Daily Biblical Devotionals

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Need2Know Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 6:43 am
Daily Biblical Devotionals His Will Is Best Does God still speak to us today? Is He interested in what happens to us as individuals? Does He truly have a master plan for our lives? If so, how do I discover it? How do I hear His voice? How can I know the will of God? These are all important questions, and the answer to the first one sets us on an exciting journey of discovery. Yes, God does speak to us today—and especially to His own children. And how do you become His child? I will answer that at the end of this article. But we who have put our faith in Jesus Christ are not simply victims of chance in a random world, hoping against hope that our luck won't run out on us. Just as God led men and women in the pages of Scripture, so He wants to lead us. There are, however, no foolproof formulas or "easy as 1-2-3" steps we can follow that will instantaneously reveal God's will to us at our every whim. But let there be no doubt: God guides His own. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus "calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (John 10:3–4 NKJV). The good news is that God does not play hide and seek with us. He wants to lead you even more than you want to be led. God is more concerned about keeping us in His will than we are to be kept in it! Far too often, we can make knowing God's will into something misty, mystical, and otherworldly. And yet, through my years of walking with God, I have found there are concrete, practical steps that we as believers can take to more easily grasp and understand His will. God's way becomes plain when we start walking in it. But sometimes, we fear or don't like His plan, and don't want to follow it. Here's an example of how we might refuse God's better way. The following is a fictional transcript of a conversation between the captain of a U.S. Navy ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Canada. Though the conversation did not actually occur, it still teaches a critical lesson: Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision. Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision. Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision. Americans: This is the captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert your course! Canadians: No. I say again, you divert your course. Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet. Three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels accompany us. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north. I say again, that's one-five degrees north, or counter measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship. Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call! Often, we're just like that Navy captain when it comes to the will of God. We want Him to divert His course when we're in desperate need of diverting our own. Above all else, however, we should keep one important fact in mind: In the long run, God's will is always better than our will. In the long run? The reality is that, at certain times in our lives, we may not understand or even like God's will. If you were to interview young Joseph—deep in the bowels of an Egyptian prison on a trumped up rape charge (see Genesis 39–40)—he may have not been all that excited about the will of God for his life. But if you were to talk to him just a short time later, after he came into power as the second in command of Egypt, he might have preached a sermon to you about the value of waiting for God's will. Keep this in mind. God is always looking out for your spiritual and eternal welfare. We tend to look out for our physical and immediate welfare. But what is good now may not be for eternity. And what is difficult now may be the best thing for the endless ages to come. Consider these encouraging words the apostle Paul wrote to the believers living in Corinth: For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT) Yes, God guides His own children, but the essential question is whether you are truly a child of God. Let me say this upfront. We are not, as some would suggest, "all God's children." Sure, we are all created by God and share in His image and likeness, but according to Jesus, that's not enough to be rightfully considered God's child. Jesus told us that becoming a child of God does not come by physical birth, but by a spiritual rebirth (see John 3:3–7). This miracle of regeneration occurs by personally receiving Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your friend, Savior and Lord. Your rebirth into God's family comes from God's grace in response to your faith in Him. The Scriptures put it this way: "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God"(John 1:12 NLT). Each of us needs to make that decision. I hope that you already have, and are discovering the will of God for your life. *All Devotionals are from Pastor Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California or from other Calvary Chapel pastors from varying churches. Last edited by Need2Know on Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:55 am; edited 2 times in total		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 6:47 am
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Destruction by Deception For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. — Jude 4 Is it possible to preach and not be a true believer, or to even do miracles and not necessarily be saved? Absolutely. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' " (Matthew 7:21–22). Notice that Jesus said, "Many will come in that day" (emphasis mine). This reminds us there will be an abundance of false miracles in the last days. Many will say they have been doing miracles. Many will say they have been casting out demons, allegedly. But Jesus will say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:23). The worst thing imaginable is to spread wickedness under the veneer of true faith. Tragically, this does happen in the church today. I wish that we could spot these people more easily. But Jude pointed out that they come in unnoticed (see Jude 4). That is the whole idea. Satan is a deceiver. And that is why on more than one occasion, the Bible compares him to a snake. Having been an avid collector of snakes as a kid, I know how easily they can get out of the tightest little spots and escape. In the same way, Satan sneaks into the church unnoticed. False teachers come into the church secretly. And their numbers grow by preying on unsuspecting believers. Beware of false teachers. And be careful of those who say they have a message you won't hear anywhere else.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:08 pm
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 Contend for the Faith Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. — Jude 3 Without question, the gospel is under attack today. And I believe that most Americans, not to mention the rest of the world, have not really heard the gospel message. The fact is that when a lot of people are supposedly preaching the gospel, they are not really preaching it at all. That is why Jude 3 says that we need to contend for the faith. We need to do this in the proper way. We don't want to do it in a sloppy manner. We want to make sure that we know what the essential gospel is, because there are certain elements that must be in place for the gospel to be the gospel. I often hear people oversimplify or overcomplicate the gospel. Either they load it down with a bunch of rules and regulations that have nothing to do with the essential gospel, or they strip it of its essential meaning by offering forgiveness without mentioning repentance or by telling people about a wonderful place called heaven without mentioning a very real place called hell. We need to find that balance and do it properly. What would you think of a surgeon who just opened you up and started cutting away? It would be frightening for him or her to say, "I don't know where to start." We want to make sure that what we do, we do properly, because what we are up to in sharing the gospel has far greater, eternal ramifications. So let's contend for the faith. Let's live it. Let's defend it. And let's proclaim the essential gospel.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 7:02 am
