Messages

Victory Over Unforgiveness

Daniel 6

Immediately after teaching His followers to pray, Jesus gave a warning about allowing unforgiveness to reside in the heart. He said that those who refuse to forgive others won't be forgiven by the Father.

Do not misunderstand Jesus' meaning here. Believers don't lose their salvation when they refuse to forgive. Rather, they break fellowship with God because their unrepentant attitude gets in the way of regular confession and repentance. The Lord cannot ignore sin, and His Spirit will bring wrong behavior to the believer's attention until he or she deals with it.

Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. Often people don't feel like being merciful to someone who has wronged them. But a resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. The Lord knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult.

You won't deal with a sin until you see it as God does. So assume full responsibility for your unforgiving attitude, and acknowledge that it is a violation of His Word. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside anger and resentment against the other person(s). As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude.

A bitter and resentful spirit doesn't fit who we are in Christ. Nor is it healthy to carry an angry attitude through life. That's why Scripture emphasizes the need to forgive. Choose to be liberated from your burden--Jesus promised to make us free when we release our sins to Him (John 8:36).

November 13

Ask for Help from the Teacher

"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." - Psalm 119:18

Have you ever thought you could just go to the Bible and pull some truth out of it for your life? Let me tell you friend: you cannot do that. Your mind will never comprehend the things of God apart from the Holy Spirit illuminating you.

First, we must lay our intellectual pride in the dust, and with open arms and a heart of faith, approach God's Word for wisdom, discernment, and knowledge. Then He will teach us.

It took a supernatural miracle to write the Word of God. It takes a supernatural miracle for you to understand it. When God begins to write His Word upon your heart, you are going to lead a supernatural life! Ask Him for that!

November 13

1 Timothy 5

The church should care for widows, and the elders who lead the church should also receive respect.

INSIGHT

There are those in the church who feel that they have the gift of confrontation, and others the gift of rebuke. While we may smile at this, there are indeed those who have an acute sense of justice, gravitating toward exhortational ministries. These people provide an important balance in the church, but they must be cautious to wield their words with truth and grace. Paul writes that we should "not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity" (vv. 1-2). The point is that such ministries are always to be done in a spirit of grace, truth, and love.

PRAYER

Because scriptural truth is intended to heal and strengthen us, we praise Him:
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:3-5).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
(John 14:6)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
faithfulness with your talents,
your state and local leaders,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! . . .
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.
(Psalm 90:14, 17)

Thursday, November 13

10,000 Lures

.. . . [ Potiphar's wife ] caught [ Joseph ] by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside."
Genesis 39:12

Recommended Reading
James 4:7-8 [ http://iz3.me/vH522zwXd1A1 ]

Singer-songwriter Kate Campbell sings about temptations: "There's vices and voodoo always enticing you, from the day that you're born til the day you leave this world. The devil's got a line for you for sure and 10,000 lures. . . . He's a master of disguise, he'll reel you in with power, roaming to and fro seeking whom he may devour." 1

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/wH522zwXd1A1 ]

One of the devil's "10,000 lures" he cast toward Joseph in Egypt was the wife of Joseph's master, Potiphar. But Joseph refused to take the bait. He had been absolutely loyal to Potiphar and had gained his complete trust. Not only did Joseph refuse to dishonor God by yielding to sin, he also refused to dishonor the trust Potiphar had extended toward him (Genesis 39:8-9). He was willing to do whatever it took to remain pure in the sight of both God and man. And God blessed Joseph's commitment.

The first thing to be aware of is what both the songwriter and Scripture writer have said: There will always be enticements to sin. Committing to resist the lure is the first step toward not being caught.

Temptation has its source not in the outer lure but in the inner lust.
D. Edmund Hiebert

1 Kate Campbell and Mark Narmore ©1999 Large River Music (BMI) / Starstruck Angel Music, Inc. / Mitchelltown Music (BMI)

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 6-7 [ http://iz3.me/xH522zwXd1A1 ]

Rotten Fruit
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Culture Editor

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Matthew 7:1-2

During my time in college, I met another student who considered himself a very devout Christian. In terms of practice, this student couldn't be criticized for his dedication. He read the Bible each morning, attended chapel like clockwork, and never broke a rule during his time at the university. In terms of spirit though, he represented the worst Christianity had to offer. He was proud and judgmental, always calling out others on what he considered to be "sins".

When guys got together to play a game of Halo, he accused them of putting videogames before God. Once, when a guy kissed his girlfriend goodbye on the cheek, he railed for an hour about sexual immorality. When one girl stood up to him and told him to mind his own business, he called her "deaf to the Holy Spirit." Things finally hit a major low one night at a Bible Study where, after being ignored by some of the other members, he declared that a prophet like himself was wasting his time with these reprobates. He left the university shortly after, and no one was sad to see him go.

Now, the reason I'm writing this isn't to shame him, God knows I've done plenty of stupid things in my time too. What bothered me though was the fact that, despite much evidence to the contrary, this student was certain he was doing the right thing. In fact, there are many so-called Christians who do and say terrible things, all in the name of God. In cases like these, it's vital to remember what Matthew wrote about bearing fruit.

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" – Matthew 7:15-23

At some point, every Christian needs to look at their life and examine the fruit they've been harvesting. Are there bushels full of harsh words, proud actions, and vindictive thoughts, or does their bounty include selfless gestures and a gracious heart? Remember, God will judge us by what we sow in the hearts of others, be careful you're fruit isn't rotten.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Take a moment to examine how you have been treating others. Are you truly approaching them as Christ would?

