31/10/2009 by John Marsden.

Your Heavenly Vision

“I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”Acts 26:19-20 NASB

Paul’s life was changed by a vision. When Jesus appeared to him as he approached Damascus on a mission to persecute Christians, he was transformed from a persecutor to an apostle.
      To help Paul understand this vision, Jesus sent Ananias to explain that he was “a chosen instrument” who would “bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Paul also needed to be prepared for difficulties and for “how much he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16).

Paul never forgot this vision. Wherever he went, its message was a constant reminder of God’s call to ministry.
     

By focusing on his “heavenly vision,” Paul maintained the consistency of his message. He demonstrated that he wasn’t motivated by changing circumstances or the reactions of people, but by his personal obedience to God. He spent his life going wherever the Lord called him to go-to anyone, anywhere. By staying faithful to the vision, he could have boldness, confidence, and clarity.

This message applies to each of us who has received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. We all, in our own personal way, have received a vision from God. We’ve been given a personal call and specific assignment. We’ve been assigned special places to go and special things to do. And God equips us in specific ways to accomplish these assignments. 

Today, remember God’s call on your life. Don’t be disobedient to your “heavenly vision.” Dedicate yourself to finishing your task, running your race, and winning the prize set before you.

Have a great day

John

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28/10/2009 by John Marsden.

Be of Good Cheer

“The commander…commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.’”Acts 23:10-11 NKJV

On the surface, Paul must have seemed bold and confident. But, in reality, he had the same weaknesses we all share. We see this human side after he was threatened by a mob and taken into the barracks. He must have been concerned, because Jesus Himself appeared to comfort him that night.

Jesus’ first words were that Paul should “be of good cheer.” The Greek word here was spoken by Jesus on many occasions throughout His ministry. It has its root in a Greek word meaning boldness and courage.

Jesus wanted Paul to be confident and bold. Even though he was outnumbered and his life was in peril, Paul could fearlessly face his circumstances and even be cheerful! 

We see the impact of this message the next morning, when Paul was calm and clearheaded, focused and decisive. There was no fear or doubt. He was not uncertain or discouraged. Instead, he was “of good cheer.”

If Paul could experience fear and discouragement at times, we shouldn’t be surprised if we do, too. Yet, like Paul, God can help us be of good courage in every situation. 

Today, no matter what difficult circumstances you face, God can supply your every need. No matter how big the obstacles you face, He is with you to face them. If you feel alone, remember that He is with you. No matter who threatens you, know that “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Right now, and throughout your life, “be of good cheer”!

Have a cheery day

John

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27/10/2009 by John Marsden.

Poor in Spirit

The Beatitudes, Part 1

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 

• What does it mean to be poor, in general? When we hear of a person being described as poor, we generally think of him as lacking in money, food, or possessions.
• When Jesus lists off those who are considered blessed in the kingdom of heaven, the first group of people He mentions is the “poor in spirit” (as opposed to poor in material goods).
• The following parable illustrates what it means to be poor in spirit through the character of the tax collector.

Luke 18:9-14

     To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

      “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

     “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

·         In this parable, the Pharisee thought more highly of himself than he should have in the presence of the holy and Almighty God. He was not poor, or humble, of spirit in the presence of God, but, instead, he was prideful and arrogant.·         On the other hand, the tax collector, often despised by all the religious people like the Pharisees, came before God in humility, understanding that he needed, but did not deserve, God’s mercy. He made himself poor in spirit.
THEY HAVE GREAT SPIRITUAL NEEDS 

They Perceive Their Lack

But the tax collector stood at a distance.

·         The tax collector in this story, the one poor in spirit, acknowledged that he was poor in spirit and needed God to be made whole and righteous.·         He recognized that there was nothing within himself that could make him righteous before the Holy God, so he stood at a distance, in fear of God, in order to pray.·         In the kingdom of God, we must continually be aware of the lack within our bodies and minds to make ourselves good and right before God. There is nothing good within us unless we have Jesus inside of us. He makes all things new and sets everything right.·         On the other hand, those who think they do not need anything from God may be considered wise and “rich” by the standards of the world, but not in the eyes of God. 

They Acknowledge Their Weakness

He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

·         Those who are poor in spirit acknowledge their own personal weakness. However, they also acknowledge the strength that is in God alone, so they approach God and wait on Him in order to be strengthened and made whole again.·         This is a lesson not only for new Christians who must admit their sinfulness and their need for a Savior, but also for those who have been Christians for a while. We must continually look to God to supply the strength to overcome sin, to resist temptation, to walk in holiness and in the power of God, and to be used by Him to further His kingdom.
THEY LOOK TO GOD 

To Be Made Right

I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.