Thursday, May 17, 2007 Contending with Care Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. — Ephesians 4:15 I remember walking down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki and seeing a man holding a big sign with red flames and the words, "The wages of sin is death." He was yelling out to people, "God hates you! God is going to judge you! God is going to get you!" I watched as people passed by, intentionally turning away from him. Finally, I walked up to him and said, "Excuse me, I have a question. I just wanted to say that while it is true that the wages of sin is death, as your placard says so boldly, it is also true that the rest of that verse says the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Why don't you put that on the other side of your placard, and you could flip it around periodically? You could give them the whole message." The man then told me that I was going to hell. He was intent on delivering a certain degree of truth in a contentious way. When we read in Jude 3 that we are to contend for the faith, it doesn't mean that we are to assault with the truth. It doesn't mean we are to bludgeon people with it. The word "contend" in this verse actually speaks of delivering the truth, but doing so in a loving manner. The Bible tells us to speak the truth in love, which means professing God's truth in a loving way. It is important to know your theology and to know what the Bible teaches. But it is also so very important to just love people. If we can find the balance of lovingly presenting truth, it will be a powerful combination.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:22 am
Friday, May 18, 2007 Building and Defending The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. — Nehemiah 4:16–17 When God called Nehemiah, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah was living in the lap of luxury. He was in a position of power and prestige. But Nehemiah was stirred in his heart, because he knew that while he lived in comfort, his fellow Jews were basically living in ruin. The once-high walls of Jerusalem lay in rubble, burned-out and charred. God told Nehemiah to use his position of influence for Him. Nehemiah prayed and then went to the king and asked for permission to rebuild the walls. Permission was granted, and Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and went about the task of getting the people to rebuild the wall. At first, they weren't all that interested, but eventually Nehemiah rallied the troops. Everyone began to work together. And as soon as the Israelites began to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, there was opposition. It is a reminder to us that whenever God's people say, "Let's rise up and build," the devil and his cohorts are going to say, "Let's rise up and oppose." One of the greatest challenges when we go into a community to hold a Harvest Crusade is not booking the venue or printing the materials or doing the other things that are so visible. The hardest thing is getting the churches to wake up to the need of getting the gospel out in their own community. That is what Nehemiah had to do, and that is what we need to do. On one hand, we are to be building ourselves up in the faith. And on the other hand, we are to be contending for the faith. We build and defend, and it all goes together.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:23 am
Monday, May 21, 2007 Misunderstood Grace What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? — Romans 6:1–2 I am shocked at what some people today will do and still claim to be Christians. They will blatantly do what the Bible tells them they should not do. The idea that you can do whatever you want as a Christian and still be forgiven isn't unique to our day, however. Paul had to refute it in the Book of Romans: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Romans 6:1–2). Paul was saying that we can't sin so that God's grace may overflow. It is a false teaching that says that you can go out and blatantly disobey God, and God's grace will cover it. It is a perversion of the teaching of the grace of God. The Bible says that the grace of God is given to us so that we might say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age as we wait for the return of Christ. It doesn't say that the grace of God was given to us so that we can do whatever we want and break His commandments with abandon. Grace and law work closely together. The law tells me that I am a sinner. Grace tells me how to deal with my sin. While it is true that the Christian is no longer under the constraint or the extreme limitations of the law, it doesn't mean that he or she should disregard it altogether. It means we should obey it because we want to, not because we have to. What you believe determines how you will behave.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 11:27 am
Why does God allow evil? Here's one of the biggest questions people ask when they wrestle with the claims of Christianity: If God is so good and loving, why does He allow evil? Sound familiar? You've probably heard it in a score of versions: Why does He allow babies to be born blind? Why does He allow wars to rage, killing innocent people? How could He stand by and let a little girl be kidnapped, raped, and murdered? What about all the horrible injustice in the world? How could He allow this hurricane . . . this tsunami . . . this earthquake . . . this wildfire . . . this epidemic? If He can prevent such terrible tragedies, why does He allow them to take place? People have been asking that question again this week, as they struggle to understand the senseless killing of more than 30 students on the campus of Virginia Tech. Here's the classic statement of the problem: Either God is all powerful but not all good, and therefore He doesn't stop evil—or He's all good but not all powerful, and therefore He can't stop evil. The general tendency, of course, is to blame God for evil and suffering, transferring all responsibility to Him. So let's look closer at the core question: If God is so good and loving, why does He allow evil? The first part of this question is based on a false premise. People who express those words are essentially suggesting (or saying outright) that God must meet their own criteria of goodness. But who are they to set standards for God? When did they become the moral center of the universe? The fact is God doesn't become "good" just because that's my opinion of Him, or because I personally agree with His words or actions. God is good because He says He is! Jesus said, "No one is good—except God alone" (Luke 18:19 NIV). God is good, whether I believe it or not. He and He alone is the final court of arbitration. As Paul said, "Let God be true, and every man a liar" (Romans 3:4 NIV). What is "good"? Good is whatever God approves. And it's good because He approves it! There's no higher standard of goodness than God's own