Stand Tall

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Josh 1:5 (HCSB)

Do you have what it takes to be a great man or woman of faith? Can you live up to the testimony of the great Christ followers of history. Well two truths for you today.

1. You don't have too. It's not a competition. You don't have to compare to Paul or Joshua or Moses. You just have to be a faithful you.

2. We are successful in the Christian life because God is with us not because we do great things. It is God's empowerment, His presence in our lives that make the difference.

read these words of Henry Blackaby:

As you read the accounts of God's miraculous work through men and women in the Bible, you may wonder if God still performs such miracles today. Be assured that the same God who walked with Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Peter, James, John, and Paul now lives within you. No power can defeat the God who guides you. The God who blessed them is just as capable of working out His purposes through your life. The same God who gave them victory over seemingly invincible enemies, who provided for them when their own resources were insufficient, and who guided them in their decisions, is prepared to work as powerfully in your life today. The heroes of the faith had one thing in common: They were all ordinary people with no power of their own. The difference is the mighty presence of God. Times may change, but the effect of God's presence remains the same.

Henry Blackaby —Experiencing God Day by Day (July 31)

The Distress of Sin

Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had returned from exile. 3 They said to me, “The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.”

Neh 1:2-3 (HCSB)

Sin will always cause distress and disgrace. As Nehemiah hears the testimony of his brothers concerning the Jewish remnant it caused him great distress. There was pain for the distress and disgrace of his countrymen in Jerusalem.

But these trying times were the result or consequences of the sinfulness of the Jewish people. They had been rebellious. They had turned away from God and now they were experiencing the consequences of that sin.

Here is an important spiritual truth for every Christ follower to understand. God always forgives when we confess our sin to Him but He does not always remove the consequences of that sin. We can experience His forgiveness because "He is faithful and just to forgive." He will also "cleanse us' from our sinfulness. (1 John 1.9) But often we will still have to deal with the consequences of our sin.

Sin can cause great distress!

Love Others

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matt 22:37-39 (HCSB)

After Jesus gave the greatest commandment to Love God. He issues the 2nd greatest commandment. What is number two? I would say it is pretty important so perhaps we should listen up about what Jesus is saying. Few of us would ever say I'm not really into Loving God. After all that is the first commandment according to Jesus. But we make all kinds of excuses when it comes to number two. I'm shy. I don't get along with people. He is annoying; and on and on it goes. There really shouldn't be any excuse for number two.

So what does Jesus say, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Well yes, I have highlighted some words. What are they.

Neighbor. This describes the "who". Jesus says your neighbor, and that's not just the guy next door. In other places in Scripture Jesus basically points out that everyone is your neighbor. So the object of our love is every other Human being.

Yourself. Jesus says our love for others is to be like our love for ourselves. Sometimes we may struggle with loving ourselves but most of us have a basic desire to care for, bring pleasure and not pain too and protect ourselves. That is how Jesus describes here our love for others. We care for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We should want to bring them joy not pain or grief. We should protect them from pain, danger and things that can harm. Love others like you love yourself. That is the 2nd greatest command.

Love God

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matt 22:37-39 (HCSB)

If Jesus said it, is there any doubt? No not really. Jesus said love the Lord but He qualified that love. If asked we would say, "Oh absolutely, I love the Lord!" But do we really love Him the way Jesus instructs. We sometimes think that love for God means we try to "be good" or we go to church. We make every effort to "not cuss or chew or go with girls who do!" But is that really the measure of our love? No, Jesus says the measure is our hearts, soul and mind. Basically it is this do we put all that we are into loving Him? Do we hold some things back? Is there some of us that we keep in reserve? Jesus says, "give it all." Hold nothing back and love God with all your being. Then you are really loving God.

The Spiritual Discipline of Down Time

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

Mark 6:30-31 (HCSB)

Have you ever considered down time a spiritual discipline? The classic writers on spiritual disciplines would call it solitude. It is a very important discipline.

I learned this for myself years ago as a bi-vocational pastor. Working a 40 hour work week at a local ministry, finishing seminary, trying to be a good father and husband and pastoring a church all at the same time was a challenge. Burn out was always just around the corner. What did I need? I needed some down time. I had to schedule it into my busy schedule. It was necessary for me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It will be for you too.

