When the apostles of the early church suddenly found themselves embroiled in a controversy that consumed both their time and energy, they had enough spiritual presence of mind to know that something had to be done. they were in danger of missing the priority of their calling --the Word of God and prayer! Thus they summoned "the congregation of the disciples and said, 'It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word'" (Acts 6:2-4).
This is where each child of God should be the strongest: in the word of God and in prayer. Why the Word of God? Because according to Jesus, man lives by every word which comes out fo the mouth of God, and that's what the Word of God is (Matthew 4:4). It is God-breathed. The word inspiration in 2 Timothy 3:16 comes from the Greek word theopneustos which means "God-breathed." We exist in order to establish God's people in His Word as that which produces a life lived in reverence toward God.
Lord Teach Me To Pray by Kay Arthur
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Love-Motivated Prayer
Every day. Whenever we acknowledge that we need a fresh flow of God's power working in us and ask for God's Holy Spirt to flow through us as we pray, we will see His power move in our lives. But He wants us to recognize that His Spirit is love. And if we want demonstration of God's power, then God's love must be the motivating force behind everything we do and each prayer we pray.
In order to move into that kind of love-motivated praying, however, our first step must be to submit ourselves to God and wait at His feet in prayer. It's not that He is trying to keep His power from us, it's that He wants us to depend on Him for it.
The Power of Praying Together by Stormie Omartian
In order to move into that kind of love-motivated praying, however, our first step must be to submit ourselves to God and wait at His feet in prayer. It's not that He is trying to keep His power from us, it's that He wants us to depend on Him for it.
The Power of Praying Together by Stormie Omartian
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Gods Power For You
People often hesitate to pray because they do not understand the power of the Holy Spirit working through them when they do. Or they don't believe that God's power is there for them. Too ofthen we think the power in prayer is not attainable for the average person like us. But God says it is available to all who love Him with their whole being and love others as themselves.
The Power of Praying Together by Stormie Omartian
The Power of Praying Together by Stormie Omartian
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
What Right Do You Have To Challenge Government Leader?
I am sometimes asked, “What right do you have to challenge government leaders?” John the Baptist boldly and publicly denounced King Herod for taking his brother’s wife. It cost John the Baptist his life. Jesus, Himself, had not yet met Herod when he publicly called him “that fox.” (Luke 13:32).
Proverbs 28:4 says, “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.” There are only two positions. Either we are praising the wicked who have abandoned God’s laws or we are contending with them.
King David wrote, “You who love the Lord hate evil.” Psalm 92:10
Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Matthew 12:30
James writes, “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
God’s position is very clear. You are either wheat or tares, sheep or goats, light or darkness, saved or lost.
Jeremiah was all alone in boldly denouncing the policies of king Zedekiah whom he had never met. Even the religious leaders told him, “You are a trouble maker. You are disrespectful to authority. Your words are unfair.” Yet Israel was deceived, even though it was heading for destruction and the signs ere there for anyone to see. Jeremiah was ridiculed and harassed. He was called the “weeping prophet” because he so despaired over the unpopular message he had to deliver. Eventually, Jeremiah was thrown into a deep pit of miry clay where he was left to die in his own human waste – but God brought him out.
Day of Deception by John Hagee
Proverbs 28:4 says, “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.” There are only two positions. Either we are praising the wicked who have abandoned God’s laws or we are contending with them.
King David wrote, “You who love the Lord hate evil.” Psalm 92:10
Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Matthew 12:30
James writes, “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
God’s position is very clear. You are either wheat or tares, sheep or goats, light or darkness, saved or lost.
Jeremiah was all alone in boldly denouncing the policies of king Zedekiah whom he had never met. Even the religious leaders told him, “You are a trouble maker. You are disrespectful to authority. Your words are unfair.” Yet Israel was deceived, even though it was heading for destruction and the signs ere there for anyone to see. Jeremiah was ridiculed and harassed. He was called the “weeping prophet” because he so despaired over the unpopular message he had to deliver. Eventually, Jeremiah was thrown into a deep pit of miry clay where he was left to die in his own human waste – but God brought him out.
Day of Deception by John Hagee
Monday, August 23, 2010
Picked For A Purpose
Acts 13:22 reveals why God selected David to accomplish His purposes.
God is still looking for men and women whose hearts will reflect His passions. He has a divine search party going. He is seeking "to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His" (2 Chron. 16:9,). I sure want to see God in my everyday living, dont you? Turns out He desires to show up in my everyday living and in yours too. He desires and delights to make Himself known, but He desires first to find someone in whom He sees a holy boldness by His Spirit to live fully committed and passionately for Him like David did.
God is still looking for men and women whose hearts will reflect His passions. He has a divine search party going. He is seeking "to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His" (2 Chron. 16:9,). I sure want to see God in my everyday living, dont you? Turns out He desires to show up in my everyday living and in yours too. He desires and delights to make Himself known, but He desires first to find someone in whom He sees a holy boldness by His Spirit to live fully committed and passionately for Him like David did.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Just Keep On Walking
"Don't go there!" Psalm 1 opens with these ominous words to all walkers, warning against the danger of walking a path recommended by the counsel of the ungodly. "Don't even stand there" the warnings continue, or "sit in the park bench nearby." That is not the road to happiness.
According to Psalm 82:5, the unrighteous "know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness." Wrong information leads to moral and spiritual darkness. They have taken the wrong road, ignoring the warnings of Psalm 1.