character—and His approval of whatever's consistent with that character. So God is good. Period. Now let's come back to the second part of the question. Why does He allow evil? Remember that mankind was not created evil, but perfect. In their original state, Adam and Eve were innocent, ageless, and immortal. But from the very beginning—from the time God breathed the breath of life into Adam's inanimate form—man has had the ability to choose right or wrong. And he made his choice. Had man never sinned, there would have been no resulting curse. But now it's too late: "When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned" (Romans 5:12 NLT). The point to keep in mind here is that humanity—not God—is responsible for sin. So why didn't God create human beings to be incapable of sin? Because that would make us less than human. God created us in His image, and part of that image within us is a free will—a capacity to choose good or evil, to do right or wrong. It's easy to think the world would be a much better and safer place if God hadn't given us our free will. In many ways, our free will is our worst curse. But it's also our greatest blessing. If God hadn't given us a free will, we would merely be puppets on a string, remote-controlled robots that bow before Him at the touch of a button. God, however, wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who voluntarily choose to do so. Love cannot be genuine if there's no other option. You and I can choose to love God. And if we're realistic, we have every reason in the world to make that choice. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center, there were some who said this was God's judgment on New York City. And after Hurricane Katrina's devastation, some said this was His judgment on New Orleans. But I don't agree with that. In the New Testament, Jesus took time to address a local tragedy that was a "current news story" at the time. A tower had collapsed in Jerusalem, killing 18 men. Referring to that incident, Jesus asked His listeners this question: "Do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?" Then He answered it: "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:4–5 NKJV). Had those 18 men fallen under some special, targeted judgment from God? No, Jesus was saying. The bottom line is that people die. And even worse than the physical death—which happens to us all—is the eternal spiritual death that happens if we don't repent of our sin. Tragedies happen. Wars happen. Accidents happen. Illness happens. Cancer happens. We live in a broken, fallen world, and nobody's exempt from the effects of that. Everybody dies. This doesn't mean God is unfair. It doesn't mean He has singled out anybody for special judgment. If I die, it just means it was my time to leave this earth. And that moment will come to everybody. The Bible says, "It is appointed unto men once to die" (Hebrews 9:27 KJV). Each of us has an appointment with death. Each of us has an advance reservation for the journey of leaving this world for an eternal destination. There's a ticket marked with your name and the time of your departure. This is not a gloomy, pessimistic view—if you belong to Jesus Christ. If you're a Christian, the thought of inevitable physical death is flooded with hope! Because you know that when you pass from this life, you'll step immediately into the majesty and radiance of the Lord's immediate presence, and you'll live with Him forever. What's not to like about that? In the New Testament, the apostle Paul once wrote these words from prison: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21 NKJV). He said more about what was good about continuing his life in this world, but he also added that "to depart and be with Christ . . . is far better" (Philippians 1:23 NKJV). Paul's attitude wasn't one of resignation: "Well, if I've got to die, I've got to die. Not much I can do about it." No, to Paul, dying meant coming out ahead in the game. It meant stepping forward into the best existence imaginable. For Paul, entering the presence of the Lord Jesus wasn't just "better," it was "far better!" The simple truth about our planet is that tragedies have wracked humanity ever since Adam and Eve were pushed out of the Garden of Eden, and tragedies will continue to touch our lives as long as we walk this earth. But be aware of the even greater tragedy—of failing to repent of your sins and to come to Jesus Christ for His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life. To fail in that is to be locked into tragedy forever.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 6:58 am
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 The Importance of Doctrine Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. — 1 Timothy 4:16 Theology and doctrine are not trivial matters. Yet there are people today who set aside biblical teaching and say, "I just want to experience God. I don't want to argue over doctrine. I just want to love Jesus." That is a nice sentiment, but it is also a very dangerous one. It means they might end up loving the wrong Jesus. They might end up believing the wrong doctrine. That is why the Bible exhorts us again and again to have our lives and doctrine in order. As Paul instructed Timothy, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Timothy 4:16). One of the reasons that so many people are falling prey to false teachings today is because they do not have their doctrine in order. I once heard a statistic that 80 percent of people who are pulled into various cult groups were once part of a church. That is not necessarily saying they were believers, but it is saying that these people had some church involvement at some point in their lives. If that statistic is correct, then it is alarming. It shows there are people who could have spent time in church, maybe a lot of time, but because they didn't have their doctrine in order, they were led down the wrong road. If you have your doctrine in order, if you know what the Bible teaches, then you will be able to refute false teaching and defend your faith. It's what Jude means by exhorting Christians to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:4).		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 7:29 am
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 The Result of Rebellion And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. — Jude 1:6 Sometimes the question arises as to how a God of love could create someone as wicked as Lucifer. The answer is that God did not create Lucifer as we know Him today. In fact, he was once a high-ranking angel and, according to Ezekiel 28, was the model of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty. So what happened? What was his specific sin? It was that his heart became prideful because of his incredible beauty. He was not satisfied with worshiping God. He instead wanted to be worshiped. So Lucifer, once a high-ranking, beautiful angel of God, lost his exalted position in heaven. Lucifer became Satan when he fell to the earth. Lucifer means "star of the morning," which he once was. Satan means accuser, which he now is. And when Satan fell, he took one-third of the angels with him, who are now in rebellion against God. It is amazing to think that angels turned against God. After all, apart from humanity, who has greater privilege than angels? Certainly they have been given a wonderful privilege to have access to the very throne of God and worship before Him. Yet there was a major angelic rebellion. Here is the warning for us today: Even the angels are facing judgment because they rebelled against God, reminding us of the danger of thinking we can use the grace of God as a license for sin. The Bible cautions us that just because we know what is right and just because we have been taught in the truth does not mean that we are incapable of rebelling against God. The angels rebelled and faced God's judgment. And if we rebel, we will face His judgment as well.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 6:40 am