Notice the disciples had been sent out on ministry. They were coming back excitedly telling Jesus all that had been accomplished for the Kingdom. There were people always around needing to be ministered too and they needed to get away. Jesus instructed come away, get by yourself and rest. Sometimes the most spiritual thing a Christ follower can do is get away by himself and rest.

So go ahead. Don't feel guilty. If you have been working hard for the Kingdom and you are in need of some down time, get away and rest! It is a spiritual discipline that will make a lot of difference in your ministry.

Always for His glory!

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

1 Cor 10:31 (HCSB)

This verse prompts a simple question but the implications are anything but simple. Do I do everything for the glory of God? At first response we will say, "well of course!" But do we really?

Do we eat for His glory? Do we drink for His glory? Do we go to work or to school for His glory? Do we spend time with friends and family for His glory? Do we spend time on the computer for His glory? Do we pay our bills for His glory? Do we develop an intimate relationship with husband or wife for His glory? The key word there is EVERYTHING.

Remember, Always for His Glory!

The Deep Longing

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God.2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?

Psalms 42:1-2 (HCSB)

I live on a farm. My family enjoys living in the country. Our house is surrounded by three important things to a deer; a hiding place, corn and a creek. The creek winds its way around our farm and the deer seem to love being there. They need a hiding place and they really seem to love to eat the corn. But the most important provision on our little haven is the water. Water is necessary to live but it is also a provision of peace and security.

The deer need that water. Now I won't presume to be able to read the hearts of our white tailed friends but I think they long for and thirst for that water. And not just on a hot day. Water is also needed in the cold of winter.

The point is this that they long for the streams of water provided. God has a peace, security and nourishment spiritually that we too need to long for. For us, its not a matter of searching for the spiritual water. We know where to find it. It is simply a need to long for or desire it.

Persistent in Prayer

“Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matt 7:7-8 (HCSB)

Prayer is to our spiritual life what breathing is to our physical life. Unfortunately some of us are holding our breath. Our prayer life needs to be a priority for every Christ follower. But it is also true that we need to be persistent in prayer. Why is persistence necessary? Primarily because that is what Jesus wants us to do!

It is not because we need to get God's attention. And it is not because God needs to be convinced to give us what we need. I think its more for us to understand the urgency to come to Him. To grow our faith. But also to help us align our hearts with His. Prayer doesn't change God it changes us.

So above all else be persistent in your prayer life. It is important to keep asking, seeking and knocking!

My Brothers Keeper

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

Gen 4:8-9 (KJV)

Here is one of the most misquoted verses. I hear people say it all the time, "I am not my brothers keeper." That's probably not a verse we should quote for ourselves. God chastises Cain and basically says, "Oh Yes you are!" We are our brothers keeper and God expects us to care for and to be accountable to each other. We need each other. We need others to care for us. And yes we need someone to hold us accountable. From time to time we need a brother or sister to come along side us and loving challenge us about our walk with the Lord.

I would encourage you to find another Christ Follower who can be an accountability partner and to form a support group for spiritual growth. We should not walk alone!

Never Alone

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. 46 After He said good-bye to them, He went away to the mountain to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them.

Mark 6:45-48 (HCSB)

When trouble comes we often feel like we are alone. WE ARE NEVER ALONE! Sometimes Jesus makes us get into the boat. He knows what we are about to experience. He sees us. He knows what we are going through. He is waiting to see how we will deal with the problem we are about to face. He is waiting to see if we will cry out to Him. He is watching. We are not alone.
We must trust Jesus. We need to cry out to Jesus. We must remember that even when we feel alone Jesus is there and He knows. He is ready to reach out and calm us and calm the storm. Just trust Him today.

A Person God will Use

Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”“Here I am, Lord!” he said.11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he may regain his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

Acts 9:10-13 (HCSB)

If God is all powerful why does it seem that we don't see Him working like He did in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Could it possible be that the problem is not God but our unwillingness to be obedient.

Henry Blackaby writes:
"The reason God has not brought great revival to more places is not that He is unable or that He is unwilling. He first looks for those willing to have their lives radically adjusted away from their self-centered activities and placed into the center of God's activity around the world."(Experiencing God, Devotional. May 23)

We really must stop and ask ourselves, "do I see God working around me?" If not why not? It's not God He is at work. It certainly may be our willingness to respond to Him.

