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Post by civic on Jun 10, 2023 7:18:28 GMT -8
JUNE 10
LIKE RIDING A BIKE
Psalm2:12 Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle? It was a trust issue—nothing more, nothing less. There came a time when you had to take the training wheels off, place your feet on the pedals, and allow that bike to take flight down the street. No textbook, no parental word of advice would accomplish the mission. But once you made the leap of faith—you never again lost the aptitude for bike riding. Why? Trust. To experience the fullness of worship, we must trust the One we worship. And to trust Him, we must know Him. Have you ever felt as if you knew all the facts about God, but your prayers never passed the ceiling? Have you ever sung a hymn without being able to bring the words to life? Have you ever realized that your morning devotions have become a dry Bible study rather than a warm visit with your heavenly Father? We need truth, and we need sound theology. The right information is essential. But above all else, we need relationship. Once we’ve come into His powerful and loving presence, we’ll never struggle to trust Him again—any more than we’ll have to take a refresher course in bike riding. David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God Dr David Jeremiah has been one of my favorite preachers to listen to- God surely has blessed us and given us such a great preacher for the body of Christ. |
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Post by Admin on Jun 10, 2023 9:21:55 GMT -8
JUNE 10
LIKE RIDING A BIKE
Psalm2:12 Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle? It was a trust issue—nothing more, nothing less. There came a time when you had to take the training wheels off, place your feet on the pedals, and allow that bike to take flight down the street. No textbook, no parental word of advice would accomplish the mission. But once you made the leap of faith—you never again lost the aptitude for bike riding. Why? Trust. To experience the fullness of worship, we must trust the One we worship. And to trust Him, we must know Him. Have you ever felt as if you knew all the facts about God, but your prayers never passed the ceiling? Have you ever sung a hymn without being able to bring the words to life? Have you ever realized that your morning devotions have become a dry Bible study rather than a warm visit with your heavenly Father? We need truth, and we need sound theology. The right information is essential. But above all else, we need relationship. Once we’ve come into His powerful and loving presence, we’ll never struggle to trust Him again—any more than we’ll have to take a refresher course in bike riding. David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God Dr David Jeremiah has been one of my favorite preachers to listen to- God surely has blessed us and given us such a great preacher for the body of Christ. I have all his books and study guides. Here is a good one. My heart’s desire: living every moment in the wonder of worship / by David Jeremiah IN THE BEGINNING, when darkness was upon the face of the deep, a billion bright eyes pierced the blackness of space, and they began to pour out a cosmic symphony. We have Job’s assurance of this event: “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). Jeremiah, Dr. David. My Heart's Desire (p. 89). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. |
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Post by Admin on Jun 10, 2023 9:23:18 GMT -8
JUNE 10
LIKE RIDING A BIKE
Psalm2:12 Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle? It was a trust issue—nothing more, nothing less. There came a time when you had to take the training wheels off, place your feet on the pedals, and allow that bike to take flight down the street. No textbook, no parental word of advice would accomplish the mission. But once you made the leap of faith—you never again lost the aptitude for bike riding. Why? Trust. To experience the fullness of worship, we must trust the One we worship. And to trust Him, we must know Him. Have you ever felt as if you knew all the facts about God, but your prayers never passed the ceiling? Have you ever sung a hymn without being able to bring the words to life? Have you ever realized that your morning devotions have become a dry Bible study rather than a warm visit with your heavenly Father? We need truth, and we need sound theology. The right information is essential. But above all else, we need relationship. Once we’ve come into His powerful and loving presence, we’ll never struggle to trust Him again—any more than we’ll have to take a refresher course in bike riding. David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God Dr David Jeremiah has been one of my favorite preachers to listen to- God surely has blessed us and given us such a great preacher for the body of Christ. He definitely tells it like it is same with Ray Stedman |
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Post by Parker on Jun 11, 2023 5:15:19 GMT -8
JUNE 11
THE COMPASSION OF GOD
Psalm 71:6
By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.
We have the theology for prosperity down pat, but sooner or later our prosperity will give way to adversity. If you don’t have your theology finely tuned for that part of your life, you won’t do well. Unexpected, unannounced, uncharted, unplanned—adversity comes to everyone.
Every believer should be able to review the compassion of God. Stop and think about all the paths God has led you down like a shepherd throughout your spiritual life. God has been faithful to you! Is there any reason you have to doubt His faithfulness now? As the psalmist says, from our mother’s womb God took us and He has upheld us from our birth.
Even if we have been a believer for only a matter of days or weeks, the grace of God has brought us life and health and strength. God’s past faithfulness and compassion toward us is a heritage upon which we build our faith in the future.
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 12, 2023 5:09:37 GMT -8
JUNE 12
PLUG INTO HIS POWER
2 Samuel 22:33
God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect.