May 24, 2007 Father Factor 'I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.' --2 Samuel 7:14 (NKJV) God employs many means to reveal Himself. Romans 1:20-21 tells us that His eternal power is revealed to us through the wonders of the natural world. Romans 2:14-15 says that His moral absolutes are imprinted on the conscience of every human being. And Hebrews 1:1-2 teaches us that He has declared Himself through the life of His Son. But there is still one more way that God reveals Himself. He shall cry to Me, 'You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.' (Psalm 89:26 NKJV) 'For I am a Father . . . ' (Jeremiah 31:9 NKJV) Have you ever noticed how frequently God refers to Himself as 'Father'? He draws this comparison because He wants to get a point across to us. As humans, we're limited in what we can understand about Him. He has provided the paternal example for us on the earthly plane so that we can comprehend His heart for us on the heavenly plane. The dynamic of the father-child relationship is a gateway for our understanding of God. Many people who've had poor or non-existent relationships with their fathers also have a hard time coming to God. When they hear the words 'heavenly Father,' they are immediately turned off by recollections of a faulty fatherly relationship that they were subjected to as children. Some were berated, some were beaten, and others were simply ignored. This was never God's intention. He wants earthly fathers to demonstrate His qualities to their children because then it will be an easy transition for children to take their own step of faith toward God. If you are a father, understand the awesome power you wield when it comes to your relationship with your children. And if you have been bruised through your relationship with your earthly father, remember that it is a distorted picture of the perfect paternal heart that beats for you in heaven . . . even now. 'Your Father in heaven is perfect.' (Matthew 5:48 NKJV)		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 6:56 am
IT’S NO SECRET —New self-help DVD reveals age-old ‘secret’ to health, wealth, happiness ... and just a hint of deception By Didi Williamson The Good News 05/01/07 A small group of elite individuals control most of the world’s wealth. Do they know something you don’t? According to filmmaker and author Rhonda Byrne, they know a secret once reserved for philosophers, kings and rulers. But, now, she’s willing to share it with you … for just $29.95. The Secret, Byrne’s book and accompanying DVD, has been heralded by Oprah Winfrey and has made its way to the top of The New York Times’ Bestseller list by simply stating that you can have whatever you want – if you simply think it. Byrne wrote The Secret after reading the 1910 book The Science of Getting Rich based on the “law of attraction.” On The Oprah Winfrey Show, Byrne explained the law of attraction this way: “We attract into our lives the things we want, and that is based on what we’re thinking and feeling.” Simply stated, if you think you own a Mercedes, you will. If you are confident that your special someone will look your way, he or she will.The Secret touts that you can attain whatever you want, be whoever you want and do anything you’d like – all by changing your mind. According to Oklahoma Pastor Ed Gungor, who recently wrote There’s More to the Secret (Thomas Nelson Publishers) due out May 29, this self-service mentality draws in the current culture because it “is like throwing gasoline on an already raging fire of consumerism.” However, the pastor of the People’s Church in Tulsa thinks there are some worthwhile ideas promoted in The Secret. “Still, there’s something to it: the idea of not being so negative, of embracing thoughts of hope, the idea that life can be different than it is. That rumors the Kingdom of God.” “It’s really no secret,” according to Karen Ross, who teaches a course on The Secret for Esslinger Wooten Maxwell (EWM) Realtors in Broward. “It just boils down to, ‘As a man thinketh, so he is’” (Proverbs 23:7). According to Ross, the makers of the film “sprinkle truth throughout it,” while also including New Age ideas and spiritual undertones. “The rest you just weed out or laugh at,” says Ross, a member of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale. Problems with the law In fact, the “experts” from The Secret DVD – “metaphysicians,” “visionaries” and entrepreneurs such as Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul – try to gloss over a few blemishes in the law of attraction. “If the great thinkers have all known about the secret, and now we’re privy to that knowledge, too, wouldn’t the world be a more perfect place?” asks columnist Caroline Hartmann of The Michigan Daily. “The Secret evokes the same dilemmas we wonder about when psychics fail to foresee global disasters or predict tomorrow’s weather.” Another problem with The Secret is the concept that negative thoughts result in negative outcomes. The idea that tragedies like Sept. 11 and the Virginia Tech massacre were brought on by the victims’ negative thoughts is inherently wrong, Gungor says. “What? Those 6 million Jews had bad thoughts and brought the Holocaust to themselves? Really?” he asks. The millions who buy into The Secret believe in a “power-without-ethic” mentality, according to Allen Baumgarten, biblical scholar and instructor at Calvary Chapel Bible Institute in Fort Lauderdale. The DVD tells viewers that if something feels good, they should keep thinking about those things. However, in a post-Christian world, when moral relativism rules, what feels good to one person may be harmful to another. PowerfulIntentions.com, an online community that believes in the law of attraction, says they actually pride themselves on enjoying a little “spiritual incorrectness.” “That’s like putting poisonous mushrooms on your pizza,” Baumgarten says. “It might taste good, but you have to worry about what it’s going to do to you later.” Baumgarten says that supporters of The Secret have only two sources of “proof” that the law of attraction actually works – personal testimony and weak scientific links that really don’t prove their claims. According to Baumgarten, “personal testimony hardly proves the truth of the law of attraction.” After all, opposing testimonies could be gathered from people who haven’t been able to think all their dreams into existence. People still regularly die of cancer and declare bankruptcy, he says. A silver lining? While Ross agrees that there are some New Age, get-rich-quick philosophies found in The Secret, she shows the film to Realtors at EWM because she says it encourages people to write down their goals and actively pursue them. “This is not a Bible study,” she warns viewers, but they are helpful principles, she says. “Most people have their feet firmly planted in the air,” Ross adds. “They don’t know where they’re going, and they’re waiting for a sign.” But, when they visualize their goals and write them down, she says, they can work to achieve them over time. However, Baumgarten cautions, “Having carefully planned goals and then working at them is all well and good; deluding people into believing that mere desire alone can accomplish good goals is tragic.” In contrast to the teachings