God is our vindicator see Job 19:25. As long as we behave properly towards others, even when they come against us. God will reward us for being steadfast towards Him.
There was a popular movie several years ago that revolved around a man who heard a voice that told him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield. A statement from that movie is as well-known as the movie; "If you build it, they will come." A pastor friend of mine has his own version of this sentence with regard to getting Christians to come to an event; "If you feed them, they will come."
As you read through 1 Peter and come upon chapter three verse fifteen, it would seem that Peter had the same idea in mind. This verse tells us that if we have set Christ apart in our hearts as Lord, our lives are then lived in such a way that will get people curious. You could say that this verse conveys, "If you live Christlike, they will ask." The verse actually reads, "But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord; Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15). This charge was given to a people who were facing brutal persecution because of their life in Christ. They would never be able to endure faithfully unless Christ was Lord. Their hearts had to be wholly His. As they set apart Christ as Lord, they had hope. Jesus was the reason for their hope. Indeed, He WAS their reason and their hope! That faith and hope could not go unnoticed. In their suffering, the fruit of the Spirit would be evidenced rather than bitterness and hatred. Their lives were so radically different from others that people asked them about it. Their responsibility was to be ready to give the answer to the question when asked. Their answer was simple - Jesus. The radical contrast between a Christian's life and those in the world is no different - whether under persecution or freedom. That is one reason why Peter elsewhere refers to Christians as "aliens and strangers." Christians cannot hide their life in Christ any more than a city on a hill can be hidden in the night. Jesus told us that we are "salt and light" in the world. Neither of these can be concealed. There isn't such a thing as a secret disciple. It's not that we wear name tags or badges. It isn't the bumper stickers on our cars, or posters on our walls. It is our life - our actions, conversation, habits, work, lifestyle... It may not be visible immediately to everyone, but in the day-to-day routine, it will show. And what shows will generate a curiosity in others. The Holy Spirit intensifies the curiosity prompting them to ask us about the hope we have. We need to be ready to give the answer when they ask. There is a great amount of discussion these days among church leaders about how the church can be more effective in reaching the unsaved. And so there should be. Going into the world to make disciples is the church's divinely-given mission and must be kept a central part of our worship. Many methods and programs, both to reach out and to motivate and mobilize people, are being suggested. But, amidst all the discussion let us not forget, that the most effective way to reach the lost is for God's people to live Christlike - "in their hearts setting apart Christ as Lord." For, if we live it, they will ask!!! The Lord says: I love you so much. I will work in you and restore and mend you because I love you because I want you to be effective. You are my tool. I want you to be the most effective tool you can be. You are
designed for a purpose. I do not want you rusted out and broken. That is why I call out to you, I woo you in a tool is made to be used not to be clean and beautiful and then to sit on a shelf, not to be left outside for the elements to rust and destroy so again never be used. The enemy wants you to never be used. He will do whatever it takes to keep you on a shelf even to the extent of letting you be cleaned so you think you are ready. Nothing is going to hold you back. You are clean, polished, sharpened and well used. Take care of your self so that you can last for a long time, I still have much for you to do. Do not be intimidated by new models that come out with new methods. There is still a need for you, You are still effective and will become more so the more you let Me use you soak and be changed, be oiled (let My Holy Spirit move in you) Yes, open yourself up to the crazy things I am telling you to do, I have been telling you for a long time. Now is the time to listen You do these little ones and I will give you more to do. Do not let anyone talk you down from the things I will call you to. This is where the adventure begins. Be faithful in little and I will give you much! ...And in an instant, suddenly, you shall be visited and delivered by the Lord of hosts...”(Isaiah 29:5–6, AMP)
