Look For Opportunities

S. Acts 3:12 "Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd...."

 

O. God worked a miracle and healed this lame (crippled) beggar. Peter recognize (that all around were astonished by the miracle) that this was an opportunity to share Jesus. "Peter saw his opportunity." It wasn't anyone else's opportunity, it was Peter's. Peter didn't look at John and say "hey, there's your opportunity."  Rather, because of his calling and his gifts, Peter saw "his opportunity" to share.

 

A. I will look for such opportunities to share Jesus. These are terrific times that I must be aware of and use that time to proclaim Jesus.

 

P. Father, thank you for the miracles you do in people's lives ( and in my life ). Give me power and enablement (boldness) through the Holy Spirit to use such opportunities to share Jesus with others.

Secret Chambers of the Heart

Secret Chambers of Our Hearts

S.  Ezekiel 8-10

"Then the Lord said to me, 'Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying the Lord doesn't see us, he has deserted our land.'"

O. The leaders of Israel thought that because they had not heard from the Lord that He did not know what they did inside the temple.  Inside God's very temple, these leaders worshiped idols. They did this, they thought, "in secret."

As you read on in the text the result is God withdrawing His spirit from them. The glory of the Lord rises from the temple and then to the east on a mountain and then vanishing. I think of an old testament word "ichabod" meaning "the glory of the Lord has departed" (I Samuel 4:21) that could be applied here. 

When we hold onto secret sin, it is so displeasing to God. He can't bless us with it present in our lives. Some people actually sin in their "secret places (chambers)" thinking "no one, knows." These leaders in Ezekiel did.. and they rationalized in their minds that because they didn't hear from God, He doesn't see or know either. 

However, God does know and when we actively hold onto secret sin, He withdraws His blessings from us. That's why He so desires for His people to repent and turn back to him. 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

A. My application point today and I hope one for you -- let's look into our hearts and see if there might be a "secret chamber of our heart" that we need to give fully over to God today!  Let's not allow God's glory (his blessing) to depart from us today (I"m not talking about losing the Holy Spirit or Salvation rather God's active blessing in our lives).. let's acknowledge these secret places and give them completely over to the Lord.

P.  Heavenly Father, thank you for speaking through your word today. May we all have hearts that are completely given over to you. In Jesus name, there will be no secret places .. nothing but complete openness to receive all the blessings you have for us.

Natural Light is OK but Supernatural Light is Awesome August 20, 2016

"But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin."  1 John 1:7 NLT

 This reference from God's word says that if we will conduct (live) our lives in God's light (the light of His presence), we enjoy being connected with each other, and we enjoy the blessings of Jesus' blood.

 While many people enjoy and prefer natural light (reading, walking, or just having it enter their homes), supernatural lighting (God's light) is so much more to be desired.

 God has a great life for His people. We are blessed by Him to enjoy life with each other. What? I'm rambling looking for nice orderly thoughts. But here's what I'm trying to say.. If we will allow God's  word into our lives and enjoy the community of other believers (Christians, God's family), we truly enjoy the bond we have with others and we enjoy the ongoing benefits of Christ's blood.

 I don't know why it is but I've witnessed other people, in the middle of difficulty remove themselves from the Christian community (discontinuing attending church, not being current in reading God's word and struggling to pray) and then experience quite a spiritual downward spiral. 

 I've seen this in the lives of close friends, family members and yes, even members of my church.

 But it doesn't have to be like this. The Bible says that living in God's light (which I understand to be allowing His word into our lives, praying and hanging out with other Christians) is a way in which we enjoy the full benefit of Jesus' blood. 

 Jesus gave up His life so that we would experience eternal life. Jesus' hearers (and the hearers of the gospel accounts) understood eternity to begin now and continue. It wasn't just something out there in the future or after death that we would experience, rather, eternal life begins now along with the benefits of eternal life.. enjoying the Lord and His people!

 You don't have to go into a spiritual slide, dip or tailspin; rather get into the supernatural light of the Lord and begin enjoying the life that He has provided for you (see John 10:10).

Thank you Father for the blessing of Jesus' blood, salvation, calling and a Christian community to enjoy life with.