2019-02-09
Acts 8:35 CEV
In Acts chapter eight we read the story of a high-profile leader who was won to Christ. This man held a position similar to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Britain and the Secretary of the Treasury in the United States. And he was led to Christ by a low-profile person called Philip, a church deacon (See vv. 26-40). Let’s look at how it happened and see what we can learn: (1) Philip was ready. When this man needed someone to explain the gospel to him, Philip was ready to do it. Could you have done that? When God has a job that needs to be done, could He call on you? Would you be prepared? And willing? “If anybody asks you why you believe as you do…tell him” (1 Peter 3:15 TLB). (2) Philip was wise. He didn’t barge in and start preaching, or put this man on the spot by asking “gotcha” questions. Note two things about Philip: (a) He was led by God’s spirit (See Acts 8:29 CEV). (b) He recognized the right moment (See v. 35 CEV). Good soul-winners are sensitive and strategic. (3) Philip was clear. Instead of a vague dialogue about religion, he spoke directly about Jesus. That’s what people need – a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! They need to know He’s alive, and that He loves them. That He’s powerful enough to run the universe, yet personal enough to forgive their sins, break their habits, and resolve their doubts. Your job is to extend the invitation, and let Jesus do the rest. Do you need a soul-winning strategy? Try this one – it works!
Soul food: Isa 53:1-12; Acts 8:26-40
2019-02-08
Romans 8:6 NIV
Once you give in to “stinking thinking,” your mood dips, you lose energy, God seems distant, prayer seems pointless, sin looks tempting, and your outlook in life becomes bleak. When that happens you become so focused on how you feel, you don’t realize it’s your thinking that’s causing you to feel that way. It happens to the best of us. Look at Elijah the prophet. The high point in his career was when he called down fire from heaven and defeated the prophets of Baal. It was a Super Bowl-sized victory! Then word came from Queen Jezebel: “You killed my prophets. Well, guess what? Now I’m going to kill you” (See 1 Kings 19). As a result Elijah plunged headlong into fear. He felt worthless: “I am no better than my ancestors” (v. 4 NIV). Hopeless: “[He] ran for his life” (v. 3 NIV). Isolated: “I am the only one left” (v. 10 NIV). Unable to cope: “I have had enough” (v. 4 NIV). He wanted to die: “Take my life” (v. 4 NIV). So how did God respond to Elijah? In four simple ways: (1) He helped him to start eating right and get proper rest. (2) He spoke to him in “a still small voice” (v. 12 NKJV), reassuring him and giving him courage. (3) He assured Elijah that he was not alone: “I have…seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal” (v. 18 NKJV). (4) He gave him another mission to fulfill. There will always be a “Jezebel” threatening to undo your best efforts and bring you down. The key is learning to control your thinking!
Soul food: Gen 25:19-27:46; Luke 9:18-27;Ps 138; Prov 4:14-17
2019-02-07
Romans 12:2 NLT
If a skunk gets into the crawl space under your house, opening the windows and using air freshener won’t solve your problem! There are people who actually specialize in dealing with skunks. They’re called “skunk whisperers,” and it’s not cheap to have them come to your home. But it’s worth it to get rid of the problem. How does all this relate to your thinking? Simply this: Your feelings are the odors and your thoughts are the skunk! To change your feelings, you must go to the source and deal with the thing that produced them – how you think. Thoughts produce feelings, not the other way around. Worried people tend to think anxious thoughts, and eventually those thoughts become so automatic that, like a lingering skunk odor, you stop noticing and learn to live with it. You get used to “stinking thinking!” Your thought patterns become as habitual as brushing your teeth. You get so accustomed to thinking bitter, anxious, selfish thoughts that you stop paying attention. If you want to change the quality of your life, you must change the way you think. The psalmist prayed, “Test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Psalm 139:23 NIV). God will help you become aware of what’s going on in your mind from one moment to the next. He’ll direct you to the place where the skunk lives and help you deal with it. Not only will He show you how to remove wrong thoughts, but how to replace them with the right ones by setting your mind on “what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5 NIV).
Soul food: Gen 20-23; Luke 8:40-56; Ps 125; Prov 4:3-4
2019-02-06
Romans 8:5 NIV
To become the person God wants you to be, you must “set your mind” on the right things. You say, “If only my circumstances were different.” Your circumstances don’t determine the quality of your life; how you think about them does. Poet Frederick Langbridge wrote, “Two men looked out through prison bars; one saw mud, the other saw the stars.” Both men were in identical circumstances, but their perspectives were entirely different. One looked for beauty and found it; the other focused on ugliness and found it. It works like this: Your circumstances in life produce certain emotions. So how do you change your emotional response when you feel powerless over people and circumstances? By changing how you think about them! True change always begins in your mind. The Bible says, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). The way you think inevitably reflects the way you live. So to become the best version of yourself, the person God wants you to be – think great thoughts! People who live great lives are people who habitually think great thoughts. You say, “But I can’t help thinking the way I do.” Then “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 NLT). God’s Word will help you to think with faith instead of fear, assurance instead of anxiety, and joy instead of negativity. Once you “set your mind on what the Spirit desires,” your life will begin to change for the better.
Soul food: Gen 17-19; Luke 8:26-39; Ps 67; Prov 4:1-2
2019-02-05
Proverbs 22:6 TM
Journalist William Hodding Carter wrote, “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other is wings.” Children who know they are loved unconditionally are children with roots. Consequently they’re able stand up to whatever life throws at them. By the same token, when you instill in your children a sense of self-confidence and encourage them to dream, you’re giving them wings. And any time children are given the will to win, they’re already halfway to success. But if you let them grow up without it, they’re already halfway to failure. That means as a parent you must demonstrate faith in your children so that they learn to have faith in themselves. Every child has within them a God-given seed of greatness, and when you let them know you believe in them, you’re watering that seed and giving it a chance to grow. Have you noticed how people generally rise or fall in accordance with your level of expectation? When you constantly criticize kids they grow up to be negative, self-doubting, and fearful. But when you believe in them and assume they will do well, they’ll go the extra mile by trying to live up to your expectations. It’s your faith in them that creates the environment in which they learn to fly! Give them money and they’ll spend it. Give them resources and they’ll squander them. But give them faith in God and in themselves, and chances are they’ll excel at whatever they do in life.
Soul food: Gen 13-16; Luke 8:16-25; Ps 120; Prov 3:33-35
2019-02-04
Acts 27:25 NIV
On his way to Rome, Paul went through a devastating storm. His story teaches us three valuable lessons: (1) Your disobedience can cause a storm. Because the captain wouldn’t heed Paul’s warning, he lost his ship, his cargo, and almost his life. Your disobedience can cause a storm in your health, your finances, your family, and your career. God doesn’t preface His commandments by saying, “If you feel like it, do this.” No. He means what He says and He intends it for your good, so pay attention! (2) You’re not alone in the storm. God is with you and He’s watching over you. Paul said: “There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not…God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God” (vv. 23-25). With God on board, there’s not a storm powerful enough to take you under. (3) When you stand on God’s promises, you have His authority. Paul may have looked like a prisoner, but in reality he had more power than the captain. Though bound in chains, he was the freest man on the ship. You see, when you’ve heard clearly from God, you can handle any situation because His Word says: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17). So the word for you today is: Keep trusting God and He will bring you through this storm!
Soul food: Gen 10-12; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 108; Prov 3:31-32
