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. 

                                                        Never Rest Ministries         

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

Some Christians Depend On Someone Else's Faith

                                                      When The Door Slams

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am remined of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.                                                                                                   (2 Timothy 1:3-5 NIV)  

        Spiritual dependency: It is one of the saddest situational I have encounter. Too often Christians let others become their compass, and when the compass is gone, the dependent Christian has no personal relationship to point to. So he or she just spins. Paul wrote to Timothy, the son of his soul, what Paul probably knew this would be his last letter. In it, he gave Timothy the key to avoid spiritual dependency.

        There are those who feed off others' spiritual dependence: some pastors, parents, or just people with dominating personalities. And there are those who make themselves dependent, who might simply be followers or might admire another's supposed to be spirituality. But here is the key: they can somehow never bring themselves to actually make that spirituality a part of their themselves.        

        Such was not the case with Timothy. The spiritual tradition and maturity that lived in his mother and grandmother, and in Paul himself, now lived in him. It is the opposite of spiritual dependency. Spiritual dependents are empty of faith-and of almost everything else. They depend on someone else's faith.

        Simply ask them: Are you walking in your mentor's footsteps, or is they taking all the steps for you? They need encouragement from those whose walk is steady...to start taking their own steps, before it is to late.

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

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

        If you have not already done so, this is the perfect moment 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.

        Affirmation: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 3-5 NIV).    

Ask the 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

                      

Your Sins Are Forgiven In Christ

                                                               When The Door Slams    

In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.                                                                                   Ephesians 3:12 NIV 

        So often when we pray to God for a pressing need, a sense of sinfulness rises up to discourage us. The thought frequently come in waves: You are unworthy. God won't answer your prayers. You might as well stop praying. This is the voice of the enemy. His name, Satan, means "accuser" in Hebrew, and he don't just accuse you of sin. The Bible calls him "the accuser of our brethren" (Revelation 12:10 NKJV). Satan accuses all believers.

        If you have given your heart to Christ, God has forgiven you and made you an heir of His eternal kingdom. If there is current sin that you have not repented of, however, it will hinder God from blessing you in this life (Isaiah 59:1-2). That is why His Holy Spirit convicts you to repent (John 16:7-8). 

        But know this also: God will forgive you as you confess your failures to Him (1 John 1:9). The devil may try to accuse and condemn you, telling you that God won't forgive you-but don't listen to that lie! God will forgive, if you repent. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).

        Are you in a time of need? Are you desperate for mercy? Christ's death on the cross, His shed blood, has made the way to His Father's throne, the door is open. Your sins are forgiven in Christ. You can come to God's throne with your prayer requests, boldly and with confidence.

        Think about this: What does God intend for me to do with my life? It is not an easy question to ask but, for many of us, a difficult question to answer. Why? Because God's purposes are not always clear to us. Sometimes we wander aimlessly in a wilderness of our own making. And sometimes we struggle mightily against God in an unsuccessful attempt to find success and happiness through our own means, not the LORD. 

        If you sincerely seek the Lord's guidance, He will give it. But be forewarned: He will make His revelations known to you in a way and in a time of His choosing, not yours. So be patient. Today and every day, when you listen carefully-and patiently-you will be amazed at the wonderful things that an all-knowing, all-powerful God can do.

        Renewal: "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well build (Luke 6:46-48 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 

                                    

         

When People Are Persuaded By The Devil

                                                            When The Door Slams

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD.                                                                                                    Isaiah 54:17 NKJV

        "The greatest lie of the devil is to persuade you that he don't exist." The devil has many weapons, but his primary weapon against us is lies. Jesus described the devil as "a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). The devil's lies began in the garden of Eden, when he persuaded Adam and Eve that God was keeping something good from them. The result was sin and separation from God. 

        Satan's lies not only can cause us to doubt God's goodness but also can confuse us as to what is true. Jesus explained that there is no truth in the devil (John 8:44). The devil has servants who seem to profess truth but skillful or clever distort it and deceive the faithful        (1 Timothy 4:1-3). These false prophets, or wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15), can lead believes astray. 

        When people are persuaded by the devil, their minds can become blind to the truth, and they can be prevented "from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Such people can be led to commit sins because their thoughts has "led them astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). 

        How do we ensure that no weapon that is fashioned by the devil against us shall succeed and that we can refute every tongue that rises against us in judgment? Jesus said, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). Thanks to the work of Christ, Satan, our accuser, cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (see Romans 8:31-39). 

        Think about this: "All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.

        "Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. "This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD (Isaiah 54:11-17 NKJV).            

       Intercession: But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory Chris, who is the image of God, should shine on them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NKJV).

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

           

             

When You Hear The Word Of The LORD Meditate On It

                                                             When The Door Slams

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.                Hebrews 2:1-4 NIV

        

        Most people who leave their faith in God behind don't make a sudden, deliberate decision to do so. Rather, they slowly drift away, little by little, day by day. The gradually become colder to the LORD, they lose interest in prayer, reading the Word, and fellowshipping with others Christians, and over time, they value their relationship with God less and less.

        Hebrews 2:3 (NIV) asks, "How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?" But that is what many people do. They don't dramatically revolt against God. They simply ignore Him for prolonged periods of time. Eventually such people become "nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins"(2 Peter 1:9 NIV). First, they become nearsighted, their eyes are out of focus. Eventually they completely lose all spiritual sight. 

        Second, they often still go through the outward motions of being a Christian, but their heart has departed. They question the basic beliefs of the faith and believe it is irrelevant to their life in this modern world. 

        What is the solution? How can you avoid this from happening to you? You must pay careful attention to what you have heard from the Bible. When you hear the Word, meditate on it and allow it to change you. "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7-8 NIV). Pray and ask God to renew your relationship with Him and determine to truly live by faith in the Word of the LORD God

        Think about this: Today why not focus your thoughts on the joy that is rightfully yours in Christ? Why not take time to celebrate God's glorious creation? Why not put your trust in spiritual hopes and prayers, instead of your fears? When you do, you will think optimistically about yourself and your world, and you can then share your optimism with others in the power of the Holy Spirit.

        Affirmation: We have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart (2:Peter 1:19 NIV). The Lord your God is gracious and compassionate, and He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him                (Revelation 19:1-2)   

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