NO Need To Fear The Future

                                                     When The Door Slams

Do not let your heart be trouble. You believe in God; believe also in me.            John 14:1 NIV

        Outside of the Bible, no other sacred writings contain accurate, specific, detailed prophecies of future events. After all, only God can say what's going to happen! Here's what we have learn from biblical prophecy.

        We should never be surprised by the phenomenal (albeit short-lived) success of evil, Satan-inspired men and women. Until the climax of history, many evil men will triumph for a time. The twentieth century was no exception. There is no reason to believe the twenty-first century will be an exception either.

        But we never need to fear that evil will triumph completely. Why not? Because God controls the day they ascend to power and the day of their downfall. This will be true of even the most wicked, Satan-inspired man of all, the Antichrist. In the end, God will crush His enemies. With that we can be sure! No matter what happens this century, we need to keep the end of God's story clearly in view--and never lose faith in our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ.

        After calling His first disciples, Jesus takes them to Capernaum, where an unseen war become visible momentarily. When a demon-possessed man tries to tell Jesus what to do, Jesus immediately rebukes the evil spirit and tells the evil spirit what to do. To everyone's astonishment, the demon has to obey what Jesus says. 

        The reality is we all have to obey Jesus. We may shake and scream. We may try to tell Jesus what to do. But in the end, we have to obey Him. The question is not "Is Jesus Lord of your life?" The question is "Have you acknowledged that fact?"

        Think about this: Our world is in a state of constant change. God is not. At times, the world seems to be trembling beneath our feet. But we can be comforted in the knowledge that our heavenly Father is the rock that cannot be shaken. His Word promise, "I am the LORD, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6 NKJV).

        We mortals encounter a multitude of changes--some good, some not so good. And on occasion, all of us must endure life-changing personal losses that leave us breathless. When we do, our loving heavenly Father stands ready to protect us, to comfort us, to guide us, and, in time, to heal us.

        Conditions are always changing; therefore, we must not be dependent upon conditions. What matters most is my soul and my relationship with God. And it is because the LORD Jesus Christ do not change, and you can face your challenges with courage this day and hope for the future. 

        Petition: May I not live the rest of my time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For I have spent enough time in the past in doing the will of those without God, when I walked in licentiousness,' lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties, and detestable idolatries (1 Peter 4:2-3).

 Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.       

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What Is Christmas Without A Little Drama

                                                     When The Door Slams

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."                                                                                                            Matthew 2:7-8 NIV  

        What is Christmas without a little drams? For children, the plethora of casting options includes sheep and camels. For adults, the choices narrow a bit, and some parts admittedly have become more favored than others. Which part would you prefer to play? Zechariah? Joseph? A shepherd? Or A wise man? 

        No, we reject such options and by default find ourselves living in ease and plenty, like King Herod, who feigned reverence for the one born King of the Jews, yet was driven by the cold calculus that a slaughter of the innocents now might, possibly, someday save his own neck.

        Why did the Magi risk everything? These wise men had become desperate, compelled, and finally obsessed. In the end, they traveled a thousand miles or more, probably in a small camel train, only to stop in Jerusalem to ask, "Where is the newborn King of the Jews?" King Herod was deeply disturbed when they asked this (Matthew 2:3 NIV). These men may have come from a prestigious city of the ancient Medes, Persians, or Chaldeans. Braving extreme heat, sandstorms, and the constant threat of thieves, these Magi traveled for months through foreign lands to the far west-to within a day of the great Mediterranean Sea.           

        Yes, with such a clear-cut calculus, we too are more than eager to raise our hands and voices, saying, "Pick me! I want to play the part of King Herod." Yes, it is us. True that, we won't take their lives ourselves, but we will demand that today's international aliens, and refugees die somewhere else, offstage, if only to ensure that we still get to take the final bow.

        After all, King Herod has the best of all lines: "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!" (Matthew 2:8 NIV).

        Think about this: Jesus is not only the light of the world; He is also its salvation. Jesus came to this earth so that we might not perish, but instead spend eternity with Him. What a glorious gift; what a priceless opportunity. 

        As mere mortals, we cannot fully understand the scope, and thus the value, of eternal life. Our vison is limited but God's is not. God sees all things; God knows all things and His plans for you extend throughout eternity.

        If you have not already done so, this is the perfect time to make the ultimate choice and turn your life over to God's only begotten Son. When you give your heart to the Son, you belong to the Father-today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

        Petition: Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul (Proverbs 2:9-10 NIV). There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2 NIV). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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This Faithful Promise Might Encourage You

                                                      When The Door Slams

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and his king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."                                        Joshua 8:1-2 NIV

        

        I looked at how the unconfessed sin of one man stopped the army of Israel in its tracks and how our own unconfessed sin might do the same in our lives. Yet God's words today show us how God stands eager for us to get past our sin. God's plan for Joshua was to move forward not stand still. Rather than hinder the plan, God wanted to see the sin removed so that He could continue His work in the lives of the people of Israel. His promises were not taken back because of Israel's sin.