Throughout the Bible, we have examples of how God suddenly showed Himself strong on behalf of His people. But sometimes when we’ve struggled in an area for a long time, it’s easy to just give up and accept things the way they are. One of the enemy’s favorite lies is to tell you that nothing is ever going to change. He’ll tell you that you’re never going to get well, that your marriage isn’t going to work out, that you’re never going to break that addiction. But I want to tell you today, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in those circumstances, God can change things in an instant! In a split second of time, He can turn it all around. One touch of God’s power can heal your body. One touch of His favor can promote you. One touch of His goodness can solve that problem. Just one touch from Almighty God can instantly change your life. I encourage you today, keep believing, keep standing, and keep hoping. Don’t let the enemy drag your thoughts down because God is working behind the scenes. Your time is coming, and I declare that your breakthrough is going to happen suddenly — in an instant! Father in heaven, I choose to trust that You are working things out for my good. I choose to stand in faith, believing that my season of breakthrough is coming. Give me Your strength and peace as I patiently wait on You in Jesus’ name. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen Jesus spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. —Luke 18:1 One of our biggest struggles is unanswered prayer. Maybe you can relate. You ask God to rescue a friend from addiction, to grant salvation to a loved one, to heal a sick child, to mend a relationship. All these things you think must be God’s will. For years you pray. But you hear nothing back from Him and you see no results. You remind the Lord that He’s powerful. That your request is a good thing. You plead. You wait. You doubt—maybe He doesn’t hear you, or maybe He isn’t so powerful after all. You quit asking—for days or months. You feel guilty about doubting. You remember that God wants you to take your needs to Him, and you tell Him your requests again. We may sometimes feel we’re like the persistent widow in Jesus’ parable recorded in Luke 18. She keeps coming to the judge, badgering him and trying to wear him down so he’ll give in. But we know that God is kinder and more powerful than the judge in the parable. We trust Him, for He is good and wise and sovereign. We remember that Jesus said we “always ought to pray and not lose heart” (v.1). So we ask Him, “Summon Your power, O God; show us Your strength, O God, as You have done before” (Ps. 68:28 NIV). And then we trust Him . . . and wait. Pray on, then, child of God, pray on; This is your duty and your task. To God the answering belongs; Yours is the simpler part—to ask. —Chisholm Delay is not denial so keep praying. Bob, a handsome dude, walked into a sports bar around 9:58 pm . He sat down next to a blonde at the bar and stared up at the TV...
The 10 pm news was coming on. The news crew was covering the story of a man on the ledge of a large building preparing to jump. The blonde looked at Bob and said, "Do you think he'll jump?" Bob said, "You know, I bet he'll jump." The blonde replied, "Well, I bet he won't." Bob placed a $20 bill on the bar and said, "You're on!" Just as the blonde placed her money on the bar, the guy on the ledge did a swan dive off the building, falling to his death. The blonde was very upset, but willingly handed her $20 to Bob, saying, "Fair's fair. Here's your money." Bob replied, "I can't take your money. I saw this earlier on the 5 pm news, and so I knew he would jump." The blonde replied, "I did too, but didn't think he'd do it again." Bob took the money... If you don't want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. Jos 24:15 [God's] invitation is clear and nonnegotiable. He gives all and we give him all. Simple and absolute. He is clear in what he asks and clear in what he offers. The choice is up to us. Isn't it incredible that God leaves the choice to us? Think about it. There are many things in life we can't choose. We can't, for example, choose the weather. We can't control the economy. We can't choose whether or not we are born with a big nose or blue eyes or a lot of hair. We can't even choose how people respond to us. But we can choose where we spend eternity. The big choice, God leaves to us. The critical decision is ours. That is the only decision which really matters. And the Angels Were Silent (Max Lucado) Zachariah 9:12 says we are prisoners of hope. This means we refuse to stop hoping in God no matter the circumstances. True biblical hope is a solid foundation it is a springboard for our faith to take off from and to actually take hold of the promises of God.
Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the LORD. Gods word is filled with inherent Power Isaiah 55:11 ensures us that His Word never returns void it always accomplishes its purposes. When we learn to speak Gods Word instead of rehearsing how we feel or declaring what we think we are releasing Power. Speak in faith to your circumstances Gods truths is supernatural.
|
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
All
Archives
June 2015
|