·         “This man” in this verse refers to the tax collector, the one who was humble and penitent before God. He is the one who went home justified in the eyes of God.·         What does it mean to be justified? Basically, it means to be made right before God.·         Just like the tax collector, we must acknowledge when we sin and admit the wrongfulness of our actions when we go against God’s will. But we do not just stop at confessing our sin; we do not want to wallow in self-pity and hopelessness, but we put our trust in God to make us right again.·         We believe that our faith in Jesus justifies us, makes us right before God. Once we confess our sins and get washed clean, we trust in Jesus to help us continue on the right track, doing the will of God.·         If instead, we think we are righteous in and of ourselves, like the Pharisee, or if we believe that we can be made righteous by living according to a set of rules, or if we think we are better than others, then we are fooling ourselves and are not justified before God. 

To Be Lifted Up

… he who humbles himself will be exalted.

      ·         Being poor in spirit means we must have an attitude of humility before God and before others. If we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up, and, as Jesus promises, we will receive the kingdom of heaven.·         If, however, we continue in an attitude of pride or arrogance, then God will come and humble us and reveal to us that we are not as cool or special as we think.
THEIR REWARD IS GREAT 

A Rich Kingdom

…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

·         What is the reward for those who are poor in spirit? Jesus says those who are poor in spirit are blessed and will receive the kingdom of heaven.·         God’s kingdom is infinitely rich and wealth, not only able to provide its citizens with all they need to survive physically, but also able to give them all they need to thrive spiritually.·         What does it mean that the kingdom of heaven is “theirs?” Just that they’ll go to heaven some day, or does it have meaning for their life on earth now? 

Psalm 51:3-9 

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are proved right when you speak

and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;

you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

·         This is the Psalm David wrote after he committed the sins of adultery and murder in the incident with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. He was genuinely penitent over his wrongful actions and humbled before God.·         When we acknowledge our wrongdoing before God, we admit that we were wrong, that we cannot make everything right ourselves, that we cannot fully atone for the sin ourselves, and that we cannot behave righteously on our own. We admit that God is just and also that He is the one who can cleanse us and cover over our sins.

·         We must remain humble whether we have sinned or whether we have acted in holiness before God. He is the One who can cleanse us from our faults and He is the One who enables us to be holy.

Have a great day

John

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09/10/2009 by John Marsden.

A Spirit Straight From God

1. The Spirit of the Gods

“I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.” – Daniel 5:14

• Not only did Daniel allow God to use his mind and body as He saw fit, but he gave himself so completely to God that people even recognized the spirit of God in him.
• What do you think it was about Daniel that made the King say “the spirit of the gods is in you?”
• The disciples were all “filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues” at Pentecost (Acts 2:4).
• Bezalel, a craftsman, was “filled… with the Spirit of God” (Exodus 35:30-31).
• Joshua was “filled with the spirit of wisdom” (Deuteronomy 34:9).
• Micah was “filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD” (Micah 3:8).
• Zechariah, John the Baptist’s dad, was also “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:67).
• Paul expected all Christians to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
• Jesus said that all we have to do to be filled is to ask God (Luke 11:13).  Sounds like that’d be worth doing, doesn’t it?

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”” – Luke 10:25-28 

• Daniel wasn’t so much above average as he was a normal Christian
• Normal Christians should give God glory with their minds
• They should honour God with their strength, their bodies
• And they should love Him with their heart and soul, their spirit

Have a great day

JOHN

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08/10/2009 by John Marsden.

A Body Submitted to the Holy Spirit

1. Bodily Discipline

“Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” – Daniel 1:12b

• Daniel chose to give himself completely to God, mind, body, and spirit.  In terms of giving his body to God, his first test came when the Babylonian officials wanted him to eat food that was considered unclean for the people of God.  Rather than betraying his conscience, Daniel resolved to discipline his body and eat only the foods he felt were OK for him to eat, even if they weren’t as good tasting.

• In Daniel 1:4, Daniel is described as being “without any physical defect” and “handsome.”  People are born with all sorts of bodies, but there are things you can do to honour God with the one He’s given you.  If you’re not exercising, eating healthy, sleeping enough, or taking care of basic hygiene, you need to start disciplining your body.

