November 1st - God Did It

         
“If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I'm going to live...I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself,” a once-famous Christian songwriter and recording artist writes in his “coming out of the closet” statement announcing that he is a homosexual.  In other words, it’s all God’s fault.  That is exactly what Adam did in the garden.  Adam pointed an accusing finger at Eve saying that the problem was with the woman that “You gave me.”  Certainly, Even was given some blame, and the serpent was acknowledged as part of the problem; but the bottom line was that it was God’s fault--after all, He was the one who made the woman!!

It is interesting that God has such a dislike for the practice of homosexuality that He has banned it from His kingdom. (II Corinthians 6:9-10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”)  Yet this supposedly well-versed former spokesman for the Christian faith can say that God made him that way.  How could God deliberately make someone into an object which He purposely intends to reject?  Certainly, I’m saddened by this gentleman’s fall and his sinful lifestyle, but my real concern is for his discrediting the name and nature of our loving and righteous God.  In like manner, we must always be cautious in our own lifestyles and testimonies not to present our Heavenly Father as anything less than He is--almighty, all loving, and all holy.  

November 2nd - Out of the Mouths of Babes

         
Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, “Why is the bride dressed in white?”  The mother replied, “Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.”

The child thought about this for a moment then said, “So why is the groom wearing black?”       

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.  After explaining the commandment to honor your father and mother, she asked if there was a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters.  Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.” A little boy was overheard praying, “Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.  I'm having a real good time like I am.”

As their mother was preparing pancakes, five-year-old Kevin and three-year-old Ryan began to argue over who would get the first pancake.  Seeing the opportunity for a moral lesson, the mother asked, “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake; I can wait.’”  Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!”

A mom had invited some people to dinner.  At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,  “Would you like to say the blessing?”  “I wouldn't know what to say,” the girl replied.  “Just say what you hear Mommy say,” her mother answered.  The daughter bowed her head and said,  “Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?”

November 3rd - Valley of Indecision

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14) 

A pastor friend of mine often refers to this passage in Joel, but always misquotes it as the “valley of indecision.”  Whether he does this on purpose to make a point or out of ignorance of the actual verse, I don’t honestly know; however, the phrase does have a bearing on the world we live in today.  Take for instance the following quote from politician Walt Handelsman, “I’m thinking about possibly analyzing the viability of maybe, perhaps, in the not too distant future, preparing to begin to seriously contemplate the actual steps needed to move forward with an announcement of my intentions to study the feasibility of a national response to current polling data that could move me into a position to assess the viability of the electorate’s mood for a potential independent candidate who can’t make up his mind.”  I’m note sure if Walt decided to toss his hat into the ring or not, but at least he put his finger on the pulse of many Americans--deciding if they wanted a candidate who couldn’t make up his mind.

Jesus was displeased with one of the churches in Revelation because they were lukewarm.  He said that they should be either hot or cold.  To Him, neutral was worse than radically wrong!  Our most important choice is to choose the Lord.  All other choices flow from this one.
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) 
“Choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

November 4th  Election Day

In recent election campaigns, we’ve heard a lot about “the evangelical right.”  But the truth is that only seventy percent of evangelical Christians are even registered to vote and only seventy percent of those registered voters actually make it to the polls.  This means that we are only expressing forty-nine percent of our potential voice and exerting less than half of our potential influence in society.  On the other hand, a highly-motivated voting block of seven percent atheists, ten percent “other,” and ten percent unaffiliated Christians can exert over half as much influence as our poorly-motivated evangelical right.  God has given us a voice, and we need to make it heard.  He has made us light, and we must shine into every dark corner.  Brave men and women have given their life blood for us to have the right to  freely express ourselves on election day.  Take the time, make the effort, and shake off the bondage.  Be free, live free, speak freely.  Although we are able to make a difference everyday of our lives, this is our one day to make a difference in the selection of our local, state, and national leadership.  Seize the day, exercise your power, and celebrate the victory.       

