Category: Mission

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HS 220702

AN AMAZING FACT:
When Alexander the Great was leading his victorious armies down through Asia Minor, the great leader came at last to the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, beyond which lay the Khyber Pass and India. As far as Alexander was concerned, he was standing at the end of the world. You see, up until that time no maps had been made of the vast territory before him. As far as he knew he was marching his soldiers off the map of the world!

Often when ancient mapmakers reached the edge of what had been charted, they drew a line and depicted dragons and monsters beyond. You can understand why this practice didn’t exactly encourage exploration. One Roman commander in the first century had led his troops beyond the line on the map into “dragon territory.” He sent a courier back to Rome with a straightforward message: “We have just marched off the map. Please send new orders.”

In the same way, when Columbus first sailed west in search of a shortcut to the Indies, he knew he would be essentially sailing off the map into a region that mapmakers marked with sea monsters. Moreover, because of the unknown distance ahead, he loaded his ships with as many provisions as they could carry and set sail by faith across the trackless sea, believing God was urging him forward.

When we consider conditions in the world today, with the unprecedented change in every arena of life, it would seem we have reached a point in history where we are drifting off the map! But the good news is that nothing that happens takes God by surprise. All these things have been charted before in Bible prophecy. When Daniel was asked to interpret a strange dream of an ancient Babylonian king, he said, “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28).

Nothing is hidden from God’s eyes, not even the ends of the earth. The past, present, and future are all before the Lord.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS:
For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. Deuteronomy 2:7

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a coach’s right to pray on school grounds immediately after high school football games has raised concerns about the wall of separation between church and state. What is the issue, and should you be worried?

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Faith must not be coerced, but freely given.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness …

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Refused Pardon

If you were sentenced to life in prison would you refuse a pardon? It’s happened before. Way back in 1895, a young Rhode Island man named Martin Dalton was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. After serving over 30 years, in 1930 he was offered a pardon. Incredibly, Dalton refused it. He explained that he no longer had a family, nothing to do, and nowhere to go. The prison officials were not quite sure what to do with a rejected pardon. After much legal evaluation it was determined that a pardon refused was invalidated. Martin Dalton remained in prison until his death in 1960.

Dalton and his friend, Dan Sullivan, lured a man out of town, beat him up, and robbed him of a gold watch and cash. Before the man died he identified his assailants. Sullivan was arrested a few days later, and Dalton was caught three years later. He was working in Atlanta. From the first, Dalton was a docile prisoner. His behavior in prison was cooperative, his record clean. He worked in a machine shop, then the prison laundry, and later the prison farm. When he was given a “preview visit” of life outside of prison, he was supposedly frightened. Everything had changed. Clothing was different, automobiles scared him. He had nowhere to go.

During the last 61 years of his confinement he didn’t have a single visitor, and the last letter he received came to him in 1929. How sad. What’s even sadder is when millions of people under a death sentence refuse to accept the pardon and eternal life Jesus has purchased for them. Paul warned the Galatians, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

Jesus wants to visit you in your prison of sin. He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Christ has purchased your freedom and will set you free. Do not refuse the pardon He offers. Eternal life outside is well worth accepting.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger for ever, because He delights in mercy.” Micah 7:18

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Unexpected Mercy

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”Psalm 51:1

Sometimes when we think of mercy we only think of avoiding punishment and discipline. But sometimes the greatest mercy is in getting caught in our sin. Like a child going into a dark closet to play with matches, sometimes the most loving thing God can do is bring our failures into the light. Sin grows strongest in the dark. Maybe there is some sin in your life that needs to be dealt with in the light? Maybe you have tried to struggle with it on your own but it continues to hold you captive.

God has given us each other to lean on, and hold each other accountable. Find a wise and godly friend, let them know you are struggling and see what God can do.

The world seems to be witnessing increasing levels of violence, fear and hatred that challenge us each day. In such times, talk about mercy may seem more like wishful thinking. But mercy matters – now more than ever.

At its core, mercy is forgiveness. The Bible speaks of God’s love for sinners – that is, for all of us. But the Bible also relates mercy to other qualities beyond love and forgiveness.