• We’re meant to live “in accordance to the Spirit,” not according to the flesh, now that we’re Christians (Romans 8:5).  Our flesh should have no authority over us.  Also see Romans 6:6 and Romans 8:6-10.
• Paul even said “I beat my body and make it my slave” so that he would remain holy before God (1 Corinthians 9:27).  He didn’t mean he would literally beat his body but that he disciplined himself physically.

2. Holiness Before God

“I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” – Romans 12:1

• It’s possible that Daniel was thinking of health reasons for eating only vegetables and drinking only water, but foremost on his mind was a desire to be holy and not defile himself before God with food he considered unclean.
• Does God expect us to live holy lives before Him?
• As Christians, God expects that we live in holiness (Leviticus 11:44).  Paul said that we’re “called to be holy” (1 Corinthians 1:2).  Also check out Colossians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, and 1 Peter 1:15.
• This holiness comes only through God (Hebrews 2:11 and Hebrews 3:12).

3. Sexual Purity

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3

• An important aspect of submitting our bodies to the Holy Spirit is living sexually pure lives.
• God expects us to “control [our] own [bodies] in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust” (1 Thessalonians 4:4-5).
• Sexual purity is not an option but a command.  “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
• Our bodies were made to honour God, not to defile ourselves.  Paul said that “he who sins sexually sins against his own body,” which he calls the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
• People in the world may offer their bodies as slaves “to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness,” but we as Christians need to “offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness” (Romans 6:19).

Have agreat day

JOHN

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07/10/2009 by John Marsden.

Daniel: A Mind, Body, and Spirit Given to God 

 Today I want to look at a person who gave himself completely to God - mind, body, and spirit.

Daniel 1:1-7

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to

When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Judah, he took the ritual items from the temple of God and brought them into his own god’s temple, he took King Jehoiakim from his nation and brought him to his court to keep an eye on him, and he took some of the nobility, “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand,” and brought them to his palace to be trained to serve the Babylonian administration.

These young men who excelled in their minds, bodies, and spirits were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  Even above the others, Daniel gave himself wholly to God and pursued excellence in every area of his life.  Doors were opened for him to minister to Babylonian kings and officials, to pronounce God’s glory in signs and wonders, and to be an encouragement for future generations.

But it all started when Daniel, as a “young man,” made the choice to serve God with all his mind, body, and spirit.

A Mind Given to God

1. Wise Beyond His Years

“I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power…” – Daniel 2:23a

• The first thing to be said about Daniel was that he gave his mind completely to God, and God filled Him with wisdom beyond his years.  (Read Daniel 2:14).
• What kind of person do you think of when you think of someone who is really wise?
• God has all wisdom (Romans 11:33) and Jesus himself is called the “wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24).
• Your age is no excuse.  If you want wisdom beyond your years, it’s yours for the asking (James 1:5).

2. The Beginning of Wisdom

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.” – Psalm 111:10

• According to this verse, how do you get wisdom?
• Godly wisdom comes when you have a healthy fear of God that leads you to obey Him.  It’s more than just knowing something – wisdom is knowing and doing the right thing.
• Ephesians 1:17 says that when we’ve got Godly wisdom, we’ll “know [God] better.”  And as we know Him, we’ll naturally become more like Him.
• In Colossians 1:9-12, Paul says that true wisdom will help us to “live a life worthy of the Lord” and “please [God] in every way.”  See also Colossians 1:28.
• True wisdom can never be separated from a holy and righteous life (James 3:13).  True wisdom is a holy and righteous life.

3. Spirit of a Learner

“The Bereans… received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” – Acts 17:11

• Not only did Daniel have wisdom from God, but he had a real desire to learn, a spirit of a learner (Daniel 1:17a), just like the Bereans in the verse above.
• Do you think the Bereans wanted the truth, even if it disagreed with what they currently believed?
• The Bereans were willing to study, learn, and examine the Bible to find the truth.  An attitude like that will always lead you to wisdom.
• Paul told Timothy to “do [his] best to present [himself] to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).  Having a spirit of a learner means you will work hard.
• Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge.”
• Daniel was willing to discipline himself and work hard to have a spirit of a learner.  What about you?  Do you want to know the truth enough to work for it?