Then as soon as you cast your ballot, take your Bible and turn to II Timothy chapter two and dedicate yourself to pray for whichever candidate might win.  “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” (verses 1-3)

November 5th - Revival

 

Aimee Semple McPherson, one of the great women of God of all ages, once wrote of the spread of revival fire in one of her meetings, “Faith and praise is contagious.  The fire of unwavering confidence in God that burns within the temple soon leaps over its parapets, spreads first to those in the seats nearby, then on to the farthest corner of the room, inspiring, encouraging, lifting up drooping heads, strengthening feeble knees, and in a moment every eye is fixed on Jesus…the Latter Rain is heard pattering on the roofs, running down the troughs, overflowing the rain-barrels, the dry ground is saturated, and the wilderness and desert places are blooming as the rose!” (This is That, 1923)

Wow!  What a poetic description of the move of the Holy Spirit upon thirsty souls!  Notice that she speaks of faith and praise as the catalysts which precipitated (pardon the pun--I just couldn’t pass it up) the Latter Rain of Holy Ghost revival.  As I read her words, I couldn’t help but think of how many of us feel about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; we simply feel that God will do it at His own discretion without our input or involvement.  However, Sister McPherson’s experience was that praise and faith from the hearts of sincere believers set the stage for the move of the Holy Spirit.  I think of the flood that came during Noah’s day.  According to Genesis 7:11 and 8:2, there were no torrents of rain from above until there were eruptions from the fountains of the deep.  In order to see revival, we must first let the rivers of living water flow from our innermost bellies (John 7:38).  At that point, God will open the floodgates of heaven and inundate us.   

November 6th - Look What God is Doing Around the World

 

The Jon Frum cargo cult on Tanna Island, Vanuatu, based on the visit of a spirit by that name, believes that the spirits of 150,000 American soldiers from WWII live in the volcano on the island.  Each time America goes to war, they march around the volcano carrying sticks that resemble guns and paint “USA” in red on their chests and pray for the US to win the war.  Isaacone, the cult leader, recently came to Christ and has led 500 members to salvation. 

Mizoram state in India is eighty-five percent Christian.  Located between the Buddhist country of Myanmar, the Islamic nation of Bangladesh, and the Hindu state of Assam in India, Mizoram has seven hundred thousand people.  Almost all of the indigenous population is Christian, and about sixty percent of those who have migrated there have been converted by Mizo missionaries.   A series of spiritual renewals at the beginning of the last century and recent revivals have kept the Presbyterian, Baptist, and other large denominational churches full.  The state has sent over a thousand missionaries to the rest of India and other Asian countries.  No nation on earth has sent out a higher proportion of their people as missionaries.  About eighty percent of the population attends services weekly and most churches have a daily prayer meeting.  Teen pregnancy, prostitution, AIDS, and divorce are rare.

Buddhist monks at the Kagyu Monastery in Tibet listen to gospel radio programs as part of their debate class.  One lama (actually considered a living Buddha) has declared that he realizes that God has a son and His name is Jesus.

November 7th - Tattoos

Most people who want to argue against tattoos use Leviticus 19:28, "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."  The context of this passage is the prohibition against following the pagan ritual of cutting oneself as a sign of mourning after the death of a family member--not exactly the current practice of tattooing and body piercing. Personally, I prefer to look at the origin of the custom to determine if it something to be avoided. Tattooing originated in the South Pacific as a way of showing ones sexual readiness--the more the markings, the more sex.

When sailors started docking in Tahiti, they soon discovered that they would have to be tattooed in order to get what they wanted.  In fact, there are places where you can get invisible tattoos for this exact purpose -- you can still be sexually attractive even if you don't have visible markings. You'd think that a good Christian would not want to display this kind of carnal motivation.   Body piercing originated with demon worship in Hindu and pagan circles where people walk on hot coals and get various impellings to atone for their sins and to prove that they are full of the spirits. 

Christians have had their sins atoned for by the cross and are filled with a totally different spirit; therefore, they shouldn't be interested in this sort of stuff.  On the other hand, we must remember that many of our beloved traditions such as Christmas trees and Easter eggs also originated in pagan practice.  If we can accept them without question or conviction, we must also be ready to accept our tattooed and pierced friends and brothers without hesitation or condemnation.