By contrast, the righteous person walks in light and truth. The psalmist says: "You have delivered...my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life" (Psalm 56:13, NIV). We learn in Psalm 89:15 that the light we walk in is "the light of [His] presence." We do not walk this road alone, for He is with us.
The psalmist not only walks in light, but he has accurate information - he walks in truth (Psalm 26:3). When we walk in the truth of God's Word, we know we are on the right road. Our challenge is to study the road map clearly so we don't take any wrong turns.
According to Psalm 82:5, the unrighteous "know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness." Wrong information leads to moral and spiritual darkness. They have taken the wrong road, ignoring the warnings of Psalm 1.
By contrast, the righteous person walks in light and truth. The psalmist says: "You have delivered...my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life" (Psalm 56:13, NIV). We learn in Psalm 89:15 that the light we walk in is "the light of [His] presence." We do not walk this road alone, for He is with us.
The psalmist not only walks in light, but he has accurate information - he walks in truth (Psalm 26:3). When we walk in the truth of God's Word, we know we are on the right road. Our challenge is to study the road map clearly so we don't take any wrong turns.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Portrait of a Woman Used By God
Lessons from the Life of Mary of Nazareth
1. An ordinary woman (Luke 1:26-50) What is it that gives my life significance? Do I believe that God can use my life to make a difference in this world?
2. A pure woman Am I a pure woman? Am I pure in my behavior, my relationships, what I watch, read, and listen to, the way I dress? Am I pure in my motives, thoughts, and private habits?
3. An undeserving woman Am I conscious that anything good or useful about my life is the result of His undeserved grace poured out on me?
4. A chosen woman Am I conscious of having been chosen by God to fulfill a specific purpose in my generation?
5. A Spirit-filled woman Am I depending on the power of the Holy Spirit to be and to do that for which God has chosen me? Do I seek a fresh, daily filling of His Holy Spirit in my life?
6. An available woman Have I made myself fully available to God, for whatever purposes He might want to use my life? Am I willing for Him to use my life, at any price?
7. A believing woman Am I exercising faith in the promises of God? What am I believing God for that is impossible apart from His power? How does my life demonstrate faith in the power of God?
8. A praising woman Is my life characterized by a spirit of praise? Do I respond to the circumstances and challenges of each day by expressing gratitude for the greatness and mercy of God? Do my responses to life give the world a proper estimation of God?
9. A woman of the Word Do I love the Word of God? Do I read it, memorize it, meditate on it, and share it with others? Do I use the Word in the midst of real-life situations?
10. A humble woman (John 3:30) Am I content not to be recognized for my role in ministry? Is it my goal that? He might increase and I might decrease?
11. A trusting woman (Matt. 1:18-21) Do I trust God to fulfill His purposes in my life and in the lives of those I love? Is there any area of my life where I am trying to work things out on my own, rather than trusting God to do what needs to be done?
12. A submissive woman (Matt. 2:13, 19-21) Am I willing to wait for God to work in and through the authorities that He has placed in my life?
1. An ordinary woman (Luke 1:26-50) What is it that gives my life significance? Do I believe that God can use my life to make a difference in this world?
2. A pure woman Am I a pure woman? Am I pure in my behavior, my relationships, what I watch, read, and listen to, the way I dress? Am I pure in my motives, thoughts, and private habits?
3. An undeserving woman Am I conscious that anything good or useful about my life is the result of His undeserved grace poured out on me?
4. A chosen woman Am I conscious of having been chosen by God to fulfill a specific purpose in my generation?
5. A Spirit-filled woman Am I depending on the power of the Holy Spirit to be and to do that for which God has chosen me? Do I seek a fresh, daily filling of His Holy Spirit in my life?
6. An available woman Have I made myself fully available to God, for whatever purposes He might want to use my life? Am I willing for Him to use my life, at any price?
7. A believing woman Am I exercising faith in the promises of God? What am I believing God for that is impossible apart from His power? How does my life demonstrate faith in the power of God?
8. A praising woman Is my life characterized by a spirit of praise? Do I respond to the circumstances and challenges of each day by expressing gratitude for the greatness and mercy of God? Do my responses to life give the world a proper estimation of God?
9. A woman of the Word Do I love the Word of God? Do I read it, memorize it, meditate on it, and share it with others? Do I use the Word in the midst of real-life situations?
10. A humble woman (John 3:30) Am I content not to be recognized for my role in ministry? Is it my goal that? He might increase and I might decrease?
11. A trusting woman (Matt. 1:18-21) Do I trust God to fulfill His purposes in my life and in the lives of those I love? Is there any area of my life where I am trying to work things out on my own, rather than trusting God to do what needs to be done?
12. A submissive woman (Matt. 2:13, 19-21) Am I willing to wait for God to work in and through the authorities that He has placed in my life?
13. An influencing woman (John 2:5) Does my life draw attention away from myself and toward Jesus? How is my life influencing others to love, worship, and obey the Lord Jesus?
14. A praying woman (Acts 1:14) Am I a woman of prayer? Do I consistently join with other believers in praying for the revival of the church and the evangelization of the world?
15. A devoted woman (John 19:25-27) Am I a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus in the good times and in the bad? Am I committed to follow Him even when it is costly or when others fail to do so?
16. A loved woman Am I letting Jesus love me, care for me, and meet my needs? Am I receiving the provision He has made to meet my needs?
17. A wounded woman (Luke 2:35) Am I willing to suffer in order that Jesus? redeeming life may be experienced by others?
© Revive Our Hearts
Friday, August 20, 2010
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