Praying Pint

 

 

 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

You may not know this, but the act of taking communion was pivotal in my decision to accept Jesus as my Savior.

When I was nearly 6 years old, I attended church with my parents and noticed that a plate of bread and a cup of grape juice were being passed around. As the bread came by, I excitedly reached out to tear off a chunk. Unfortunately, my dad stopped me before I could get the snack. I figured he was afraid I would make a mess on the new church carpet.

Later that day, once we had returned home, my dad took me to my bedroom and began to explain the meaning behind the bread and the cup. He told me about Jesus, His death, and resurrection. My dad shared that I could find forgiveness in Christ and spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

My first glimpse of communion led to me asking Jesus into my heart. It was January 11, 1981.

That’s my story, but the Lord’s Supper is significant to all of us for multiple reasons. In 1 Corinthians 11:26, Paul writes how the Lord’s Supper is given to us by God Himself as means to bring unity within the body of Christ. Moreover, when we observe the Lord’s Supper, we recognize that the table looks in three different directions: it looks to the past, the present, and the future.

The Past: Commemoration

The Lord’s Supper refers to the last Passover meal Jesus had with His disciples here on Earth (see Luke 22:14-20). At that time, Jesus took the bread and the cup and passed them around, signifying that His body would be broken (torn to pieces) and that the shedding of His blood would usher in the New Covenant (see Jeremiah 31:31-33).

Therefore, the Lord’s Supper makes us remember what Jesus did on the cross. That is why it says, “Do this in remembrance of Me” in both verse 24 and verse 25. Paul is stressing that we are to always remember the atoning sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross. We are to remember how He was flogged, beaten, and that He shed His blood to take away our sin.

The Present: Communion

The Lord’s Supper speaks of the present and how we have fellowship with a living Christ. We have communion with Him now because our sins are forgiven. We do not have to wait for Heaven to have fellowship with God; we can have communion now.

Not only do we have communion with God, but we can have communion with other believers. This brings unity out of division, which was exactly what was happening in Corinth when Paul wrote this letter.

The Future: Commitment

We are to continually observe the Lord’s Supper “till He comes” (v. 26c). Therefore, this table also looks ahead to Christ’s return.

It reminds us that Jesus is victorious and He will set up His kingdom here on Earth. We are to proclaim the Lord’s death (through the observance of the Lord’s Supper) until He comes again in the future.

It also signifies the destruction of Satan, when Jesus will return in victory. We won’t be taking communion at that point. We’ll be at the banquet table, and Satan will be defeated.

The Lord’s Supper keeps us focused on the cross. It draws us into fellowship with God and the body of Christ. It gives us the hope of the resurrection, the promise of victory over Satan and sin, and the truth of Heaven.

The next time you observe communion at church, take a moment to reflect on the past, the present and the future—and God’s incredible love and faithfulness. (Graham)

 

 

Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him.

–Matthew 4:10–11

In this corrupt world we live in, the Bible is like a night-light, giving us direction in the darkness. That’s why Paul said, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16). Let me point out three benefits of allowing God’s Word to become part of your life.

First of all, God’s Word produces spiritual growth in your life. Colossians 2:6–7 says, “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith.” Once you become a Christian, you and God work together to construct a life that looks like that of Jesus Christ–and God’s Word is the building material. In 1 Peter 2:2, the apostle wrote, “Long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” God’s Word is the catalyst that produces spiritual growth.

Second, God’s Word is a deterrent to sin. Disobedience to God robs you of His blessings in your life. But God’s Word gives you both the desire and the ability to say no to sin and yes to God. We have a great illustration of that in Matthew 4 when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Each time, Jesus answered with Scripture. Contrary to what many people think, Satan didn’t run away because he couldn’t stand to hear God’s Word. No, Jesus quoted God’s Word for His own benefit. As He recalled the passages of Scripture that dealt with each temptation, God’s Word cut through the fog in His mind and gave Him the strength to say no to Satan and yes to God.