     

November 8th - Logos and Rhema

In the Greek New Testament, there are two different terms which are translated the same way into English.  The Greek words “logos” and “rhema” both become “word” when translated into English.  By going back to the original meaning of the terms in Greek, we get a powerful insight into some significant truths which we will overlook if we are not able to look into the minds of the original writers.  Logos is a general message while rhema is a specific, individualized word for the individual hearer at the specific moment.  For example, the seed sown in the parable of the four soils is spoken of as logos.  Thins is likely the reason that only one of the four soils was productive.  However, rhema words are always productive and never return to the Lord without accomplishing their purpose.  It was with the rhema of God that Jesus withstood during His temptation, and it is the rhema word that we can use as our sword in spiritual battle.  Let’s just take a peek at some of the specific truths concerning the rhema that we can receive from God:

Man shall not live  by  bread  alone, but by  every  rhema  that proceedeth out of  the mouth of God.--Matthew 4:4 

Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy rhema I will let down the net.--Luke 5:5

Jesus said, “The rhema that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”--John 6:63

Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the rhema of eternal life.--John 6:68

He that is of God heareth God's words (rhema): ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.--John 8:47

November 9th - Understanding God

Sometimes we try to explain spiritual things with our carnal minds, engendering either no answers at all, weak answers, or false answers.  Because we have looked at the issues from a human viewpoint, we come up with such pat answers, or should I say non-answers, as “We’ll understand it all by and by,” or “You just never know what God might do.”  We can only answer as much as we have revelation on, and we have to walk by faith the rest of the way.  I don’t understand what makes a television or a microwave or a telephone or a computer work, but I work with each of them everyday.  However, the more I learn about how to work them, the more effective I become with using them.  The same is true with the gospel.  I may not totally understand it, but I must live by it each day.  And as I do, it will become more and more revealed and more and more relevant to my daily life.

It has been said that ignorance of the law is no excuse.  I was once stopped by a traffic patrol because I failed to slow down after entering the city limits.  I had failed to note the change in the speed limit, but that did not negate that I had every opportunity to read the properly-posted sign.  So it is with the gospel: the signs are all posted; if we fail to observe them, we must pay the consequences.  David spoke of his adultery with Bathsheba and murderous plot against Uriah but acknowledged that the sin was against God alone.  Here we get an insightful clue into the mystery of God’s perspective: the acts we see as temporal are actually offenses against the eternal God Himself.  We must see every aspect of life as a relationship with Him.  Otherwise, we miss God and the essence of life.

November 10th-Covenants

Probably the most powerful relationship in human history is the covenant.  A covenant binds two individuals together with a stronger commitment than any form of legal contract or agreement.  The power of the covenant is not so much in the agreements made, but in the individuals who bind themselves together in those agreements.  When we think of covenants, the first biblical character to come to mind is usually Abraham because his covenant with God established him as the father of a nation, an heir to a country, and a partner with divinity.  When we think of this covenant partner, two unusual episodes in his life come to mind.  First, he told Lot to pick what part of the land he wanted for himself, when all of it was actually Abraham’s through his covenant right.  Next, he was willing to sacrifice Isaac even though his son was the promised covenant heir through whom the covenant promises were to be fulfilled.  Like Jesus who thought equality with God nothing to be grabbed, Abraham didn’t grab the covenant blessings.  The only logical explanation  for such actions was that his faith was in the God of the covenant more than in the covenant itself.  The power of the covenant is in the relationship of the partners in covenant--unlike a contract whose power is in the wording of the legal agreement.
For us to truly benefit from our covenant relationship, our focus in life must be on getting to know the One with Whom we are in covenant.  “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…that I may know him,” was Paul’s culminating prayer in Philippians 3:8-10.

November 11th- Establishing Covenant

Old Testament covenants were ratified by a number of different symbolic acts, each one speaking prophetically of the covenant we would eventually have through Christ.  Covenants were established by the proclamation of an oath.  In Genesis 2:16-18, we see an example of the proclamation made by God after the trial of Abraham’s loyalty when he was asked to sacrifice his son.  Today, we still practice such verbal proclamations every time we make wedding vows, a symbolic reminder of the Lord’s proclamation of love for His Bride.  In Genesis 26:26-33 we find an example of a ceremonial meal to confirm a covenant. 

The practice of a marriage feast originated in this covenant expression.  In fact, anytime we share a meal together, we are expressing our relationship with--or at least our desire for a relationship with--the other guests; hence, the significance of a business lunch or a romantic meal for young lovers.  In like manner, we can understand the historic racial eruption sparked by a group of young black men who refused to leave the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, NC, back in 1960.  For whites to allow these blacks to share their lunch bar was tantamount to partnering with them.  They had no problem with blacks  cooking their food, but they were not about to share a meal with them.  The segregated South was not ready to integrate, much less covenant, with the black populace.  When the right to sit together over a meal was finally established, the wall of partition had been broken down.  For us, the spiritual wall of separation is removed every time we share in communion, and the physical separation will be removed at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 

