experience the fullness
of God's favor without believing for it.
Faith is released through words. So every day thank the Lord
for giving you favor with people, for surrounding you with
favor!
Don't say, "People don't like me." or "Everybody seems to be
against me." or "I never get a break."
Instead say, "Thank you Lord for giving me favor with people."
Then watch God begin to move on your behalf!
SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for surrounding me with favor.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
from the www.churchforall.org
Why Are There Delays?
JAMES 1:2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything.
Why are prayers not all answered instantly? Why don't we always
experience the blessings promised in the Bible immediately?
If all results were instant, we could never walk in faith.
Without faith, we could never please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
If you always reaped the harvest of your deeds immediately, the
incentive to do right and refrain from wrongdoing would only be
selfish. No faith, or love for God, would be required.
During delays we have opportunity to demonstrate whether we
really love God, and trust Him, or not.
A delay is a test. Without testing, there could be no reward.
God does not test us so that we can fail, but so that we can
overcome. He believes we will make it with His help.
We desire an instant manifestation of victory. God's desire is
for us to press into Him and His Word and walk in faith until
we see victory.
To overcome there must be opposition and struggle. God cannot
always shield us from problems without taking away from us the
privilege of overcoming.
Victory is sweet. What makes it sweet is that it is not easy.
If we really trust God, time is not a problem. Leave that with
God. His timing is perfect and He is dependable! We know He
promised, and can never fail -- and that is enough.
SAY THIS: I will persevere in faith, and the Bible says I will
end up not lacking anything.
JAMES 1:2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything.
Why are prayers not all answered instantly? Why don't we always
experience the blessings promised in the Bible immediately?
If all results were instant, we could never walk in faith.
Without faith, we could never please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
If you always reaped the harvest of your deeds immediately, the
incentive to do right and refrain from wrongdoing would only be
selfish. No faith, or love for God, would be required.
During delays we have opportunity to demonstrate whether we
really love God, and trust Him, or not.
A delay is a test. Without testing, there could be no reward.
God does not test us so that we can fail, but so that we can
overcome. He believes we will make it with His help.
We desire an instant manifestation of victory. God's desire is
for us to press into Him and His Word and walk in faith until
we see victory.
To overcome there must be opposition and struggle. God cannot
always shield us from problems without taking away from us the
privilege of overcoming.
Victory is sweet. What makes it sweet is that it is not easy.
If we really trust God, time is not a problem. Leave that with
God. His timing is perfect and He is dependable! We know He
promised, and can never fail -- and that is enough.
SAY THIS: I will persevere in faith, and the Bible says I will
end up not lacking anything.
from the www.churchforall.org
Why Are There Delays?
JAMES 1:2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything.
Why are prayers not all answered instantly? Why don't we always
experience the blessings promised in the Bible immediately?
If all results were instant, we could never walk in faith.
Without faith, we could never please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
If you always reaped the harvest of your deeds immediately, the
incentive to do right and refrain from wrongdoing would only be
selfish. No faith, or love for God, would be required.
During delays we have opportunity to demonstrate whether we
really love God, and trust Him, or not.
A delay is a test. Without testing, there could be no reward.
God does not test us so that we can fail, but so that we can
overcome. He believes we will make it with His help.
We desire an instant manifestation of victory. God's desire is
for us to press into Him and His Word and walk in faith until
we see victory.
To overcome there must be opposition and struggle. God cannot
always shield us from problems without taking away from us the
privilege of overcoming.
Victory is sweet. What makes it sweet is that it is not easy.
If we really trust God, time is not a problem. Leave that with
God. His timing is perfect and He is dependable! We know He
promised, and can never fail -- and that is enough.
SAY THIS: I will persevere in faith, and the Bible says I will
end up not lacking anything.
JAMES 1:2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything.
Why are prayers not all answered instantly? Why don't we always
experience the blessings promised in the Bible immediately?
If all results were instant, we could never walk in faith.