A Masterpiece

For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:10 (HCSB)

How valuable do you feel? To God you are a valuable treasure. In fact as the Apostle Paul explains in this verse you are His creation. Literally that mean masterpiece. You are His masterpiece a hand made treasure of God. It is the idea of a master craftsman making a personal treasure to display for all of eternity. We are saved by Grace. It is a gift. We can't earn it. But notice he tells us we are created for good works that God prepared ahead of time for us to do. We work not to be saved but because we have been saved. So enjoy your special place as His masterpiece on display for His glory for all eternity!

A subtle Deception

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.

1 John 2:16 (NLT)

Most of the time the world and sin runs us over like a mack truck out of control. But there are also the subtle deceptions we sometimes face. Here in 1 John 2:16 we find one of those in the end of the verse. It is the pride in our achievements and possessions. Sure for some of us pride is also mack truck strength. But for many of us pride is subtle and sneaky. We start with a natural inclination to be pleased with what we have accomplished but if not careful it becomes a balloon that gets bigger and bigger and bigger, till all we can see is how "awesome" we really are. What happens then? Well what we need is to have God come along with that "humility" pin and burst our balloon. Boy does that smart but is often times necessary. I guess the message is this: watch out for the mack trucks but be wary of the subtle deception of pride.

Who do you really love?

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

1 John 2:15 (NLT)

Who do you love? No really, who do you love? Not who do you say you love but who does the evidence say you love? See we say we love God but the actions of our life sometimes tell a different story. The old adage that actions speak louder than words really is true. When we love the world or the things the world offers more than we love Jesus we have shown the heart of the matter. Sure we love God but sometimes the world slides into that 1st place slot in our lives. We need to be careful that God remains our passion because the world and all it has to offer sometimes can be pretty alluring.

Wait on the Lord

I don't know about you but waiting on the Lord has always been difficult for me. This devotion I read this morning really spoke to me and I wanted to share it with you.

Wait on the Lord

Wait for the Lord;

be courageous and let your heart be strong.

Wait for the Lord.—Psalm 27:14

Waiting is one of the hardest things to do. We want to be people of action. We feel better if we are doing something to address our need, but waiting forces us to rely on God. David learned what it meant to wait. He was chosen by God to be the next king of Israel, then spent years waiting for the day God's word would come to pass in his life. As he waited, a paranoid, egocentric king occupied the throne that had been promised to him. David spent his time hiding in caves and living among his enemies. As he waited he saw good friends murdered and his family and possessions taken. He saw Israel's enemies wreak havoc on his nation. Perhaps no one ever faced greater adversity while waiting upon God's promise than David did. He certainly understood what it meant to become discouraged and fearful.

But David also enjoyed the reward for waiting upon the Lord. He became the greatest king in Israel's history, and, more importantly, through his trials he became a man after God's own heart. The psalms David wrote during his days as a fugitive have been cherished words of encouragement for millions of people through the ages. Through David's descendants came the Messiah. David's willingness to wait has blessed us all.

Times of waiting on the Lord can be some of the most precious moments in your life (John 11:1–6). If you are waiting on God for something, read Isaiah 40:31 and find encouragement as you wait for Him to fulfill His promises to you.

Henry and Richard Blackaby —Experiencing God Day by Day

No Popularity Contest

Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. 21 When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.” 22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul in Him!” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!”

Mark 3:20-22 (HCSB)

For those of us who like to be liked I may have some bad news. Following Christ is not going to make you popular among some. We all like to be liked. I know I do. But reality is that when we commit to being a Christ follower not everyone will be happy.

This passage says it all. Jesus returned home and He was greeted with great enthusiasm and a ticker tape parade. No, hardly was the reception what we would consider grand. He was met with His family thinking He has gone mad and the religious leaders claiming He was from Satan. Jesus was ridiculed, persecuted and plainly disliked by the hometown crowd.

So what's the point? The point is that when we make a commitment to truly be a Christ follower it will make some uncomfortable. It will challenge some peoples beliefs. It will convict some of their complacent or nominal religious life. Being a Christ follower means that we are completely sold out to be like Jesus. Some would call that radical. And a Christ follower should expect some persecution and unfortunately it sometimes comes from those whom we thought would rejoice and be glad for us.