November 12th - Covenant Symbols

         
Covenants were established by giving of gifts.  In Genesis 21:26-32, we read of a gift exchange between Abimelech and Abraham.  Even though the men had already exchanged cattle, a special gift of seven ewe lambs was significantly different from all the other cattle which had been exchanged, for these specific lambs symbolized that the men were now entering into a covenant.  Although I have given many gifts to others all throughout my life, there is one unique gift which stands out above them all--a diamond ring followed by a wedding band that I gave to my wife at our engagement and wedding.  This singular gift signified that we were now ready to share a covenant relationship.  Likewise, God gave one unique gift to man, to signifying that He was willing to take us into a covenant relationship with Himself--His only begotten Son! (John 3:16)  
As Abraham and Abimelech continued in their covenant relationship, they planted trees as a reminder of their pact. (Genesis 21:33)  Unquestionably, this was a symbolic foreshadowing of the tree upon which Jesus was to bare our sins in his own body. Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29, Galatians 3:13, I Peter 2:24) 

When God established a covenant with Abraham, He participated in an ancient custom of walking among the divided carcasses of slain animals. (Genesis 15:9-17)  Jesus asks us to remember the covenant relationship He has established for us each time we take the Lord’s Supper.  “The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread…and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (I Corinthians 11:23-24)

November 13th - Covenant Seals

         
In Genesis 31:43-53, we learn that Old Testament covenants were established by building memorials.  Though Laban and Jacob were not on the best of terms, they felt it obligatory to make a physical marker to perpetuate their agreement.  In stark contrast, Jesus has left us a physical memorial in the communion to constantly bring us into remembrance that we are now in a positive and beneficial relationship with Him.

When Abraham delivered the king of Sodom from his enemies, he established a covenant with the king through raising his hands. (Genesis 14:22)  In the new covenant, we also lift our hands to confirm that we have entered into a wrath and doubt free relationship with God. (I Timothy 2:8)

In the love story of Ruth and Boaz, we find one of the most unusual of all covenant seals--taking off one’s shoe. (Ruth 4:7-8)  In the new covenant, this seal still applied when John the Baptist proclaimed that he didn’t even see himself worthy of loosing the latchet of Jesus’ shoe (Luke 3:16) and when Jesus stooped to remove his disciples’ shoes and wash their feet (John 13:5).

Jonathan and David sealed their covenant by exchanging coats. (I Samuel 18:3-4)  What a beautiful illustration of what God has done for us in the new covenant when He exchanged the filthy rags of our own righteousness (Isaiah 64:6) for the robes of His of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) and showed us how to put off the old man and don the new one (Ephesians 4:22-25 and Colossians 3:9-13).

November 14th - Covenant Marks

         
In I Samuel 18:3-4, we learn that Jonathan and David made a covenant by exchanging weapons.  We, too, are given the privilege of exchanging our carnal weapons for ones that are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. (II Corinthians 10:4)  When God called Abram into covenant relationship with Himself, He gave him a new name which was actually a combination of their two names. (Genesis 17:5-8)  When I married my wife, I gave her a new name by combining her first name with my last name.  This new name gave her all sorts of benefits, like being able to sign checks on my bank account and use my credit card.  In our new covenant privileges we have been given the right to use the name of Jesus to ask for anything we need. (John 16:23)  The most significant mark of the Old Testament covenant was circumcision. (Genesis 17:10-14)  In the New Testament, God makes an equally indelible mark in our hearts. (Romans 2:29)  At Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, God established a covenant with Israel by announcing blessings and curses. (Joshua 8:30-35)  In like manner, the communion cup can be not only a cup of blessing (I Corinthian 10:16) but also a cup of damnation if taken unworthily (I Corinthians 11:27-31).  II Chronicles 13:5 tells us that covenants were established by salt.  In like manner, the fact that believers become the salt of the earth is proof that they are in covenant relationship with the God of the earth. (Matthew 5:13)  Probably the most characteristic element of covenant establishment is the shedding of blood, seen repeatedly through the pages of the Old Testament. (Exodus 24:8)  Each time blood was spilled, it spoke unmistakably of the coming cross.

 

 

November 15th - The Old Testament According to Kids

The cute statements below are said to have been written by actual children and are genuine, authentic and not retouched or corrected.