Without faith, we could never please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
If you always reaped the harvest of your deeds immediately, the
incentive to do right and refrain from wrongdoing would only be
selfish. No faith, or love for God, would be required.
During delays we have opportunity to demonstrate whether we
really love God, and trust Him, or not.
A delay is a test. Without testing, there could be no reward.
God does not test us so that we can fail, but so that we can
overcome. He believes we will make it with His help.
We desire an instant manifestation of victory. God's desire is
for us to press into Him and His Word and walk in faith until
we see victory.
To overcome there must be opposition and struggle. God cannot
always shield us from problems without taking away from us the
privilege of overcoming.
Victory is sweet. What makes it sweet is that it is not easy.
If we really trust God, time is not a problem. Leave that with
God. His timing is perfect and He is dependable! We know He
promised, and can never fail -- and that is enough.
SAY THIS: I will persevere in faith, and the Bible says I will
end up not lacking anything.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Dead to sin a life to be in the right relationship to God
From the www.churchforall.org
Beware Of Pride
PROVERBS 16:18 NIV
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a
fall.
Pride is deadly. But instead of warning us the world encourages
pride in every way.
What is pride?
Pride is faith in yourself, instead of faith in God.
The root of pride is selfishness: putting yourself first.
Thinking you are the most important. Thinking you know the
most. Thinking you deserve better than someone else.
Pride will cause you to go your own way instead of God's way.
Pride makes you think you do not need God's advice or help.
Pride is the root of all sin. It causes you to turn away from
God instead of turning to Him. All disobedience has pride as
its root. All rebellion has pride behind it. All mistreatment
of other people is caused by pride: putting yourself and your
feelings above the other person and their feelings.
The world system promotes people who are proud, and often gives
them great riches. Jesus said pride is evil and defiles a
person. (Mark 7:21-23)
While the world may promote the proud for a short time, their
fame and success will not last.
JAMES 4:6 NKJ
6 . . . "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Pride is the most serious, and the most subtle, sin. It often
goes unrecognized.
Beware!
SAY THIS: Lord, help me to beware of pride.
Beware Of Pride
PROVERBS 16:18 NIV
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a
fall.
Pride is deadly. But instead of warning us the world encourages
pride in every way.
What is pride?
Pride is faith in yourself, instead of faith in God.
The root of pride is selfishness: putting yourself first.
Thinking you are the most important. Thinking you know the
most. Thinking you deserve better than someone else.
Pride will cause you to go your own way instead of God's way.
Pride makes you think you do not need God's advice or help.
Pride is the root of all sin. It causes you to turn away from
God instead of turning to Him. All disobedience has pride as
its root. All rebellion has pride behind it. All mistreatment
of other people is caused by pride: putting yourself and your
feelings above the other person and their feelings.
The world system promotes people who are proud, and often gives
them great riches. Jesus said pride is evil and defiles a
person. (Mark 7:21-23)
While the world may promote the proud for a short time, their
fame and success will not last.
JAMES 4:6 NKJ
6 . . . "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Pride is the most serious, and the most subtle, sin. It often
goes unrecognized.
Beware!
SAY THIS: Lord, help me to beware of pride.
Dead to sin and alife to the right relationship to God by Christ
Sin Hurts
ROMANS 6:23 ICB
23 When someone sins, he earns what sin pays--death. But God
gives us a free gift--life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sin is a teacher whose lessons are hard and painful.
You can't keep your hand in fire without being burned. And you
can't sin without hurting people.
Sin harms humans. That's why God classifies it as sin. All sin
hurts someone. The reason God is against sin is because He is
for people.
Because sin has consequences, it eventually will convince you
of the error of sinning -- if you live long enough. But why
ruin your life finding out what you can know now just by
reading the Bible?
God is not a killjoy. His purpose is not to keep the human race
from enjoying life.
All that God has written in the Bible is for our benefit. God
already knows everything. He gave us the Bible so we could know
the truth.