Real Worship

Then the singers sang, with Jezrahiah as the leader. 43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away.

Neh 12:42-43 (HCSB)

If I were to ask you for one word that should characterize worship what would it be? Music? Reverence? Awe? Preaching? All of those things are good but I thing the best words to characterize worship are found in the above passage. Rejoicing and celebration! In our worship whether it be personal worship or corporate worship we miss the most important part. In worship we are there to rejoice and celebrate what God has done. It is a declaration to Him of our praise and adoration for His greatness. Worship is not about us (singing, preaching, etc. . .) It is all bout Him. Preaching, singing and the such are vehicles used for us to best express our rejoicing and celebration of His goodness and greatness. So next time you worship, private or public make sure that their is a spirit, a mindset of rejoicing and celebration. Wouldn't it be great for our rejoicing to be "heard far away!"

Be Found Faithful

A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God’s mysteries. 2 In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one be found faithful. 3 It is of little importance that I should be evaluated by you or by a human court. In fact, I don’t even evaluate myself. 4 For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord. 5 Therefore don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.

1 Cor 4:1-5 (HCSB)

Above all our goal is to be found faithful. Paul understood who he was a servant and a steward. Paul also understood who he served, Jesus Christ. There is a twofold warning for us in Paul's message, 1. Your evaluation of others should have little importance in their service to Christ. 2. Others evaluation of you should not impact how you view your service to Christ. That's really where the rubber meets the road. For many of us we are people pleasers. We like people to like us, to appreciate us and to think highly of us. But when it really boils down others estimation of us has no real eternal value. However, God's estimation of us has significant eternal value. Remember this important truth as you go through your life. Don't try to please others but by all means be found faithful when Christ comes for you.

Run the Race

Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

1 Cor 9:24-25 (HCSB)

How are you running the race? Are you serious about the race set before you? The words of Dr. Blackaby challenged me about many areas of my life.

Are you striving to bring your body into subjection for the glory of God? Are you training your mind to think the thoughts of God rather than thoughts of the world? Are you disciplining your life in prayer? When others are sleeping, are you interceding? Have you studied God's word so diligently that you are prepared to find answers to the challenges you face? Have you equipped yourself in evangelism so that you are ready to share your faith? Have you prepared yourself as a Christian in order to qualify for the imperishable crown that awaits you?
(Henry & Richard Blackaby —Experiencing God Day by Day. July 7, Pg. 189)

I want to run the race in such a way as to win. To give my all to my savior and Lord. I want to be serious about being a Christ follower and not someone who goes to church and does some Christian duties. I want to be completely and whole heartedly sold out for Him.

A Life that Impresses God

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.

Job 2:3 (HCSB)

Have you ever asked yourself the question, "What kind of life impresses God?" Maybe to put it differently, what kind of life gets God's attention. Job apparently did. His life was so consistently on target that God knew he would be praiseworthy even in the midst of Satan's trials. Look at the description give:

• Perfect integrity
• Fears (reverence & awe) God
• Turns away from evil

I don't know about you but I want my life to have that kind of consistency and testimony. I want to commit my life to being pleasing to God. After all if there is anyone you want to impress I would think it would be God.

Choices

"A thief comes only to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.
John 10:10 (HCSB)

These words of Jesus lead us to some important truths. Satan, the thief has plans for your life. His intentions are to steal from you. To kill you and destroy what God has done in your life. Jesus on the other hand has intentions to give you life and life that is abundant and full.
Why did I title this choices? Because the choice is ours. We can follow or surrender ourselves to the thief or we can follow or surrender to Jesus. The choice is ours. You may ask, "why would anyone surrender to the thief? Why would we not choose Jesus?" That is a great question. We know Satan's intentions for us and we make a choice to follow him anyway.
I hope today we will choose Jesus and not Satan the thief!

7 For many dreams bring futility, also many words. So, fear God.

Eccl 5:7 (HCSB)

God seems invisible to us and we forget He is here with us and He hears what we say. Sometimes we say things that later we find difficult to do or live out. The caution of the word is to be careful what we say. There is futility in many dreams. There is futility in many words. We must make certain that the words we speak we mean and will keep them.

God takes our words seriously and so should we. If we have a proper fear (reverence and awe) for God we will speak words that we intend to keep, words that we will live out.