What I find fascinating about this passage is that each time Jesus was tempted, He quoted from Deuteronomy. If your success in fighting against Satan’s attacks depended on how well you knew the book of Deuteronomy, how would you do? Most of us can’t even find Deuteronomy, much less quote from it. Maybe that’s why we don’t have more success in our spiritual lives. God’s Word is a powerful deterrent to sin.

Third, God’s Word allows you to experience the peace of Christ. If you’re like me, most of the anxiety you feel is caused by unexpected or unwanted changes in your life. Yet even though people and circumstances change, God never changes. The Bible says, “Who is a rock, besides our God?” (2 Samuel 22:32). When you read the Bible, it’s a constant reminder that the God you serve and the God who loves you never changes. The word of Christ allows you to experience the peace of Christ in your heart. (Jeffress)

 

 

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

On September 16, 1859, a newspaper in Ballynahinch, Ireland, carried this article: “For the last two months the Lord’s work has been spreading in this place; hundreds…have passed through the gate of conversion. Prayer meetings…are conducted by the young and old…. Let a minister be seen passing anywhere…and going into a house and, in a few minutes, the reapers would be seen leaving the fields and thronging the house, such is their unquenchable thirst for the means of grace.”¹

That’s what revival looks like. Young and old leading prayer meetings. People seeking the means of grace. Many being converted. Everyone hungry for the Word of God and the downpouring of the Holy Spirit.

That’s what the nations of the world need now! The formula is in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The people of God must humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. Our Lord will hear, heal, and forgive! Let the revival begin in your heart today!

The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it. (Dr. Jeremiah)

 

 

The younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country.

–Luke 15:13

I’m not a mind reader, but I imagine one or more of the following is true about you:

• You can point to a time in your life when you were closer to God than you are right now.
• You know that you ought to read your Bible more and pray more, but frankly, you don’t have the desire to do so.
• You feel guilty for thinking about money so much and thinking about God so little.
• You find it easy to become obsessed with your work.
• You can look back to at least one mistake in your life that you wonder if God can ever forgive you for.
• You genuinely desire to have a closer relationship with God than you now experience.

Paul said one test of our Christlikeness is our relationship with God. Jesus enjoyed perfect fellowship with His heavenly Father. But if we’re honest, I think most of us can point to a time in our lives when we were closer to God than we are at the present. For some of us, our departure from God can be traced to a specific event–a bitter divorce, the death of a loved one, a prolonged illness, or the loss of a job. But for most of us, our departure from God is a gradual one. We move away from God step by step, choice by choice, until one day we awaken in a place we never thought we would be, separated from our heavenly Father.

In Luke 15, Jesus told a story about a young man who enjoyed a good relationship with his father, but he allowed his desire for money, his thirst for pleasure, and his drive toward significance to cause him to leave his father and move to the far country. Only because of a dramatic crisis in his life did he return to the security of his father’s home.

Many people use the story of the prodigal son to illustrate God’s attitude toward non-Christians, and I think that certainly fits the context in which Jesus told the story. But I also believe the story of the prodigal son illustrates our relationship with our heavenly Father. Specifically, the story demonstrates why we who love God wander away from God–it’s easier than you think. The story also illustrates what life apart from God is like–it’s different than you’ve been led to believe. And most importantly, the story of the prodigal son tells us how we can return to a right relationship with a Father who loves us–it’s simpler than you imagine. (Jeffress)

 

 

Hebrews 6:1-3  Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this we will do if God permits.

In Hebrews 5:11–14, we see the characteristics of a group of believers who are not maturing in their faith.

Lazy or ‘Dull’

A person’s faith is immature because they are lazy or “dull of hearing” (v. 11). There is no drive or initiative, and this prevents understanding. They sat and listened, but were not paying attention and applying what they had learned from God’s Word.

Refusal to Grow

Many of these same people who were weak in their walk were refusing to grow (v. 12). They had a knowledge of Jesus and identified with Him, but they refused to mature in their faith and apply it to their lives. They had not progressed from “milk” (basics) to “solid food” (applying the Scriptures).

Unskilled

Some people are spiritually underdeveloped because they are unskilled (inexperienced) in the Word of God (v. 13). By this time they should be teaching, but could not because they refused to be trained in spiritual matters.