4. Prophetic Insight

“Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” – Daniel 1:17b

• Daniel had wisdom, he had a spirit of a learner, and he had prophetic insight to understand visions and dreams, even as a young man.
• Has anybody here ever had a really confusing, bizarre dream you wish someone could tell you the meaning of?
• The Bible mentions the sons of a man named Issachar who “understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32).  They had prophetic insight into what was going on in
  Israel at the time.
• We as Christians “have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us” (See 1 Corinthians 2:9-12).
• We can have prophetic, supernatural insight into dreams, visions, and daily events in the world, since we have the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
• God chooses to reveal His truth to us, His children (Romans 16:25-27).
• He gives us “all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:7-8).

Have a great day.

JOHN

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06/10/2009 by John Marsden.

What Do You Need to Trust God With? 

 1. Let Go of Your Stuff

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” – Psalm 24:1

• There are a ton of benefits to trusting God, but it comes at a cost.  You’ve got to give up controlling your own life and let Him take care of you instead.
• Who does this verse say owns everything on earth?
• Everything we have is God’s stuff, not ours.  We need to let go and allow Him to use it however He wants.
• We need to trust God with our money.  In Malachi 3:8, God says that not tithing to the church is the same as robbing Him.
• If we do use our money for God, He promises to bless us in return, because we’ve trusted Him to provide (Malachi 3:10-12 and Luke 6:38).
• Besides our money, we also should be trusting God with all of our stuff.  If He tells us to get rid of something, we can trust Him to provide.  If we don’t have something we need, we can trust Him to take care of it for us.  Check out Matthew 6:25-34.
• Proverbs 3:9 says “Honor the LORD with your possessions.”  We need to treat all that we have as if it were God’s and not our own.

2. Trust God in Your Leaders

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” – Romans 13:1

• Besides giving up our stuff, we’ve got to trust God in our leaders and stop trying to run their lives.
• What are some “governing authorities” in our lives that we need to submit to and trust God about?
• As you submit to leaders, even when you don’t understand, you’re declaring that you trust that God has placed them in authority in your life and that He’ll use them for good, not evil.
• We need to trust God to work through the government (1 Timothy 2:1-3), our bosses (Colossians 3:22), our parents (Ephesians 6:1), and our pastors (Hebrews 13:17a).  If they’re wrong, we need to submit anyway and trust that God will reveal it to them.

3. Give Up Your Future

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” – Matthew 6:34a

• One of the hardest things to give up in our lives, is our future, but we need to trust God that He knows what’s best for us better than we ourselves.
• What does it mean to trust God with your future?
• God may tell you to change your job like he did for Peter and Andrew (Matthew 4:18-20), change what you’re doing like he did for James and John (Matthew 4:21-22), change what you’re studying like he did for Paul (Acts 22:1-21), change how wealthy you are like he did for Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), or change where you’re living like he did for Abraham (Genesis 12:1).
• You’ve got to give up your right to determining your own future and let God make the rules.

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.’” – Luke 1:46-49 

• Trusting God leads you to worship Him
• It causes you to rejoice
• And it brings glory to His Name

Have a great day.

JOHN

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05/10/2009 by John Marsden.

What Does it Mean to Trust God?

1. Don’t Be Troubled

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.” – John 14:1

• Trusting God basically means that you don’t “let your heart be troubled.”  Instead of worrying about things, you can trust God that He knows what’s best for you and then take each situation as it comes your way.
• There is no one stronger (Genesis 49:24), wiser (Isaiah 11:2), more loving (Romans 5:6-8), more patient (2 Peter 3:9), more faithful (Psalm 25:10 and Hebrews 10:23), more good (Matthew 19:17), or more just (2 Thessalonians 1:6) than God.  He’s perfect in every way (Matthew 5:48).
• The Bible says that God will never lie (Titus 1:2) and that He can’t deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
• If God says something, you can believe He’ll do it.  He’s a Rock we can depend on (Isaiah 26:4).
• Trusting God means you realize who He is, and you respond appropriately.

What Happens When You Trust God?

1. You’ll Find Favor“The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” – Luke 1:28

• What are some things that happen when we choose to trust God?
• When Gabriel showed up to tell Mary the news of Jesus’ birth, he called her “highly favored.”  When we choose to have an overall attitude of trust in God, lots of things will happen, including finding favour.
• Find favor with God means that He will show us mercy and hear us when we talk to Him (Job 33:26 and Psalm 69:13).  It means we’ll be protected (Psalm 5:12), shown compassion (Psalm 102:13), honoured (Luke 1:25), and saved in trouble (Psalm 106:4).
• Finding favour with men means things will be easier for us (Proverbs 13:15), we’ll be appreciated (Proverbs 28:23), we’ll be helped (Proverbs 19:12), and we’ll be shown mercy (Genesis 32:5).
• The basic way to think of favour is that the person we have favor with looks at us in a positive light (1 Samuel 29:4), as a friend.