In the first book of the Bible, Guinessis, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the Sabbath off.  Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree.  Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark.  Noah built an ark, which the animals come on to in pears.  Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night.  The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with the unsympathetic Genitals.  Samson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah.  Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.  Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients.  The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert.  Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten amendments.  The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.  The fifth commandment is to humor thy father and mother.  The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.  Moses died before he ever reached Canada.  Then Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.  The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.  David was a Hebrew king skilled at playing the liar.  He fought with the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times.  Solomon, one of David's sons, had three hundred wives and seven hundred porcupines.

 

      

November 16th - The New Testament According to Kids

When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.  When the three wise guys from the east side arrived, they found Jesus in the  manager.  Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.  St. John, the blacksmith, dumped water on his head.  Jesus enunciated the Golden Rule, which says to do one to others before they do one to you.  He also explained, "A man doth not live by sweat alone.”  It was a miracle when Jesus rose from the dead and managed to get the  tombstone off the entrance.  The people who followed the Lord were called the twelve decibels.  The epistles were the wives of the apostles.  One of the opossums was St. Matthew who was also a taximan.  St. Paul cavorted to Christianity.  He preached holy acrimony, which is another name for marriage.  A Christian should have only one spouse.  This is called monotony.

 

A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem.  A small child replied, “They couldn't get a babysitter.” 
Three-year-old Reese recites the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father, Who does art in heaven?  Harold is His name.” One four-year-old prayed, “And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.” One young lad presented a picture he had drawn to his Sunday school teacher for Christmas.  When the teacher looked at the graphic of the Nativity, she questioned a big circle along side the Holy Family.  “That’s Round John Virgin,” he proudly answered.

November 17th - Imagination

         
Researchers gave two groups of headache suffers placebos and asked them to rate the effectiveness of their “medication.”  One group was told that the tablets cost $2.50 each.  These patients almost unanimously reported relief.  The second group was told that their pills only cost ten cents.  This group reported only fifty percent effectiveness from the “treatment.”  The power of the “medicine” was not in it’s chemical content, but in it’s price.

In another test, the subjects were offered a choice between purchasing an expensive truffle candy or a common chocolate kiss.  When asked to pay fifteen cents for the truffle or one penny for the kiss, seventy-three percent went for the truffle.  When the price was lowered by just one penny so that the truffle cost fourteen cents and the kiss was free, only twenty-seven percent of the subjects chose the truffle.  The value of the candy was not in its actual cost or quality but in the concept of getting something for nothing. 
Another true story centers around the sale of a boat and trailer.  When the boat was marketed at $200 and the trailer at $100, no buyers inquired; however, the same boat and trailer sold instantly as soon as the asking price was reposted at $300 for the boat with a free trailer.   

In an experiment in which subjects were asked to rate the flavor of beer with vinegar added, almost no one wanted it when they were told about the additive.  Other subjects who were not told that the beer contained vinegar actually preferred the mixture over their regular beer.

The point of the story is that our thoughts and imaginations are deceivers.  They must be brought under subjection to Christ. (II Corinthians 10:5)

 

November 18th - How Do You Spell “Leadership”?

Love--It’s not just gifts and anointing that makes a leader--it’s also the human side of love that counts. (I Corinthians 13:1-3)
Every joint--You’re not a leader unless you have someone to lead and understand how to allow each person to use his gift and fulfill his calling. (Ephesians 4:16)
Authority--He has to be able to make decisions and recognize that the “buck stops here.” (Acts 15:6)
Dedication--A true leader will endure hardships in order to blaze a trail for his people to follow. (II Corinthians 11:23-28)
Example--People never work harder than their leader.  All great leaders, from King David in the Bible to our great generals today, have led by being the first one in the battle.  (I Peter 5:3)
Ruling their own families--If your leadership doesn‘t work in your own house, how do you expect it to work in God’s house? (I Timothy 3:4)
Shepherd--A good shepherd lays down his life for his flock. (I Peter 5:2)
Humble--True leaders never have a “Big I and Little U” attitude. (Mark 9:35)
Involvement--A true leader is one who is willing to invest his life in the lives of the ones he is leading like a father does with his son. (I Timothy 1:2)
Prayer--You can’t talk to men about God until you first talk to God about the men. (Colossians 1:9)
Followers--When we are leader with these qualities, may we also develop the qualities of genuine followers.