I have little power, but God has all power. If it is going to be, it is going to be up to Him. Not only does He have the power to bring things into existence, but to keep them out of existence as well. I have conceived a lot of things in my mind that God, in His wisdom and by His grace, has kept me from having. He has the power to do both.
So every day I need to end my prayer saying, “Lord, I know that, first of all, You are in control. Thank You. My life may seem out of control, but You are not. You are in control.” The throne in heaven is not empty. God is there, seated and in sovereign control. He said a word and the worlds were made. He spoke and the moon and stars were flung out into space. He’s an awesome, almighty, powerful God.
And my prayer links me with Him. I don’t have to get up every morning and psych myself up for the day, because God’s power is always there. All I’ve got to do is plug into Him.
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 13, 2023 5:11:54 GMT -8
JUNE 13
DILIGENT IN ALL THINGS
Proverbs 21:25
The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Billy Graham tells this of his upbringing: “I was taught that laziness was one of the worst evils, and there was dignity and honor in labor. I could abandon myself enthusiastically to milking the cows, cleaning out the latrines, and shoveling manure, not because they were pleasant jobs, but because sweaty labor held its own satisfaction.”
Through godly rearing, Billy Graham developed the valuable character quality of diligence. A diligent man is one who works hard at every task, no matter how important or how menial. He uses his time efficiently and always puts forth his best work. Though he may feel sluggish at times, he refuses to be a sluggard. He is a man ruled by discipline, not feelings.
Against the backdrop of people who avoid work, cut corners, and do half-hearted jobs, a diligent man stands out.
Practicing diligence is an excellent way to stand out for Christ at home, in the workplace, and even at church. Today, complete each one of your tasks, however big or small, with diligence.
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 14, 2023 7:21:50 GMT -8
JUNE 14
STILL WATERS
Isaiah 30:15
In quietness and confidence will be your strength.
Have you ever felt like a goldfish swimming around in a blender full of water—with someone’s finger on the “high” switch? Many of us are altogether too busy, running on overdrive, overextended in our schedules and underdeveloped in our souls. Instead of green pastures and still waters, we’re accustomed to clogged freeways and blaring cell phones.
King Solomon is a good example of a man who was so busy in the work of God that he neglected his walk with God. The result? He developed a great empire and a lean soul.The Lord is more concerned with our relationship with Him than with our productivity for Him, and the wise person knows that a healthy soul requires a certain amount of “quiet” and “still” and “rest.”
“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while,” Jesus told the disciples in Mark 6:31. “Be still and know that I am God,” advises the Lord in Psalm 46:10.
Is something in your life consuming you, pulling you away from intimacy with God? Are you too busy for your own good? A man had a plaque installed on his dashboard that read “Beware the Barrenness of Busyness.” Why not take a deep breath, get away from all distractions, open your Bible, and commune with Him right now?
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 15, 2023 7:06:21 GMT -8
JUNE 15
GOD’S ROAD MAP
Deuteronomy 29:5
I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.
If we are honest, most of us will admit that we can deal with things that have a precedent, but walking into uncharted territory provokes fear. It is awesome to consider the thoughts that can fill our minds as we look into a future for which we have no road map. There were some things that God used to strengthen His people, and these things are available to us today as we face our challenges as well.
The people of Israel, standing on the bank of the Jordan River, had one sure thing. They had the record of God’s performance on their behalf, in the past.
For forty years, God’s people had been wandering in the desert, yet God wonderfully and miraculously cared for them. First, they got into the wilderness through the miracle of walking through the Red Sea, then God gave them a guidance system. Each day, for forty years, they were led by a pillar of cloud. At night they were led by a pillar of fire. They were wandering, but God was leading them. God spoke through Moses, “I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.”
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 16, 2023 7:18:23 GMT -8
JUNE 16
JOY DOES NOT DEPEND ON CIRCUMSTANCES
Philippians 3:1
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.
Happiness is the world’s cheap imitation of Christian joy. Happiness is dependent on happenings, on “hap,” which is another word for “luck.” Someone who is hapless is luckless.
When we have “joy,” it can be our constant possession because it does not depend on the circumstances of the day. Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord!” This philosophy made it possible for him to endure all kinds of problems and still move forward in his walk with Christ. When he wrote his second letter to the church at Corinth, he listed just a few of the things he had endured. Now we know how he endured them. He had the strength of genuine joy in his life.
How could any one man experience all these things and still have the spirit of joy? Paul understood what most modern men do not, that joy and pain are often compatible emotions.
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 17, 2023 6:26:12 GMT -8
JUNE 17
THE GIFT OF FAME
Ephesians 4:11–12
He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.