2. You’ll Gain Peace“Do not be anxious about anything, but … present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

• Besides finding favour with both God and men when we choose to trust God, we also gain real peace.
• Trusting God in a situation means that we don’t anxiously worry about it.  It’s in this mindset of quiet trust that God will give us real peace.
• Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a time when you were worried about something, but after deciding to trust God you gained peace about it.
• In Luke 7:36-50, Jesus showed what it means to trust what He says.  He told a fearful, worried woman that everything was going to be okay, saying, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  When we trust what God tells us, we’ll be filled with the same kind of peace.
• Paul said that we’d be filled with “all joy and peace” when we choose to trust God (Romans 15:13).  Paul even calls God “the God of peace” in Romans 15:33 and 16:20.

3. You’ll Become Righteous“To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” – Romans 4:5

• Trusting God brings righteousness.  There is no other way to be made right before God except for simply trusting Him to do it.
• Philippians 2:13 says that it is “God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”  As you trust God, He’ll take over and make you righteous.
• When we try to be righteous on our own, “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).  We simply can’t become righteous without trusting God.  He’s too holy and we’re too imperfect.
• The Christian faith is based in a delicate balance of trusting God to do His part, while we do our part – faith in what God has done alongside works that display a changed life (James 2:14-26).

4. You’ll Be Honoured“…those who honor Me I will honor…” – 1 Samuel 2:30

• When you trust God, it’s like you’re honoring Him as your Master, Creator, and Savior.  And when you honor God, He promises He’ll honor you as well.
• Psalm 84:11 says that God is a “sun and shield” and that He’ll honor us if we’re blameless before Him.  A blameless walk (righteousness) only comes through trust.  See also Proverbs 21:21 and Psalm 91:14-15.
• Proverbs 22:4 says that in fearing and trusting God we’ll find “riches and honor and life.”
• Romans 10:11 says that those who trust God will never be shamed.
• Choosing to trust God means that He’ll honor us and hold us up as examples to follow.

5. You’ll Be Saved“They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.” – Psalm 22:5

• Trusting in God means that we’ll be saved out of adverse circumstances.
• You may still go through hard situations, but you can say with the Psalmist, “save your servant who trusts in you” (Psalm 86:2), and cling to the promise that God will, in the end, save you (Isaiah 25:9).
• God promised to save Jeremiah in the midst of the fall of Jerusalem, because he trusted in Him (Jeremiah 39:18).
• What are some common things to look to for salvation from a rough situation?
• God alone can save you out of any situation you’re in, not friends, family, the government, or your money (Psalm 146:3).

6. You’ll Receive the Promise“Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” – Hebrews 6:12b

• The last thing we gain by trusting God is probably the most obvious – we’ll gain whatever it is He promised to us.
• Abraham patiently trusted God and therefore got what was promised (Hebrews 6:13-14 and Roman 4:18-21).
• Hebrews 11 is full of examples of men and women of God who received what was promised because they trusted in God – Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and more.
• Start trusting God today with your life.

Have a great day

JOHN

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04/10/2009 by John Marsden.

What Remains

“The fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 NASB

The world’s treasures can capture our imaginations. The allure of luxury can fascinate us.

 We can picture how worldly wealth might simplify our lives, bring us enjoyment, meet our needs, and free us from worry. It can be difficult to realize that none of these things will last or actually solve our problems.

Ecclesiastes describes the life of a man of great wealth, who built houses and parks, planted vineyards and possessed flocks, collected silver and gold, and indulged in any pleasure he wanted. Yet, in the end, he realized “all was vanity and striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). His efforts did not profit. 

The Apostle Paul tells us that fire will test all of our works-everything we do, our possessions and resources, our accomplishments and accolades…everything!

The Bible calls the things that will burn “wood, hay or straw” (v. 12). Although they can attract us and bring temporary pleasures, they won’t last.

 By themselves, these distractions may not prevent us from spending eternity with Jesus, but Paul warned that we can lose our rewards if we make the wrong choices and allow ourselves to be swayed from what is most important to God-the things that last.

Today, think about the choices you’re making with your resources. Are you investing in wood, hay, and straw, or in things that bring permanent, eternal rewards? What will happen when your work is tested by fire? 
 Be sure that you lay the right foundation and are ready to face God. Invest your time, talent, and treasure in the things that will last-the things of His Kingdom.

Have a great day

JOHN

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