November 19th - Knowing God

         
I asked my horse riding instructor why we only had one horse out in the riding range even though there were several students taking the lessons.  In addition to the obvious fact that she couldn’t watch more than one of us novices at a time, she gave me another insightful revelation.  She explained that the other horses in the stall were her and her husband’s personal horses, and no one else was permitted to ride them.  Well, at first, I thought that this was a bit selfish and picky.  Then she explained that these horses had been so well trained and had become so accustomed to their individual owners that they responded to verbal commands and gentle nudges without having to use the reigns.  My instructor went own to say that even a short ride by another rider would ruin the horses’ responses, and they would have to be trained all over again. 

As I listened to her explanation, I thought how true this principle is in our spiritual lives as well.  Jesus said that His sheep would know His voice to the point that they would not follow anyone else.  But just imagine what would happen if those sheep were herded away by another master and treated roughly.  It is possible that they might forget the voice of their master or become so defensive that they would hesitate to respond to his call.  A recent analysis of Americans’ views of God showed that Blacks see Him as harsh, Southerners view Him as authoritarian, Midwesterners perceive Him as benevolent, folks from the East think of Him as critical, and out West we sense Him as distant.  My guess is that they have all been listening to others talk about Him rather than getting to know Him for themselves.  Be careful what rider is holding your reigns. 

November 20th - Questions about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Is the baptism in the Holy Spirit really necessary?  Yes.  Jesus promised it and commanded the believers to receive it. “[Jesus] commanded them that they should be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 1:4-5)

Was the baptism in the Holy Spirit for just the New Testament times?  No, it is for all believers.  “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39)

How will the baptism in the Holy Spirit help me?  
1) It will make me a more powerful witness.  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses…” (Acts 1:8)  
2) It will strengthen my prayer life.  “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities…but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us…” (Romans 8:26)
3) It will strengthen my faith. “Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” (Jude 20)
4) It will make me able to bless and minister to the church.  “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” (I Corinthians 12:7)
What must I do to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?  I must ask in simple faith.  “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? … how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:11-13)

Must I speak in tongues to be filled with the Holy Spirit?  It is the biblical pattern.  “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)

November 21st - Go Ye

         
The current physical population of the world numbers in the billions because almost every mature person has helped.  We can do the same in the Kingdom of God.  If each one of us matures and reproduces spiritually, we can soon repopulate the planet with believers.  It has been said that birth control is a problem among believers.  Let’s stop preventing the growth of the Christian population.

Have you ever stopped to think that the signs which are supposed to follow believers can’t follow unless the believers are going somewhere?

Here’s a great truth: you do not become a missionary by crossing the sea, but by seeing the cross!

Here are some ominous statistics: Only ten percent of the Christians the world live in the United States, but those ten percent control fifty-three percent of all Christian monies!  Additionally, ninety percent of all money spent on spreading the gospel is spent trying to reach just five percent of the world’s population here in the United States!

When it comes to the Great Commission, we have three options: be a goer, be a sender, or be disobedient.

Did you ever notice that Jesus’ statement about Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth was not a multiple choice option? Since the world is going to hell in a hand basket, we have only two profitable alternatives: either preach the gospel or get into the hand basket business.

Two important truths to remember are:
1) open doors are for going through, and
2) the anointing comes in going.

What part of GO do we not understand?

November 22nd - Words of Wisdom

Experience is the one thing that you can’t get for nothing.
Obstacles are the things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.
An expert is someone who is in the top one percent of knowledge on a topic.  If you read five books on a subject and you know more than ninety-nine percent of people, this makes you an expert.
Intellectual growth should begin at birth and cease at death. (Albert Einstein)
If you do not know where you are going, any road will get you there.  (Lewis Carroll)
Your attitude toward life determines life’s attitude toward you.
Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions; it only guarantees equality of opportunity.
Real conversion is when you become a believer from the neck down.
We make a living by what we get, but make a life by what we give.  (Sir Winston Churchill)
Good enough never is. (J.W. Marriott)
It’s not over until you win.
I don’t know how to give up; I just know how to win.
Success is when preparation meets opportunity.
A short pencil is better than a long memory.
God is not running an antique shop; He makes all things new!
If you are called to be a missionary, don’t stoop to being king. (Charles Spurgeon)
There is no limit to what a man can do if he doesn’t care who gets the credit.