To many people, fame is nearly as desirable as wealth. This is because acceptance is one of our basic needs, and there’s nothing like seeing your name in bright lights to make you feel accepted and admired. Some come to fame because of exceptional talent or brilliance. Others just happen upon it, being at the right place at the right time. Artist Andy Warhol once predicted that, due to expanding TV technology, we’ll all experience fame at some point in our lives, even if for just ten or fifteen minutes. Fame is fleeting, as they say, but elusiveness only adds to its enticement.
Christians should avoid the allure of fame. It can seduce us away from our foremost desire to serve God. Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us gifts. We are to discover our gifts and be diligent with them, using them for God’s glory. Because of the nature of certain gifts, some of their beneficiaries may incidentally become famous. But the real purpose of spiritual gifts is to lead the church to a more meaningful relationship with the Lord.
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 18, 2023 6:22:05 GMT -8
JUNE 18
SATAN IS DOOMED
2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.
The ultimate victory has been won at Calvary, but it will be implemented in the future. The sentence has been passed, now it needs to be enforced. The enforcement is in the hands of the church. The tool that enforces Satan’s defeat is the tool of prayer. the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). One person praying on earth can move angels in heaven.
Christians need to learn the power of prayer against Satan, for he will be defeated in his work. We are not engaged in the warfare if we are not praying against Satan. The judgment that was effected at the cross and is enforced through prayer will be completed. Satan is doomed. Satan is on a leash and he is only free on earth to the length of his chain. He cannot go beyond God’s permission. But if we don’t enforce his judgment in our own lives, we will be victims instead of victors.
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 19, 2023 6:59:05 GMT -8
JUNE 19
THE SPIRIT’S WITNESS
Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
In Romans 8:16, Paul told the Romans, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Wherever I travel across this country, people ask me, “How can I have assurance of salvation? How can I know that I really belong to Christ?” There are many scriptures to which we can point, but the bottom line is this: If you have the Holy Spirit living within you, that Spirit testifies with your spirit that you are a child of God. It is the inward witness of your faith.
Most of us have had the experience of saying to people, “I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but I know I’m a Christian.”
“Well, how do you know?”
“I just know inside.”
We know inside because the Spirit of God is there, witnessing to our assurance. Somewhere within us, a voice whispers, “You are Mine. You are not your own. You belong to Me.”
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 20, 2023 5:53:49 GMT -8
JUNE 20
A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE
Hebrews 13:15
By Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
In the month that lies before you, you’ll have countless opportunities for sacrifice. Think of that person at work whom you struggle to love. What if you visualize yourself placing that relationship upon the altar as an offering of praise to God?
Your marriage needs to be offered up as a sacrifice every day. So does the way you spend your free time. If you begin to make a list of the things you could offer up in sacrifice, you might never stop writing. The truth, you see, is that when your life becomes a temple, a home for Jesus, you begin to see His face in the faces of all those who surround you. You begin to treat them as you would treat Him. You begin to realize that all ground is holy ground, because God is there. You begin to see every situation as a potential act of worship, a time to magnify the name of the Lord.
Solitude. Service. Struggles. And ultimately, the one that encapsulates them all: sacrifice. Worship in the midst of these. When that happens, be prepared to throw open the doors of your life. The world is waiting to see the person you will become when you live every moment in the wonder of worship.
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 21, 2023 5:54:52 GMT -8
JUNE 21 - LOOK ABOVE FOR HELP
Luke 1:37
With God nothing will be impossible.
Over and over again in the Old Testament God is described as the maker of heaven and earth. The Hebrews’ worldview was based on the fact that their God was the maker of all things, and as such He had the power and strength to meet all their needs. Therefore it was part of the continual confession, almost as a reminder, that their God (who is also our God) made all things—nothing was too hard for Him.
God created all things and by Him all things are held together. Now if God holds the entire universe together, is it not reasonable to assume that He can hold the different aspects of your individual life together as well? He created us for the journey and sustains us through the journey as well.
So when you arrive at a place on your journey and you don’t know what to do, and you say, “Lord, I need help,” remember this: The One to whom you are praying is the One who made heaven and earth. He can help you! The God who created us for life is the One who can help us with life.
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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Post by Parker on Jun 22, 2023 7:29:09 GMT -8
JUNE 22
THERE’S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOD’S WORD
Romans 15:4
We through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
The Bible is filled with encouraging truths. There’s no need to find substitutes from other sources. God’s Word is filled with truth, given to us for the sole purpose of encouraging our hearts. In Romans 15, Paul reminds us that one of the purposes of the Old Testament was to provide encouragement for us today: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort [encouragement] of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Everything from Genesis to Malachi was written for our learning, so that we, through the encouragement of the Scriptures, might have hope. If you don’t get your encouragement from God’s Word, you may find its benefit sadly temporary.
In the New Testament, the theme of encouragement is everywhere, especially in Paul’s writings. When Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus, he reminded those young pastors of the critical importance of using God’s Word as a tool of encouragement. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort [encourage], with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).
David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God
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