According to the Bible, mercy does matter: It matters because we all need forgiveness and because it is what can join us all together in spite of our differences.

When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it.

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Making Ends Meet

God’s Plan for Financial Security

What would you do if your financial advisor revealed a failure proof plan for financial security? How would you react if you were told that all of your needs would be provided for the rest of your life? What would you say if someone told you that you can be a part of an economy that will never have a deficit? As far-fetched as that may sound such an economy does exist.

In an economically unstable world God has revealed in His Word a financial plan that will never fail. He has given us principles, that if wisely applied, will bring us financial success. It will also help us avoid the pitfalls of unwise spending, ill-advised investing, and give us insight on how to prepare for a secure retirement.

God’s financial plan goes a step further. It helps us to realize that God is the rightful owner of everything in heaven and in the earth. Following God’s plan also changes our attitude about money and gives us wisdom to know how to help our neighbors and those in need.

When we follow God’s system of giving we will also become cheerful givers. Our financial plans and successes are in the hands of our loving heavenly Father. As you study this outline you will discover that God has a banking system and an economy that helps us to live a balanced life in this world. You will also discover that God’s Plan for Financial Security also comes with a retirement plan that’s out of this world.

GOD’S RIGHT TO OWNERSHIP
Genesis 1:1 – God created the heavens and the earth.
Job 41:11 – God doesn’t pay anyone, everything belongs to Him.
Psalms 8:3 – The heavens, are the works of God’s fingers.
Psalms 19:1 – The heavens declare God’s glory.
Psalms 24:1 – The earth and all that it contains belong to God.
Psalms 50:10 – Every beast and the cattle on a thousand hills belongs to God.
Psalms 50:12 – The world in all of its fullness belongs to God.
Psalms 102:25 – God created the foundation of the world and the heavens.
Haggai 2:8 – The silver and the gold belongs to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:18 – God gives us power to get wealth.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 – Wealth, riches, and power are gifts from God.
1 Timothy 6:7 – We brought nothing into the world and we carry nothing out.
Acts 17:24 – God is the Lord of Creation, He made everything.
Acts 17:28 – We need God to live and to move and to have hope.
Hebrews 1:10 – God laid the foundation of the earth and created the heavens.

OUR STEWARDSHIP TO GOD
Genesis 14:20 – Abraham gave a tithe of his possessions to honor God.
Leviticus 27:32 – A Tithe is equal to One-Tenth of our possessions
Deuteronomy 14:22 – We are called to tithe on our increase each year.
Proverbs 3:9 – We honor the Lord with the first of all our profits.
Malachi 3:8 – We are not to rob God in our tithes and in our offerings.
Malachi 3:9 – We bring a curse on ourselves when we fail to be faithful.
Malachi 3:10 – God will blesses us when we worship through giving.
Malachi 3:11 – God will not allow the enemy to destroy our plans.

GOD’S PROMISED BLESSINGS
Psalms 1:3 – Those that are faithful to God will experience prosperity.
Proverbs 11:24, 25 – Those that are generous in giving will be generously blessed.
Matthew 6:33 – God will provide when we seek Him first.
Luke 6:38 – The same measure that we give, will be measured to us
2 Corinthians 9:7 – Don’t give grudgingly, God loves a cheerful giver.
Philippians 4:19 – God will supply all of our needs according to His riches.

EXAMPLES OF STEWARDSHIP IN THE BIBLE
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 – Remember that without God there are no blessings.
Luke 12:15 – Do not be covetous, life is not abundant possessions.
Luke 12:16-20 – When we hoard our blessings we leave them behind.
Luke 12:21 – Store your treasures in heaven by faithfully giving to God.
Proverbs 22:7 – Avoid being in debt, the borrow is a servant of the lender.
1 Timothy 5:18 – The laborer is worthy of his hire don’t expect things for free.
1 Corinthians 9:13 – Those that minister are to be supported by those for whom
they labor.

No circumstance of birth or nationality, no condition of life, can turn away His love from the children of men.

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Judgment

AN AMAZING FACT: When it came to measuring things in ancient times, the body ruled. At first an inch was the width of a man’s thumb. A hand was approximately five inches across. A span was the length of an outstretched hand. And a foot was the length of a foot, or about 11 inches. Today a foot is 12 inches.