Do Not Exercise Discernment

Finally, some believers remain spiritually immature because they do not exercise their mental and spiritual senses (v. 14) and are therefore unable to discern between good and evil.

Reviewing the characteristics of a stunted Christian may hit a little close to home for some of us. So what’s the remedy? How can we become fully developed and mature Christians? Hebrews 6:1–3 offers some guidance.

First, we must build on the teachings that we already know (v. 1). The foundation has already been laid. Now we need to develop our spiritual structure, adding depth and understanding.

Second, we must be determined to grow (v. 3). The author makes a declaration (“This we will do”), which shows the determination required to grow as a Christian.

Third, we must also realize that we are totally dependent upon God for growth. By saying “if God permits” (v. 3), the author shows that we cannot grow apart from His strength.

To summarize, the answer for a stunted and immature spiritual walk is a motivation to build on the foundation we have, with determination and a reliance on God’s faithfulness and strength.

My friends, it’s easy to slip into laziness and immaturity. We must passionately and deliberately pursue our Savior and the incredible wealth of wisdom He has given us. This will strengthen your faith walk and better prepare you to impact the world for the Kingdom. (Graham)

 

 

Psalm 33:12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

When God is the focal point of a nation, the blessings it seeks to enjoy will be theirs. Yet, many American leaders are convinced that eradicating Christianity’s influence is the key to our nation’s future success—an opinion previous generations soundly rejected. While not all of America’s leaders have held deep religious convictions, many have, and most understood, that a vibrant Christian faith is essential to our future.

Founding Father James Madison referred to religious freedom as the “luster of our country.” He and Thomas Jefferson worked together to make the state of Virginia the most advanced in protecting Christian liberties.

In the twentieth century, Calvin Coolidge voiced, “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.”

President Gerald Ford also affirmed the role of Christianity in American life. “Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first, the most basic, expression of Americanism. Thus, the Founding Fathers of America saw it, and thus, with God’s help, it will continue to be.”

Believers have been exceedingly negligent in influencing government by not electing leaders who stand for righteousness. But the time has come when we must act differently.

God will bless or curse this nation according to the choices we make. Let us get up, get out, and make our voices heard. Let us fervently pray for the Lord’s mercy to be upon us! May He graciously provide leaders—men and women—whose hearts are aligned with His.

 

His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Matthew 25:21

Awards and rewards are presented in all segments of society: sports, business, government, military, entertainment, and more. And it starts at an early age—what child doesn’t delight in receiving a gold star for a job well done? Almost all human awards have one thing in common: They focus on past behavior or achievements.

For all who inherit a place in Christ’s future Millennial Kingdom, a different kind of reward will be received—a reward that focuses on the future. Rewards for faithfulness in this life will result in the privilege of service for Christ in His Kingdom in the future. The Millennium is not going to be a thousand-year vacation. Rather, it will be the manifestation of God’s just rule and economy on earth as administered by the saints of God who inherit the Kingdom. In Jesus’ parable of the talents, the servants who were faithful over some things were then made rulers over many things (Matthew 25:14-30).

Our service for Christ in this life is not the end—it is only the beginning!

The highest honor in the church is not government but service. (Dr. Jeremiah)

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There is nothing better for the heart of man than to be fully committed to the service of God. What does this look like? It has many facets and certainly more than could be listed. However, one thing is required for this service, an ever-growing desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all thoughts, words, and actions throughout every aspect of your life. As we grow in this desire/purpose we will grow in service to God. The Holy Spirit’s quiet small voice will be heard louder and louder.

Do you want to be more in service to God? Do you want to be used more by God? Do you want to see the hand of God working in your life? Intentionally choose and desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all thoughts, words, and actions. Growth in service to Him will follow.

 

 

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.

–Psalm 119:18

Would you like to have a better relationship with God? Would you like to have victory over temptation? Would you like to have supernatural equilibrium when the world around you is topsy-turvy? The answer is allowing God’s Word to “richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16).

Listen to the preached Word of God. Part of God’s plan for your spiritual growth is that you be in a local church where you hear His Word taught regularly.