of The Secret, Baumgarten says that people should seek to live a biblically based life that acknowledges the sovereignty of God – and the vanity of wealth gained through dishonest means. Like Ross, Gungor sees a silver lining in The Secret. He says the popularity of the movement proves one of two points: Either people in the United States are “hungry for more,” and a spiritual awakening is approaching in the distance, or people are telling church leaders that “we are not being the light and the salt that we need to be.” Either way, he says Christians shouldn’t totally discredit the principles found in The Secret. “Instead of thinking about new cars and mansions, what if we started thinking about the world being hit with a worldwide revival? What would that look like?” Gungor asks. The truth behind The Secret In addition, Gungor says there may be some scientific evidence behind The Secret’s principles. “We found out in the 90’s … that your thoughts actual carry a resident signal,” he says. “It actually shows up on MRIs because it lights up the brain when you think about certain things.” In other words, when you feel joy, pain or anger, your brain emits certain signals. “The position I’m taking is not that I believe The Secret,” he says. “It’s that if we find out it’s true, who cares?” Baumgarten strongly disagrees with this point of view. He says The Secret’s “tenuous” link with scientific facts based on signals emitted by brain waves is based on philosophy, not science, and has never been proven. The Bible scholar adds, “If the claims of The Secret truly are nothing more than physical laws of the world in which we live, then repeatable and testable experiments ought to confirm without error that people could, indeed, literally redirect events and shape matter with their thoughts alone.” However, he says biblical evidence proves that The Secret’s principles “run contrary to the heart of God.” “Rather than pursue self-centered goals, the Bible exhorts us to put God’s priorities at the top of our list and to humbly seek His will for our lives,” he says.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 7:56 am
Friday, May 25, 2007 Our Back-up Plan Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. — Jude 1:21 When police officers are in trouble, what do they do? They call for backup. That is what believers need to do as well. When we are being hassled or tempted, we need to call for backup. We are to stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. James 4:7 says, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Notice it doesn't say that we are to submit to God and carry on extended conversations with the devil. We want to keep our distance from the enemy. Therefore, we must be careful not to yield to him. Disobedient and persistent waywardness provide the enemy grounds from which he can attack and influence the Christian. So flee temptation and don't leave a forwarding address. Keep your distance from the things that could drag you down. We must learn from the example of the Israelites who, in spite of their privileges and exposure to miracles, did not keep themselves in the love of God. As a result, they faced judgment. We must learn from the example of the fallen angels who, in spite of the fact that they once worshiped God in heaven, they rebelled against Him and became demons in hell. We must learn from the example of the people living in Sodom and Gomorrah who, in spite of the fact that they were exposed to the preaching and ministry of Abraham, Lot, and even Melchizedek, they rebelled against God. These all failed to keep themselves in the love of God. So let's make sure we are taking every step to do that.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:11 am
God's Wind Is Blowing—Hoist Your Sail! I know it is something of a cliché, but God really does love you and has an incredible plan for your life. Yes, that's right, a plan for your life. Now, this can be regarded as a good or bad thing, depending on how you see God. But if you have any understanding of who the biblical God is, you will discover that His plan for your life is far better then anything you could imagine. So how do I discover God's plan for my life? How can I know His will? Here are a few principles to consider that will help you in that regard. 1. Search the Scriptures for God's general will The first principle of laying hold of God's will is that you must look for it. And the best and primary place to being your search is in the pages of Scripture. God primarily speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. That is the bedrock of truth by which we measure all other truth, the clear revelation by which we measure all other so-called revelations. It is the rock of stability by which we measure our fickle human emotions. The way we know something is true or right is by comparing it to what Scripture teaches. Everything you need to know about God is found in the pages of Scripture. Paul told his young disciple Timothy: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do" (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT). From this verse—and others like it—we know that God would never lead us contrary to the plain teachings of Scripture. This truth seems obvious (and it is), but it's amazing how many seem to miss it. They're busy seeking some mystical word from God when He has plainly spoken to them in the Bible sitting on their nightstand. It would be like wanting desperately to hear from someone that you deeply loved. Then one day, you looked in your mailbox and found a letter from him or her (or an e-mail on your computer). But instead of opening that piece of correspondence, you simply continued to whine about how this person never communicates with you. Don't be ridiculous . . . open the letter! In the same way, we must open the Book! Jesus said, "Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7 NKJV). Whenever you begin to imagine that the will of God is mysterious, mystical, or out of reach, remember that Scripture plainly states God's specific will for you—again and again. Are you looking for God's will, but don't know where to begin? Start with what God has already told you. If you're not ready to obey His clearly written instructions, what makes you think you will follow special revelation out of the blue? For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV). Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NKJV). Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:17–20 NLT) 2. Ask for God's specific will When I was a young man, I never found any specific passage in Scripture that told me I must marry a girl named Cathe. What do I do, then? I take God's principles, keeping them in the forefront of my mind and heart, and then ask Him for His specific will in my life. From the Scripture, I understand that it's not good for a man to be alone, that an excellent wife is the crown of her husband, and that he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Not to mention the verse that says it's better to marry than to burn with passion! Having understood God's general will for my life through the Scriptures, I seek His specific will for individual situations as they arise. Nothing is too insignificant, too minute, to take to the Lord in prayer. There's an old Jewish proverb that says, "It is better to ask the way ten times than to take the wrong road once." The apostle James reminds us, "If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking" (James 1:5 NLT). 3. Wait for God's timing The timing of God is just as important as the will of God. And it is clear that God has both His perfect will and time to do what He wants. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that "He has made everything beautiful in its time" (NKJV). The problem with so many of us is that having found God's will, we want to act quickly. We're so prone to rush things, aren't we? In our culture of instant gratification, it's hard for us to "be still, and know that He is God" (see Psalm 46:10). But if God says no—or even slow down—it's for your own good: If the request is wrong, God says, "No." If the timing is wrong, God says, "Slow." If you are wrong, God says, "Grow." But if the request is right, the timing is right, and you are right, God says, "Go!" 4. Act on God's will Obedience to revealed truth guarantees guidance in matters unrevealed. The wind of God is always blowing . . . but you must hoist your sail! In the book of Acts, when God spoke to the apostle Philip with orders to go to the desert, he went—even though it made no logical sense at the time. We must do the same. God won't necessarily give you a detailed blueprint. He will reveal to you as much as you need to know, nothing more, nothing less. God leads us step by step, from event to event. It will only be afterwards, when we look back with the luxury of hindsight, that we will discover how God led us more than we ever realized or dreamed. God used important moments of our lives, even times of crisis or situations we may have balked at or complained about at the time, to lead us in His will through life. 5. Seek God's confirmation So many singles I have known work themselves up into a mad rush-rush to find that right person. And there's certainly nothing wrong with wondering and praying about such a deep, God-given desire. In Genesis 2:18, God said of Adam, "It is not good that man should be alone" (NKJV). It was God Himself who brought Eve to Adam's side. And if He sees that aloneness is ultimately "not good" for you, He will bring your mate to you, in His perfect timing. But there's nothing wrong with bringing your desire before Him in prayer. You can start praying for that future husband or wife right now. While you're still single, however, you need to take advantage of your mobility and availability. Paul had these things in mind when he penned these words to the single men and women in the church at Corinth: "In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord's work and thinking how to please Him. But a married man can't do that so well. He has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be more devoted to the Lord in body and in spirit, while the married woman must be concerned about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible." (1 Corinthians 7:32–35 NLT) Sometimes we think of singles as second-class citizens—"What? You're not married yet?" But many of the great movers and shakers of Scripture were unmarried. Elijah had no wife, and he shook a nation. The apostle Paul turned his world upside down. Jesus never had a wife. And the list goes on. The bottom line? While you're single, serve the Lord with all your heart. But at the same time, don't feel guilt over your desire for companionship. Wait on the Lord. Jesus said, "Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern" (Matthew 6:32–33 NLT). In summary, God reveals His general will to you in the Bible, and He will give you wisdom on specific matters if you ask Him and wait for His guidance. Once you have the sense of His direction and act in obedience, He will then confirm your choice in multiple ways. For example, God may cause a verse from Scripture to leap out at you from the page, speaking exactly to your situation. He may move obstacles and shift circumstances in such a way that you can recognize His hand clearing the way for you. He may speak to you through a trusted Christian friend, family member, or pastor. God's creativity is endless, and He knows how to move you into the main current of His will if you're ready to wade out into the water with a humble, obedient heart. The wind of God is always blowing . . . but you must hoist your sail!		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:20 am
Monday, May 28, 2007 Letting the Holy Spirit Work "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." — John 16:8 Why has the Spirit come into this world? What does God's Holy Spirit want to do in the life of the unbeliever? The Holy Spirit is very involved in the actual work of conversion. You see, before we were Christians, it was the Holy Spirit who convicted us of our sin -see John- 16:8. Another way to translate the word "convict" in John 16:8 is "convince." Notice this verse doesn't say He will convict the unbeliever of a specific sin. Rather, He wants to convince him or her of sin in general, the root cause of all sins. Now we can try to produce in someone a sense of guilt and wrongdoing. In an effort to "help" the conversion process along, we want to make them feel guilty or to feel really bad about something. Mothers seem to have an unusual ability in this area. But only the Holy Spirit can effectively produce a guilt that will bring a person to their senses. Sometimes we get in the way of conversion. We get impatient, or we try to assist the Spirit. We can be telling someone about the Lord, maybe a friend or a coworker or a family member, and as they are getting interested and asking questions, we see they are getting closer. So we start trying to convert that person in our own strength. We try to complete the transaction when the Spirit is still working. The best thing we can do after we have shared the Word of God with someone is to pray that it takes root. We should just do our part and leave it in the hands of God. We don't need to force the issue. He will convince a person. Let God's Spirit do His work. Last edited by Need2Know on Tue May 29, 2007 7:23 am; edited 1 time in total		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:21 am
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 God's Royal Seal In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. — Ephesians 1:13 What does the Bible mean when it says that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit? In the apostle Paul's day, when goods were shipped from one place to another, they would be stamped with a wax seal, imprinted with the signet ring of the owner. This was a unique mark of ownership. People could look at the crate, see its wax seal, and know they had better not open it. The same was true with a document from a king. It would be sealed in wax and imprinted with the royal seal. People knew if they opened it and were not the intended recipient, they would be endangering their very lives. In the same way, God has put His royal seal on us: "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee" (2 Corinthians 1:21–22). The seal is the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. Upon our conversion, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Let's say that a thief wanted to steal a briefcase. Then he notices a nametag on it, bearing the name of a famous boxer. Most likely, the thief wouldn't steal that briefcase. Why? He would be afraid of what would happen. He doesn't want to suffer bodily harm. The devil wants to come and destroy us as Christians. He wants to wreak havoc in our lives. But he sees our ID tag: "Owned by Jesus Christ. Sealed and insured by the Holy Spirit." So he backs off, because we belong to Jesus Christ.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 6:44 am