There is a science to measuring things. Metrology literally means “the study of measurement.” It is broken into three fields: science, industry, and law. Calibration is a process in which metrology is applied to equipment and processes to ensure conformity with a standard of measurement. Without precise measurement, commerce would be a mess. Nine out of 10 people who work with measurements are employed in commercial applications.

Defined measurements sometimes were determined by kings. King Edward II of England ruled that one inch equaled three grains of barley placed end to end lengthwise. King Henry I of England fixed the yard as the distance from his nose to the thumb of his out-stretched arm. Lest you think such early measurements were silly, consider that dividing things into units occurred in ancient times and still impacts us today. The Romans used units of 12, and today we have 12 inches in a foot and 12 months in a year.

Jesus once said, “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). You might wonder at how some foods are measured. Have you ever purchased and opened a cereal box only to find that it was half full? It’s disappointing, isn’t it—but don’t judge too quickly, as the contents have merely settled.

God encourages us to be generous in how we “measure” things. Don’t judge others too quickly. Believe the best of them. That’s just how the Lord treats us, giving us more than we ask for. It’s like the baker’s dozen.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. James 2:13

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HS220604

A Christlike life is the most powerful argument that can be advanced in favor of Christianity.

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness. Psalm 95:7, 8.

No man can even once devote his God-given powers to the service of worldliness or pride without placing himself on the enemy’s ground…. Every repetition of the sin weakens his power of resistance, blinds his eyes, and stifles conviction….

The Lord sends us warning, counsel, and reproof, that we may have opportunity to correct our errors before they become second nature. But if we refuse to be corrected, God does not interfere to counteract the tendencies of our own course of action.

He works no miracle that the seed sown may not spring up and bear fruit. That man who manifests an infidel hardihood or a stolid indifference to divine truth, is but reaping the harvest which he has himself sown. Such has been the experience of many. They listen with stoical indifference to the truths which once stirred their very souls.

They sowed neglect, indifference, and resistance to the truth; and such is the harvest which they reap. The coldness of ice, the hardness of iron, the impenetrable, unimpressible nature of rock—all these find a counterpart in the character of many a professed Christian. It was thus that the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh. God spoke to the Egyptian king by the mouth of Moses, giving him the most striking evidences of divine power; but the monarch stubbornly refused the light which would have brought him to repentance.

God did not send a supernatural power to harden the heart of the rebellious king, but as Pharaoh resisted the truth, the Holy Spirit was withdrawn, and he was left to the darkness and unbelief which he had chosen.

By persistent rejection of the Spirit’s influence, men cut themselves off from God. He has in reserve no more potent agency to enlighten their minds. No revelation of His will can reach them in their unbelief.

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First Angel’s Message

What A Day That Will Be

There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

There’ll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

They have been given a work of the most solemn import,—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.

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What will Satan’s Final Deception Be?

The central issue in the book of Revelation is worship, and Satan tries to pull out all the stops to lead people astray—replacing truth with error. In this brand-new episode, learn why an understanding of the Bible and Bible prophecy is critical as we approach earth’s final days, and why we should believe God’s Word rather than man’s.

During this time in earth’s history, many people don’t know what, or whom, to trust! The book of Revelation shows us that the Bible is unchanging and can be counted on in an ever-changing world. Discover how this Biblical prophecy can give you assurance in the Bible and increase your faith in God.

AN AMAZING FACT: The shortest complete sentence in the English language is “I AM.

”While Moses tended his father-in-law’s flocks in the desert at the base of Mount Horeb, he stumbled upon a burning bush. The bush caught his attention because, although it burned, it did not burn up. Suddenly God’s voice came out of the bush and told Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses challenged the voice, saying, “Who shall I tell them sent me?” God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.”

God needs no definition, no justification, no explanation. He simply is.