The truth is: sin is bad. Sin hurts.
SAY THIS: Sin is deadly and I want nothing to do with it.
ROMANS 6:23 ICB
23 When someone sins, he earns what sin pays--death. But God
gives us a free gift--life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sin is a teacher whose lessons are hard and painful.
You can't keep your hand in fire without being burned. And you
can't sin without hurting people.
Sin harms humans. That's why God classifies it as sin. All sin
hurts someone. The reason God is against sin is because He is
for people.
Because sin has consequences, it eventually will convince you
of the error of sinning -- if you live long enough. But why
ruin your life finding out what you can know now just by
reading the Bible?
God is not a killjoy. His purpose is not to keep the human race
from enjoying life.
All that God has written in the Bible is for our benefit. God
already knows everything. He gave us the Bible so we could know
the truth.
The truth is: sin is bad. Sin hurts.
SAY THIS: Sin is deadly and I want nothing to do with it.
Friday, June 18, 2010
from the www.churchforall.org
You Have A Purpose
2 TIMOTHY 1:9 NKJ
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and
grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
You have a purpose in life, a job to do, a mission to fulfill.
You are here for a reason.
What is it?
Ask God. He knows.
EPHESIANS 1:11 NIV
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined
according to the plan of him who works out everything in
conformity with the purpose of his will,
Of course, I can only answer that question in general terms.
If you are a parent, raising your child is important. Helping a
friend is important. You never know how your actions may affect
the world -- even through helping just one person.
Don't just wait around for some "big purpose" -- for with God
all the details are important -- even the "small" ones.
If you don't know your purpose, just do whatever you can to
help the people around you. Through that, and walking with God,
you will accomplish your purpose.
SAY THIS: I was born for a purpose. God has a plan for me.
2 TIMOTHY 1:9 NKJ
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and
grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
You have a purpose in life, a job to do, a mission to fulfill.
You are here for a reason.
What is it?
Ask God. He knows.
EPHESIANS 1:11 NIV
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined
according to the plan of him who works out everything in
conformity with the purpose of his will,
Of course, I can only answer that question in general terms.
If you are a parent, raising your child is important. Helping a
friend is important. You never know how your actions may affect
the world -- even through helping just one person.
Don't just wait around for some "big purpose" -- for with God
all the details are important -- even the "small" ones.
If you don't know your purpose, just do whatever you can to
help the people around you. Through that, and walking with God,
you will accomplish your purpose.
SAY THIS: I was born for a purpose. God has a plan for me.
from the www.churchforall.org
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
PHILIPPIANS 3:14 KJV
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.
What will really matter at the end of your life on earth?
Will what you are giving attention to now still be important
then?
Or, will you be filled with regret for what you did -- or
didn't do?
Distractions abound. TV, phone calls, web sites, books, movies.
It might be a good idea to stop and evaluate how you are
investing your time.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24 NIV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only
one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Run to win. Win what?
The true prize is to know God intimately and be His friend.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NIV
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is
eternal.
One day, possibly soon, you will stand before God. Why not
order your life now based on that "final reckoning?"
A wise person would not invest everything in something
temporary. A wise person invests in something that will last.
Invest your life wisely!
SAY THIS: Lord, help me to keep my eyes on what is important
and lasting.
PHILIPPIANS 3:14 KJV
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.
What will really matter at the end of your life on earth?
Will what you are giving attention to now still be important
then?
Or, will you be filled with regret for what you did -- or
didn't do?
Distractions abound. TV, phone calls, web sites, books, movies.
It might be a good idea to stop and evaluate how you are
investing your time.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24 NIV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only
one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Run to win. Win what?
The true prize is to know God intimately and be His friend.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NIV
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is
eternal.
One day, possibly soon, you will stand before God. Why not
order your life now based on that "final reckoning?"
A wise person would not invest everything in something
temporary. A wise person invests in something that will last.
Invest your life wisely!