To get a good grip on God’s Word, you need to read God’s Word. You’ll find that the more you read, the more you will hunger for God’s Word.

Some Christians say, “I don’t have time.” I’ve found that we make time for the things that are important to us.  (Jeffress)

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There is nothing in this world that can fill your heart with love, joy, peace, hope, purpose, etc….. We have all tried and come up empty, time after time. In God’s Word purpose, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and light are found in a dark and mixed-up world.  Time in His Word will never be void of instruction, purpose, meaning, and light for our lives.  However, void of this, there is only chasing after the wind in hopes of catching hold of the purpose of our lives. The closer we get to the end of our natural lives and reflect on our past, it will only have meaning with Christ in our hearts and the Holy Spirit in our minds.

Spending time in God’s Word with your heart and mind’s desire to draw closer to God for the purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all thoughts, words, and actions, the Holy Spirit will guide, direct, encourage, convict, lead, and give you discernment not only in your life but of the world and what it has to offer.

 

Psalm 42:5. Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

 

Depression is a cruel and unfair player. It singles us out at inconvenient times and is unconcerned about our commitments or schedules. Nor is it a respecter of persons. Many of God’s great warriors fought attacks of depression. The prophet Elijah despaired to the point of praying “Lord, take my life!” The apostle Paul was often overwhelmed, making it necessary for the Lord to speak to him in a night vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you…” And one of my heroes of the faith, Charles Spurgeon, suffered severe bouts of depression. He explained them as dark and sinister emotions that left him feeling alienated from God. Does it surprise you that believers face these kinds of battles? It shouldn’t. We all struggle from time to time with feelings of hopelessness. But notice how the Psalmist begins to overcome the darkness. He preaches the truth of God to himself, knowing he will find strength and courage there. The next time you find depression creeping in, lay hold of verses like 2 Samuel 22:2-3: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior.” Immerse yourself in scriptures that speak about salvation and the magnitude of God’s love for you. Remind yourself of all that is now yours and say, “My hope is in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior!”

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

People will try many different things in an attempt to bring themselves happiness and fulfillment. Some pursue philanthropy, good deeds, mentoring, or positive social work. Others throw themselves into hobbies, jobs, or relationships. Unfortunately, there are many who pursue destructive vices that only bring suffering.

While many follow the world’s path in seeking fulfillment, the Bible gives instruction from one of the wisest men who ever lived—King Solomon. Philosophers, kings, rulers, and sages would come, sit, and listen to his wisdom.

Solomon searched for true happiness and meaning in life, and he gives us his conclusions in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Fear God: Surprisingly, Solomon does not say to get more education or to acquire more wealth. He has all of this and has concluded that it is all vanity. Rather, Solomon’s first and primary conclusion is to fear God (v. 13).

The fear of God is the sense of awe that emerges when we see our lack of holiness, since we are broken sinners, and we are met with God’s perfect righteousness. It is not a sense of being scared or timid, but that of reverent awe.

Keep God’s Commandments: Solomon’s second conclusion is to keep God’s commandments (v. 13), which—by the way—is a natural result of fearing God. Once we are in awe of God, we will follow Him.  Often in life we think that God’s commands steal our joy and happiness. However, the opposite is true. The commandments are given so that we can enjoy life and live it to the fullest.

Those two points—fearing God and keeping His commandments—encompass everything in a person’s life. Solomon says in verse 13, “For this is man’s all.” Nothing else.

Now, why does Solomon say that this is man’s all? It is because we will be judged by the Lord (v. 14). I believe that the reason people do not fear the Lord (stand in awe) or keep His commandments is because we often forget about God’s judgment. However, like it or not, we will be judged—both believers and non-believers.

Not only are we judged, but our works will also be judged. Solomon says that both our good and bad will be judged, and all the things done in secret will be judged as well. Nothing is kept from God’s judgment.

The good news is that Jesus became the perfect sacrifice, taking our judgment. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Christ paid “the wages of sin” on our behalf, giving those who call upon Him as Savior the gift of “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).