“Why do we define ourselves by our circumstances or by what we do for a living?” asks life coach Judy Kelly. I am a housewife, we say. I am a student. I am a father. I am an engineer. I am a doctor. “As Christians, our identity is Child of God,” Kelly says. “All children of God are given gifts, or talents, which can be used to fulfill different roles.” Paul describes these roles as parts of the body of Christ. We are placed in certain roles—son, daughter, brother, sister—and we choose others—student, wife, mother, business owner, church secretary, etc. “Our roles are to be used simply to express our talents, not define who we are,” Kelly says. When we use them to define who we are, we inevitably set unreachable standards that we think we have to achieve in order to be valuable.

But the I AM says you are valuable not for what you do, but simply because YOU ARE—just because He made you.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Romans 12:4-6

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delight in thee, and thy land shall be married. Isaiah 62:4

Satan’s work is to discourage the soul. Christ’s work is to inspire the heart with faith and hope. Mind, Character, and Personality,

WHITE ESTATE

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HS220507

The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it.

As thy days, so shall thy strength be. Deuteronomy 33:25.

I thank the Lord for the assurance of His grace, that is for His people now, today…. The promise is not that we will have strength today for a future emergency, that anticipated future trouble will be provided for beforehand, before it comes to us. We may, if we walk by faith, expect strength and provision for us as fast as our circumstances demand it. We live by faith, not by sight. The Lord’s arrangement is for us to ask Him for the very things that we need. The grace of tomorrow will not be given today. Men’s necessity is God’s opportunity…. The grace of God is never given to be squandered, to be misapplied or perverted, or to be left to rust with disuse….

While you are bearing daily responsibilities in the love and fear of God, as obedient children walking in all humility of mind, strength and wisdom from God will be given to meet every trying circumstance.

We will not be able to meet the trials of this time without God. We are not to have the courage and fortitude of martyrs of old until brought into the position they were in…. We are to receive daily supplies of grace for each daily emergency. Thus we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and if persecution comes upon us, if we must be enclosed in prison walls for the faith of Jesus and the keeping of God’s holy law, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Should there be a return of persecution there would be grace given to arouse every energy of the soul to show a true heroism….

We are to keep close to the Source of our strength day by day, and when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard for us against the enemy. The promise of God is sure, that strength shall be proportioned to our day. We may be confident for the future only in the strength that is given for the present necessities. The experience in God is daily becoming more precious…. Do not borrow anxiety for the future. It is today that we are in need…. The Lord is our helper, our God, and our strength in every time of need.

Devotional
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AFDev 220426

#gratitude

AN AMAZING FACT: In ancient Egypt, a person guilty of some wrongdoing might carry a pan of burning coals on his head as a sign of repentance.

A story about a boy at summer camp who received a box of cookies from home. He ate a few and then put the rest under his bed. The next day they were gone. His counselor saw another boy eating them down by the lake, so he approached the first boy and said, “I know who stole your cookies. Would you like to teach him a lesson?” The boy agreed, so the counselor said, “Ask your mom to send you another box of cookies.”

When the new box arrived, the counselor encouraged the boy to go share them with the boy who had stolen his cookies. He hesitated, “But why? Shouldn’t he be punished?” But the counselor insisted he find the boy and try to share with him anyway. Later the counselor saw the two boys walking with their arms around each other’s shoulders. The kindness of the first boy so touched the one who stole the cookies that he insisted his new friend take his pocketknife as payment for his crime.

The hunger in the heart of the little boy who stole the cookies might have been more than physical. Perhaps he didn’t hear from home very much. So by looking beyond the obvious wrong, the first boy touched the heart of this robber and made him a friend. Even though the boy had the right to demand retribution, the counselor’s approach created a companion.

Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

David once had the right to execute justice toward an evil man named Nabal. After David and his men protected Nabal’s flocks and herds for months, they requested some supplies, but David’s men were spurned by Nabal, who even threatened them. The future king of Israel was enraged and marched his troops to teach this selfish man a thing or two. But Nabal’s wife got wind of her husband’s selfish response and prepared a large supply of food for David and his men. Then she intercepted David and humbly pleaded for mercy. It touched David’s heart, and he received her gifts and turned back from his mission of vengeance.

When we show kindness to our enemies, it has the potential to bring remorse, to “burn” their conscience. God rewards us when we seek to show love, even to our foes.

Additional reading: Proverbs 25:15–28

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Proverbs 25:21-22

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