Further Reading

Luke 6:31

November 12

Colossians 1:9
Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Thoughts on today's verse

In a world where we can feel so isolated and alone at times, it is so important for us to know that someone is praying for us and for our spiritual needs. As I think of the thousands who are a part of the Today's Verse ministry, I cannot help but pray that each of them, that you, are blessed by knowing that you share a spiritual journey with people all over the world, and that today, we will praying for each other. And of course there can be no better prayer than the one that Paul prayed for the Colossian friends he had never met -- "I ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Let's pray that for each other today.

Prayer:

Oh precious and divine Father, today I pray for the other believers who come before you and seek to live for you. I pray especially for those who share the Today's Verse journey with me. Even though we live all over the world and have all sorts of needs, we all know that our deepest need is to know and live your will and to be confident that we are known and loved by you. Please fill all of us with the knowledge of your will through Spirit-led wisdom and understanding. We want to know you, honor you, serve you, and ultimately see you face-to-face. Through our older brother Jesus, we pray. Amen.

November 12



Enduring Satanic Attacks

Ephesians 6:10-14

Every believer faces temptation. Take a moment to recall a particularly enticing situation involving something that would displease God. Did you realize you were involved in a satanic battle?

The Devil is real. Scripture reveals that he leads an army of fallen angels and is prideful enough to think he can gain victory over God. By definition, a satanic attack is a deliberate assault upon an individual, which is designed to cause spiritual, physical, material, or emotional harm. Satan desires to thwart the Lord's purpose in believers' lives, to rob them of joy and peace, and ultimately to deny God the worship He receives through yielded followers.

As in any war, knowing the enemy's plan helps us prepare for the attack. First, be aware that the battlefield takes place in our minds. To walk in a godly manner with Christ, we must first be sure that our thoughts are in submission to His Spirit. This takes daily surrender and time in God's Word. Second, Satan tempts us during vulnerable moments. Be cautious when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (This is often known as the H.A.L.T.  warning). Third, he is deceptive; we won't recognize the trap as an evil scheme. Instead, it will seem good, and we'll likely wrestle with some sort of doubt.

As Christians, we should walk closely with Jesus. Satan desires to lure us into destructive actions that rob us of God's plan for a good, full life. Stay connected to the Savior: read the Word, pray, and fellowship with other believers. These are weapons we use against the Devil in spiritual war.

November 12

Hungry for God

"With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation." - Psalm 91:16

One day I was eating in a cafeteria in New York when the door of the restaurant opened and a man ran in. He rushed to a table that had been abandoned by patrons just shortly before. He began to stuff his mouth with the leftovers when the management discovered him. He rushed out like a squirrel scurrying to safety. No pride. He didn't care what people thought.

A man who is starving is dead serious about the matter of getting food. He's focused. He's only got one thing on his mind—where is his next meal? He's not concerned about popularity, position, or possessions.

What are you hungry for today? Is Jesus enough to satisfy your appetite?

When a person is thirsty or hungry enough, he will pay any price.

November 12

1 Timothy 4

The effective teaching of the truth in the Scriptures will benefit both the teacher and the hearers.

INSIGHT

Anyone who has tasted the maturity given from the Lord to those who serve Him over time will testify that it did not come quickly or easily. Paul writes that we should exercise ourselves to godliness; that "bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things" (v. . Like an athlete, a Christian should rejoice with a rigorous course of training - knowing that the more demanding the training, the greater will be the spiritual prowess at the end. The present discomfort is fitting him or her for more victorious effort later. Present pain = later gain. This message is difficult to communicate and even more difficult to learn. But to this end we must labor (v. 10).

PRAYER

Because the Lord uses trials to make us spiritually strong, we can praise Him even when we are in the midst of trials:
I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies. . . .
The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted (Psalm 18:1-3, 46).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
And like a cloud, your sins.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you" (Isaiah 44:22).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."
(John 11:25)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater love for the lost,
missionaries in Africa,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).

Wednesday, November 12

God's Amazing Love

For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:12

Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:1-13 [ http://iz3.me/swt12zwXd1A1 ]

Most Bible readers know that the story of Joseph and the family of Jacob moving to Egypt takes up the last major section of Genesis: chapters 37-50. We meet Joseph as a teenager in Genesis 37 and see him buried at the end of his life in Egypt in Genesis 50. The story flows smoothly except for one part: Genesis 38. If you connect the last verse of Genesis 37 with the first verse of Genesis 39, the story flows beautifully. But Genesis 38 has nothing to do with Joseph and appears to be just a snapshot of Jacob's family in Canaan.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/twt12zwXd1A1 ]

Since God inspired the writing of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21), we know that Genesis 38 is there for a reason. And the reason is this: It explains why God sent Joseph to Egypt to prepare a place for Jacob's family to live in isolation from the world. It reveals the serious moral compromises Jacob's family was making in Canaan that could have ruined the future of Abraham's descendants. It proves that God loves His people enough to protect and preserve them through drastic measures if needed.

And God loves us that much as well. He loves us enough to do what we may be unwilling to do ourselves to protect our spiritual life.

God loves us too much to allow us to stay the way we are.
Unknown

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 4–5 [ http://iz3.me/uwt12zwXd1A1 ]