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 Our Helper "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever." — John 14:16 In the Upper Room, on the night Jesus was betrayed, the disciples were upset and discouraged by what He had been telling them about His impending betrayal and crucifixion. So Jesus shared some words of encouragement with them. He told them about the Holy Spirit for the first time: If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. -John 14:15–18- I am certain that those words of Jesus brought comfort to their hearts. He was saying to His disciples, "I am not going to leave you comfortless. I am not going to leave you without help. I will ask the Father, and He will send someone alongside to help you." During the days that Jesus walked the earth, He was always there for His people. They could reach out and touch Him. If they had a question, they could ask Him. He always had time for His own. They could get close to Him. Then He told His disciples (and essentially all followers of Jesus to this day) that He would guide them and lead them in an entirely new way: through the Holy Spirit. So as Christians, we know that the Holy Spirit is actively involved in our lives. He is the Helper Jesus has given us.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 2:01 pm
Reciprocal Relationships A man who has friends must himself be friendly . . . --Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV) A person who sits in front of the television all day long can know every last detail about a celebrity, but he or she will never be known by the celebrity. A father who neglects his children throughout the course of their childhood may have a biological relationship to them, but he will never have a meaningful relationship with them. A married couple that never talks to each other may have a relationship on paper, but they won't have one in practice. The reason for this is that real relationships are reciprocal; they require two-way interaction in order to exist and develop. They also require effort and investment; they do not 'just happen' on their own. The proverb above spells this out by telling us that if someone wants to have friends, then he or she must be friendly. It's the age-old principle of reaping and sowing; what we get out of our relationships really depends on what we put into them. Don't be misled . . . . You will always harvest what you plant. (Galatians 6:7 NLT) Sometimes we are prone to wonder why we don't have great relationships with our parents, children, neighbors, friends, colleagues, etc. The natural tendency is to look at others and assume that the problem lies somewhere within their hearts, when in reality, the problem is really with us. All too often we want the intimacy without wanting to make the investment. We want to be surrounded with friends, but we aren't willing to go the distance to be friendly. In essence, we want to reap the harvest without having to sow the seed. That harvest will never come. God's Word teaches us to take personal responsibility for our relationships if we hope to see any effective change in them. It only makes sense that we need to be a friend before we can expect to be befriended.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 7:15 am
Thursday, May 31, 2007 Here Today… . . . you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. --James 4:14 (NKJV) Jesus has promised to give everlasting life to those who trust in Him as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). When it comes to life here on earth, it is just a passing vapor. It can end in an instant, and God calls us to make the most of today because we don't know if there will be a tomorrow. By the same token, we need to make the most of our relationships today because there's no guarantee they will be here tomorrow. This isn't meant to be fatalistic, but realistic. For we cannot escape the fact that each of our earthly relationships will eventually come to an end. When we look at Jesus' relationship with His disciples, we see that He always had an eye on the fact that He was going to leave them. Christ didn't squander any of His time with The Twelve because He understood that it was limited: 'Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you.' (John 13:33 NKJV) A part of our fallen nature prefers procrastination to being proactive. We tend to put things off by telling ourselves that there's always going to be plenty of time down the road. This type of thinking goes against the way God wants us to look at life (James 4:14). Often we make the tragic mistake of assuming we will always have plenty of time to enjoy our relationships with our family and friends. But distance or death may take us by surprise, and we will find ourselves regretting the time that was lost. May we make the most of the relationships we have today because there's no guarantee they will be here tomorrow.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:52 am
June 01, 2007 Guess What's Next! "Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." —Matthew 24:12–13 (NLT) Pick up a newspaper or turn on the television, and you'll be forced to conclude that this world is getting worse and worse. A recent study revealed that domestic crime is up twelve percent. Our homes are no longer havens for harmony and happiness but haunts of hostility and hatred. But what's happening in our homes is an example of what's happening on a larger scale in people's hearts. As a society, we're becoming more and more insensitive to sin, and this is reflected in the laws of our land. There are a lot of things that our courts consider legal that God considers sinful. Pornography is legal, but it destroys families. Gratuitous violence on the big screen is legal, but it's hurting people in real life. Obscene lyrics in today's hottest hits are legal, but they've trained society to be cruel, not compassionate. Without question, the world we're living in is getting worse. At this point, you're probably saying, "Thanks a lot, Pastor! My life was tough enough before you painted such a bleak picture." I'll agree that the outlook for this world is bleak, but take courage, Christian, because this sets the stage for the great and glorious truth that Jesus is coming back. Again, "Jesus is coming back!" God's Word couldn't get any clearer on this precious point. In fact, the New Testament draws attention to this single event over three hundred times! What we're seeing today won't last forever. Soon and very soon, the King of Righteousness will return, and under His rule, sin won't be tolerated, and grace and goodness will be enforced. As the world gets worse and worse, our longing for Christ's return grows greater and greater, and as this longing grows greater and greater, the promise of His soon return grows more and more glorious. He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20 NLT)		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:41 am