 

 

 

     November 23rd - War of the Worlds

Evangelical Christianity is the world's fastest-growing religious movement. There are six hundred forty-five million evangelicals in the world; that’s about eleven percent of the world's population. The movement is growing at a rate three and a half times faster than the world population, and Pentecostal and Charismatic churches are growing four and a half times faster.  That means that evangelical Christianity is the fastest-growing major religious group and the only movement growing significantly through conversion.
Just one organization, the Gideons, reports that they distribute two hundred thirty-one Bibles every minute, while one other organization, Every Home for Christ, reports that they are seeing fourteen thousand four hundred forty-one decisions for Christ every day--over ten times the number recorded just seven years earlier!

However, this growth is not without challenge.  While Christianity is on the rise in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, Islam is on the rise in Western Europe.  Other challenges exist in such places as India where, for example, Hindu priests are busily reconverting Christian tribal people to the Hindu religion.  Recently one hundred fifty men and women in Dindori came forward in groups of fifteen to receive the prayers and blessings of a Hindu priest who encouraged them to be true to the faith. Dilip Singh Judeo, a federal legislator and Hindu political party member who participated in the event, has led protests against Christian missionary activity.  “There are enough Christians in the world.  There is no need to convert Hindus to Christianity,” he said as he washed the feet of  the tribes people.

November 24th - Bible Quiz

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A. Ruthless.
Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds.
Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah.  He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.
Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.
Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury, David's Triumph was heard throughout the land, and the apostles were all in one Accord.
Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.
Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.
Q. Who was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all ten commandments at once.
Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.
Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David.  He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.
Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.
Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.

 

 

 

November 25th - And the Point Is(?)

         
The other day, I gave my wife a magazine article to read.  It spent at least four pages explaining how insignificant the difference is between the purity of properly filtered tap water and bottled water.  Additionally, it showed the impact that the plastic bottle disposal is having on our environment.  Hoping to save a few dollars per week and to help the landfill epidemic by getting her to revert to the water that freely flows into our kitchen, I asked her what she thought of the article.  To my amazement, the only line she commented on was the one mention it made of the detrimental effect of chemicals leaching from the plastic bottles when the water is stored for long periods of time.  Her observation was that I was subject to these leached chemicals because I reuse the same bottle repeatedly by refilling it with tap water.  I couldn’t understand how she could miss the message of four pages and zero in on the one sentence that applied to me rather than her.  Of course, we humans have an extraordinary ability to do just that--miss the point.  I’ve taken people to Israel whose only memories of the trip were about the hotel, food, cars, and weather.  I also know one gentleman who returned from a mission trip with his only memory being about the long plane ride.  Even worse, I once heard a TV interview with a family member of a soldier who was being held hostage in a war zone.  When the question was asked about how the family was coping with the situation, the lady replied, “Well, I know that we won’t be celebrities forever.”  Somehow, the TV interviews were more important than her family member whose life was on the line.  In life, let’s not miss the real point--Jesus!

November 26th -The State of the Church

         
Each year our President presents to the people of our nation a State of the Union Address, summarizing where we are as a nation.  The following statistics may be a sort of State of the Church Address, analyzing what is happening in the Christian arena of our country.

The overall religious affiliation in our country is that seventy-eight percent of us consider ourselves Christian while sixteen percent claim to be unaffiliated (including 2.4% agnostics and 1.6%  atheists) and five percent list themselves as “other” (including 1.7% Mormons, 1.7% Jewish, and 0.7% Muslim).  One interesting fact that came out of a US News & World Report study is that seventeen percent of Christians consider themselves part of the prosperity movement.  This is especially puzzling in light of the fact that tithing is decreasing.  The percentage of tithers dropped from 8% in 2001 to 3% in 2002--less than half in one year!  In 2007, one third of Christians gave nothing and another third gave less than $500.  Between seventy and eighty percent acknowledged that they did not understand the important role giving and generosity play in their spiritual lives.  Jehovah Witnesses, Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Mormons, and Assemblies of God are the only denominations presently showing increases in membership.  Interdenominational change accounts for a major portion of these statistics since twenty-eight percent of people will change denominations in their lifetime, with forty-four percent of these changes being within the Protestant churches.  One last note is that forty-seven percent of women and thirty-nine percent of men say that they attend church regularly.

 

  
November 27th -How to Live to be One Hundred

         
A study of people around the world who had hit the century mark uncovered several significant traits which likely contributed to their longevity.