SAY THIS: Lord, help me to keep my eyes on what is important
and lasting.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
From Addison]s blog
Steve Addison's blog » World Changers
What Paul did
Posted: 07 Jun 2010 04:23 PM PDT
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done– by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known. . .
Rom 15:17-20
Of all the followers of Jesus, Paul is the greatest missionary. He was chosen by a personal encounter with Christ on the Damascus road to take take the gospel to the Gentiles. His life and letters dominate the second half of the New Testament.
What did mission look like for Paul? Eckhard Schnabel outlines the goals of Paul’s missionary work.
1. Paul was called to preach the message of Jesus Christ.
As a pioneer missionary he focuses his preaching on Jesus Christ and him crucified (I Cor 2:2). Paul was called to preach especially to the Gentiles. Yet he also preached to Jews (Rom 1:14).
2. Paul’s goal to reach as many people as possible.
His geographical travels describe an upper half circle from Jerusalem via Syria, Asia Minor, Europe and Rome to Spain (Rom 15:19-24).
3. Paul seeks to lead individual people to believe in the one true God and in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Savior and Lord.
For Jews this meant they needed to acknowledge Jesus, the crucified preacher from Nazareth as Messiah and that his death is God’s answer to the problem of human sin—problem that neither the covenant with Abraham or the Mosaic law could solve—and that God vindicated Jesus by raising him from the dead.
For Gentiles this meant they must turn from their pagan gods to the God of Israel—the one true living God. They must believe in Jesus who rescues sinners from the wrath of God and accept the atoning significance of Jesus’ death on the cross. They must have their lives shaped by the Jewish scriptures and by Jesus’ and the apostles’ teaching as they wait for Jesus’ return (1 Thess 1:9-10; 1 Cor 1:18-2:5).
4. Paul established new churches.
He founded communities of followers of Jesus Christ—both Jews and Gentiles, men and women, free and slaves—and teaches the new believers the Word of God, the teachings of Jesus, the significance of the gospel for everyday living (Col 1:25-29).
Paul insisted on the evaluation of the teaching in local churches based on the truth of the gospel (Gal 1:6-9) and based on apostolic teaching (1 Cor 15:1-5), an evaluation that on occasion means the rejection of false teaching.
How is your understanding and practice of mission shaped by what Christ accomplished through Paul?
What Paul did
Posted: 07 Jun 2010 04:23 PM PDT
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done– by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known. . .
Rom 15:17-20
Of all the followers of Jesus, Paul is the greatest missionary. He was chosen by a personal encounter with Christ on the Damascus road to take take the gospel to the Gentiles. His life and letters dominate the second half of the New Testament.
What did mission look like for Paul? Eckhard Schnabel outlines the goals of Paul’s missionary work.
1. Paul was called to preach the message of Jesus Christ.
As a pioneer missionary he focuses his preaching on Jesus Christ and him crucified (I Cor 2:2). Paul was called to preach especially to the Gentiles. Yet he also preached to Jews (Rom 1:14).
2. Paul’s goal to reach as many people as possible.
His geographical travels describe an upper half circle from Jerusalem via Syria, Asia Minor, Europe and Rome to Spain (Rom 15:19-24).
3. Paul seeks to lead individual people to believe in the one true God and in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Savior and Lord.
For Jews this meant they needed to acknowledge Jesus, the crucified preacher from Nazareth as Messiah and that his death is God’s answer to the problem of human sin—problem that neither the covenant with Abraham or the Mosaic law could solve—and that God vindicated Jesus by raising him from the dead.
For Gentiles this meant they must turn from their pagan gods to the God of Israel—the one true living God. They must believe in Jesus who rescues sinners from the wrath of God and accept the atoning significance of Jesus’ death on the cross. They must have their lives shaped by the Jewish scriptures and by Jesus’ and the apostles’ teaching as they wait for Jesus’ return (1 Thess 1:9-10; 1 Cor 1:18-2:5).