I recently read a story about a couple whose honeymoon did not go as planned. A man was accused of trying to run over his new wife after they had gotten married the previous weekend in Las Vegas. A spokesman for the sheriff's department in Salt Lake County, Utah said "They were still honeymooning when he ran her over." Apparently, the newlyweds were having an argument when the husband decided to run his wife over. I would say this marriage isn't off to a very good start! Marriage can be a tricky thing. You really need to learn how to resolve your conflicts if your marriage is going to survive. Maybe your marriage started with so much promise—you met each other, fell in love, and spent tons of time together. After a while, you couldn't imagine spending your life without this person. Then you got married. Now there are mortgage payments, kids to raise, money issues, and so on. And all of these things pull on us until the demands so overwhelm us that the love relationship begins to suffer. Then one day you look across the table at each other and you think, "That's not the person I married. You're a stranger. I don't know you anymore." Your love has grown cold and now small cracks turn into large chasms, and the marriage seems headed for divorce court. The honeymoon is over. In the Bible, on more then one occasion, God compares His love for us to that of a husband for a wife. The Lord says, "I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness" (Jeremiah 2:2 NLT). Our relationship with God can be like a marriage that started out with a hopeful honeymoon, but soon began to come apart at the seams. If you are a Christian, let me ask you to remember when Jesus first came into your life. Your sins were forgiven, walls of anger and bitterness came crumbling down, and the aching void in your life was suddenly filled with God Himself! You were flooded with joy and a peace that passed all human understanding. You prayed in awe to the God who was truly interested in you! You eagerly read the Bible, seeing incredible truth and wisdom that you immediately began applying to your life. You were thrilled to go to church and sang the worship songs loudly! Does this stir up any memories? Is this how it is with you today, or have things changed? If not, then what happened? The honeymoon is over. When speaking to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2, Jesus first commended them for their hard work and faithfulness, but then identified a problem that would ultimately lead to their breakdown. And this same problem will always lead to a breakdown in any Christian's spiritual life. Jesus said, "I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent" (Revelation 2:4–5 NKJV). Jesus wants you to renew your "first love" relationship with Him. You might ask if it's really that big of a deal to "leave your first love." After all, these people were not guilty of committing great sins like murder, immorality, stealing, or lying, and we can't have that "warm fuzzy feeling" all the time, can we? To answer this, we must understand what "leaving your first love" really means. It's not "you have left your first feeling," because feelings come and go. So what is this first love they were leaving? It was that passion, devotion, and affection you have after first meeting Jesus Christ that results in excitement and the open display of your love for God without any inhibitions. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives us some important insights of what a "first love" relationship with God is: I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ. But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent. (2 Corinthians 11:2–3 NLT) Here we see that the elements of first love are simplicity and purity, which leads me to ask if you are living a simple and pure life as a Christian today. To be simple doesn't mean that you are a simpleton or naïve, but rather that we never lose our sense of wonder over the glory and grace of Jesus Christ. It's not to be childish, but rather childlike. As Jesus said, "Unless you become as a little child, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven" (see Matthew 18:3). Purity describes the practice of a godly life, indicating that we are not compromising our Christian principles through immorality or by forgetting about God when confronted with various temptations. So, you can see that it is quite a serious thing to leave your first love of God, since it is the very heart of the Christian life. Look, you might be a great athlete with incredible stamina and energy, but what good is that if you have heart disease? If your heart breaks down, all the other attributes you have will not help you. In the same way, all the Bible knowledge in the world is pretty much useless if you are spiritually diseased in your heart. If you have lost your heart for God, all your knowledge and even religious habits won't help you. Have you found this "first love" relationship with God yet? Or did you have it once, but have somehow lost it? Then get back to basics, that pure and simple relationship with God. There's nothing this world offers that even comes close.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:41 am
Monday, June 04, 2007 Love You Can Count On Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. — John 13:1 We all have probably heard someone say at some time, "God loves you." And sometimes we may wonder, does God really love me? Maybe you have been let down and sorely disappointed by people. Maybe someone said they loved you and then turned against you. Maybe someone said he or she was your closest friend, but ultimately betrayed you. When it comes to God's love, we tend to ask ourselves whether it is for real. We wonder whether He, too, will turn away from us if we let Him down. Jesus knew what it was like to be betrayed. As Jesus celebrated the Feast of the Passover with His disciples, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas to betray Him. The other disciples didn't stand by Jesus, either. They forsook Him, but He did not forsake them. They denied Him, but He did not deny them. He loved His own who were in the world, and He loved them to the end (see John 13:1). The story is told of a little boy who was troubled one night by a thunderstorm. He cried out from his room, "Daddy! I'm scared!" The father responded, "Son, don't worry. God loves you, and He will take care of you." The boy replied, "I know God loves me, but right now I need someone with skin on." Jesus is God with skin on. Jesus is God demonstrating His love for His own. Aren't you glad that God doesn't treat you the way that you treat Him? Aren't you glad God doesn't reciprocate that way? No matter what you do, no matter where you go, God will always love you.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903



Need2Know Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:26 am
Tuesday, June 05, 2007 Twelve Hours to Live Jesus knew that His hour had come. . . . — John 13:1 At the first Passover in Egypt, the blood of the lambs that protected the Israelites was pointing to Jesus Christ. It was foreshadowing what He would do on the cross, when Jesus himself would become the Passover lamb, the lamb that was slain for all of humanity. His blood was shed in our place. Jesus had been waiting for this moment. He was always in full control of everything that was happening in His life and ministry. He knew exactly what would take place next. He knew time was short and that His departure was at hand, when He would depart from this world to return to the Father. But He had certain things He had to accomplish before He went to the cross, a certain chain of events that had to take place. And the night before, He knew He basically had 12 hours before He would be crucified. What if you had only 12 hours to live? Would you make any changes in your life? Would you be prepared to meet God? The Bible says, "Prepare to meet your God" (Amos 4:12). God told Hezekiah, "Set your house in order, for your shall die and not live" (Isaiah 38:1). Is your house in order? By that I mean, are you ready to meet the Lord? If He were to come back today and call His own to be with Him in heaven, would you be ready to go? If you died, would you be sure that you would go to heaven? If not, you ought to make some changes. Jesus knew what was coming. He dreaded it. He even recoiled from it. But He was going to demonstrate His love in a tangible way. So for the sake of His love for us all, He pressed on.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8903