1) Stay connected.  If you become disconnected, isolated, and withdrawn, you begin to deteriorate emotionally and physically.
2) Have children late in life.  Women who give birth after age forty more than quadrupled their chances of making it to the century mark.
3) Stay married.  People who have never been married have a fifty-eight percent chance of dying earlier than their age-matched group who were married.  For divorced or separated individuals, the chance is twenty-seven percent.
4) Have regular religious beliefs and practice.
5) Think on positive, healthy thoughts.  The human body responds to thoughts just as readily as to actual stimuli.  If you imagine lying on beach, your hands will become warm.  Skiers who are thinking about downhill runs will have the same EMG responses as if actually taking jumps.  Doctors say that between thirty and seventy percent of successful results from treatments can be credited to the patient’s belief that the treatment will work.  It has been proven that marital spats can delay wound-healing and that the stress from caring for Alzheimer’s patient leaves the caregiver physically vulnerable for years.  Those people who have mastered the art--or science--of keeping their minds focused positively live longer and fare better physically in the aging process.
For biblical promises concerning long life, study Exodus 20:12; Psalms 91:16, 143:3; and Proverbs 3:2, 16.

November 28th -Just a Little Bit

         
Did you realize that if everyone in America would turn down their thermostat by just one degree in the winter, we would save almost a quarter billion barrels of crude oil? That is essentially one full year’s worth of imported oil from Iraq.  Did you know that just one gallon of oil makes an eight-acre oil slick and pollutes over a million gallons of water?  Were you aware that one hour of leaf blowing produces the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving your automobile over four thousand miles?  Can you believe that if every elementary school child in America would recycle just one aluminum can, it would save enough metal to produce twenty-one 737 airplanes?

On an even more significant note, do you realize the impact that each of us can have if we do only a small part for the kingdom of God?  It is estimated that every person you impact will impact ten more (five inside his family and five outside the family).  By the sixth level of this influence, the effect is one million people!  Here’s another powerful way to understand how just a little can go a long way.  If you could win one thousand people to Jesus every year for thirty-five years, you would have brought thirty-five thousand individuals into the Kingdom during this lifetime of ministry.  However, if you were able to win one person every six months and discipline these new converts and teach them to also win a new convert every six months, the exponential growth of your evangelism would be that of reaching more than the world’s population in less than twenty years!  Remember that the entire world population came from one couple.  Likewise, one person can set in motion a world-wide effect.  Why not you?

November 29th -Courage to be a Hero
 
Arthur Ashe once defined true heroism by saying that it is “not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”   A more colloquial rendition goes, “To be a hero, become a zero.”  True heroes certainly are the ones who throw themselves on grenades to save their fellow soldiers, rush into burning buildings to rescue trapped victims, or step between violent criminals and their intended targets.  But there are also everyday heroes who make a difference in others’ lives without having to be “Superman.”  They make a by living for what’s right, even if they do not have to die for what is right. 

In fact, each of us has a chance to be a hero in someone’s life.  It may be as simple as sharing the gospel with a friend or even a stranger.  By mustering up the courage to face the possible rejection or ridicule we might encounter, we actually do save their lives just as realistically as if we had thrown ourselves upon a grenade.  We do literally rescue them from the unquenchable flames of hell.  We essentially step in between them and the raging enemy who craves to devour them.  In reality, just sharing the simple message of salvation has made us take the risk of becoming zeros as we have served the other at whatever the cost.  In doing so, we may not rush into a phone booth to rip off our Clark Kent identities to become Superman, but we do manifest the supernatural man who is hidden inside our human identities.       

One last word of encouragement comes from missionary Clarence Wright, “Until you gain confidence, do it afraid.”

 

November 30th -Words to Live By

The law is a schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24), but the Holy Spirit is our teacher. (John 14:26) Faith is the root, and works are the fruit that it produces. The wife is the weaker vessel (I Peter 3:7) like a wine glass is weaker or more delicate compared to a coffee mug.  Both are functional in the role for which they are made. Most marriage problems (and kid problems) are actually communication problems. If their children are not under the parents’ authority, how can the parents be a leaders in the church? What we need is more free speech worth listening to. Have an affection for perfection. Your job isn’t to motivate people--it is to keep them from de-motivating you. Success does what failure hates to do. You can teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are.
What is your BAB (basis acceptable bottom)--the lowest offer you will accept?  Keep it high; match the standards God has set for you. Dreams are the God-inspired blueprint for your future. Procrastination is rooted in the spirit of fear. The main thing is the plain thing, and the plain thing is the main thing. In your relationship with God, are you married or just out on a date? Run ministry like a business and business like a ministry, or you won’t have either one too long. (Fred Price) You can have a spirit of normal and still be a success.