4. Paul established new churches.
He founded communities of followers of Jesus Christ—both Jews and Gentiles, men and women, free and slaves—and teaches the new believers the Word of God, the teachings of Jesus, the significance of the gospel for everyday living (Col 1:25-29).
Paul insisted on the evaluation of the teaching in local churches based on the truth of the gospel (Gal 1:6-9) and based on apostolic teaching (1 Cor 15:1-5), an evaluation that on occasion means the rejection of false teaching.
How is your understanding and practice of mission shaped by what Christ accomplished through Paul?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
From the www.churchforall.org
Press On
Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [I changed the translation version from the www.churchforall.com letter it was the Waymouth version(Be well, F)]
Believers face many difficulties. Trials. Adversaries. Doubts.
At times we're all tempted to quit. The struggle seems too
much, and we wonder if it's worth it to continue, to hold on to
our faith when there seems to be no hope left.
But there is a goal -- supremely worthwhile: life with our
wonderful Lord. Not just existence, but intimate fellowship.
Fix your eyes on the goal -- God Himself -- and press on!
1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 NIV
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Please read the following verses slowly and thoughtfully.
1 PETER 5:7-10 NCV
7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.
8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy,
goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat.
9 Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith.
You know that your Christian family all over the world is
having the same kinds of suffering.
10 And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all
grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and
support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share
in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever.
Space does not permit much comment on these verses, but notice
that suffering is caused by your enemy, the devil, and its
purpose is to attack your faith.
Also notice that God only allows you to suffer a short time.
"But," you say, "it's already been a long time."
Not really. It seems like a long time when you are going
through trials, but afterward seems like a short time. Even a
few years is nothing when you look back on it. Ask God to help
you see things from Heaven's perspective.
"But why does God allow me to suffer at all?"
Because people make wrong choices. Conflict causes suffering.
But God believes in you! Why should He yank you out of the
arena? God believes that with His grace and help, you will
overcome and experience victory.
The end result is what really counts. God will make everything
turn out alright. (Read verse 10 again.)
Maybe you feel like your faith is barely hanging by a thread.
Just hang on. With God holding the thread -- and He is -- your
faith will survive. You will make it! God will help you.
SAY THIS: I will press on with God. I will not quit or give up
on my faith.[As indeed He is faithful to Himself].
Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [I changed the translation version from the www.churchforall.com letter it was the Waymouth version(Be well, F)]
Believers face many difficulties. Trials. Adversaries. Doubts.
At times we're all tempted to quit. The struggle seems too
much, and we wonder if it's worth it to continue, to hold on to
our faith when there seems to be no hope left.
But there is a goal -- supremely worthwhile: life with our
wonderful Lord. Not just existence, but intimate fellowship.
Fix your eyes on the goal -- God Himself -- and press on!
1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 NIV
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Please read the following verses slowly and thoughtfully.
1 PETER 5:7-10 NCV
7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.
8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy,
goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat.
9 Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith.
You know that your Christian family all over the world is
having the same kinds of suffering.
10 And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all
grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and
support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share
in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever.
Space does not permit much comment on these verses, but notice
that suffering is caused by your enemy, the devil, and its
purpose is to attack your faith.
Also notice that God only allows you to suffer a short time.
"But," you say, "it's already been a long time."
Not really. It seems like a long time when you are going
through trials, but afterward seems like a short time. Even a
few years is nothing when you look back on it. Ask God to help
you see things from Heaven's perspective.
"But why does God allow me to suffer at all?"
Because people make wrong choices. Conflict causes suffering.
But God believes in you! Why should He yank you out of the
arena? God believes that with His grace and help, you will
overcome and experience victory.
The end result is what really counts. God will make everything
turn out alright. (Read verse 10 again.)
Maybe you feel like your faith is barely hanging by a thread.
Just hang on. With God holding the thread -- and He is -- your
faith will survive. You will make it! God will help you.
SAY THIS: I will press on with God. I will not quit or give up
on my faith.[As indeed He is faithful to Himself].
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