        How true this is in our own lives! God has a uncompromising and positive action  toward us. He is for us to move forward in His power; we are encouraged and emboldened by the Holy Spirit He has given to those who believe in Him. 

        Sin is a desperately disastrous reality in our lives, to be sure; however, God desires that we confess that sin and move on in His power and in His strength, for "if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NIV). How will this faithful  promise encourage you today?

        Think about this: If you want to trust God's plan for your life, then you must learn to trust His timetable. You will be extremely tempted, however, to do otherwise. Because you are a fallible human being, you are impatient for things to happen. But God knows best. 

        God  has created a world that unfolds according to His own timetable, not ours . . . thank goodness! We mortals will make a terrible mess of everything. God does not. God's plan does not always happen in the way that we would like or at the time of our own choosing.

        Our task-as believing Christians who trust in a benevolent, all-knowing Father-is to wait patiently for God to reveal Himself. And reveal Himself He will. Always. But until God's perfect plan is made known, we must walk in faith and never lose hope. And we must repent in all our short coming, and continue to trust God. Always. We must learn to move forward according to the timetable of the Timeless One, and to be at peace with each other. 

          Thanksgiving: Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in One He love                 (Ephesians 1:3-6 NIV).                                  

  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Never Rest Ministries

          

The Best Things In Life

                                                     When The Door Slams

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'                                                                       Matthew 25:21 NIV   

        There are some things you will spend a lifetime applying, and this is one of them: You don't get the best things by going after the best things. You get the best things by going after the important things.

        I understand what is the "best things in life," Listen to this: "Best things in life" is  loving relationships, good marriages, good children, spiritual truths and gifts, effective ministry, peace of mind, happiness, even financial security; all the stuff that makes life meaningful. You don't wind up with all the good stuff by going after it directly. 

        You will get the big stuff by minding the little stuff along the way. Take "happiness," for example. We don't get "happiness" by saying to ourselves, "I'm going to make myself 'happy' today!" Happiness comes almost unconsciously when we get other things right: our relationships, our obedience to God, and our daily walk with Jesus our LORD. 

       The same thing with love. It don't come today because we sweat and strain for love. It comes because-while-we are doing the little things right by folks, like kindness and concern. Then when we get the little things right-the essential little things, and the big things tend to follow.

        Think about this: Sometimes it is hard to stand firm in your faith, especially when the world keeps pumping out messages that are contrary to your beliefs. The media is working around the clock in an attempt to rearrange your priorities. The media says that appearance is all-important, that social standing is all-important. These messages are untrue.

        The important things in life have little to do with appearances. The all-important things in life have to do with your faith, your family, and your future. Living in the twenty-first century, you are relentlessly bombarded by media messages that are contrary to your faith. Take those messages with a grain of salt or not at all. Our fight is not against any physical enemy; it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We must struggle against sin all our lives, but we are assured we will win.  

        Intercession: As living  stones, we are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light              (1 Peter 2:5,9).       

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

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Joseph And Potiphar Refuse To Sin

                                                      When The Door Slams

As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.                                       Genesis 39:19-21 ESV 

       Let's unpack this: Potiphar's wife accused Joseph of trying to seduce her, when it was actually the other way around. "She caught him by his cloak and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he left his cloak in her hand and ran" (Genesis 39:12 NIV). When I unpack it referred to that Potiphar "burned with anger," it is always been assumed that he was angry at Joseph. I looked again. It just says Potiphar was furious (Genesis 39:19 TLB). If he was furious at Joseph-a slave from parts unknown-his option was clear: Kill him. 

        But he didn't kill him. I think he knows full well that his wife is lying (certainly not for the first time!) and that he will have to take over the responsibilities that Joseph was handing. But he can not side with the slave against his wife. So he treats Joseph about as well as he can, sending him to a prison for the privileged, through that is still no picnic. 

        Joseph is forgotten for two years, then begins to rise from the ashes to vice president of Egypt. And all because God saw Joseph doing one thing, the one thing that He longs for from all His people. He saw Joseph refusing to sin. We all should take a stand. Refuse to sin. It is where everything else begins. 

        Think about this: The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. "Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the LORD, Your Maker?"

        "I am with you to deliver you." Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

        Affirmation: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance        (2 Peter 3:9 NIV).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His for His Forgiveness.   

                                                      Never Rest Ministries